Robyn Sent on 02/18/2026

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Happy Vowentines Day!

We had an amazing time working with AVAM. It was such a dream venue! The events staff was so professional and helpful, answering all our questions in a timely manner and providing us with a thorough, deeply organized contract. The events team has a catering agreement with a dozen or so different partners of your choice. We went with Zeffert & Gold at the recommendation of one of AVAM's staff, and they were absolutely amazing. The museum was clean, the staff was friendly, and everyone we worked with, from Nicole and Jas to Riley at the front desk, helped make our day so wonderful and special. We went with the first and third floors of the JRVC; we also had access to a conference room on the second floor to stash the wedding party's personal belongings, my second dress, and any other items we'd need on the day of. My fiancé and I ended up skipping cocktail hour and hanging out in there instead, and it was great to have a private moment just the two of us just after we exchanged our vows. It was also the perfect spot for our officiant to sign our marriage certificate.

Another thing—we are based in NYC, so Baltimore was a destination wedding for us. Because we were traveling in for the first tour, the final walkthrough, the rehearsal, and of course the wedding, AVAM was able to accommodate us on weekends—going out of their way and coming in on Saturday and Sunday mornings to make sure we could still do all of the things with them.

The museum has a beautiful mission and a priceless collection of art, and it feels very special to be in that space for something so inherently sacred, like a wedding ceremony.

We highly recommend this venue. For all the lovers, the dreamers, the outsider artists, and the admirers of outsider art.

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Benjy Sent on 12/25/2023

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Perfect venue for our August wedding

AVAM was perfect for us. We had ~240 guests at our wedding and had a Jewish wedding that was a bit more on the traditional side. AVAM was able to accommodate everything. It's a beautiful space for great value. If you're looking for a venue that's a bit less traditional but still beautiful and accommodating to weddings, we'd highly recommend AVAM.

Priya Sent on 12/03/2023

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Fantastic place to hold a wedding

We held our wedding ceremony and reception at AVAM and had a great experience. The staff were incredibly helpful and responsive to all of our questions, and the venue itself is beautiful. If you are able to rent multiple spaces, we’d highly recommend it. We had our ceremony in the barn, cocktail hour on the 1st floor of the JRVC and the reception on the 3rd floor. Guests loved the different spaces, as did we! We’d highly recommend AVAM to anyone looking to hold an event!

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Ishi Sent on 04/15/2023

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Eccentric Unique Affordable Venue!

AVAM was our top choice for getting married because of the transparency in pricing and scheduling, their communication and the overall uniqueness of the venue! Their event planning staff were easy to work with and made wedding planning easy. They do have a mandatory caterer list but it includes a wide range of budgets for different weddings. We held the ceremony in the sculpture garden, cocktail hour in the third floor cafe and the reception in the sculpture barn. The beauty of the venue meant we needed minimal flowers and the lighting in the venue was already wonderful!

Trish Sent on 01/04/2023

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INCREDIBLE and absolutely beautiful.

We got so many compliments on this beautiful venue. Rhea and her team did everything to make our day special. Planning leading up to our day was so easy. Rhea was responsive, professional, and answered all my (many) questions! Highly recommend AVAM. It's a true staple of Baltimore. Our guests absolutely loved the art installments, the details, and the creativity surrounding the evening. Cannot recommend AVAM enough.

Graeson Sent on 10/07/2022

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Amazing Space

My wife and I held a welcome reception the night before our wedding at the cafe at the AVAM and it was literally perfect. The space is truly unique and people couldn't stop asking me how I found it. There is access to one of the exhibits during the event which our guests loved and the space includes access to the outdoor balcony/patio which transforms into a magical space when the sun goes down with the lighting and atmosphere out there. It was super easy to work with them and book the space. If you like refined artsy weirdness you have got to check them out.

Jenny Sent on 06/13/2022

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A quirky and beautiful wedding venue

We live in Brooklyn but ultimately decided to have our wedding in Baltimore in order to better accommodate more of our guests. I loved going to AVAM when I lived in the area, so it was an easy choice for my husband and me to book the Jim Rouse Visionary Center for our May wedding. And our guests loved it too! The JRVC first floor provided a beautiful, fun and unique backdrop for our ceremony, and the loft-like third floor was a perfect setting for the cocktail hour and reception. And the venue and its convenient location by the water and Federal Hill Park made for so many awesome photos.

AVAM’s event manager, Rhea, was fantastic throughout our whole planning process. She was a great communicator and always quick to respond to our questions about outside vendors or museum guidelines, and she was so helpful as we navigated postponing a year.

