An Elegant Museum Wedding in Ann Arbor, Michigan

When Cecelia Kuzon and Steven Hillgren started planning their October 15, 2016, wedding, they turned to someone close to them for a little extra inspiration: Steven’s sister, Emily! “Emily and I were History of Art majors at the University of Michigan, and we studied together in Paris for a semester,” says Cecelia. That love of art (and France!) played right into the pair’s wedding plans, which led them back to Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Museum of Art. “We wanted a celebration with lots of attention to detail, with an underlying French theme that was elegant and romantic but not too stuffy,” the bride describes.

With the help of wedding planners Alison and Bryan, they filled the museum’s airy event space with clean lines, fresh greenery, and white-on-white details that perfectly combined the artistic setting with the bride’s Parisian vision. Take a peek at Curtis Wiklund's photos below!

Cecelia looked "French-girl chic" in a breezy Modern Trousseau gown that featured French lace (obvi!) over the corseted bodice and a chiffon skirt that was ready for the dance floor.

The bride customized her look by adding a lace-edged veil and a romantic, neutral-hued bouquet of roses, dahlias, and astilbes. As for jewels, she wore her mother's diamond necklace and a bracelet with the coordinates to the museum on it (a wedding-day gift from her sister).

The traditional ceremony took place in front of the ornate organ at the First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor.

With a mix of classic and modern art (and architecture!), the museum was the perfect setting for the couple’s bash. Their color palette drew from nature—and the museum’s grounds—by mixing beige, ivory, and rich green tones.

Alison and Bryan worked to create a table design that was all about texture. It featured marble table numbers and dotted linens, along with cut-crystal votive holders set between natural-slate pots. All-white flowers allowed the gold-rimmed chargers and gilded silverware to really pop alongside linear dining chairs.

“We surprised our guests by having the university marching band play as we made our entrance into cocktail hour!” says the Michigan alum. “It was incredibly memorable and so much fun to walk in behind them.”

Guests sipped rosé sangria as Steven and Cecelia took their first spin around the dance floor to “Latch” by Disclosure.

Looking back on her big day, the bride has this advice for brides-to-be: “Stay on budget and communicate often,” she says. “The budget was hard to manage, but our planners were so helpful in keeping us on track!”