There are countless great aspects of having your wedding and/or reception at a museum.

They
all have different themes, sizes, styles, and they’re pretty much everywhere. Plus, it’s likely that
many of your guests will be getting a brand-new wedding experience, adding to the fun of the
wedding day. While all museums may not rent out their space, there are also some stunning
examples below of engagement sessions (including a surprise engagement!) that are during a
museum’s normal hours. If these wedding are super inspiring for your future nuptials, check out
the list of Smithsonian museums that are now accepting reservations for events!

Real Couples // Natural History Museum Engagement:

Jess + Karolyn https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2017/5/18/real-couples-jess-
karolyn-1?rq=museum

Jess and Karolyn got engaged in “a private corner” of the Natural History Museum in London
and went back for a reminiscent engagement session. While it was a regular day of operation
for the museum, Nessa K. got plenty of photos of the couple at the top of the main staircase
around the balcony overlooking the main floor, and little secluded spots around the museum,
giving the illusion that they had the museum all to themselves. The Natural History Museum
also has dozens of windows that let in a dreamy sunlight that was perfect for their casual but
intimate shoot and the love caught in every frame.

Photos by Nessa K.
Real Couples // Cincinnati Sign Museum Wedding:
Megan+Dustin
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2016/8/24/real-couples-cincinnati-sign-museum-wedding-
megandustin?rq=museum

If eccentricity is your thing, Megan and Dustin’s wedding at the American Sign Museum in
Cincinnati (with a mini shoot beforehand at a cemetary) is something to behold. The ceremony
took place amid vintage neon signs that cast a unique red glow on the guests and the couple.
The reception was also inside the museum with plenty of space for tables and a dance floor.
Their photographers Corey and Alex Larrison loved the challenge of capturing the event in the
unusual lighting, and they did a fantastic job that makes every photo look different and
interesting.

Photos by Corey and Alex Larrison.

Real Couples // Intimate Poe Museum Wedding: Ben +
Christina
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2016/12/6/real-couples-intimate-poe-museum-wedding-
ben-christina?rq=museum

Ben and Christina had a small wedding at the Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia. Their
intimate ceremony took place in the museum’s Enchanted Garden with only their parents,
officiant, and resident black cats Edgar and Pluto in attendance. After the ceremony, their
photographer Melissa Desjardins captured the couple around the garden and with Edgar Allen
Poe’s bust. The sight of Ben in a tuxedo and Christina in her wedding dress added to the
enchantment of the garden, while the addition of their special world-traveling teddy bear and
plenty of fun poses captured their personalities and happiness as a couple.

Photos by Melissa Desjardins Photography.

An Epic Photoshoot at the Akron Art Museum: Alysse +
Gio
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2018/10/15/real-couples-an-epic-photoshoot-at-the-akron-
art-museum-alysse-amp-gio?rq=museum
The Akron Art Museum is one of the more modern buildings on our list, and Alysse and Gio
played it up with elegant, sophisticated looks for their photoshoot. Even without going inside the
museum itself, the couple showcased their love and three outfit changes with geometric glass
walls and classic Grecian columns overlooking a small garden.

Photos by Gra Photography.

Real Couples // An Austrian Museum Wedding: Elissa +
Ralf
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2017/10/5/real-couples-an-austrian-museum-wedding-
elissa-ralf?rq=museum

Elissa and Ralf got married at their favorite ski resort and held their reception at the Museum
Restaurant, where guests could browse art exhibits between courses. The museum is built of a
beautiful dark-stained wood that gave it a very cozy feel, especially with the view of snowy
mountains and the lights lining the porch at night. Elissa’s dress from the 1920s and veiled hat
added even more charm to the look of the museum. While the venue was small, there was still
room to dance, dine, enjoy art, and celebrate the beginning of Elissa and Ralf’s life together as
a married couple.

Photos by Wild Connections Photography.

Real Couples // Surprise Proposal: Tomasz + Jessica
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2017/4/23/real-couples-surprise-proposal?rq=museum

The Metropolitan Museum of Art was a beautiful and spacious venue for Emily Tuttle, associate
photographer of Cinder and Co., to snap shots of Tomasz and Jessica before, during, and after
Tomasz proposed. Emily photographed them from afar as they appreciated paintings and
statues together. Tomasz waited to pop the question in front of the Roman Temple of Dendur,
located beside a whole wall of windows for beautiful natural light. After the secret was out, Emily
got some pictures of the couple’s excitement as Tomasz slipped the ring onto Jessica’s finger
and shared kisses.

