Colorful Fusion Machine Shop Wedding | Irina & Pavan
Irina and Pavan came to me with their venue and a vision - they wanted to create a personalized, thoughtful wedding that blended both of their cultures and love story. Irina, a veterinarian student and ardent horse lover hailing from Minnesota met Pavan, a second generation Indian-American from Portland while they were both living in Chicago. One of the reasons they decided to get married in Minneapolis was because it was a great central destination for their guests traveling from all over. Irina's parents were thrilled because that allowed them to be more involved in the planning, and host wedding weekend events at their home.
They selected the iconic industrial venue, the Machine Shop, for their wedding ceremony and reception. They loved the historic elements and the fact that it was a blank slate for design and decor. It is one of Minneapolis' best wedding venues for so many reasons, but the natural light and ability to hang unique and epic installations in the center of the space from their truss are my top two.
While they had a clear idea of how they wanted their wedding to feel (fun, beautiful, stunning, loving, "lit") they didn't know how to translate that into the overall design. When searching for inspiration on Pinterest they stumbled across Ellora & Ishan's wedding and decided to give me a call, and I'm so happy they did! After our initial design meetings I got to work dreaming BIG - I knew I had to transform the space like it had never been before. I used the architecture of the Jaipur City Palace as a major source of inspiration. The scalloped horseshoe arch became a dominant theme throughout. The horseshoe arch because Irina is obsessed with horses?! Oh, this is just the start... see how many horse references you can find throughout the wedding!
I worked with a graphic designer to create a custom pattern that had an Indian feel with scroll work, floral elements, and mandalas, but upon closer inspection the pattern contained elements that signified Irina and Pavan as well. For Irina, some horses, for Pavan, some music notes, and for the two of them together, paintbrushes. They took up painting during the pandemic as a joint hobby they both now love. This pattern was used for the invitation suite and paper goods, ceremony backdrop, and a gorgeous larger than life arch built to welcome guests to the space.
One of my favorite details was the horse escort cards. Each guest had a tiny personalized horse that was galloping around the table to direct them to their seat. So many guests gasped when they saw this display, immediately saying, "this is SO Irina!"
The color palette was warm and vibrant. Peach, pinks, yellow, and orange were accented by the most beautiful blue (the wedding party's attire was fire!) and tan. It was the perfect summer palette!
It wasn't just about the look though, the food was an essential component in creating the vibe and experience. We worked with Green Mangos Catering to craft a highly personalized menu, including recipes from Pavan's mom. Even the Indian guests said it was the best Indian food they had ever had! And the cake was a show stopper, a towering five tier beauty from Ink Sweets.
Music is Pavan's job so the soundtrack for the day was one of his top priorities. We worked closely with DJ Digie to create the perfect playlist fusing Top 40 and Bhangra jams. And I will never forget the flash mob during the parent dance and the amazing Bollywood choreography! I had a blast making this happen on the wedding day; all the guests were surprised and delighted to see something different then another series of special dances to slow songs. This set the tone for a high-energy reception with packed dance floor all night.
Thank you Irina & Pavan for trusting Rocket Science with your big day!
From the happy couple:
“Gretchen and her team gave us a truly dreamy wedding. The day-of management was impeccable - everything went smoothly/as planned, and my husband and I felt truly cared for on our special day. We also had so much fun planning the design with Gretchen. She has an eye for design no matter what your taste is! She also solved a VERY last minute dress emergency for me just days before our wedding. Couldn't have asked for a better planner!”
Finally, a huge thank you to all the other amazing vendors who helped make this day one of the best ever! Photos by Adrian Steinbach, video by Voyageur Motion Pictures (see the teaser film below!), fabric backdrop and lantern installation by Girl Friday, epic arch, ceremony screen and stage by Rush River Scenic, floral design by Apricot Floral, lighting and rigging by PHOS, linens from BBJ La Tavola, china, flatware, specialty cocktail glassware all the way from Chicago from The Festive Frog, other rentals by Apres Event Decor & Tent Rental, hair and makeup by Lady Vamp Artistry, henna by Gracious Henna.
This Indian fusion wedding was planned by the Event Scientists at Rocket Science Events. Need help with your own multicultural celebration? Get in touch, we would love to talk!