Some couples want a rustic wedding in an old church or barn. Others have their heart set on throwing an urban chic wedding in their favorite city. It’s all about doing what YOU want and making your wedding your own. More and more couples from the east coast to the west coast are scrapping the idea of the traditional wedding, embracing an industrial vibe with open arms.
The industrial chic wedding is a blend of masculine and feminine elements. It isn’t a fleeting trend, if you’re getting ready to plan your urban-inspired wedding, here are the elements that nail the industrial-style wedding vibe. An urban setting. Chic decor. You may not know the term, but you definitely know the look. Then what exactly is industrial chic? How can we add it to our wedding?
Think about what an old Brooklyn warehouse or Denver factory looks like — that’s the industrial part. The industrial chic aesthetic mixes specific architectural elements. It’s a combination of features like exposed brick, exposed pipes, over-sized windows, and hardwood or concrete floors. With some elegant accents, purposeful lighting, and modern elements, you will make your wedding chic.
Industrial vibe urban wedding is neither masculine nor feminine. It can be casual or formal. It’s all about blending different textures and materials to create a vintage-meets-modern look. When it’s done right, it makes for a fabulous backdrop for a memorable wedding!
And first you need an industrial wedding venue, it is the easiest way to pull off an industrial chic wedding.
In an industrial space, less is always more.
Sometimes we also call an industrial chic venue a “raw” space with hardwood or concrete floor. It does not have wall-to-wall patterned carpets like the ones you see in country club dining rooms.
It has large windows with no coverings at all. It does not have voluminous, gathered drapes with pleated valances and ornate tie-backs.
It doesn’t look traditional or colonial, there won’t be ornate accents or gilded candelabra wall sconces, and don’t expect to see any crown molding or wainscoting.
The venue that feels like an old warehouse, brewery, or book-binding facility, that’s the vibe you want. When you visit the space, imagine men and women working hard on vintage machinery.
Elements of industrial chic wedding decor
There are endless possibilities to throw an industrial chic wedding. And if you really want to nail this aesthetic, we have some ideas for reference.
(1) Wedding invitations are a chance to give your guests a sneak peek at your wedding style. Set the tone with your wedding invitations.
For example, opt for recycled paper or matte paper instead of glossy paper. Skip the traditional calligraphy in favor of clean, modern fonts. Instead of embossing your invitations with flowers, incorporate some old-time architectural illustrations.
(2) Besides, color scheme alone can make a basic invitation look more industrial. Think metallic accents in shades of pewter or copper against a neutral background, such as white, black, grey, or brown, ditch bright pop colors and accents as your urban wedding invitation color.
With right lighting, an industrial wedding venue can be just as romantic as a castle or a grand estate
The best way to set a romantic mood is with the right lighting. They can be glam and glitzy or simple and understated, as long as they include plenty of soft white light bulbs.
Elegant chandeliers provide the perfect contrast against exposed brick and visible duct-work. A few chandeliers alone can add instant glamour and drama to your reception space.
Fairy lights and string lights with exposed bulbs also pair well with this aesthetic. You can string them in rows from the ceiling or drape them from windows to create a whimsical ambiance and a gorgeous backdrop for photos.
Edison bulb captures the essence of the industrial vibe, suspend them as pendants from the ceiling or string them in rows against a wall.
And don’t forget the candles! Mercury glass votives, metal tealight holders, and pillar candles can add a stylish look to your table settings.
Wedding Flowers Are A Must
That doesn’t mean you need to have those generic rose arrangements we’ve all seen a thousand times. Skip the roses in favor of something a bit more modern, like calla lilies or orchids.
Not a big fan of flowers?Natural greenery makes a fabulous alternative. Flowers and greenery are the perfect way to add soft contrast to the architectural elements of an industrial event space.
Incorporate geometric shape designs into your wedding
The hard edges of triangles, rectangles, and octagons just seem to pair nicely with industrial wedding themes. Look through any industrial chic wedding board on Pinterest and you’ll see many geometric shapes. Here are a few ways you can incorporate some geometric designs into your wedding:
Create a Geometric Arch to say “I Dos”
A triangle, hexagon, or octagon wedding arch made of everything from wood to copper pipes will give your ceremony a more industrial look. You can decorate it with greenery, drape it with flowers, or wrap it with lights.
