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!
After photographing weddings throughout Detroit, the Detroit Institute of Arts remains one of our favorite wedding venues. Between Rivera Court, Kresge Court, the Great Hall, and the museum’s incredible architecture, every part of the day offers beautiful opportunities for photographs without ever needing to leave the property. Couples can spend more time with their guests while still creating an incredible collection of wedding photographs.
DIA Wedding Photos
One of the things we love about weddings at the Detroit Institute of Arts is that there are incredible photo opportunities everywhere you look. Between the museum’s architecture, historic staircases, grand hallways, and world-renowned artwork, couples never have to travel far to create beautiful photographs.
For Emily and Caleb, choosing to have a first look allowed them to fully enjoy everything the venue had to offer before the ceremony. They were able to spend time together, settle any nerves, and enjoy a quiet moment before the day picked up speed. Caleb’s reaction when he saw Emily for the first time was unforgettable, and having that private moment together set the tone for the rest of the day.
After their first look, we explored some of our favorite locations throughout the museum before bringing in the wedding party for portraits. One of the advantages of a first look is having more flexibility in the timeline, allowing couples to complete many of their portraits before the ceremony and spend more time with guests afterward.
While we often love incorporating Detroit’s streets and skyline into wedding portraits, the Detroit Institute of Arts offers so many incredible backdrops that it felt natural to keep much of the photography on-site. After the ceremony, we spent a little more time exploring the galleries and architectural details throughout the museum. Surrounded by historic artwork and beautiful light, Emily and Caleb looked completely at home as they enjoyed their first moments together as newlyweds.
Planning a Detroit Institute of Arts Wedding?
One of the things we love about weddings at the Detroit Institute of Arts is how naturally the day flows from one celebration to the next. Because the ceremony, cocktail hour, portraits, and reception can all happen in one location, couples often spend less time traveling and more time enjoying their wedding day with family and friends.
After their ceremony, Emily and Caleb made their way to cocktail hour, where they were welcomed by family and friends with hugs, congratulations, and plenty of excitement. Watching them descend the historic staircase and immediately become surrounded by the people they love was one of those moments that perfectly captured the feeling of the day.
If you’re considering a Detroit Institute of Arts wedding, we’d highly recommend building time into your schedule to explore the museum for portraits before guests arrive. The architecture, galleries, courtyards, and natural light make it one of the most unique wedding venues in Detroit, and having a little extra time allows you to enjoy it without feeling rushed.
You can explore more of Emily and Caleb’s Detroit Institute of Arts wedding in the gallery below.
If you’re planning a Detroit wedding, be sure to explore our Detroit wedding venue guides for more inspiration. You can also learn more about our Detroit wedding photography experience, pricing, and what it’s like working with us as a husband-and-wife photography team.
Vendors
Photography – Rosy & Shaun
Venue – Detroit Institute of Arts
Planner – Beautiful Day Planning
Florals & Decor – Stem Event Design
Linens – Luxe Event Linen
Cake – Sweet Heather Anne
Band – Blue Water Kings
Stage – Rochester Event and Equipment Rental
Transportation – Prestige Limos
