A Modern Industrial Wedding at The Whiskey Factory | Shelby and Josh

Every wedding has a vibe and Shelby and Josh’s modern industrial wedding at The Whiskey Factory was straight up fun. A pit stop at Eastern Market Brewing Co. for a pint during wedding part photo time? Yes please. Dogs coming down the aisle at the ceremony? Yes. A first shotski as husband and wife? Hell yes.

Shelby and Josh’s summer wedding day in downtown Detroit, Michigan was equal parts emotional (in the best, happiest way possible) and a party. It was an absolute dream to be a part of.

They both went to a small trade school in Michigan; Shelby for dental and Josh for medical. Josh caught Shelby’s eye and made the bold move of putting a note and her number on his car. When Josh never called, Shelby’s friend found Josh on Facebook, added him, and from there, Shelby and Josh started connecting. Over the next four years, they lived with Josh’s parents, found and moved into their own home, and learned to be the best partner’s they can be. After spending the day hauling boxes and moving into their new home with the help of friends of family, Josh proposed on the front lawn of the house. Josh had designed the ring for Shelby using the stone from his late grandmother’s ring. He pulled the ring off of the collar of their dog Gibson, and dropped down on one knee. Fast forward and Shelby and Josh celebrated their love for each other with a fun, casual modern industrial wedding.

For both Shelby and Josh, it was super important for them to enjoy the day, take their time through photos and have the space to soak in the day and be fully present. Wedding days fly by and when putting their timeline together, we prioritized location convenience to cut on transportation time and ample photo time throughout the day. So much so, that during their wedding party photos, we all popped in for a beer. The result is some of my favorite,l unique Detroit wedding party photos that are a perfect representation of Shelby and Josh’s fun vibe and love for breweries.

After spending the morning with Shelby at a rad Airbnb in Rivertown, and Josh at the Atheneum Hotel downtown, we all met for their first-look under the Eastern Market sheds. They read personal vows to one another that brought all of us to tears  (thank god for having a camera in front of my face!) before roaming around the neighborhood for photos. We then met up with their wedding party at Eastern Market Brewing Co. for photos of the group. 

Later, we made our way to the venue where Shelby and Josh said “I Do’ in front of their closest friends and family. Their dog Gibson was even a part of the crowd. Following their emotional yet funny ceremony, their guests made their way downstairs for cocktail hour. Meanwhile, the Whiskey Factory staff flipped the space for their reception while we took family photos and more photos of the now Mr. and Mrs. 

The space was beautifully transformed into a modern industrial affair with twinkly lights, unique rust and neutral florals in cement centerpieces, and a super cool whiskey barrel guest book. One of the best parts was definitely Shelby and Josh’s grand entrance where, as husband and wife, they threw back a shot with their custom shotski. It definitely set the tone for the rest of the evening. After speeches, dances and a strolling dinner, we snuck onto The Whiskey Factory’s rooftop overlooking downtown Detroit and Ford Field. We took advantage of a brief sunset through the clouds and Shelby and Josh enjoyed a few minutes away from their guests before tearing up the dance floor for the rest of the evening!

Shelby and Josh’s summer wedding in downtown Detroit was so fun to be a part of. They enjoyed every second of the day they designed to be truly representative of who they are as a couple. Their love and respect for one another was evident from miles away and it was the perfect day to celebrate such an amazing and fun-loving couple. 
From their intimate at-home engagement session to their wedding day, it’s been such a treat to work with Shelby and Josh. I’m so happy to call them dear friends today and can’t wait to see where they take life next. Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Tufnell!

The Dream Team:

Photography: Emily Kyle Photography | @emilykylephoto
Stationary: Minted | @mintedweddings and Shaytionery Designs | @shaytionerydesigns
Hair: Lauren Sherman | @laurenshermanhair_
Make Up: Chelsea Gurzick | @chelseagurzick
Florist: Twigs and Branches Floral | @tbfloral
Dress Designer: Lillian West Bridal | @bylillianwest
Dress Shop: The White Dress | @thewhitedressmi
Veil:  The White Dress | @thewhitedressmi
Shoes: Elegant Park 
Bride’s Rings: MB Jewelry Design
Groom’s Band: Rob And Lean Rings | @robandlean
Bridesmaids Zach: Azazie |  @azazieofficial
Groom’s Suit: Men’s Wearhouse | @menswearhouse
Groomsmen’s Suits: Men’s Wearhouse | @menswearhouse
Ceremony Venue: The Whiskey Factory |  @thewhiskeyfactory
Reception Venue:  The Whiskey Factory |  @thewhiskeyfactory
Dessert Bar: Two Unique | @2uniquecatering
Caterer: Two Unique | @2uniquecatering
DJ: Three Mates Entertainment | @threematesentertainment