Turning a great venue into a thoughtful guest experience is the ideal for any wedding reception. At their Detroit wedding venue, the Whiskey Factory, Alex and Brian curated an unforgettable evening for their friends and family. This wedding was an especially joyful one for me to photograph because Alex and I have been friends since childhood. I loved photographing her wedding in Detroit where so much of her love story with Brian unfolded.
The Whiskey Factory: A Detroit Wedding Venue
The Whiskey Factory is a Detroit wedding venue situated in a working distillery. Since it was originally an industrial space, it’s large with an open floor plan. The Whiskey Factory manages to feel warm and inviting. The brick walls lit by strings of market lights create an elegant atmosphere. Even though Detroit City Distillery is making small batch spirits in the building, it doesn’t feel sterile. Florals and linens go a long way to adding romance to celebrations nestled between whiskey barrels.
One of the coolest features of this Detroit wedding venue is the option to add tasting packages for your guests. If you’re getting married in a distillery, you might as well enjoy it! The Whiskey Factory can make batched signature cocktails. They also can provide seasonal cocktails crafted for Detroit City Distillery’s location in Eastern Market. Alex and Brian offered their guests shots upon their arrival. All of these options make for really unique experiences for guests.
The Whiskey Factory is located on the edge of Greektown. It’s about a mile from Downtown Detroit and not far from Lafayette Park and the Detroit River. The location is very convenient for locals and out-of-towners.
A Snowy Winter Wedding
The week leading up to Alex and Brian’s Detroit wedding was beautiful. Temperatures even reached the 70s. On the day of their wedding, though, it snowed steadily. It added such a beautiful touch to the day! Alex’s getting ready room had a great view of the snow falling on the city. These quiet portraits are some of my favorite images of the year.
The weather didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, but we had to adjust our plans for the first look. We drove to their Detroit wedding venue, The Whiskey Factory. It worked out perfectly. We didn’t have to rush through portraits in the brief amount of daylight that would be left after the ceremony.
After the first look, we headed back to the Greektown Hotel for wedding party portraits. The ceremony was at Old St. Mary’s just across the street. Alex and Brian did an excellent job choosing locations that would be easy to navigate for their guests!
Curating a Thoughtful Guest Experience
The past couple of years have brought a lot of challenges for Alex’s family. I am amazed at how Alex and Brian showed up in their planning process despite everything going on around them. Alex is one of the strongest people that I know, so it was really joyful to be able to watch them have a beautiful day together.
The Whiskey Factory was the perfect Detroit wedding venue for the celebration that Alex and Brian wanted to create. Guests absolutely loved the signature cocktails and tasting experiences. It definitely set the exception apart from your typical dinner and dancing.
I love this Detroit wedding venue because it’s such a sensory experience. In addition to the romantic decor and cozy lighting, the smells are wonderful. As soon as I walked into Alex and Brian’s reception, I noticed the combination of spirits and lush greenery from the tables.
Alex and Brian did such a great job of making their loved ones feel seen. They even chose to get married on Alex’s parents’ anniversary. To celebrate, they joined Alex and Brian on the floor for their first dance. It was a very special moment.
Would you like me to photograph your wedding? Let’s document your day with photos you can feel. Reach out to me!
Thanks to all of the vendors who made Alex and Brian’s romantic wedding possible:
Reception Venue: Whiskey Factory Detroit
Ceremony Venue: Old St. Mary’s Catholic Church
Rentals: Detroit Chiavari
Decor: Clink and Co.
Florist: Lindsey Houghton
Photography: Olivia Yuen
Video: HanDesigned Hannah Terwin
Catering/Baking: Chowhound Gourmet
Hair: Natasha Gee & Payton
