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Weddings

About

Virginia Living Museum is a wedding venue located in Newport News, Virginia. This expansive property is home to many animals as well as one-of-a-kind event spaces for your big day. If you're looking for a wedding setting blended with nature, this museum could be the place for you.

Facilities and Capacity

When it comes to your wedding ceremony at this museum, you're spoilt for choice. For larger gatherings, the amphitheater is a cracking setting. Just as they were designed thousands of years ago, every guest will get a good view of you and your partner as you beautifully exchange vows. More quaint ceremonies can take place in front of the dramatic waterfall located in the gardens. This is great for those who love the great outdoors and want to implement naturalistic elements to their big moment. Once you've tied the knot, you and your loved ones can gather on the rooftop observatory for a cocktail hour to remember. Here, you will benefit from panoramic views of woodland which make for unforgettable photos that are sure to be remembered for years to come. The observatory allows you to mingle with friends, sip on beverages, and watch as the sun sets over the horizon. Outdoor receptions can take place in the courtyard or inside one of the museum's large event halls. Whichever you choose, both locations have ample room for seated guests, a dance floor, and live entertainment. If you want to add an extra sense of wonderment to your wedding, the museum's staff can organize guided tours to observe the wildlife.

Services Offered

Upon booking your special day at Virginia Living Museum, their events staff will be on-hand to ensure that everything runs smoothly. They can take a leading role in the setup and breakdown of all decorations, leaving you to focus on more meaningful matters. An event planner can also be on-site to make sure that your wedding dreams are realized at the museum.

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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?

$2,200

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

$2,200

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?

$2,200

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

$2,200

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Clean Up
Event Planning
Lighting/Sound
Parking
Set Up
Tables

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

5

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Garden
Museum
Park
Waterfront

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
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?

Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Outside Vendors

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Drapery
Lighting
Photo booth
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
April
November
December

Reviews of Virginia Living Museum

Christopher
Christopher Sent on 11/23/2022
5 out of 5 rating

A great choice for nature and animal lovers

If you are looking for the best place to host your event in Newport News, you found it! I am a professional DJ and I work a few wedding events here every year and already have some lined up for next year. Before this year is over, I wanted to take the time and share with all review readers how grateful I am for the opportunity to be able to collaborate with such a great venue and the talented team that makes magic happen every time I am there. They communicate well with vendors, everything is always clean and looks amazing, and the layout options are awesome. They surely go above and beyond for their clients to have the best time ever. Go see for yourself, book your event here!

Chris “DJ Karizma” August | DJ Karizma Entertainment LLC | www.karizma.bz
Shannon
Shannon Sent on 06/08/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Magical Night at the Living Museum

The staff and volunteers at the Living Museum are so wonderful. From the first walk-through to the final song and beyond, they were professional and accommodating. We had planned for an outside ceremony, but it posted. Jennifer and her team didn’t even blink. Enough space for weddings from small to big (ours was about 80 people. Our vendors enjoyed working with the museum team, and I had the flexibility to bring in my own vendors and my own alcohol (with proper licensing). We had lots of kids at our wedding and they had a blast (as did all of the adults). I was unsure when my planner suggested it, but one visit sold me. Our wedding was awesome and the Living Museum made it so.
L
Leonard Sent on 08/26/2017
5 out of 5 rating
The living museum was the best venue we could have ever picked. The staff was great. They have a lot of experience hosting functions. Every time we found something to stress about they had answers and solutions. The venue itself looked beautiful the day of the wedding. Our guests loved walking around the museum taking pictures. We were also able to rent the classrooms downstairs. We hired babysitters to watch all the children at the wedding. I would 100% recommend this venue. Just a side note. They had volunteers bring out animals ( baby alligator, skunk, large lizard) during cocktail hour for our guests to touch and look at. Everyone loved it.
C
Chelsey Sent on 11/21/2016
5 out of 5 rating
Choosing to have our wedding at the Virginia Living Museum was the best decision we made! Jennifer Turlington and Someeka Greene are an amazing duo. Planning the ceremony and reception was a breeze because they made sure to figure out a way to do everything we wanted. They gave great advice and let us explore lots of options with the benefit of their experience. I felt confident from our very first meeting that this was the best fit for us. The pictures they showed did not do justice to just how beautiful the venue is when set up for an evening event. We were completely blown away and our guests had the best time! You will not regret going with this venue; it's unparalleled.
J
Jeff Sent on 09/21/2016
5 out of 5 rating
Jennifer from the museum has been very accommodating with us. She allowed us to bring the vendors by many times to get the feel of the place as well as her assistant showing us around some times as well. The venue was a special surprise to our guests as many were from out of town. We had our ceremony outside by the lake in the amphitheater and even had help getting it ready after the huge downpour an hour before. The guests had a blast wandering the place while enjoying the cocktail hour downstairs and had a few animals come out to be petted. The upper floor was transformed into our reception complete with tables, chairs and the center admission desk turned into a wonderful bar. Overall, the museum looked amazing and the staff was truly a great help. And just to give another special shout out to Jennifer Turlington for all of her help!
F
Lindsay Sent on 12/30/2015
5 out of 5 rating
Our reception is being held at the Living Museum November 2016. Jennifer has been so very helpful with all my questions and letting us bring vendors by to see where everything is going to go. I'm so excited to continue working on my reception at the VLM!!
M
Brittany Sent on 01/12/2015
5 out of 5 rating
The Virginia Living Museum was the perfect place for our reception. We had a very funky science theme and they were more than accommodating. They even let us fire up a tesla coil! They provide so much that it makes for a very cost effective venue and that also means there's less odds and ends to worry about. Everyone loved being able to see the animals and the kids loved having full run of the museum. Jennifer was so helpful throughout the entire process!
Nichole
Nichole Sent on 01/28/2013
5 out of 5 rating
This location was our fist pick the day we got engaged and a HUGE hit with all our guest. This was the perfect atmosphere for a fun and lively wedding and our guest LOVED roaming the museum. By far the best location ever!
C
Cassie Sent on 05/07/2012
5 out of 5 rating
Absolutely amazing experience at the VLM. This has been one of my favorite places since I was a kid, so I was thrilled to have my wedding here. Jennifer Turlington, our contact, was an amazing help start to finish, and answered every question I had (sometimes more than once! Oops!) She told me she'd done hundreds of weddings and never had one get rained out... until mine! Yes, we broke the no-rain streak, but we threw together a rain plan at the last minute (literally) and it was perfect! Instead of getting married in the Amphitheater, we said our vows beneath a shark! (You think Shark Week is awesome - Shark Wedding is even better!) I honestly wouldn't change a thing. Out-of-town guests enjoyed the museum, locals marveled at how pretty it looked "all dressed up". Several guests thanked me for the "kid-friendly" atmosphere... and EVERYONE had a great time. I wonder if we can renew our vows here every year?
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Awards

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Map

Virginia Living Museum frequently asked questions

Virginia Living Museum includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Lighting/Sound
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by Virginia Living Museum for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Garden
  • Museum
  • Park
  • Waterfront
Virginia Living Museum offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Virginia Living Museum offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Elopements
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Virginia Living Museum offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Outside Vendors
Virginia Living Museum offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Drapery
  • Lighting
  • Photo booth
  • Tables
Virginia Living Museum is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
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