Industrial Chic Wedding Styles
5 Ways to Elegantly Transform Your Blank-Slate Venue
Turn your wedding into a Pinterest worthy evening.
Whether you call this unique wedding venue style “urban rustic,” “warehouse contemporary,” or “industrial chic,” (like we do at The West Events in Madeira Beach, Florida!), there’s no mistaking how this gritty-meets-glam event space feels—elegant, raw, and undeniably un-stuffy. With a backdrop of exposed brick walls and beams and polished concrete floors, all you need are simple additions like string lights, lush fabrics, fresh flowers, or eclectic accents to elevate an otherwise blank-canvas space into a romantic setting far beyond that of any traditional hotel ballroom.
But when faced with seemingly endless décor options and an overwhelmingly open space, achieving the modern, industrial look that you want for your special event can be intimidating. To help, we have put together five industrial-inspired styles—and each style’s characteristic design elements—which embrace the versatility that this non-traditional event space can provide. The potential to transform it into the wedding venue of your dreams is only limited by your imagination.
1. Minimalist Industrial
Celebrate the personality of the industrial space itself by taking a less-is-more approach to décor. Clean lines and simple elements, such as copper accents or glass vases holding single stems, eliminate any visual distractions and accentuate the architectural nuances of the building.
Basic Element—Metal: According to Rustic Wedding Chic, adding metal accents—think stainless steel water pitchers or mixed-metal table numbers—bring a ton of industrial flair to a wedding space. Copper, bronze, and even cast iron provide a lovely contrast to the softer elements such as flowers that you may incorporate into your industrial themed wedding. Don’t overlook the dynamic effect of metallic tones in your wedding color scheme, like these inspirational ideas.
2. Romantic Industrial
Nothing imparts a more romantic ambiance to any wedding venue than layers of vibrant florals, which, when placed against a backdrop of exposed brick walls, virtually explode in vivid hues. Likewise, rows of soft, glowing-gold candles placed along concrete floors or string lights hung from steel beams set the stage for a romantic event in an industrial venue. Another way to create the feel of timeless romance in an open loft or warehouse space is by draping sheer fabrics along the walls—especially as a backdrop for the sweethearts’ table—harkening back to images of all epic, fairy-tale love stories.
Basic Element—Magical Lighting: When romanticizing the urban-chic industrial setting, take a more-is-more approach to your lighting choices. (C’mon, do you really get all the feels from a starless sky? Um, no.) Whether you’re going vintage-romantic with the use of pendant Edison bulbs or full-on Vincent van Gogh with fully lit curtain lights draped in every corner of your space, you cannot neglect this critical element when styling your industrial wedding venue. For inspiration, we gathered some of our favorite lighting options, which had us reaching for a fainting couch to catch us as we swooned.
Industrial Wedding with tuscan lights overhead.
3. Bohemian Industrial
Those who embrace a Bohemian wedding style step outside the traditional where their free spirits can soar into the realm of all-things artsy and unconventional. In order to capture an eclectic yet elegant vibe to an industrial space, reach for elaborately woven wall hangings on walls or wedding altars paired with vivid, ornately patterned rugs or table runners. Lighting options abound to dazzle whether paper lanterns, paper stars, or hanging jars filled with fairy lights. For tables, an eclectic array of metal table numbers encircled by dried flowers and peacock feathers in ceramic vases make for one-of-a-kind centerpieces. Don’t forget to include boho-inspired accessories that complement the personalities of the wedding couple, such as metal keys, vintage suitcases, old books, or antique bottles.
Basic Elements—Textured Fabrics and Eclectic Accessories: According to One Fab Day’s Trend Alert for boho-rustic-industrial weddings, macramé details are making a big comeback in adding not only a bit of retro zeal to décor but also a natural, feminine touch to the innately masculine construction elements of bricks, beams, and concrete. Reaching into a treasure trove of sensory delights, be sure to include exotic tapestries, velvet cushions, and plush carpets to further soften the setting of your industrial venue wedding event.
4. Organic Industrial
Surrounding structural steel and concrete with organic elements is a perfect example of how “opposites attract” when decorating an industrial setting. Whether your picture of the great outdoors is woodsy or coastal, desert or mountainous, natural wedding style options abound. And because a little green can go a long way to enhance an urban event space, this style is budget-friendly, too. Whether you incorporate simple garland table runners peppered with votive candles, make centerpieces of lemon-filled vases, or offer mini succulents as parting gifts, it’ll be love at first sight as the bounties of the greenhouse meet the versatility of the warehouse. Going green for your natural-industrial wedding, too, can mean taking advantage of some of these eco-friendly options from Eluxe Magazine.
Basic Elements—Botanicals: For nature lovers, bringing the outside in enhances any blank-space event venue with herbaceous fragrance, stunning color, and botanical beauty. While we think that you can never have too many flowers cascading from a wedding arch (check out this DIY floral arch project from Fetes de Fleurs), it only takes a few large, leafy plants, garlands of fresh greenery, layers of botanicals, or even fruits and vegetables to make a huge visual impact. In fact, a growing trend that we’re absolutely drooling over in wedding and reception decor stems (pun intended!) from the multi-versatile artichoke. Showcasing shades of green, as well as purple, and an array of sizes, artichokes complement any floral installations from centerpieces to wedding bouquets.
5. Rustic Industrial:
A little bit country and a little bit rock-and-roll, the rustic industrial vibe meshes all of the country charm of a farmhouse with the urban edginess of a warehouse. What better way to direct guests to their burlap-draped seats than by using hand-lettered, chalkboard signs displayed alongside mid-century brick walls? Nothing. That is unless you can also incorporate the use of quintessential barnyard accents, like weathervanes, galvanized buckets, and milk canisters, too. This style also celebrates the magic of the mason jar for both beverage service (signature moonshine cocktail, anyone?) and decor! Grandma’s tea cups, flower vases, and vintage tablecloths also further the rustic feel while personalizing your event with these unique family heirlooms.
Basic Element—Wood: Like metal, all varieties and tones of wood set the rustic tone to an urban industrial wedding venue. Wooden ladders, for example, are ready to serve as unique table seating guides, displays for family photos, and even stands for serve-yourself cocktail-hour drinks. Reclaimed wooden signs, barn wood frames, and even dark-wood wine barrels instantly impart the idyllic within the industrial.
