This Opulent Wedding at a Private Estate in Michigan Was Inspired by “Marie Antoinette”

Matthew Blackmer and Vincent Roncelli’s mutual friend had a gut feeling they’d end up together, which is why he decided to play matchmaker by inviting them both to brunch one Sunday afternoon. “I’ll never forget when my friend leaned over and said, ‘You will marry that man,’” Matthew recalls. It turns out their friend’s intuition was correct—they were both smitten from the start. For the next few months, the pair was inseparable and loved doing "any ridiculous thing we could" together, whether it was studying for Matthew’s exams, enjoying boat rides in Michigan’s Great Lakes, or playing dress-up with wigs and costumes.

Although Matthew knew he wanted to marry Vincent after just one month together, he didn’t propose until two years later, on a trip to Caseville, Michigan, with their friends. On the first morning of the getaway, the duo took a walk on the beaches of Lake Huron, which is where Matthew made their engaged status official. “Vinnie saw a seagull and started to chase it, while I hid the ring box in my straw hat,” Matthew recounts. “After chasing him as he chased the damn bird, I grabbed him by the wrist, told him I loved him, and got on my knee to ask the question. He said yes.”

During their engagement, the grooms-to-be met with their planner, Ashley Lynch from Festoons and Flourishes, every Wednesday to plan their big day—and it quickly became their favorite part of the week. “We reviewed every detail and let our imaginations run rampant,” Matthew reflects. “Sometimes, Ashley would just simply want to get to know us better to better design our wedding experience—I think those nights, where we just shared stories about our lives, were the most impactful because she truly got to know us and bring our imaginations to life.”

After months of conceptualizing and fine-tuning their vision, Matthew and Vincent got married in a 300-person event at the Roncelli family’s estate in Armada, Michigan, on June 25, 2022. Scroll through to absorb every detail and every photo, captured by Niven Weddings.

The inspiration behind their lavish, rock-and-roll wedding was the 2006 historical drama Marie Antoinette. “Taking inspiration from the imagery, set design, and soundtrack, we wanted the experience to be a little bit rock and roll, a rainbow of candy and pastel colors, and lots of over-the-top, opulent details,” the couple describes. Their invitations, displayed on a scroll and decorated with an intricate border, communicated the glitzy portion of their aesthetic. 

Since the grooms were getting married at a venue with sentimental value, a private estate that Vincent’s family owned, they made sure to highlight the property throughout the course of the weekend. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this? Having their guests stay in on-site glamping tents, complete with down comforters, lavender-scented bathroom products, and French-inspired welcome bags. 

The grooms also stayed in a glamping tent, located just outside of the guest “village.” On the morning of their wedding day, Matthew and Vincent woke up to a breakfast spread and a stack of handwritten letters from their family members. 

For their big day, both Matthew and Vincent donned three-piece, custom-made suits—Matthew in gray and Vincent in teal—from 1701 Bespoke. They added personal touches by having their monograms engraved on the cuff of their shirts and wearing special watches (Matthew’s was a gift from Vincent and Vincent’s was a present from his father). Matthew also completed his attire with square cufflinks from his grandfather.

By a tranquil stream, the grooms shared an emotional first look and exchanged private vows. “We really wanted to have a moment just to ourselves,” they share. “It really felt like a homecoming for both of us…Especially with having a three-day weekend packed with celebrations, it was very important for us to have this time together to ground ourselves prior to walking down the aisle.”

Since the grooms dressed themselves in bright colors, they had their wedding party sport neutral hues for contrast. “We love bucking tradition while telling our own story,” the couple says. While the groomsmen wore tan suits from The Tux Shop on Woodward, the groomsmaids opted for champagne-colored maxi dresses covered in sequins from BHLDN and bouquets of cream and pink flowers, tied with silk ribbon and pearl pins. 

The ceremony took place in the middle of a sprawling field with a scenic pond, complete with a fountain, flowing in the background. Antique garden chairs, set with a white handfan, faced the handmade wooden pergola, which was covered in multi-colored blooms. Once guests arrived at the site, they sipped on specialty cocktails and glasses of prosecco as a string quartet played classical music. 

To match the rest of the wedding party, flower girls sported floral-appliquéd tulle dresses in champagne, and ring bearers were clad in tan suits. After the crew made their entrance, the grooms walked down the aisle with their mothers to “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles—a nod to their first date at the singer’s concert. “This was such a meaningful moment to thank these amazing women for raising us and bringing us to this point,” they note.

After Matthew and Vincent exchanged handwritten vows, they recessed to “Perfect Day” by Hoku, part of the Legally Blonde soundtrack. “I will never forget standing under the perfectly decorated pergola with the most incredible florals, looking out into a crowd of smiling faces underneath white linen parasols,” Matthew reminisces. 

For cocktail hour, guests flocked to a wooden bar, where a life-sized gold horse in a floral wreath (named Nigel) stood in the center. “The funny part was that Nigel was never an original part of the décor plan,” the couple notes. “When visiting a showroom at Event Theory roughly two months prior to the wedding, he was set up in a corner, and the moment we spotted him, it was love at first sight. It was just meant to be, and we cannot imagine the wedding without him.”

At various points of the evening, guests were served one of five signature drinks, from lavender mocktails to pomegranate and lemon cocktails. Each was a different color and designed with “the Versailles and opulent French royal court theme in mind,” according to the couple.

Their seven-foot, hand-drawn seating chart was reminiscent of a royal family tree—and it even featured coats of arms for both families. This piece of signage, along with the rest of their stationery, “were highly personalized to honor the theme but also honor our fun, humorous, and glamorous personalities,” the grooms say.

The tented reception was transformed into the Palace of Versailles with floor-to-ceiling, hand-pleated champagne sateen. Crystal chandeliers floated above the setup, infusing the setting with opulence.

Long tables, engulfed in rose pink velvet linens, and gold chairs were scattered around the room. An abundance of gold candelabras and white taper candles (nearly 1,000 in total) created a romantic, upscale ambiance, while pastel floral centerpieces arranged in silver urns provided a sweet surprise with hidden faux butterflies, birds, or bird nests nestled in the center. For place settings, baroque silverware, gold-rimmed glassware, floral-adorned chargers, pink menu cards with gold foil, and hemstitch napkins added a lavish touch.

Towers of croquembouche, the traditional French dessert, and colorful macarons doubled as dessert and décor. Not only could guests help themselves to the pastries during the five-course dinner, but the sweets also channeled the luxurious lifestyle of the French Queen and 18th-century France.

Matthew and Vincent swapped the conventional place cards for intricate gold ornaments with portraits of each guest, tied with a purple silk ribbon that was calligraphed with their names. 

After making their entrance, the newlyweds poured Champagne down a tower of coupes, which were passed to each attendee during speeches and toasts.

After everyone dined on gourmet French cuisine, antique trunks of masquerade props, such as French wigs, flower crowns, and angel wings, appeared for guests to wear on the dance floor. In addition to dancing, the evening was packed with fun activities, like a cigar roller (in honor of Vincent’s father), a sorbet cart, and a face painter.

Once the clock struck midnight, guests headed back to the dining area, which was converted into a late-night casino. There, friends and family played poker, black jack, roulette, and other casino games with custom card decks. Winners received prizes, from temporary tattoos to stuffed unicorns, from a counter inspired by Chuck E. Cheese.

From their glamping village to their late-night casino, Matthew and Vincent had a blast executing their glamorous, French-inspired affair. Although the wedding planning process was an enjoyable one for the couple, they acknowledge that the experience can be overwhelming and unpredictable at times. Their advice? “Breathe! It will all be okay.”