What is more beautiful: love or art? Vincent Van Gogh is credited with saying, “There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” So when promising to love someone “till death do us part,” what could be more beautiful than saying those words surrounded by the works of art that adorn every corner of the New Orleans Museum of Art?
Since 1911, New Orleans Museum of Art, or NOMA, has been offering New Orleanians and guests alike the chance to view tens of thousands of artistic works. In addition to the museum space, there is the the five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, which the museum says, “is one of the most important sculpture installations in the United States, with over 60 sculptures situated on a beautifully landscaped site.”
*Tomkins Photography
Couples have the chance to take this beauty, both inside the museum and out, and create the wedding of their dreams. The more than 100,000 square-feet of museum space offers couples and their guests a moment to revel among great paintings, photographs, sculptures and more.
For couples looking to utilize only a few parts of the property, the museum offers four distinct location rentals instead of the all-inclusive option.
Those looking to make a dramatic statement will adore the Freeport-McMoran Great Hall. This area is the most notable, as it is the front entrance to the museum. The entire space is about 3,365 square-feet of mostly white surfaces just waiting for you, and 200 of your closest friends and family, to put your mark on them. The Great Hall’s most striking element is the grand staircase at the back of the hall. The staircases to the left and the right of the hall merge into one central location, ideal for a breathtaking ceremony setup or a grand newlywed entrance.
*Arte De Vie Photography
The other two areas include the second floor Woldenberg Board Room and the first floor Stern Auditorium. The Woldenberg location is a 1,200 square-foot space overlooking the sculpture garden. Couples have the option of 48 seated guests or 70 cocktail style.
The Stern Auditorium accommodates 220 in theater-style seats with a stage, podium, microphone, large screen, projector, PC computer and Blue-Ray DVD player. Though not a typical wedding space, the auditorium could provide an interesting twist on a reception. Add in a “movie” about the couple. Have your guests gather at your rehearsal dinner for speeches and such. The possibilities are endless.
*Arte De Vie Photography
Need To Know:
Exclusive Rental
- Entire museum interior: up to 1,200 guests
- Three hour minimum use of the museum’s interior with approved space for set-up
- Couples can add on the Sculpture Garden, Booth-Bricker Courtyard or Freeman Courtyard for additional fees
- Available Monday through Thursday 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Great Hall
- Three hour rental for a maximum of 200 guests, with additional hours available for an extra fee
- Available Monday through Thursday 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Sculpture Garden
- Tenting is prohibited in the Sculpture Garden
- Available Monday through Thursday 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. and Saturday or Sunday 6 p.m. to 12 a.m.
- Can rent with the entire museum or exclusively on its own
Board Room
- Available for a half day, three-hour rental or a full day/evening only, six hour rental
Stern Auditorium
- Available for a half day, three-hour rental or a full day/evening only, six hour rental
- No food or beverage allowed
All Event Rentals Include:
- Security detail
- Americans with Disabilities Act compliant facilities
- Facility Manager for the duration of the event
- No food, tables, chairs, etc. are provided
- A design plan must be approved for the event
- There is a suggested list of preferred vendors, but outside vendors are allowed
- Rental is not available on Fridays or holidays
*Raleigh Cooper Photography
A wedding at the New Orleans Museum of Art has the possibility to go down in history, along with the art that surrounds it. Our dream NOMA experience would start with a ceremony in the Sculpture Garden, a short second line to the museum and a huge party in the Great Hall. Tables would line the second floor overlooking the hall below, where large circular tables held enormous centerpieces and guest danced the night away in front of the grand staircase.
“My favorite was from a wedding this past October,” says NOMA private events manager Dawn Blankenship. “DJ Manny Fresh was a surprise to the guests during the last hour of the reception. People lost their minds. I stood on the mezzanine with the father of the bride and watched a wild hour of dancing. I could seriously see the art of the walls moving. So fun! I probably should have asked him to turn it down a notch, but it was a great moment for the bride and groom and their guests.”
New Orleans Museum of Art, One Collins Diboll Circle, noma.org
Save the date for our June 2017 Bridal Show – June 7, Hyatt Regency New Orleans. Get your tickets and more information here.