I’d absolutely recommend this venue to anyone looking to get married in the Baltimore/DC area.

(photos included in this review were taken by the amazing Jessi McDonold/Wild June Photography!)

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Anh Sent on 08/17/2021

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Professional and easy to work with

Rhea was extremely responsive and helpful in our planning at AVAM! We toured the venue virtually and didn't see it for the first time until the day of, but everything was beautiful and we couldn't have been happier! We were able to secure a date close to the wedding due to Covid and got a great deal with both the Sculpture Garden for cocktails and JRVC for reception. Rhea was very pleasant in all the back and forth regarding what is/isn't feasible. She coordinated with my vendors to ensure they all know and adhere to the protocols, definitely a professional! Our guests had a blast and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it! Thanks Rhea!!!

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Lillian Sent on 06/02/2021

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Best Wedding Ever!!

Working with AVAM was thankfully one of the easiest parts of our wedding! Less than 2 months before our wedding, our original venue backed out due to the COVID restrictions - the original venue had told us we could possibly have 100-200 guests, but at the last second, told us they could only allow 25 people indoors (turns out all of us were reading the wrong rules for capacity). We were so panicked since we had already been planning to have at least a hundred people for our May 2021 wedding. I had posted on one of the Facebook wedding groups for Maryland brides, and I am SO glad that Rhea (the event coordinator at AVAM) reached out to me regarding their availability. It was somehow one of the only dates available, and since Baltimore city was at 50%, they were able to accommodate 245 people at that time (max capacity 490, which is huge for a venue located inside of any city!). Rhea was extremely responsive and so easy to work with throughout this very hectic and last minute process. She went above and beyond, helped us find a new caterer, figure out parking for our guests, coordinated our walk throughs with other vendors, etc. The venue itself is so cool, and our guests are still talking about how awesome and unique everything was! We used the downstairs and outdoor areas for our cocktail hour, and the big ballroom upstairs for the reception. Everyone loved the exhibits at the museum and it made for awesome photos/conversation/entertainment during cocktail hour for all ages. The location is also right next to the harbor and Federal Hill park, so the background of any of the photos near the venue were also great. The reception hall upstairs was huge - again, it fits 490 at max capacity. We were able to make really nice decorations, have a big stage for our DJ and band, and had plenty of room for our photobooth, 2 bars, cake table, etc, even with 200 guests. After the event, they made sure we had everything with us and did a final walk through the following day to make sure nothing was left behind. If you are looking for a large, unique/fun venue, inside the city, I highly recommend AVAM!!

Jackie Sent on 04/12/2021

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Unique Reception!

If you looking for for a unique and special reception- AVAM is for you! We had a great time and the coordinator was very easy to work with!

Nicole Sent on 11/02/2020

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Perfect Despite COVID

AVAM was a pleasure to work with. We originally planned for a May 2020 wedding and postponed to September 2020 due to the pandemic. We actually happened to be their first wedding after closing in March! I was in contact with Rhea throughout the summer, and she was the shining beacon of planning this wedding. She was extremely responsive via email and very accommodating. We held a microwedding outdoor ceremony (28 people) on the covered patio in the garden area next to the sculpture barn. We had 3 hours and it was just enough time to feel like a full wedding, with small pockets of dancing spread across the patio.

The main setback we had actually ended up not being a setback at all, thanks to Rhea’s transparency — the wooden sculpture was in the midst of reconstruction in the weeks leading up to the ceremony, so Rhea offered us the option to move the ceremony to other outdoor locations (like in front of the egg). When we opted to stay in the garden to avoid the mess of coordinating with the other vendors, she brought down potted trees and plants to place in front of the wooden poles. It ended up giving us a beautiful backdrop that was earthy but also unfinished in a wonderfully imperfect, way. All in all, 10/10. Many of our guests said it was their favorite wedding they had been to... ever!! I will forever be greatly to Rhea and her team for their support and flexibility. They really just want you to have the best day you can in a safe manner!

Charde Sent on 10/28/2020

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Unique Venue with multiple spaces to use

My husband and I wanted a unique venue for our surprise wedding in October 2020. The AVAM venue was the only venue we visited before booking and it truly is so unique. The sculpture barn is beautiful and hardly needs additional decor. In addition, the barn leads to a garden space that was perfect for our cocktail hour. The museum staircase steps created an intimate space for our ceremony. The best part is you have access to all these spaces for one price. Definitely worth every penny. Their vendors that they recommend are truly amazing and Rhea, the facilities director is so helpful and great to work with. I highly recommend this space. Your guest will be so impressed!

