What You Need to Know About Hosting a Wedding at a Museum

There are numerous venues to choose from for your ceremony and/or reception, including hotels and resorts, banquet halls, wineries, farms, castles, private estates, and many more. If you're looking for something different, we recommend visiting a museum! From opulent art museums to natural history museums, the venue type is a sure way to impress your guests. We've got some tips for you if you're planning a wedding at a museum.

Read on for our advice on hosting a museum wedding!

A night at the museum is something special - and no, we're not referring to the Ben Stiller comedy that brought exhibits to life on the big screen. Rather, we envision artfully imagined weddings held among priceless works of art. We frequently coordinate events at Atlanta's Millennium Gate Museum. While you may have previously enjoyed perusing a gallery or two during business hours, getting up close and personal with dinosaur fossils while attending an after-hours wedding reception is an entirely different experience (with a glass of Chardonnay in hand, no less). Let's take a look at the logistics of having a wedding at a museum!

The Set-Up

Because museums are open to the public during the day, preparations for a private event usually begin later than they would at a hotel ballroom or other event space - we're talking a 5 PM start time at a museum versus an early morning start time at most other venues. However, with a carefully planned timeline and a strong vendor team in place, you can be confident that set-up will go off without a hitch!

The Look

If you've decided to hold your wedding or event at a museum, it's likely that something about the space or a specific exhibit within the museum drew you in. Instead of trying to hide the fact that your guests will be enjoying cocktail hour among ancient fossils or spectacular art, why not play it up? This doesn't mean you have to go with a super theme, but you can incorporate a small nod to your favourite exhibit or play off the colour scheme already in place. In short, at a museum, highlighting what makes your event space unique and interesting is the way to go.

The Experience

We're willing to bet that the majority of your wedding or event guests don't have the opportunity to privately tour a museum (while sipping a cocktail!). Although different rules apply at different museums, there is usually a way to incorporate drinks, live music, dancing, and other must-have elements into your event. Depending on the museum, you might consider hosting a progressive event that spans multiple levels - it's a great way to expose guests to as many exhibits as possible, creating a truly unique experience!

3 Things to Remember When Planning a Museum Wedding:

1. Read your contract, then read it again

Every hotel and museum event venue has a set of rules that are spelled out in the fine print, but museums have more specific rules in place to protect their exhibits. A museum wedding may not be for you if you are passionate about serving red wine or saying goodbye to your guests with a sparkler exit, for example.

2. Confirm what the museum can offer in terms of furniture and rentals

Aside from making sure you like the look of the museum's tables and chairs, you should also inquire about the museum's availability of items for your wedding. Book Millennium Gate Museum for wedding!

3. Exhibits come and go

While your favourite artist's work may be on display at the museum you chose, it could be a temporary exhibit. Check the museum's exhibition schedule for your wedding date!