Bring the Warehouse to Your Wedding: 2016’s Industrial Chic Trend

Bare Edison bulbs hanging above market bistro chairs, fern centerpieces, giant Jenga blocks, rose gold tones – what kind of mismatched craze is this? According to sales manager and coordinator Meghan Clapp Garrison of Dover Rent All Tents & Events, this gorgeous smorgasbord is part of the 2016 wedding look: Industrial chic.

“We’re seeing last year’s rustic theme morph into warehouse style venues with an old theater feel,” Clapp Garrison said. Mixtures of woods and metals, metallic color combinations, and antique furnishings come together to form a charming industrial vibe.

From string lights to eucalyptus centerpieces, the 2016 wedding is as much about coziness as it is keeping guests occupied. It’s not unusual to see people playing cornhole during cocktail hour, serving themselves food, or bringing a friend into a DIY photo booth.

Instead of the traditional round table and formal sit-down service, guests are encouraged to get up and move around. Mixing table shapes and sizes keeps the wedding from looking like a business conference, and a family-style food service makes large events feel more intimate and personable. Accent tables offer even more dimension to the room with sequins, copper, and textured linen. Mismatched antique plates and glassware complement differing centerpieces, from wildflowers in colorful vases to candlesticks for warm ambience.

Clapp Garrison also has seen more requests for clear top frame tents as well as greenery over florals, both of which hint at a preference for outdoor weddings in the upcoming season.

“Having lots of lush greenery and twinkle lights suspended from above the tent give an open and airy feel while still bringing in the starry night,” she said.

Location is a big factor in planning as well. Venues like Nassau Valley Vineyards attract a shabby-chic look while weddings at the Indian River Life-Saving Station are more beach party-themed, with lounge chairs and paper lanterns that make for a casual affair.

“There isn’t a wrong or right way to have a wedding anymore,” Clapp Garrison said. “Couples are creating their own traditions that make for a truly unique experience.”