Jilna Sent on 11/30/2018

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Unique Venue, Excellent Service

We were looking for a unique venue for our Indian wedding, and AVAM was the first place we saw in person. We instantly fell in love with the space, and our wedding was perfect! Michele is wonderful to work with, the JRVC 3rd floor space is a beautiful, well maintained room that allows for so many variations in how you can use the space. The room transformed beautifully from day to night, and the sculpture barn is a very cool space for lunch and cocktail hour. Our guests are still raving about the whole day, including the venue, and we are thrilled with our decision to get married at AVAM!

Mai-Ly Sent on 11/04/2018

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Unique and beautiful venue

My husband and I walked through the AVAM for our first search in venues and immediately knew this is where we wanted to get married. Being an art teacher, I was thrilled to have the JVRC buidling available for my guests to walk through the art gallery before going up to the reception hall on the 3rd floor. I had a large wedding party and even with 23 tables set up, there was a lot of space for the dance floor and felt very open. The room can look so versatile depending on the lighting and decor and with the beautiful exposed brick and our bright decor, we loved the space. Michele Coziahr was very responsive to every email and phone call and easy to work with. Everything was seamless and perfect!

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Sarah Sent on 10/29/2018

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Loved this venue

We had an excellent experience with the American Visionary Art Museum. We reserved the sculpture garden and barn for our ceremony and reception respectively. Our guests loved the layout and the quirkiness of the atmosphere, as did we! Michele was amazing, I cannot speak highly enough about her! She was responsive, knowledgeable and made great suggestions for our event. A hurricane was forecasted for the weekend of our wedding and she was so helpful in providing guidance for back up plans (which thankfully we did not end up needing!). She also has a great list of suggested vendors that we relied upon to make the wedding planning process a breeze. If you are looking for a unique venue, this is definitely a place you will want to look into!

Mike Sent on 07/10/2018

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We held our reception in the barn, and it turned out beautifully. It was such a cool and unique venue, and all of our guests were impressed. Michele, the venue's event director, was a huge help in suggesting other vendors to use for catering, lighting, coordination, etc.

Christie Sent on 07/09/2018

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Michelle and the rest of the team at AVAM are awesome! Michelle graciously accommodated us after we lost our original venue halfway through our planning; needless to say we were spooked and had a LOT more questions than she is probably used to, but handled them all like a champ! She is a true pro and has excellent relationships with vendors, making the process super smooth. We got married in the Sculpture Barn; the space was perfect! Just the right size. The outdoor covered patio is so nice to have and really opens up the space; the garden was beautiful for the ceremony. The space also really doesn't need a lot of decoration because it is so cool on it's own, but when you do add some lighting (in our case lanterns and uplights) -- it is truly breathtaking. It was awesome to have flexibility on spaces to take photos; especially because it started raining at the very end of our ceremony! Our guests also LOVED the free museum admission. We still get tons of compliments on the venue choice and how unique it was. Highly recommend!

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Dana Sent on 07/01/2018

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My husband and I, my parents, and his parents highly recommend AVAM as a wedding venue!! We've been to AVAM to visit before, my parents had been to a wedding ~10 years ago in the JRVC Banquet Room, and my in-laws held a family function in the on-site restaurant, Encantada, a number of years ago -- so we were all familiar enough with the space to know it would fit with our personalities. The museum itself is fun and quirky, and there are several spaces for photo ops inside and outside the museum buildings themselves. For our budget and wedding vision we chose to have our ceremony and reception in the Sculpture Barn and Garden.

Michele, the event coordinator for AVAM, is the main reason that so many people rave about events they have attended or hosted here. From my first email inquiry to the day of the wedding, she was extremely helpful, responsive, knowledgeable, and detail oriented. I had several questions along the way that I was afraid were "dumb" questions, and she always got back to me quickly, without judgment, and with a clear and straightforward answer! Having coordinated so many events at AVAM, Michele has several vendor contacts, knows the space inside and out, and helps bring your vision to life based on her experience. I'm so thankful we had Michele to work with throughout the whole process!

On the day of the wedding, everything came together and looked just as I'd imagined, if not better. Green space with brick walls, funky sculptures, mirrored mosaic tiles, and open air was exactly what we were looking for and AVAM has just that (in the barn/garden area). We had 114 guests and the tables/chairs/dance floor/other decor all fit in the space with a nice flow. It's also conveniently located at the bottom of Federal Hill and adjacent to the Inner Harbor, allowing you plenty of variety as far as photo-ops go. I even loved our rain plan for ceremony inside the barn! Can't recommend AVAM enough!!!

