Detroit Institute of Arts Wedding

The dress code for Emily and Caleb’s Detroit Institute of Arts wedding was formal, fancy, and flexible. Three elements that, when combined, make for well-dressed wedding guests who are ready to spend the night enjoying one heck of a party. The theme wasn’t exactly black tie. But it was definitely black tie, “encouraged”. Leaving guests to decide if they wanted to don a tux or a floor-length gown for their epic soiree, because when you host a DIA wedding, every aspect is planned with so much intention.

Detroit Institute of Arts Wedding

In fact, every event of Emily and Caleb’s wedding was held at the DIA. And we are just dying to give you the details. For their vows, Emily and Caleb chose to hold their wedding ceremony in Rivera Court. This space is home to Diego Rivera’s work, dubbed ‘Detroit Industry Murals’. And yes, the walls of this space are completely covered in bright, vibrant murals that make it feel alive with the heartbeat of Detroit. Another awesome feature in Rivera Court? Towering skylights which allowed this insane amount of natural light to pour in over Emily and Caleb’s ceremony.

After being joined in marriage, Emily and Caleb treated their guests to a cocktail hour with live music, delicious hors d’oeuvres, and expertly crafted cocktails. Their post-vow gathering was held in Kresge Court. This space at the Detroit Institute of Arts is perfect for a cocktail hour at your wedding. Bringing a dash of the outdoors, indoors. It mimics the vibe of an outdoor courtyard with a brick facade, an open arbor, and garden seating. But it’s all inside and protected from the elements. Just like their reception space, Kresge Court also has skylights so high above they feel like they’re in the clouds! All in all, adding to that courtyard vibe.

Lastly, their wedding reception, which also featured live music that “wowed the crowd,” was held in the Walter B. Ford Great Hall. As the name suggests, this space at the DIA is fit for a wedding reception that is grand, stately, opulent, and all the other adjectives that conjure up visions of a Detroit wedding held in a literal museum!

Detroit Institute of Arts Wedding Reception Walter B. Ford Great Hall

DIA Wedding Photos

The thing is, when you get married at a fabulous wedding venue in Detroit like the DIA, there are so many opportunities for legendary wedding photos. For sure, if you want to take full advantage of your surroundings, you have to plan a first look. Curious to know all the reasons we recommend a first look to our couples? You can find more deets on the why behind a first look in this post.

For Emily and Caleb, making the decision to have a first look was kind of a no-brainer. A Detroit wedding venue with a white stone facade and works of art around every corner? Yes please! After working our magic, capturing Emily and Caleb, putting the final touches on their wedding day attire, our next stop was their first look. A moment for them to connect before their ceremony. A moment to feel all the feels, and enjoy a sweet embrace before their wedding party joined them for photos. Their first look was beyond sweet, with Caleb positively beaming at the sight of his bride. After a tender embrace and a reapplication of lip gloss, they were ready to bring in their crew for more DIA wedding photos before their ceremony kicked off.

Normally, we have no shame admitting that we love taking our couples to the streets of Detroit on the day of their wedding. There’s just something about wedding photos filled with the thrumming energy of Detroit. But with Emily and Caleb, it almost felt like a disservice to take them away from the DIA. Even if it was only a few steps outside. Instead, once they were pronounced married, we decided to explore the galleries. Sculpted works of art, larger-than-life paintings on canvas, and Emily & Caleb, who were newly married and glowing.

Your Detroit Wedding

Aside from the epic photo experience, one of the biggest benefits of having an all-in-one wedding venue like the Detroit Institute of Arts is that it allows space on your wedding day timeline for you to actually enjoy cocktail hour with your guests. Which is exactly where Emily and Caleb went after their ceremony. It was a great, big rousing entrance filled with cheer when they descended the brick-walled stairway to join their guests in merriment. They were met with a flurry of hugs and congratulations. If you’re asking us, that moment really laid the groundwork for the night’s celebration spent in the company of their guests.

You can see more of Emily and Caleb’s Detroit Institute of Arts wedding when you scroll through the photos featured below. Or, if you’re busy planning your own Detroit wedding, we have plenty of resources to help you find the venue of your dreams or select a husband and wife wedding photography team to capture every vibrant moment of your wedding with images that’ll make you cry all the happy tears.