A Modern, Industrial Wedding at Machine Shop in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dereck Flom (29 and works in supply chain) and Ryan Furlong (30 and works in communications) wanted their early summer wedding in Minneapolis to reflect their everyday style. The pair booked their venue months before construction had even been completed. “Machine Shop was unfinished, had construction equipment everywhere and a long way to go, but we immediately saw its potential,” Ryan says. “We booked it and took a chance on the space and the vision of its staff. It was worth it.” The grooms chose a cohesive color palette for the day: lighter grays, whites and marble for the ceremony; charcoal gray and pops of copper for the cocktail hour; and, finally, dark gray and copper accents at the reception. For the ceremony, Dereck and Ryan opted for a circular seating format, which allowed them to be surrounded by family and friends as they exchanged vows. Taking advantage of the Machine Shop's high ceilings, the pair incorporated both high, low and hanging centerpieces, which united the large space and highlighted the architecture. Tables were set with alternating shades of copper chargers, pewter linens, smoked wine glasses and romantic votives. A custom, six-foot chandelier made of 35 Edison bulbs hung over the head table. “As cocktail hour ended, the band immediately started playing and told everyone to get to the dance floor,” Ryan said of the newlyweds’ unforgettable start to their reception. “They had nearly every guest dancing before introducing us. We walked out and did our first dance with everyone surrounding us.” An eight-piece DJ and band hybrid played jazz music throughout dinner, then kept the dance floor busy all night with top hits.