Sarah Sent on 06/03/2018

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We got married here on May 27 and cannot speak highly enough about AVAM. Though there was a torrential downpour for almost the entire duration of the wedding, the museum (represented by Michele Cozaihr, the wonderfully helpful and responsive event coordinator/director/person you talk to about getting married at AVAM) did everything to help us bring the thing off. The barn was perfect, and the museum itself was wonderful for some offbeat photos after the ceremony. I would highly recommend that anybody looking for an unconventional wedding venue in Baltimore look at AVAM and the sculpture garden in particular.

Kaie Sent on 12/29/2017

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We had a blast holding our wedding ceremony and reception on-site in the Sculpture Barn in October. We had always loved AVAM and just knew it would be the best fit, with quirky flair. Michele helped us coordinate and was highly communicative. As an event site, they have a fairly extensive list on approved local vendors and caterers, and helped provide some additional suggestions for vendors when we needed help. Also LOVE that they keep the museum open to guests during wedding events, giving our guests extra exploration time. Thanks again!

Liz Sent on 07/24/2017

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I can't speak highly enough about the American Visionary Art Museum - in general but especially as a wedding venue. The entire planning process was incredibly smooth and Michele was always gracious, responsible, and helpful. The space is so special and unique - our guests loved it and loved getting to visit the museum beforehand. It brought so much life, whimsy, and joy to our celebration. Highly highly recommend doing your wedding or event here!

Melissa Sent on 07/22/2017

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AVAM is an amazing location for a wedding! There are fun and quirky elements around every corner, as well as fantastic backdrops for pictures (ivy walls, buildings covered in colored glass, the 'LOVE' sign, etc.) We rented out both the third floor of the Rouse building and the Barn for our event - providing out guests the opportunity to explore the grounds and garden during cocktail hour. One of things we loved the most about AVAM is, despite all of things to see all over the museum grounds, the event spaces, themselves, are blank canvases we could make our own.
Michele, AVAM's event coordinator, was an absolute pleasure to work with! She was friendly, professional, responsive, and accommodating to our laundry list of questions. She was present at every site visit to ensure we were taken care of and generally made us feel that we were in very good hands. AVAM is definitely a great choice that will have your guests raving months after the event!

Katherine Sent on 12/29/2016

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There are many many reasons AVAM is a terrific venue, but the two most important ones are these: (1) the spirit of the museum, it's art, and the spaces -- all of which celebrate the creative spirit in a joyful way and (2) Michele, who manages the rentals at AVAM -- she is a true professional who knows everything about the venue, goes the extra mile in every way (she called in from her own honeymoon to help troubleshoot a technology issue we were having the day of our event), and has a wealth of experience and dedication that allows her to provide top-notch advice and support. We had a particularly challenging set of circumstances (we originally booked AVAM for the weekend in January 2016 when Snowzilla hit and shut down the entire Baltimore-Washington area) and Michele navigated us through the very emotional cancellation and rescheduling of our reception with competence and understanding and flexibility. In the end, we were able to throw the party we really wanted to (rescheduled for July 2016) thanks in very large part to Michele and beautiful, whimsical spirit of the AVAM. If you love the spaces at AVAM, you will find yourself in the very best hands here.

Kayla Sent on 11/07/2016

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Working with the American Visionary Arts Museum was absolutely amazing. We worked with Michelle, and it was actually the first wedding venue we visited. Never having planned a large-scale event like a wedding, Michelle answered all the questions we didn't even know we had. She was always responsive and incredibly helpful; she gave advice for working with our caterer, DJ, and photographer. We held our ceremony in the Sculpture Garden and the reception right in the Sculpture Barn, and it was absolutely perfect. The day-of coordinator from the AVAM was also amazing; he was helpful and was willing to do whatever we needed. The whole experience was nothing short of amazing. Thank you to everyone at the AVAM for helping make our day perfect!

Courtney Sent on 11/07/2016

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Working with AVAM was seamless!! Being from Baltimore it was really the perfect space for us and we knew after touring that this was where we wanted to get married. The price was seemingly higher than other places but it being a museum it's kind of expected. We used the JRVC building, had our ceremony on the 1st floor and cocktail/reception on the 3rd floor - that being said, the space was literally worth every penny. So much room so that guests aren't squished together and plenty of room for a huge dance floor which we loved every bit of! Michele was great, super responsive and literally thought of everything and made sure we were in the know. She had great vendor suggestions and suggestions of her own that really made the process easier. We were a little disappointed to hear that she wouldn't be available for our walk through or rehearsal, but she made sure that we had ALL the information we needed and someone was still there (along with our coordinator) to make sure all our questions were answered should we have any. Everything was perfect and we couldn't be happier!

