Emily & Steven’s Columbus Museum of Art Wedding in Columbus

Introduction

Emily Jenab and Steven Williams celebrated their modern romantic wedding in Columbus, Ohio on October 25, 2025. Hosted at the Columbus Museum of Art with a rehearsal celebration at The Junto, the wedding beautifully blended Puerto Rican, Persian and Midwestern traditions into one unforgettable experience. Planned with the support of Soco 36 Events and brought to life through stunning florals by Prema Designs, the day featured multiple bridal fashion moments, meaningful cultural traditions and thoughtful guest experiences that reflected the couple’s unique story. From traditional Puerto Rican drummers and a Persian sofreh aghd to personalized welcome bags and late-night Happy Meals, every detail was intentionally chosen to celebrate not only their marriage, but the families, cultures and friendships that brought them together.

Wedding Profile & Quick Facts

• Couple: Emily Jenab & Steven Williams
• Wedding Date: October 25, 2025
• Season: Fall
• Venue: Columbus Museum of Art
• City: Columbus, Ohio
• Wedding Style: Modern Romantic
• Color Palette: Romantic neutrals with elevated floral design
• Guest Count: Large celebration

Why This Wedding Stands Out

Nearly nine years before their wedding day, Emily and Steve met at her cousin’s wedding. Emily was living in New York City and nearly missed the wedding entirely after missing her flight and work obligations caused her to miss the rehearsal dinner. She arrived just in time for the ceremony, where Steve, the best friend of her cousin’s husband, was paired with her to walk down the aisle.

“We met about ten minutes before the ceremony began,” Emily shared. “Looking back, it feels like one of those truly serendipitous moments. A wedding almost missed turned into the start of our story.”

Their own wedding honored that story while celebrating the cultures that shaped them. Emily, who is Puerto Rican and Persian, and Steve, whom she lovingly describes as “a Midwestern, all-American boy,” incorporated meaningful traditions from both backgrounds throughout the celebration. Guests were welcomed into a wedding experience that featured Puerto Rican pleneros during the couple’s reception entrance, a traditional Persian sofreh aghd display, a Persian knife dance before cake cutting, Persian desserts and a belly dancer during the reception.

Emily’s mother even delivered part of her welcome speech in Spanish to honor family members who traveled from Puerto Rico for the celebration. The result was a wedding that felt deeply personal and representative of everyone gathered to celebrate.

The Design Vision & Wedding Palette

The design vision focused on creating a modern romantic atmosphere that felt elegant while allowing the couple’s story and cultural traditions to remain at the center of the experience.

Prema Designs, a Columbus floral design team known for lush floral installations and elevated event design, created florals that softened the museum setting while adding warmth and romance throughout the celebration. In addition to floral design, Prema Designs also provided rentals and the welcome mirror that greeted guests upon arrival.

The Columbus Museum of Art provided a sophisticated backdrop that allowed the couple to seamlessly blend modern wedding design with cultural traditions. The venue’s clean architectural spaces paired beautifully with the floral installations and personalized details throughout the day.

“From a planner’s perspective, it was a true testament to how cultural traditions can come together in a way that feels natural, joyful, and interactive for guests,” shared expert planner Sara Richardson of Soco 36 Events. “Their wedding wasn’t just a merging of backgrounds, it was a celebration of family, identity, and the kind of love that invites everyone into the story.”

 

Bridal Style & Fashion Details

Emily’s bridal style was one of the most memorable elements of the wedding. While planning, she never imagined herself wearing a ballgown bride, yet she ultimately wore two.

Her bridal wardrobe featured gowns from Kleinfeld Bridal and Vow’d Weddings, including designs by renowned designer Pnina Tornai. Later in the evening, Emily changed into a third dress inspired by her Persian heritage featuring intricate beading and detailing that honored her family’s traditions.

Bridal accessories came from Kleinfeld Bridal, while custom jewelry was designed by Eduardo Accostupa, a designer from Emily’s hometown in New York. Hair was styled by Erika Taft Bridal, with makeup provided by Luxury Beauty. Wedding party beauty services were provided by Goode Beauty and Taylor’D Beauty.

Together, the fashion choices reflected both Emily’s personal style and the cultural influences that shaped the celebration.

Ceremony & Reception Experience

The guest experience was intentionally designed to feel personal from beginning to end.

Many guests traveled from New York, Puerto Rico and beyond, so Emily and Steve created custom welcome bags for those staying at The Junto, a downtown Columbus boutique hotel known for its stylish accommodations and unique hospitality experience. The bags included personalized gifts and a Columbus guide to help visitors explore the city.

The reception featured catering and bar service from the Columbus Museum of Art, specialty Persian desserts, a cake from Our Cupcakery and entertainment from DJ AXCESS. Throughout the evening, guests experienced a celebration filled with meaningful traditions, energetic performances and personal details.

