When Food Network star and pastry chef par excellence Duff Goldman married Johnna Colbry in 2019, their wedding made headlines. Most of the attention was due to Goldman’s celebrity, but the couple’s venue choice was also newsworthy.
The ceremony was at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles.
E online reported that 250 close friends and family joined the couple “for a heartfelt, interfaith ceremony held in the museum's T-rex exhibit room.”
Their wedding planner, Mindy Weiss, said the couple knew the site was right for them from their first visit.
"When they walked into the Natural History Museum, not only did they feel, instantly, that this was the location, but they also found humor in their guests being surrounded by wild animals," Weiss said.
While not everyone seeks humor as an undertone for their wedding, a museum setting can also infuse timeless elegance, stunning beauty, or special meaning into your nuptials.
If you’re considering the possibility of exchanging vows in the midst of great art, scientific discoveries, or even whimsical children’s exhibits, we’ve curated some insights that can help you.
Stunning Visuals
First of all, museums are a fantastic way to incorporate memorable visual elements into your wedding.
Many museum buildings are appealing in their own right.
As the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS) in Florida points out, “A museum oftentimes has beautiful architectural features that set the tone for what’s to come. Typically, there is a central focal piece that provides guests with a breathtaking moment upon entering the museum.”
In the Houston area, for example, you’ll find the exquisite Japanese design elements at Asia Society Texas Center and art deco architecture at the stunning 1940 Air Terminal Houston. Houston’s Czech Center Museum describes its setting as a “Baroque Palace, reminiscent of European castles.”
And if you factor in exhibits, whether it’s an example of contemporary crafts, something that explains the workings of the human body, or towering dinosaurs, you have the ingredients for an unforgettable wedding setting.
Photo courtesy Hormel Foods
When You’ve Got to Be You
Museums also offer an opportunity to create an event that’s uniquely you. Consider the wedding of a British SPAM® lover (the canned meat, not the stuff that goes into your email file) at the SPAM Museum in Austin, Minnesota.
Mark I Love SPAM Benson — he legally changed his name to make his feelings known — says his devotion to SPAM is rooted in positive childhood memories and family history. His grandfather and uncle both worked at the Newforge Foods Factory, where the first can of SPAM in the UK was manufactured.
Knowing what it would mean to him, Benson’s fiancée, Anne Mousley, surprised him by arranging a wedding at the SPAM Museum.
“The groom's love for the brand was brought to life through a variety of wedding-day details including SPAM® brand colored bouquets of roses, a SPAM-themed wedding cake, and SPAMatizers™ for guests to enjoy following the ceremony,” a Hormel Foods press release said.
OK, you might not want to go to quite the same lengths to express your love for, say, ancient civilizations, modern art, or pop culture, but you get the idea. Museum wedding venues are perfect places to celebrate and reflect the things that matter to you on one of the most important days of your life.
Budget-Friendly Options
As with all venues, prices run the gamut for weddings at museums. But there certainly are affordable options to be found.
What’s more, as some museums will tell you, going with a museum setting can help you cut costs on your décor — especially if you go with an art museum — and you’ll have built-in entertainment for guests.
“Most museums offer the option to leave museum galleries open for your guests to tour upon arrival, during cocktail hour, and even during the reception,” MOAS recently wrote. “This added feature allows your guests to really engage in your wedding setting.”
That said, we encourage you to research prospective museum venues thoroughly so you know exactly what you and your guests can expect from them.
Special Considerations
While you’re exploring your options, it’s worthwhile to find out if the museum you’re considering will let you host both your ceremony and your reception there. As MarthaStewart.com recently pointed out, some museums allow only receptions.
You’ll also want to ask how many guests the museum can accommodate, which rooms/areas are available for events, what days they’re available, and what kind of services and support they offer bridal customers.
While some traditional wedding venues have in-house catering, you likely will need to line up an outside catering service for a museum venue. You should also ask if the venue provides rentals like linens and tableware.
Whether you want to exchange vows in the presence of artistic masterpieces or surrounded by unique historical artifacts, chances are good you can find a place that works for you.