Mark Sent on 09/25/2016

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AVAM was a wonderful and unique choice for our wedding venue! The artistic atmosphere was colorful, fun, and memorable for all generations and our guests really enjoyed themselves. We wanted to choose a location with instant character and appeal that provided our families and friends with something special to entertain them and the Museum really delivered! We utilized the Sculpture Barn and the Wildflower Garden and it worked beautifully to set the vibrant and playful tone we wanted. Michele was a pleasure to work with and made things very easy for us. Thanks for a magical event and wonderful memories for a lifetime!

Carolyn Sent on 07/12/2016

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We loved AVAM! The space was perfect for our ceremony and reception. It was beautiful, fun, and not super traditional. The location was easily accessible and the property was fun for guests to explore. Michele was responsive and easy to work with. If I could do it again (and marry the same person), I would!!!!

User2393912 Sent on 10/27/2015

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We had our ceremony and reception in the JRVC building this past weekend, and it was perfect in every way. After looking at several venues, AVAM was the last place we saw, and we knew instantly that it was the place for us. At the time, we didn't know exactly what our ceremony would look like, but we knew we weren't going to have a traditional wedding. AVAM was the only venue that didn't seem to have a preconceived notion of what our wedding should look like, and they embraced our unique wishes.

While it seems like AVAM is a relatively expensive venue in Baltimore, it is worth every penny. The price includes all tables and chairs, and venue itself requires so little additional decoration that you end up saving. The building is beautiful-it has so much natural charm, the lighting is glorious, and it has the Baltimore feel. Moreover, the organization itself does such amazing work in Baltimore city that we were thrilled to be able to help support this work.

Michele, specifically, was fantastic to work with. She is extremely responsive and happy to answer any and all questions. She knows the space inside and out, and she always had great suggestions about ways to fully utilize the space. This was particularly helpful for a couple that didn't have a great vision of what we wanted our wedding to be. She was flexible with dropping things off and picking things up after the wedding, which made the whole process less stressful.

I don't think any other venue would have fit our personalities more. It is an amazing place to get married!

User2370473 Sent on 10/15/2015

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We did our ceremony in the wildflower garden and reception in the sculpture barn. It was a great venue and all the guests gave us compliments on the choice! We had some rain during the day but still managed to do the ceremony outside. The museum offered up spaces inside for photos which we appreciated. Great venue, location and fun for guests. Also, you can hike up Fed Hill and take photos!

User1849193 Sent on 07/30/2015

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We wanted to find something that was reasonably priced for a venue in July, and AVAM was SO much bang for your buck. This venue was absolutely amazing for functionality, natural beauty, and funk! We initially loved the price and the convenience for our guests... everyone but one person was from out of town (we are from PA) so we love that people could walk everywhere, water taxi, etc. And there's parking literally steps from the museum for those that did want to drive around the harbor instead of walking or taking a cab. It is just such a fun venue and after seeing all of our centerpieces and aisle set up, it was even more stunning than I ever imagined! The brick building is such a naturally gorgeous backdrop it doesn't really need much decorating! The garden and all of the sculptures were so much fun for our guests. PLUS our guests got to go into the museum for free until 9:30 to walk through the exhibits (I think this is only for those that use the barn/sculpture garden, which we did). There was another wedding going on at the last building (JRVC) and so a few guests wandered into the wrong wedding, which was humorous. So I might suggest having prominently displayed signs. We didn't have a "welcome to the _________ wedding" sign, so that might have been helpful! Other than that, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this venue. We received so many compliments and it was just perfect!!!!

Candice Sent on 07/26/2015

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This was the perfect wedding venue! We were blessed with fantastic weather and were able to have our ceremony outside in the wildflower garden which was absolutely gorgeous!! After that we held our reception inside the sculpture barn which was also amazing! Michelle the rental coordinator for the museum is on point with everything and was a great go to person if I had any questions. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect place for our wedding!

Kirsten Sent on 11/20/2014

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Couldn't think of a better place to hold such a special event! Our wedding day was the most memorable and magical day of our lives and we can't thank you enough for having us! From beginning to end, there isn't a single thing we would change and thank to you it was a dream come true!