Photos by Cinder & Co.

Real Couples // Art-Inspired Wedding at The Levine
Museum of the New South: Shavonne + Travis
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2018/6/13/real-couples-art-inspired-wedding-at-the-levine-
museum-of-the-new-south-shavonne-travis?rq=museum

Shavonne and Travis were originally going to have a rustic-themed wedding, but that changed
when they chose the Levine Museum of the New South as their venue. The Levine Museum is
pretty much perfect for a wedding: Shavonne and her father’s “first look” was in a simple room
lined with black and white photographs, the spacious main hall was quickly transformed from
the ceremony to the reception, and the outside had blue and purple accents and a colorful mural
for some fun pictures with the wedding party.

Photos by Phylicia Willis of Posh Moments Photography.

Real Couples // A Wedding at the San Diego Museum of

Art: Kevin + Stefan
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2017/12/10/real-couple-a-gay-wedding-at-the-san-diego-
museum-of-art-kevin-stefan?rq=museum

With Stefan originally from Sicily and living in Manchester, England and Kevin living in San
Diego, the couple felt that the San Diego Museum of Art and the surrounding Balboa Park’s
European designs were a perfect way to reflect their journey in their wedding venue. Inside the
museum, there is a mix of modern in the black, white, and gold gallery designs, and classic with
the rustic arches. The ceremony took place in the museum’s garden with potted fronds and a
tower in the background turned rosy-pink as the sun set and lit blue at night.

Photos by Derek Chad.

Real Couples // An Artistic and Playful National Gallery

Engagement: Marc + Laura
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2017/6/7/real-couples-an-artistic-and-playful-national-
gallery-engagement-marc-laura?rq=museum
Every shot of Marc and Laura’s engagement session at Washington DC’s National Gallery of Art
is filled with fun and love. The couple looked so natural together amid the large fountain, twisting
tree branches up the walls, light exhibits, and everywhere in between.

Photos by Adam Mason of Mason Photography.

Real Couples // Lin-Manuel Miranda-Assisted

Engagement: Leah + Rachel
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2017/5/2/real-couples-leah-rachel?rq=museum

After some pictures at home with their adorable little dog, Leah and Rachel continued their
engagement photo shoot at the New York Transit Museum. The fun-filled trip around the vintage
train cars made the museum visit just as intimate as the previous photos.

Photos by Wilde Scout Photo Co.

Real Couples // A St. Augustine Wedding: Allie + Ywanarai
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2018/2/11/real-couples-a-st-augustine-wedding-allie-
ywanarai?rq=museum

Allie and Ywanarai’s ceremony took place in the Lightner Museum’s sunny and green courtyard.
The classic, European feel of the museum and surrounding St. Augustine highlighted the simple
ceremony the couple wanted, which in turn allowed their love and excitement about being
married to one another to shine its brightest.

Photos by Shannon Griffin.

Real Couples // A Glam Wedding in Cleveland, Ohio:
Gloria + William
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2018/1/10/real-couples-a-glam-wedding-in-cleveland-ohio-
gloria-william?rq=museum

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland (MoCa for short) was the perfect modern
counterpart for Gloria and William’s more classic ceremony at the Hanna Courtyard Garden.
The space was large enough for a very spacious dance floor that featured a surprise Tahitian
dance ceremony from Will’s sister-in-law in the newlyweds’ honor. A portrait gallery was also
open for Gloria and William to sit and enjoy a wall of modern paintings together.

Photos by Robb McCormick.

Real Couples in Video // 18 Years in the Making: Markus +
Carl
https://www.catalystwedco.com/blog/2016/9/27/real-couples-in-video-18-years-in-the-making-
markus-carl?rq=museum

When Josh Gooden said he knew he was in for a good story when he first heard about Markus
and Carl, he certainly wasn’t kidding. Josh filmed an absolutely breathtaking wedding at the
Penn Museum. Markus and Carl strolled the museum’s grounds for stunning clips of the
architecture and surrounding Philadelphia. The couple took advantage of one of the largest
collections of Egyptian artifacts in the US and used a sphynx as their ceremony’s backdrop.
Video by Josh Gooden. Video: https://vimeo.com/160190844

BIO
Michaela Dietz is a graduate from the University of CIncinnati, where she studied English
Literature, Women’s Studies, and Electronic Media. What started as an internship with Catalyst
turned into writing and editing the lovely Real Couples posts regularly featured on the site.
When Michaela isn’t working, she’s reading, watching movies, or researching for fun like a huge
nerd.