A Nüage Designs Guide to: Industrial Spaces

You walk into the venue, with it’s exposed brick walls, oversized windows and perfectly broken in feel and you know it immediately, “This is the one.” We too love the charm of an industrial space, rich with history and it’s unique quirks – and that’s just the beginning. There’s really nothing like an industrial venue when it comes to designing an event, they are the perfect canvas! Let’s start dreaming up your perfect party…

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First things first, let’s assess what we’re working with and really emphasize the space, instead of fighting with it. From the high ceilings to the brick walls, industrial spaces set a great backdrop. Use the loftiness to play with dimension – stringing lights or hanging decor pieces at different heights. An installation piece like this can be a fun photo opportunity for hosts and guests alike. Even the bricks themselves add so much to the atmosphere. Use their raw texture with similar elements or soften them by pairing with delicate details. This dreamcatcher-inspired escort card display from Lemiga Events hangs from an existing metal sconce, adding a touch of whimsy to the design while staying true to the industrial vibe!

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Let the light shine in! The oversized windows that are iconic of industrial spaces let in the most incredible natural light. Take advantage of this shining clarity to start your party in the bright afternoon and watch it roll in to the magical dusk hour. We love how the windows also double as stunning built-in accents. Their frames alone are beautiful to look at or great to accent with decor items – such as hanging succulents or candle runners along the bottom.

And of course, don’t miss the chance for a dreamy picture with lovely light flooding in through the window panes. We love the magical effect it gives off!

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Now, as lovely as all those brick walls and exposed beams are, they can get a little stark at times. Here’s where we bring in some color to warm up the party. Anything goes in an industrial space, whether you’re thinking bright pink with hints of orange or calming blues with touches of yellow, just have some fun with it! We really love this design by Raquel Mideau from Lemiga Events. She combines shades of yellow with delicate touches of blue and green to create a really natural and soft palette. Even the smallest accent of color can really make a big effect here, so consider adding it in the flowers or paper details if you want to keep color to a minimum.

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In the same way that adding color warms up the space, bringing in textures will also have that effect. Playing off of the raw qualities of the space, we love to incorporate natural textiles like burlap, linen and cotton. Bringing in these fibers adds a big tactile dimension to the event! When you think of textiles, don’t just limit it to what you’ll dress the table with, think of plush tufted furniture, fun tasseled pillows and small accents like velvet ribbon. A little can go a long way here in softening the space and creating a cozy atmosphere for guests.

With your industrial venue as a beautiful blank canvas, there really are no limits to what you can design so don’t let the nitty gritty bog you down. To make sure it’s a seamless night, we love using Eventbrite’s event management software so the evening goes off without a hitch! We encourage diving deep into your imagination to see how you can transform the space, let it tell a lovely story and take you wherever you want to go for one magical night!

Photographer Elle Golden | Planning & Design Raquel Mideau for Lemiga Events | Stationery Courtney Khail | Floral + Design Amanda Jewel | Rental Furniture Sejour Events | Linen Nuage Designs | Tableware West Elm, Ponce City Market | Bridal Gowns The White Magnolia | Groom Attire The Modern Gent | Accessories Perfect Details | Styling Assistant Andrea Richardson Beautiful Wild Design | Wedding Cake For Goodness Cakes  | Hair & Makeup – J’Denelle, Khadijah Jordan and Scoobie for Scoobie West & Company | Model Styling Chawncia Bythwood

Southern Simplicity

Oh, the South. How we dream of warm days surrounded by dreamy landscapes listening to the sound of that lovely Southern drawl. There’s something so impossibly romantic about the South. Perhaps it’s their loyalty to tradition, chivalrous manners, or just the flat-out great hospitality that can be found there…or maybe it’s just the pecan pie. Whatever is in the air down there, we can’t get enough of it!

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When we saw this gorgeous wedding come together in North Carolina at the hands of Rebecca Rose Events, we had no words. The beauty of this design lies in its simple elegance.

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Set against a sea of ivory hues with hints of champagne and gold, it will certainly stand the test of time. And all those Magnolias, with their leaves a deep shade of green and each bloom perfectly crafted, stole our hearts. A gorgeous symbol of the South, the Magnolia arrangements from Reggie’s Flower Shoppe, ranging from high to low centerpieces, lush table runners and an unbelievable hanging centerpiece are absolute show-stoppers.

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With it’s boundless nature and beautiful people, we’re ready to book it down South for the season. So bring on the lemonade and boiled peanuts because frankly my dear, we don’t give a damn!