Kyle Sent on 11/16/2014

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The American Visionary Art Museum was everything we every hoped for in a wedding. Michele Goldberg was incredible to work with and always available for questions. The ceremony on the staircase was absolutely beautiful and the barn was the perfect space for our reception.

Rob Sent on 10/22/2014

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we had our ceremony and reception on 10/11/14 in the JRVC and this was a perfect venue for us. if you're sort of offbeat like we are, and you have a wedding >150 people, then the odds are it's the perfect venue for you too.

the service was great; everyone at the AVAM was super nice and responsive to us through the whole process leading up to the wedding day, and then when we got there the space was absolutely beautiful. in fact, one thing that's really great about the space is that it's so beautiful we didn't need to worry about all of those little-yet-super-expensive decor touches that you'd normally have to fill a reception space with, because it looked great just by default.

some people might not think it's perfect to get married in front of a giant pink dog and a ball of bras, and i get that -- but for us it absolutely could not have been more perfect.

Cate Sent on 10/20/2014

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My husband and I have always loved the AVAM and because of the size of our wedding, it was the perfect fit for us. We got married on the 1st floor of the JRVC and had our cocktail hour and reception on the 3rd floor of the same building. You don’t really need to do anything to the 1st floor and we rented some trees and lights for the 3rd floor to just warm up the space. They include the chairs and tables with the rental fee which saves money and also takes another vendor out of the equation the day of.
Michele was truly amazing to work with – she knows that space inside and out – and has really good insight as far as the flow and vendor suggestions. We really enjoyed working with her and LOVE the pictures we got on the museum grounds.
I would suggest 2 things to anyone who is booking there: (1) Be sure to clarify for your vendors and guests which building your ceremony/reception is in. We had a few vendors set up on the barn as well as guests walk into the wedding that was going into that space. (2) We also suggest working with Rusty Scupper across the street or the high school a few blocks away for parking if you are not offering valet. That way guests don’t have to worry about meters or anything like that.
Again – we have nothing but wonderful things to say about our experience here and Michele! We loved everything about it!

Danielle Sent on 09/10/2014

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Michele was very responsive and helpful both with suggestions of vendors helping us visualize the garden space as it would be in the summer (since we booked in the winter). It was perfect for us. One block away from the water, just down the hill from gorgeous views of downtown, an old brick structure, a lush garden with just the right amount of weird. We couldn't be happier with our selection.

Karin Sent on 08/24/2014

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Perfect place to get married! We got married on the 1st floor of the JVC building and had the reception on the 3rd floor. You rent the space and design it how you want! We couldn't of ask for a better venue for our special day! With guests attending from all over the US and Europe, we wanted a unique and fun place to get married (not stuffy), and AVAM topped our expectations! Our guests are still talking about the venue!

Alicia Sent on 07/17/2014

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Michele is wonderful and easy to work with, always ready with an answer to any question. I was out of the area for most of the planning so we did almost all communication by email, and she always responded quickly. Our guests loved the venue (Ceremony on stairs, reception in Sculpture Barn) and talked about how beautiful and different it was from any place they had ever been. They also enjoyed being able to walk around the museum during the reception. The lighting in the barn made for stunning pictures. Suggestions: There is no dedicated parking but there are meters and a parking garage nearby. We didn't have any problems for our 80 person wedding, but for a larger wedding I would suggest utilizing some of the recommended paid parking options. I would also allot extra time for photos because there are just too many options to get them all in!

Erica Sent on 05/18/2014

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The AVAM was just simply perfect! We had our wedding in the garden and the sculpture barn and couldn't have asked for a better setting. There's so much interesting artwork and the garden was in full bloom so you really don't need much in terms of decorations. They also leave the museum open for guests which is nice.

Michele Goldberg, the Facility Rental Coordinator, was wonderful. She was super responsive with all the questions I had and also had some good suggestions during the rehearsal.

The AVAM truly was my dream venue and if you have the chance to get married here, I would definitely encourage it!

Claire Sent on 08/16/2013

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I feel like I should make one of those 5-star rankings into 4, so it doesn't look like I just checked them thoughtlessly. I didn't check them thoughtlessly. AVAM is a fantastic venue for a wedding--great art, unique vibe, totally responsive and fun staff, beautiful setting. My husband and I were married just up the hill in Fed Hill Park, and then had all of our guests walked down to AVAM's small venue, the Sculpture Barn and Garden, for food, dancing, and fun. The whole event was a blast, and you can configure the Sculpture Barn to have great flow in and out of the building when it's warm enough. Plus, if you book on a Friday night, as we did, you save considerably. Michelle and her staff are terrific. We were thrilled with our wedding at AVAM.

