Chic, Minimal Distillery Wedding in Detriot

Tyler Flanagan-Arguelles (30 and a talent acquisition executive) and Mark Szandzik (30 and a manager of data science and analytics) designed their wedding as a love letter to their home, Detroit. The couple started by finding their venue, The Whiskey Factory, former home of the Stroh’s factory, and filled the historic building with modern touches. Between the ceremony and reception, a guide gave guests a tour of the city. 
“Finding my jacket was actually more challenging than finding Tyler’s dress,” Mark says. The groom tried on 25 different blazers before stumbling upon the one that fit his vision.
“I wanted it to feel like our home when you walked in,” Tyler says. “Clean, modern and warm.” The only difference: barrels of Detroit whiskey.
The couple tied the knot on their fifth anniversary and the eve of Mark’s birthday, so birthday cake was necessary. Tyler and Mark opted out of a formal dinner, instead inviting guests to eat pretzels with beer cheese and Supino’s pizza. Guests picked place cards mounted in corks taken from bottles of Detroit City Distillery bourbon, which doubled as favors. “We’re craft cocktail lovers and major Detroit City Distillery fans,” Tyler says.
Gunmetal chairs and wood barrels struck an industrial note next to neutral linens, white calla lilies and greenery runners. After their first dance, Tyler and Mark slipped into contrasting Adidas tracksuits. “Comfort was a priority for us,” Tyler says.  At their seats, guests found playful, graphic menus and custom bonbon treats, complete with an illustrated wrapping of Tyler and Mark’s dog, Olive, reading “We love Olive you.”