Planning a wedding? Then you know how difficult it is to find a place for your reception. After a while, all hotel banquet halls start to look alike. Why don’t you put on your creative thinking cap and expand your thinking? Why not try something unique? Why not try a museum?

Museum Wedding Venues

Many museums rent out their spaces for weddings and other events. And if you think having your wedding in a museum would be boring, think again. Consider the attractions that would surround your guests at some of the following museums:

Museum of Science and Industry Chicago, Illinois

For a unique Chicago wedding venue, consider the Museum of Science and Industry, located at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. The Museum of Science and Industry has so much to offer that it’s hard to know where to start. You can choose from many unique spaces within the Museum, such as Exhibit U-505, where your guests will have the opportunity to dine next to a 252 ft. submarine. But not just any submarine. This submarine was the only German submarine captured during World War II. The capacity is 120 diners.

Another space within the Museum is the Rotunda, which is a spectacular marble room, with a 120-foot ceiling. vaulted ceiling. Seated capacity in the Rotunda is 800 guests.

The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry also has several themed venues within its space that would make any wedding or reception stand out. These include “The Bronzeville Blues Club” with a Chicago roots music theme. Entering through the rotunda, guests will enter the “Bronzeville Blues Club” awash in candlelight and blue lighting; Dine on Creole-inspired hors d’oeuvres while enjoying the sounds of an authentic Blues Trio.

Or maybe you’d like to try the “Hollywood Canteen,” a recreation of The Hollywood Canteen, which opened in 1942 and quickly became a hot spot for the military and Hollywood’s biggest names. Your guests will be received in this recreation by a long red carpet, lined with red velvet ropes.

The Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

Located in downtown Phoenix, the Heard Museum has been a Phoenix institution for more than 75 years. Spanning over 130,000 square feet of gallery and educational space, the Heard Museum has one of the best collections of Native American art and cultural exhibits. And the exhibits aren’t the only things worth seeing at the Heard; There’s also the interesting architecture and grounds, including arched walkways, brick patios, and gorgeous patios, which serve as picturesque backdrops for your wedding photos.

The Higgins Armory Museum in Worcester, Massachusetts

The Higgins Armory Museum is the only museum in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to arms and armor, housed in an Art Deco building with a large vaulted medieval hall. Talk about a unique wedding venue! How many people celebrate their wedding in Renaissance armor?

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West, Florida

This tropical wedding venue is historic and beautiful. You can get married on a bridge overlooking a koi pond, and then give your guests a private tour of Ernest Hemingway’s home. For guests unable to attend, they can view the wedding on the Museum’s live webcam.

The Stagecoach Inn Museum in Newberry Park, California

For those history buffs who love stagecoach and America’s pioneer period, the Stagecoach Inn Museum is for you. Located on Highway 101 halfway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, the Stagecoach Inn has a fairly long history and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is actually a replica of the original Stagecoach Inn built in 1876, as well as extensive grounds that feature replicas of a pioneer house, a Spanish-Mexican adobe house, and a Chumash dwelling. Oak trees, flower gardens, wooded areas and rose arbor adorn the grounds.

Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia

The Poe Museum is dedicated to, who else, Edgar Allan Poe, the American author of short stories, whodunit, poetry, and science fiction. Imagine the themed wedding one could have by getting married at the Poe Museum! Invite your guests to a wedding and reception at Poe’s Enchanted Garden, which can accommodate up to 100 guests. The garden was inspired by one of his poems, “To One in Paradise”.

Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

If you both like football, why not consider the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Instead of a bouquet, the bride can throw a soccer ball. Well, it’s just an idea.

No matter where you live, there is bound to be a museum near you that hosts weddings. Museums offer a truly unique venue that your guests will remember years after the wedding. Museums can be historical, fun, or downright weird and you’re sure to find one that suits your tastes. Now, if only the Spam Museum offered weddings… Oh well, you can’t have everything.