Kristen Sent on 07/17/2013

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Amazing venue- Michelle is a fabulous event coordinator! Responsive, great value for the cost, and extremely flexible!

User1402717 Sent on 06/23/2013

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This was absolutely the most perfect location for our wedding this past June! We were incredibly lucky to have an amazing day of weather, and the wildflower garden was the perfect place for our ceremony. The sculpture barn has so much character, that besides hanging twinkle lights on the truss above us, no decor was needed. We received so many positive comments from family and friends about the venue, and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to get married in Baltimore.

Curls Sent on 11/18/2012

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If you love whimsical, creative, magical, romantic energy, then AVAM is the place for you! There is not enough space on this site to describe the amazingness of the museum in detail (go visit, you won't regret it!). We had visited the museum a few times and were excited to learn that we could host our celebration there. We decided to rent out the Barn (which included passes for our entire guest list to the main museum). Michele, the event manager, is a rock star. She was incredibly communicative, answered all of our questions, and brought the creative spirit of the museum into our planning. When we had questions about vendors, she used her many years of work in the industry to give us perfect recommendations. The rest of the AVAM staff were also fantastic and we were so glad to give our money to a place that does such great arts work in the community. We highly recommend AVAM!

Kimberly Sent on 10/06/2012

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Michele was so easy to work with! She gave me everything that I needed and always answered my emails within a reasonable amount of time! Whenever I had an issue arise, she was always available to ensure that we could get everything straightened out. The AVAM is an amazing venue and all of our guests enjoyed the open 1st and 2nd floor galleries as they had so much to look at! It's an absolute gem in Baltimore and right across from the Inner Harbor.

Kimberly & Lester Castellano

Erin Sent on 09/19/2012

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Perfect place for a wedding reception! The third floor of the Jim Rouse Building is simple, yet beautiful and it didn't take away from our decor. You can turn it into whatever you want it to be. Michele was great to work with and she was so helpful with all the questions we had!

April Sent on 09/13/2012

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It was a pleasure working with Michele, the event coordinator, at AVAM. She is friendly, professional, and knowledgeable. The venue was fun, creative, and quirky and really reflected my husband and my personalities. We chose to have our wedding in the sculpture barn and wildflower garden and really wanted to have our ceremony in the JRVC plaza next to the garden. Michele made sure it could happen and totally made our day. Our guests were able to have access to the museum for most of the evening and really enjoyed all of the facilities.

Brenda Sent on 08/08/2012

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This Venu was beautiful and my husband and I couldn't have picked any more of an artsy place to hold our wedding. The spaces we rented were very reasonable. We rented the Sculpture Garden and Sculpture Barn. The people at the art museum are very friendly and personable. I highly recommend this space for someone that wants to add an artsy twist to any event.

Stephanie Sent on 08/07/2012

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We held our reception in the Sculpture Barn and our ceremony on the staircase inside AVAM. It is such a great place for events generally and was really a great fit for the casual, fun wedding we were shooting for. Our friends and relatives just loved the museum itself, and on top of that the Barn is a good space. We had about 100 guests (and used 14 round dining tables) and it did not feel crowded at all. It was a bit tricky to figure out how to use our flower girl for the ceremony, since you cannot scatter flowers on the stairs (they just fall through), but otherwise a nice place for the ceremony and our guests could see pretty well.

The one thing we wanted to avoid in this process was a hot, sticky, mid-Atlantic summer wedding, but the ONLY Saturday available within the 6-month range we wanted to have our wedding was in early August, and we were set on a Saturday due to people's work/travel/school schedules. But the space was just too great so we decided to just deal with the heat. Plan for the worst and hope for the best -- we bought up several fans from thrift stores and used them to augment the 2-3 big fans they have in the Barn. We also glued popsicle sticks to our programs so they could be used as fans. People could go outside where there was more of a breeze or inside the AC museum to take a break from the heat though. We also warned them in advance on invitations and our website that it would be warm so they should dress accordingly.

The only drawback, aside from being WARM, was that the sound system in the Barn is not very powerful. We plugged a laptop in to play music and it ended up sounding like background music the whole time - we would have had to turn it WAY up to make the music more central and get over the fans and general noise of the event. But that was OK - if the music was more important we might have actually hired a DJ, and people danced a bit when we put the dance playlist on anyway, so no big deal for us.

We also wanted people to be able to take public transit to the wedding, and AVAM is located on or near a couple of Charm City Circulator routes, so some people did successfully use the bus to get to/from there and the hotel or train station. There is ample cheap parking nearby too.

