1. Real Weddings

A Modern, Industrial Wedding at 809 at Vickery in Fort Worth, Texas

Audrey Puentes (32 and a physician) and Paul Courtney (33 and an anesthesiologist) met during medical training—their first real conversation happened

Audrey Puentes (32 and a physician) and Paul Courtney (33 and an anesthesiologist) met during medical training—their first real conversation happened one night while they were both working in labor and delivery. They later went out with common friends, kept the conversation going and started dating a few months before Audrey graduated. “We managed to have a successful long-distance relationship for two years after I moved to north Texas,” she says. Their relationship grew stronger across the miles, with a proposal happening after Paul asked Audrey to send him photos of engagement rings. “I crept on her Pinterest page,” he jokes. “From there, I picked something that I liked, timeless and simple.” Audrey says: “I love, love, love my engagement ring. He did a great job.” They were engaged for 14 months before getting married at 809 at Vickery in Forth Worth, Texas, brimming with industrial details and providing indoor and outdoor venue options. They used a color scheme of gray, lavender and plum throughout their celebration, from the seating chart to the bridesmaid dresses and even the cake designed to look like welded metal. A mix of industrial details was evident in the galvanized-metal seating-chart wall in front of the courtyard, concrete and cylinder vases, glass signs, and ghost chiavari chairs. Guests were treated to Moscow Mules (the couple’s signature drink), appetizers of honey-bacon twists, crab cakes and phyllo rolls; the meal comprised a beautiful Caprese salad, bacon-wrapped beef tenderloin or grilled chicken breast with avocado-mango salsa, Parmesan risotto and vegetables. “Food was one of the most important items to us,” Audrey says. “We are foodies, and we wanted each guest to be impressed with the meal.” Audrey and Paul also arranged for Ruthie’s Food Truck to park near the courtyard, where guests were served grilled cheese sandwiches after a night of dancing. Audrey has one piece of advice for other couples planning to tie the knot: Hire a wedding planner. “Our jobs were very hard to work around, and we had limited time outside work to plan anything,” she says. Their planner, she says, was “phenomenal. We would have been lost without her.” —Chrissy Sorenson

The invitations exuded a mix of industrial and classic elements, a geometric pattern and a minimalistic design element.
The seven bridesmaids wore long chiffon dresses in different shades of purple and carried bouquets of purple, lavender and white blooms. After the ceremony, the bouquets were placed in concrete vases on the reception tables, adding an industrial touch.
The ceremony was held inside 809 at Vickery in Fort Worth, Texas, with a painted white brick-wall backdrop. The event planner hung multiple strands of bistro lights from the ceiling, clustering at the floor. At the center were multiple white candles of different heights. White candles also lined the aisles. The lights were dimmed for the ceremony, so the candles could cast a romantic glow.
According to photographer Payge Stevens, Paul and Audrey’s love for each other burned bright and strong on their wedding day. “They couldn’t keep their hands off each other,” she says. “Their love is genuine, and the love from their family and friends was the same.”
The seating chart was hung on a galvanized-metal wall in front of the courtyard at 809 at Vickery in Fort Worth, Texas. Purple ombre escort cards played off the purple shades of the bridesmaid dresses. At the top of the wall, a glass sign announced “Find your seat.”
The table numbers, a sign directing people to the guest book and a clear card box featured white lettering on clear glass.
There was some concern that it might rain during the reception at 809 at Vickery in Fort Worth, Texas. “We deferred to our planner to make the call,” Audrey says of whether they should go to plan B (moving indoors). Their planner kept the party outdoors, adding a bug-spray table to combat the mosquitoes.
“We were inspired by the overall industrial glam concept,” Audrey says of the reception decor at 809 at Vickery in Fort Worth, Texas. Tables were set with gray linens, lavender napkins, silver chargers, custom menus carrying the same geometric design as the invitations', floral arrangements placed in concrete or cylinder vases and glass table numbers. “The contrast between different materials with the use of concrete vs. glass can be seen throughout the tables to reflect the inspiration,” Audrey says. “It creates an industrial yet elegant look overall.”
Audrey and Paul’s glass chairs announced their new titles.
Audrey and Paul served four flavors of cupcakes, including their favorite: maple bacon.
The cupcakes were placed on clear cupcake stands, and each had a geometric design on top with different colors of purple to match the invitations and menus.
The cake had a finish that gave it the appearance of welded metal, going with the industrial theme.
A food truck was an alternative to traditional edible favors. Guests enjoyed its grilled cheese sandwiches after dancing.
Audrey and Paul danced to "P.Y.T." by Michael Jackson. “We wanted something different and memorable,” she says. They took dance lessons and surprised guests with a choreographed routine.