Who We Are
A venue shaped by reinvention, guided by people, and built for celebrations that feel like you.
We are The Venues at The Factory, an industrial-chic wedding and event space in the heart of Manchester, New Hampshire.
We believe your venue should do more than look beautiful. It should support your vision, remove friction, and make planning feel steady and collaborative instead of overwhelming.
That’s why we pair flexible, design-forward spaces with real planning support and a team that shows up calm, prepared, and genuinely invested in your experience.
You bring the vision.
We help you bring it to life.
THE EXPERIENCE
Guided planning. Adaptable spaces. A celebration that unfolds naturally.
The result of our approach is a planning process that feels grounded, collaborative, and genuinely enjoyable, paired with a celebration that feels personal, intentional, and well cared for.
Couples choose us because they want:
Creative freedom without chaos
Clear guidance without rigidity
A space that adapts to them, not the other way around
From your first walkthrough to your final send-off, our role is to help things feel simpler, calmer, and more aligned every step of the way.
Built on Values.
This is how we work.
Our values shape how we plan, communicate, and show up on event day.
They are not slogans.
They are why our couples feel heard, our partners feel respected, and our team shows up with care and pride.
-
Better Together
True partnership with couples, vendors, and each other
-
Everyone Belongs Here
Inclusive, affirming, and assumptions-free by design
-
Calm Is Our Superpower
Steady, capable, and confident that every challenge is figureoutable.
-
Radical Clarity
Transparency, communication, and shared understanding.
-
Honor the Vision
Your day, your style, guided by experience
Our Story
Reinvention is in our DNA. This building has never stopped adapting—and neither have we.
-
1904
Humble Beginnings
The story begins as the W.H. McElwain Shoe Factory, back when Manchester was proudly known as Shoe City. These floors supported one of America’s largest footwear manufacturers, producing everything from dress shoes to military boots.
When you walk inside today, you are standing on the same timber and brick that once powered a global industrial giant.
-
1945–2000s
A Bridge Between Eras
As manufacturing evolved, so did the building. Instead of standing still, it became a place of learning, innovation, and transition.
Over the decades, it served as:
A State Trade School educating future craftsmen
A thriving circuit board manufacturer for more than 30 years, beginning in the 1970s
This space has always been about what comes next.
-
2019
A Thoughtful Rebirth
Award-winning developer Liz Hitchcock led a meticulous adaptive reuse project, transforming the building into The Factory on Willow.
Today, it is a vibrant live-and-work community home to more than 60 tenants and 16 on-site Airbnb residences. Original beams, exposed brick, and expansive windows were restored and celebrated, not hidden.
The result is a striking blend of historic character and modern design, built to support how people live, work, and gather today.
-
2022
A Space Comes Alive
The building began welcoming thoughtfully curated events, bringing new energy and connection into the space.
The original plant wall, designed by Alyssa of Apotheca, became an early signature and a symbol of growth. -
2023 and Beyond
Listening, Evolving, Refining
The Venues at The Factory officially launched by listening closely to how people truly gather and celebrate.
We refined the space with intention: a moody Lounge for modern cocktail moments, flexible draping that scales with guest count, built-in projectors for meaningful moments, and expanded indoor-outdoor flow through the Terrace and Courtyard.
Guided by a simple belief: lead with partnership, create inclusive experiences, stay calm and clear, and always honor your vision.
MEET OUR TEAM
-
Marlana
FOUNDER & VENUE DIRECTOR
-
Courtney
WEDDING & EVENT COORDINATOR
-
Taylor
WEDDING & EVENT COORDINATOR
-
Julia
FINANCE DIRECTOR
-
Bridget
GUEST EXPERIENCE
-
Alice
VENUE COORDINATOR
-
Kim
VENUE COORDINATOR
-
Jenna
GUEST EXPERIENCE
-
Amy
GUEST EXPERIENCE
-
Join Our Team
Fill out an Application HERE