Natural History Museum Wedding

I find it easy to stay inspired in the beautiful chaos that is Los Angeles. Walls tagged with street art, bold design on seemingly every corner, a completely different neighborhood every few blocks. What can I say, the city truly keeps things interesting. Yes, Los Angeles is where people become movie stars, wedding photographers never run out of inspiration, and Luke and Emily had their Natural History Museum wedding.

So, Emily and Luke got ready at a rad little spot called the LA Athletic Club that had tons of awesome spots. We knocked out the getting ready shots, wedding party shots, and first look there before heading off to the Natural History Museum for the wedding ceremony. I could seriously go on and on about how amazing this wedding was, but you probably aren’t reading this anyhow. So I’ll just let the photos do the talking. Check out the LA Athletic Club shots and Luke and Emily’s ceremony at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles below.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Married At Natural History Museum?

If you are interested in having your ceremony at one of the most unique event spaces in Los Angeles County then you definitely need to embrace the Jurassic Park energy of the Natural History Museum wedding venue. But how much does it cost to get married there? Site fees start at $3,850 for a ceremony-only event and $11,000 for a full wedding reception, which covers tables, chairs, setup, cleanup, and parking for your guests. The Los Angeles Natural History Museum is truly one of the coolest spots because how many other venues let you drink cocktails in front of prehistoric animals? And yes, that is exactly what brides and grooms can do in the North American Mammal Hall.

Why You Should Consider A Natural History Museum Wedding

So why should you consider the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County for your wedding? Let me explain. This venue brings a dramatic flair to your special day, surrounded by millennia of natural history. And yes, that means having a giant T-Rex be a part of your wedding ceremony. Located near the North American Mammal Hall, the Grand Foyer that features the Tyrannosaurus Rex is where Emily and Luke exchanged their wedding vows.

Seriously, imagine an elegant ceremony in the Haaga Family Rotunda, with its stained-glass dome and Corinthian pillars, comfortably hosting up to 150 guests. And if you prefer an outdoor wedding, take a tour of the Edible Garden. Or choose the rooftop terrace at the La Brea Tar Pits, the museum’s sister location, for panoramic views of Los Angeles, marrying the city’s vibrancy with the museum’s timeless charm.

The Natural History Museum stands out for its unique event spaces. From the grandeur of the Dueling Dinosaurs to the intimacy of the mammal halls, it provides an unparalleled backdrop for both your vows and wedding photos. Plus, the flexibility to bring in your chosen vendors ensures your day feels personalized. Oh, and did I mention they offer complimentary parking? Yes, this amenity alone makes the Museum of Natural History one of my favorite Los Angeles venues.

Finally, this event space is one of the highest-rated venues for destination weddings, holding a 4.9 out of 5 rating on WeddingWire and a 98% recommendation rate from couples who booked it.

Event Spaces & Capacities

If you are still in the midst of wedding planning and are looking for one of the best wedding venues in Los Angeles County then check out the Natural History Museum. Many brides, grooms, and even wedding planners are not aware that you can host a wedding here. Site fees start at $3,850, and depending on the space you book, capacity ranges from an intimate 60-guest garden dinner all the way up to a 450-guest cocktail hour in the North American Mammal Hall.

A Landmark of Los Angeles History

The Natural History Museum has been part of Los Angeles since 1913, making it the city’s second-oldest cultural institution and one of the largest natural history museums in the western United States. The original Beaux-Arts building sits on the National Register of Historic Places, and the museum now safeguards more than 35 million specimens and artifacts spanning 4.5 billion years of natural and cultural history. Getting married here means exchanging vows inside a building that has watched over Exposition Park for more than a century.

The Haaga Family Rotunda’s Original 1913 Roots

The stained-glass dome and marble columns of the Rotunda date all the way back to the museum’s opening in 1913, making it one of the few original event spaces still standing almost exactly as it did over a hundred years ago. The “Three Muses” statue at its center, representing History, Science, and Art, was the first piece of public art ever purchased with Los Angeles County funds. Couples marrying under that dome are standing in the same room that welcomed the museum’s very first visitors.

A Favorite Hollywood Filming Location

Long before Luke and Emily said “I do” in front of the Dueling Dinosaurs, the Natural History Museum was already a familiar face on screen. The Rotunda and its surrounding halls have shown up in productions ranging from “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” to “The Monster Squad” and Brian De Palma’s “The Bonfire of the Vanities,” and the museum has doubled as a filming location for the AMC series “Mad Men.” Sheryl Crow even filmed her 1996 music video for “If It Makes You Happy” inside the Endangered Species Hall. So don’t be surprised if a spot in your wedding photos looks a little familiar.

What It’s Really Like To Get Married There

Pricing and What’s Included

Site fees run from $3,850 for a ceremony-only booking up to $11,000 for a full reception, with a minimum of 15 guests required to book. That fee covers tables, chairs, setup, cleanup, and parking for your guests. Catering and bar service are handled separately through the museum’s preferred catering partner, and outside vendors are welcome for everything else. Couples consistently point to the museum’s event coordinators as one of the best parts of the process, and the venue holds a 4.9 out of 5 rating on WeddingWire, with 98% of couples saying they would recommend it.

Learn more about renting the event space at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles by visiting their wedding website.