Wedding Planning Guide for your Machine Shop Wedding
minneapolis, minnesota MACHINE SHOP
photo by: Russell Heeter
At Style-Architects Weddings, we have extensive experience with Minneapolis venues due to our decades of wedding planning and design experience. Amongst them, Machine Shop always manages to stay top of the preferred venue list. Located in the heart of Northeast Minneapolis, this one-of-a-kind venue blends industrial edge with modern refinement, making it a favorite for couples who want a wedding that’s both bold and deeply personal. In this feature, we’ll share exactly why we love planning weddings at Machine Shop, with imagery and our best insider planning tips for transforming this venue to meet your dream vision.
Originally a historic machinery building, this light-filled venue offers soaring ceilings, whitewashed brick walls, polished concrete floors, and jaw-dropping architectural details. Each detail paired with each other creates a venue that feels intimate, refined, and completely customizable to your personal style. Whatever it is you envision for your dream wedding, Machine Shop is a space that rises to meet your imagination.
photos by: Matt Lien
why we love working at machine shop
Machine Shop is a designer’s dream. The clean, neutral palette and flexible floor plan allow for creativity without limitations. We love how each celebration here feels unique and never overly styled. It’s a rare type of venue that truly adapts your vision, rather than the other way around.
Its location is also unbeatable. Just minutes from downtown Minneapolis, guests have access to nearby hotels, great restaurants for welcome dinners or farewell brunches, and vibrant nightlife for those post-reception celebrations.
photos by: Russell Heeter
what makes machine shop weddings special
From the moment you enter the space, Machine Shop makes a statement. But beyond its aesthetic appeal, it’s the thoughtful design of the venue that makes it stand out. The built-in rigging system, mezzanine level, and stylish main floor bar give you the freedom to create moments of surprise throughout the evening.
We've seen this venue transformed into moody, candlelit winter weddings, colorful Indian celebrations, and spring soirées bursting with texture. It can be minimalist or maximalist, but whichever way you swing, it’s always stunning.
photos by: Russell Heeter
machine shop spaces
Machine Shop is a single-event venue that offers exclusive access to its entire space, including:
Main Floor – Ideal for ceremonies, receptions, and dancing. The truss system allows for major visual impact with lighting or florals.
photos by: Russell Heeter, Shane Long, Laura Rae
The Mezzanine – Perfect for cocktail hour or intimate ceremonies, with a beautiful view over the main space. It serves as an effortless space for guests to gather between ceremony and reception.
photos by: Russell Heeter, Cadence & Eli
Private Suites – Two spacious getting-ready rooms for wedding parties to relax and prepare before the festivities begin.
photos by: Russell Heeter
what type of couple will love machine shop?
Couples who are drawn to clean lines, intentional design, and an elevated city atmosphere will absolutely fall in love with Machine Shop. It’s ideal for those who appreciate modern architecture, want flexibility in their design vision, and are looking for a venue that stands out. If you dream of a gorgeous hanging installation, then this is venue is perfect for you!
photos by: Photogen, Inc.
our insider planning and design tips for a machine shop wedding
Ceremony in the round: Creates a powerful focal point and a feeling of intimacy, especially with a hanging installation above. During the ceremony, it ensures that all guests, no matter their seat, have a perfect view of the vows.
Rigging system magic: Take advantage of the truss! The adjustable truss allows for incredible floral chandeliers, draped fabric, or statement lighting; all without needing a scissor lift. The best part is that this installation can be used for the ceremony and reception, always drawing guests’ eyes to the center and highlighting the couple. We regularly anchor the head or sweetheart table beneath the installation and lower the installation for one impressive focal point in the room.
Seamless transitions: For events with a live band, we often conceal musicians behind soft draping during the ceremony for a seamless transition into dinner and dancing.
Mezzanine design moments: Upstairs, the spacious mezzanine makes room flips feel effortless, and we often bring in color via cocktail linens or lounge furniture to create a warm, welcoming energy before dinner. Machine Shop allows club chairs and accent tables from the lower bar to be brought upstairs, so even if you don’t have the budget to rent lounge groupings, you can create a similar vibe with furniture already onsite.
Mixed-table layouts: Machine Shop is the perfect venue for this. Combining long guest tables with round guest tables creates dynamic movement in the room, and offers a chance to layer textures and materials for visual interest.
Avoid white linens: There is plenty of white in the space, so we always suggest adding some color or pattern to break up the “sea of the same.”
photos by: Laura Rae, Cadence & Eli, Russell Heeter, Photogen Inc.
what’s the ideal budget for a machine shop wedding?
For a wedding at Machine Shop with approximately 150–175 guests, we recommend a starting budget of $80,000 or more. This generally covers venue rental, catering and bar service, planning and design, florals, photography, rentals, and entertainment.
If design is a priority, especially if you're envisioning a statement-making floral installation, custom lighting, or immersive guest experiences, you’ll want to allocate additional budget. Thanks to Machine Shop’s built-in rigging system, it’s the perfect canvas for showstopping design moments. But those high-impact elements do require a thoughtful investment.
The good news? Because of how the space is designed, your dollars go further. For example, the lowerable truss means no scissor lift rental is needed, which allows more of your budget to go directly toward the visual wow-factor.
photos by: Russell Heeter
ways that we’ve transformed this venue to meet every couple’s vision
Want to see how we’ve transformed Machine Shop? Every image featured in this article shows a wedding we meticulously planned within this space. To view more, check out our list of real wedding galleries below!
Kelly & Patrick: Wildflowers Wedding
Nan & Rishi: Vibrant, Contemporary Indian Wedding
Alex & Luke: Modern Monochromatic Wedding
If you're dreaming up something special and aren't sure where to begin, we’re here to help. Our design service packages are tailored to guide you through the process with expertise, style, and a little bit of magic. Let’s bring your vision to life!
photo by: Summit Hill Studios
mother-daughter
dream team
Hey there! We’re Rachelle and Anna—mother and daughter…by law, but we like to think of it as family by design. Rachelle’s been in the wedding and events world for over two decades, and for half of that time, she’s had Anna by her side. Our love for details and logistics pairs perfectly with our skill for style and design, making us the ultimate left-brain/right-brain dream team. That’s why we’re called Style-Architects Weddings! We’re obsessed with what we do, and with over 20 awards under our belt, we’re confident we can turn your dream day into a reality.
Together, we provide award-winning, high-end wedding planning services tailored to discerning couples in Minnesota and beyond. With a focus on meticulous design, seamless execution, and personalized experiences, we bring each couple’s unique vision to life while managing every detail with professionalism and care. Our expert teamwork combines creativity and precision to ensure a flawless celebration, reflecting sophistication and elegance at every step.