In my early twenties, I yearned for a loft lifestyle. I envisioned myself riding home from an artsy job, on an artsy bicycle (with a basket on the front to hold a paperback and fresh flowers) to my loft in the warehouse district of Toronto. I envisioned my loft to have high ceilings and massive windows letting in loads of natural light. Kinda like this (except with lots of colorful art on the walls):
Loft living never materialized for this chick, (I’m a suburban gal with a lawn full of doggy doo and dandelions) but I’m still in love with the look of these open spaces. And I think they make a superb setting for a wedding.
Raw spaces, such as lofts and warehouses (they can also include yoga studios, ballrooms, gymnasiums and exhibition spaces) are like a blank canvas. Although they can require work to transform for a wedding, they’re perfect for creative couples who want to create a one-of-kind event. Check out the following picture which is the above space transformed for an event:
And according to Kate Harrison’s The Green Bride Guide, raw spaces are ideal for couples who want an eco-friendly event because generally you will be able to hand-pick all of your vendors.
Here are a few more images of raw spaces that offer rentals for weddings and other events.
Photo One: Divine Studio, New York; Photo Two: Divine Studio, New York; Photo Three: Galapagos Art Space, New York; Photo Four: Ramscale, New York; Photo Five: The Richmond, Toronto

There can be an added expense of having to rent everything and delivering to a raw space, but the finished product is worth the expense. Rather than dealing with conventional venues, using a raw space allows you to transform the room into any motif, theme or design that fits your style. The individuality that you are able to express makes the day more intimate and meaningful.