One of the most memorable moments came late in the evening when the couple surprised guests with McDonald’s Happy Meals and late-night snacks.

“We joked that we were trying to create a New York wedding in Ohio,” Emily shared. “Those little details ended up meaning so much more than anything I had saved on Pinterest.”

The wedding was documented by Ashley Tracy Photography and Emily Schutz Photo & Video, ensuring every meaningful moment was preserved for years to come.

Planning Takeaways From This Wedding

Planning Takeaways:

• Don’t feel pressured to follow every wedding trend. Focus on details that reflect your relationship and story.
• Cultural traditions can create meaningful guest experiences while honoring family history.
• Welcome bags are especially impactful when many guests are traveling from out of town.
• Multiple outfit changes can be a meaningful way to honor different aspects of your heritage and personal style.
• Personalized food and beverage experiences often become the details guests remember most.
• A videographer allows couples to relive speeches, vows and emotions that photographs alone cannot capture.

Planning a Wedding at The Columbus Museum of Art

For couples considering a wedding at The Columbus Museum of Art, the venue offers a unique combination of artistic sophistication and flexible event spaces in the heart of downtown Columbus.

Known for hosting elegant weddings and special events, the museum provides a modern backdrop that works beautifully for both traditional celebrations and highly personalized wedding experiences. Its versatile spaces allow couples to incorporate custom cultural traditions, unique entertainment and elevated design elements while giving guests access to one of Columbus’ most recognizable cultural institutions.

The museum’s central location also places guests near downtown hotels, restaurants and attractions, making it an excellent choice for couples hosting out-of-town visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Columbus Museum of Art located?

The Columbus Museum of Art is located in downtown Columbus, Ohio, providing convenient access to hotels, restaurants and attractions throughout the city.

What makes the Columbus Museum of Art unique for weddings?

The venue combines contemporary architecture, artistic surroundings and flexible event spaces that can accommodate highly customized wedding celebrations.

Where can guests stay near the Columbus Museum of Art?

Many wedding guests choose nearby downtown accommodations such as The Junto, which offers boutique hotel accommodations and unique guest experiences.

How can couples incorporate cultural traditions into their wedding?

Emily and Steve’s wedding demonstrates how traditions, music, food, attire and family customs can be woven throughout the wedding day while still maintaining a cohesive overall design.

What details do guests remember most from a wedding?

According to Emily, personalized details often leave the strongest impression. Welcome bags, signature experiences, cultural traditions and late-night food tend to become the moments guests talk about long after the wedding.

Featured Wed Society Columbus Wedding Vendors

Vendors below are part of our curated network of trusted Columbus wedding professionals known for delivering exceptional wedding experiences.

Wedding Planner: Soco 36 Events – Known for personalized planning, thoughtful logistics and elevated wedding design throughout Columbus and beyond.

Floral Designer: Prema Designs – Known for artistic floral installations, custom event design and romantic wedding florals.

Videographer: Emily Schutz Photo & Video – Known for emotional storytelling and capturing wedding days through both photography and videography.

Venue: Columbus Museum of Art – Known for its sophisticated event spaces, artistic atmosphere and downtown Columbus location.

Hotel: The Junto – Known for stylish accommodations, exceptional hospitality and a unique guest experience in downtown Columbus.

Complete Creative Team

• Wedding Planner: Soco 36 Events
• Ceremony & Reception Venue: Columbus Museum of Art
• Rehearsal Dinner Venue: The Junto
• Photographer: Ashley Tracy Photography
• Videographer: Emily Schutz Photo & Video
• Floral Design & Decor: Prema Designs
• Bridal Gowns: Kleinfeld Bridal, Vow’d Weddings
• Bridal Gown Designer: Pnina Tornai
• Bridal Accessories: Kleinfeld Bridal
• Bride’s Jewelry: Eduardo Accostupa
• Groom’s Jewelry: Eduardo Accostupa
• Bridesmaid Attire: JJ’s House
• Bride’s Hair: Erika Taft Bridal
• Bride’s Makeup: Luxury Beauty
• Wedding Party Hair: Goode Beauty
• Wedding Party Makeup: Taylor’D Beauty
• Invitations: Minted
• Cake: Our Cupcakery
• Persian Desserts: Specialty Persian Desserts
• Catering & Bartending: Columbus Museum of Art
• Entertainment: DJ AXCESS
• Transportation: Rolls Royce

Final Thoughts

Emily and Steve’s wedding is a beautiful reminder that the most memorable celebrations are the ones that feel authentic. By blending Puerto Rican, Persian and Midwestern traditions, honoring their families and prioritizing experiences over trends, they created a wedding that was uniquely their own. From a chance meeting at a wedding nearly a decade earlier to a celebration that brought loved ones together from around the world, their story truly came full circle in Columbus.