Designer's-Picks

Photographer Landon Jacob Photography | Videographer Inkspot Crow Films | Planner Rebecca Rose Events | Ceremony Venue St. Paul’s Episcopal Church | Reception Venue and Caterer Old Town Club | Florist Reggie’s Flower Shoppe | Cake Baker Cakes by Chloe | Lighting, Tenting, Chairs, China, Glassware, and Flatware Party Reflections | Band Big Swing and the Ballroom Blasters | Cocktail Hour and Dinner Music Jazz Trio by Allegro Music | Paper Products Rebecca Rose Creative | Bride’s Gown “Amour” by Kenneth Pool | Bride’s Veil Alexia’s Bridal | Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist Makeup for Your Day | Bride’s Shoes Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Dresses Style #740 in Navy by Bill Levkoff | Bridal Salon J Major’s Bridal Boutique | Menswear Jean Yves | Linens La Tavola and Nuage Designs | Envelope Calligraphy Elizabeth Porcher Jones

Spring Fling

With spring officially upon us it’s the perfect time to bust out our brightest colors and boldest patterns and embrace the beautiful season! As the flowers bloom, each one a more stunning shade of pink than the last, our hearts could nearly burst with happiness. Wondering if everyone else felt the same joys of spring as us, we reached out to a few friends in Chicago, Dallas and Charleston to find out. Spoiler art: the answer is yes!

First up, we took to Charleston, South Carolina. With all the beautiful happenings in this quaint city, we were more than thrilled when Yoj Events invited us to be a part of the Bliss & Bespoke retreat. And when we sat down to this final dinner? Well, we could barely contain ourselves!

The gorgeous design, combining a Charleston garden party feel with a Moroccan vibe, drawn from the unique seating, came to be called the “Southern Moroccan Garden Party.” Never shy when it comes to design, Yoj Events loves to play with all the amazing things that can be done with bold colors – insisting that florals can still pop when combined with the right layers of metallics and hues. We love how the juxtaposition of the geometric pattern on these adorable plates against the organic watercolors from stationery and linens.

From the Designer, on Spring Weddings: My advice is to not be afraid of colors you love. Anything, when used in the proper context with the right florals and textures is completely appropriate for the season. For florals, everything pretty and fluffy and colorful is amazing in the spring…use it (hello peonies)!!

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Hopping over to Chicago, we met with Hey Gorgeous Events at the Trouvaille Workshop. Although Rhiannon Bosse is a Michigan native, she took to the windy city to host a week of workshops and called us to join in on the fun! Imagine our delight waking up to find breakfast at this dreamy table. We could certainly get used to this!

Rhiannon admits falling just a little bit in love with this watercolor linen the moment she saw it. The decision to use such a vibrant print this early in the morning was easy – she wanted something unexpected and fresh to get everyone revved up! We love how the details were thoughtfully considered – stems of pink hydrangeas, napkins with a bright yellow border playfully wrapped with delicate pink bows and simple vineyard wood folding chairs – keeping the tablescape looking light and airy.

From the Designer, on Spring Weddings: Spring is hands down the best time of the year to get married if you’re looking for an incredible variety with florals. Peonies, lilacs, cherry blossoms, garden roses from American based family farms, ranunculus blooms, sweet peas; these are just a sampling of the gorgeous product bursting out of the cooler at our floral market come spring!

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Traveling down south to Dallas, we met with Jordan Payne events for this glamorous styled shoot. With her love of fashion (and impeccable style!), Jordan was inspired by the timeless femininity of Chanel and the avant-garde designs of Alexander McQueen when dreaming up this design.

A self-professed obsession with bright colors and watercolor finishes led Jordan straight to this print as a focal design point. Wanting to add dimension to the tablescape, she mixed in different textures and gold tones – with special attention to the unique metal drip effect of the chargers. On first impression, it may look rather whimsical but look closely, you’ll find a nod to McQueen in the beautiful black butterflies and black lace trim accents scattered throughout – making this a perfect balance of light and dark.   

From the Designer, on Spring Weddings:  I always say to my brides, pick a color palette that reflects you and what you want to see in your memories. Take advantage of those amazing blooms that are in season—dogwood, cherry blossom, peonies, lilac and anemones!

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Just as we guessed, spring is clearly the most wonderful time of the year! So enjoy the pretty blooms, clear skies and cool weather because before we know it, spring will be gone as quickly as it arrived, leaving us waiting until we meet again next year!

Black, White and Sequined!

There’s nothing that gets our heart racing like a wedding decked out in beautiful B&W décor. The ultimate chic color palette, we love seeing how it’s reimagined time and time again.

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This northern Michigan wedding, set against a bright blue day on lake Michigan, combines a lovely outdoor ceremony with an elegant tented celebration.

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The guest tables shimmered with black sequin linens contrasting against the flowing white draping of the tent, with a stunning black chandelier hung from the center. We love how Rhiannon, of Hey Gorgeous Events, brought some warmth in to the design, adding in champagne and rose elements throughout the room. And our favorite part of the evening? Seeing the couple’s first dance on that shiny black and white checkerboard dance floor – what a perfect balance!

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Designer's-Picks

Photography Harrison Studio | Planning, Design and Florals Hey Gorgeous Events | Videography Zara Creative | Venue Stafford’s Perry Hotel | Linens Nuage Designs | Gown Reem Acra via Belle Vie Bridal Couture | Bride’s shoes Badgley Mischka | Invitations Smitten on Paper | Menus Aerialist Press | Calligraphy Laura Hooper Calligraphy | Cake Bella e Dolce | String Trio Bayshore Strings | Entertainment Pluister Entertainment | Hair Billy Dixon, 6 Salon | Rentals Special Events Rental