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Weddings

Pricing Information

These prices are available for the months of April through November. These prices are available for the months of December through March.
Reception
$1,400 starting price
Ceremony
$700 starting price
Bar
$75 starting price
Reception
$1,400 starting price
Ceremony
$500 starting price
Bar
$75 starting price

About

On WeddingWire since 2016

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium is a unique wedding venue in Dubuque, Iowa. Offering stunning riverside vistas and intriguing marine exhibits, this event facility is ideal for couples seeking a one-of-a-kind experience. The professional staff is dedicated to providing warm hospitality and excellent service, as well as careful attention to the natural environment.

Facilities and Capacity

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium can accommodate weddings of up to 250 guests with several event spaces available. Couples can exchange their vows in an outdoor ceremony at the Plaza Pavilion or on a small private patio. Both areas offer stunning waterfront views of the Mississippi River and a small pond. After saying "I do," couples can continue the celebrations indoors at the aquarium. The Discovery Center is an open gallery space featuring museum displays as an eyecatching backdrop, and up to 250 guests can be seated here for the reception. For those seeking a more intimate space, the Train Depot fits up to 100 guests for a sit-down meal. With rustic wooden floors and neutral walls, this charming room is suitable for small weddings, rehearsal dinners, and after-parties.

Services Offered

Various services are available at National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium, including catering, bartending, and event planning. With the help of the attentive staff, to-be-weds can organize their wedding according to their tastes and preferences. The events team can provide the essentials, including linens, flatware, and china. They will also manage the set-up and tear-down of furniture at the end of the night. Conveniently, the venue offers wireless internet, parking, and wheelchair-accessible facilities.

Cuisine

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium partners with J&D Catering to provide an array of delicious cuisines. Couples can choose from several menu options to suit their palate and dietary requirements. Plated dinners, buffet stations, and hors d'oeuvres are some of the available dining options. The venue bar offers a variety of alcoholic beverages to accompany the meal, including house wine, champagne, and signature drinks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$1,400

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$1,400

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$700

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
China
Clean Up
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Parking
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

What is the starting price per person for bar service?

$75

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Elopements
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Get Ready Rooms
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Family Style
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Chairs
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
December
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Any other questions?

Message vendor
4.9 out of 5 rating
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
28 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.9 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    4.9 out of 5 rating
99% Recommended by couples

31 User photos

28 Reviews See all
L
Lauren L. Married on 09/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

The Place for Nature Lovers

This is a great venue for nature lovers! We recently celebrated our wedding at the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. The grounds were beautiful and we got so many good photos outside! We appreciated that the space could host our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception as some of our guests had limited mobility. The venue has an exclusive caterer but the food was excellent. We got so many compliments on the space and the food from our guests. A highlight was seeing my cousin's kids fascinated by the otters! Our ceremony was in the train depot, and we had excellent natural light there - I wanted my aisle to be a good length and the train depot was perfect for that too. But key for us was the affordability and the responsiveness of the staff. Teri was quick to answer any emails and was key to our day going smoothly. She understood the vision we communicated, was there to help with setup, and had all of our decorations packed up for pickup the day after. I can't tell you how much of a relief that was - it really helped us enjoy our event until the end.
Jan
Jan H. Married on 08/26/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Incredible Venue

Highly recommend Teri and her staff at tge Mississippi River Museum. First of all she is professional. She’s a great communicator, organized and patient. My daughter had a travel theme where every table had a different city to visit. Each table was decorated differently. Her staff took our 12 boxes of decorations and worked their magic. It was amazing!!!

Teri dealt with some last minute items with grace and a smile. She took so much stress off of me. If I was still running a DJ business, this would be one of my favorite places to work at due to her.
M
Megan R. Married on 07/22/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Unique, beautiful and memorable

Wonderful place to have a wedding! Unique, inviting, spacious! Great caterer, our guests wanted doggy bags! Dance floor was fun. Great photo ops. Nice and accommodating staff! Highly recommended!
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Awards

28
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Inside Decor Rental Inside Decor Rental Wedding Rentals

Always impressed with the Valentine Dinner at the National River Museum! Thank you for another lovely, fun filled evening, and delicious dinner in such beautiful atmosphere. We will plan on visiting the river museum throughout the year! Lisa

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