Your geometric arch sets the mood of your enitire day and make a bold statement during your nuptials. It is a great chance to get creative. If you want to say your vows against a one-of-a-kind ceremony backdrop, DIY your geometric arch is the way to go.
Decorate Your Tables with Geometric Accents too
You can also add geometric elements to your tablescapes and centerpieces. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different shapes together — the more dimension and texture you create, the more interesting it will be.
Make great hanging decorations on the wall or ceilling
Hang shapes, like Metal circles, pyramids, and triangles make great hanging decorations. And you can embellish them with greenery or flowers to soften them or leave them as is to create a mesmerizing design.
Metal Accents Together with Wooden Elements to Add Industrial Flair
There’s nothing more industrial than metal, while wooden floors and wooden elements almost always play a role in industrial chic designs. However, wood alone gives off a purely rustic vibe; And of all the materials you’ll find in an industrial space, metal is the most important one. So to add that industrial flair, you’ll need to include some metal accents as well. It’s super easy to add metallic elements into your big day. There are endless ways to incorporate metallic details into your wedding reception, for instance, metal table numbers, metal candleholders, metal tealights, dining chairs, and signage. Don’t be afraid to mix different colored metals. Pewter, copper, brass, nickel … they’re all neutrals you can mix and match!
Combine Wood Metal Concrete Together for Chic Industrial Space
Too much wood looks rustic. Too much metal can look stark. Too much concrete can feel hard and cold. By mixing several materials and textures into your theme, you’ll be able to create depth and dimension in your reception space. Remember: they don’t need to match, but they do need to coordinate. So get creative, if you don’t have the skills to mix match all of the necessary elements together? Don’t worry — that’s what wedding planners are for!
Less Is More, Skip The Chair Covers
In an industrial chic wedding, less is more, especially when it comes to metal or wooden chairs that have a vintage quality of their own. There’s no need to cover your chairs with slipcovers. Instead, these chairs play well against the bare bones of the space and provide some much-needed contrast.
As long as your chairs aren’t covered by a swath of fabric, your tables can be. It means that tablecloths are optional. A draped white tablecloth always looks clean and chic, or you can use table linens, place settings, and centerpieces to make them look rich and full.
Get Creative With Fabric To Add Depth, Texture and Drama to Industrial Space
Like flowers and ambient lighting, a little bit of fabric can add depth, texture, and drama to an industrial space. For example dress your wedding arch with soft layers of chiffon instead of flowers or greenery. Hang some sheer layers together with geometric shapes from the ceiling above your dance floor. Drape a wide piece from the ceiling to the floor to create a soft, romantic backdrop for photos.
Stick to Neutral Color Palette
Stick to a neutral color palette in shades of white, grey, ivory, and brown, thet look elegant paired with a variety of wood textures and metallic accents of your industrial chic wedding.
Have Fun With Your Food
Different from traditional ballroom wedding, an industrial chic wedding offers a variety of food options. Your wedding dinner is your personal choice, like classic three-course meal.
A ballroom wedding might lend itself to a classic buffet or a sit-down dinner; but an open, industrial space offers much more versatility. If you want your wedding to feel more like a fun celebration than a traditional affair, opt for stations and passed hors d’oeuvres instead.
When it comes to your wedding cake, cupcakes, gourmet donuts, or even handmade ice cream sandwiches make great alternatives for desserts.
A perfect industrial wedding requires you to find a certain type of balance. Start with finding an industrial event space, then adding in the chic elements. For instance meral accents, geometric decor and arch, draped fabric, mix flowers, greenery, and ambient lighting together.
Combine your wedding decor and industrial elements in the right way and your wedding will be one that your guests never forget! Don’t forget about your wedding photos. Make sure your photograher captures unique photos of you and your guests around the venue.
Extra ponit: Get bridal party and couples’ photos on the front steps, against a brick wall, or strolling through the parking lot. If there’s a metal stairway or a fire escape outside, make use of it.
