8 Stunning Museum & Art Gallery Venues for Your Wedding
Feature photo by Mint Forever Photography
Not every wedding needs a ballroom. Atlanta is home to museums with striking architecture, fascinating collections, and spaces that can make a wedding feel truly one-of-a-kind. From art museums to cultural institutions, these venues give couples a chance to celebrate somewhere their guests will actually remember.
1. Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Photos by Mint Forever Photography and Alexis Lunsford Photography from Chloe and Mark’s wedding.
Location: 767 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30307
Website: fernbankmuseum.org
Max Capacity: 2,500
Fernbank Museum of Natural History offers a wedding experience that feels completely different from a traditional ballroom. Couples can celebrate surrounded by natural history exhibits, dramatic architecture and Fernbank’s wooded outdoor surroundings. The museum also offers unique photo opportunities throughout the property – including towering dinosaurs – making it a good choice for couples who want their wedding to feel a little unexpected.
2. Tellus Science Museum
Location: 100 Tellus Dr., Cartersville, GA 30120
Website: tellusmuseum.org
Max Capacity: 400
Tellus Science Museum brings a fun, unexpected feel to the traditional wedding venue. With hands-on exhibits, science displays and large museum spaces, it offers couples plenty of opportunities to create a celebration that feels personal and a little bit out-of-this-world. Imagine your wedding ceremony under an 80-foot long Apatosaurus, dancing the night away in a banquet room complete with bar service and watching your memory video or photos on the big screen in the Theater. Located just outside of the city, it also gives Atlanta-area couples an option outside the city without requiring a destination wedding.
3. Booth Western Art Museum
Location: 501 N Museum Dr., Cartersville, GA 30120
Website: boothmuseum.org/rental-space
Max Capacity: 240
About an hour northwest of Atlanta, Booth Western Art Museum offers a unique wedding setting surrounded by American and Western art. In association with the Smithsonian Institution, this 120,000-square-foot museum feels very different from a traditional ballroom or garden venue. For couples looking for something outside the traditional wedding venue, Booth offers guests and opportunity to “Explore the West Without Leaving the South.”
4. Atlanta History Center
Photos by BonjourBridal Photography from Yuxiang & Vincent’s wedding.
Location: 130 West Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Website: atlantahistorycenter.com
Max Capacity: 300
Set on an expansive property in Buckhead, Atlanta History Center combines historic buildings, gardens and museum spaces in one location. Couples can choose from several settings for their ceremony and reception, including the iconic Swan House Gardens with the 1928 mansion as your backdrop and the barrel-vaulted Grand Overlook ballroom. Plus, the property gives couples plenty of options for iconic photos, from formal historic architecture to lush outdoor spaces.
5. Atlanta Contemporary
Location: 535 Means St. NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30318
Website: atlantacontemporary.org/rentals
Max Capacity: 400
Atlanta Contemporary offers an artistic, modern setting for couples looking for a modern art leaning museum wedding venue. The gallery’s rotating exhibitions and open spaces create an interesting backdrop for celebrations and photos, while the contemporary artwork adds character throughout the space. Have your choice at the venue’s celebration locations, including the open air pavilion, the art-filled lobby or Studio Artist Courtyard. For couples who appreciate art and want something a little outside the ordinary, Atlanta Contemporary offers a memorable setting for a wedding celebration.
6. SCAD – Ivy Hall
Photos by Brittany Sturdivant from Kate & LJ’s wedding.
Location: 179 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA
Website: scad.edu/life/buildings-and-facilities/scad-ivy-hall
Max Capacity: 200
SCAD’s Ivy Hall combines historic architecture with the creative atmosphere of the Savannah College of Art and Design. This Victorian-era house offers an intimate setting in the heart of Atlanta. The meticulously restored interiors boast intricate moldings, crystal chandeliers, and antique furnishings that transport you to a bygone era. If you want historic charm with an artistic feel, this is your venue.
7. Georgia Museum of Art
Location: 90 Carlton St, Athens, GA 30602
Website: georgiamuseum.org
Max Capacity: 300
Located on the University of Georgia campus, the Georgia Museum of Art offers an art-filled setting for weddings in Athens. The museum’s collection and modern architecture create an interesting backdrop for celebrations and photos. The Sculpture Garden is an intimate outdoor oasis, while the Grand Hall offers elegant setting with modern design and a garden view. Surround yourself with nearly 20,000 works of art and exchange vows in a spot as special as your own love story.
8.National Center for Civil and Human Rights
Location: 100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA
Website: civilandhumanrights.org/host-private-event
Max Capacity: 800
Located in downtown Atlanta, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights offers a contemporary setting with a strong connection to the city’s history and culture. The building’s modern architecture and thoughtfully designed spaces create a memorable backdrop for weddings and events, all while it’s 60,000+ square feet of space accommodate large guest lists with ease. Chose from eight unique spaces for an intimate dinner for a dozen guests or a memorable soirée for several hundred.