Great spot - everyone just loved it despite the heat.

Jennifer Sent on 06/30/2012

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We had our ceremony in the Sculpture Garden and reception in the Sculpture Barn. It was amazing!! I love that our guests had access to the museum. We had 106 guests and it was really the perfect space for that many people. The brick walls in the barn and the hanging art pieces really make it so you don't even have to decorate. And the location was really sentimental to us since we met and got our first apartment together in Fed Hill. Michele responds immediately to emails and recommended vendors for us. She was great! And there were so many great photo ops on Federal Hill and in and around the museum. We love the museum in general so it seemed like a logical choice.

Julia Sent on 05/31/2012

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We used the JRVC building and it was the perfect space for our wedding! It is so unique and modern which no other venue in the area can offer. The rental fee is a high but totally worth it. Michele was great to work with and very responsive.

Deborah Sent on 04/18/2012

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We had our ceremony on Federal Hill, cocktail hour in the sculpture garden at AVAM, and the party in the barn at AVAM.

Michele has about a 15 second response time to emails. Seriously. We planned our wedding in about two months, so the planning time was intense. Michele helped us find amazing vendors, gave really useful advice, and was really generous with her time and expertise.

AVAM was a great site--offbeat, elegant, playful, and funky. Our guests loved it. We loved it.

Joanna Sent on 11/17/2011

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We picked the AVAM because we wanted something fun and different, and we definitley got that! The staff at the AVAM were so easy to work with. All the guests absolutely loved the art work in the JRVC and the third floor was just beautiful. I was so pleased with the venue, thank you to the AVAM team!

Ilissa Sent on 11/13/2011

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We had our October 29, 2011 wedding at the Jim Rouse Visionary Center at AVAM, and absolutely loved it. This is a unique venue in two ways; first, the downstairs area is quirky and amazing and, second, the third floor is a wide-open space than can really be customized. The staff at AVAM is great to work with -- the facilities coordinator responds quickly and thoroughly to emails, and is very helpful. Also, while the rental fee is a bit high, it does include tables and chairs (we did not have to bring in any rentals). We highly recommend AVAM.

Katharine Sent on 10/09/2011

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This was such an awesome site for a reception! Our guests loved being able to tour the museum, and walk around in the garden, it gave the wedding a very relaxed, fun vibe. Michelle was very easy to work with and keep in touch with. We were in the sculpture barn, which is best for a group of around 100.

Dayani Sent on 09/02/2011

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This is a pricey but amazing venue. The 3rd floor is a blank slate with a beautiful contrast of exposed brick and wood as your foundation. You truly can get as creative as you want up here. We were married in the sculpture barn and the only hitch was the heat when they closed the doors. AVAM was the perfect setting for creative photography and videography. I can't wait to see the results.

Jacquelyn Sent on 08/27/2011

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I couldn't imagine a more perfect space for my wedding! I'm not a ballroom girl, and when I went searching for a unique wedding venue I fell in love with AVAM. We chose the Wild Flower Garden/Sculpture Barn for our ceremony and reception - my biggest fear was that there was no AC and my wedding was in August! But the heat didn't matter becuase the space is just that amazing that I wouldn't trade it for anything. We worked with Michele every step of the way and she was so extremely helpful, giving us advice when we needed it and always responding quickly and efficiently. We couldn't be happier about choosing AVAM as our venue.

Donna Sent on 07/21/2011

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THE most fantastic venue for the ceremony and reception! All 280 guests, including several children, had an awesome time! We had a cocktail hour in the barn, ceremony on the first floor of JRVC and the reception on the third floor of the JRVC. To give our guests the opportunity to enjoy the gallery, we also included access to the museum as part of the contract. Working with the event coordinator made planning a breeze.

Rebecca Sent on 07/11/2011

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The American Visionary Art Museum was the perfect place for our ceremony and reception - the night was like a dream! We had our ceremony on the stairs of the main museum building and our reception in the Sculpture Barn and they were both amazing locations. Michele was a great help - she answered any and all questions that we had as well as from our other vendors. The pictures are amazing and we didn't even have to use any decorations - the decor and lighting of the museum were all we needed. If you're looking for an original location that will exceed any expectations you've had about your wedding, then the American Visionary Art Museum is the only place you need to visit!

Nikia Sent on 05/14/2011

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Perfect venue for a unique, funky and one of a kind wedding.

Jennifer Sent on 12/12/2010

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This was the easiest decision we made as we were planning our wedding. We are big fans of the AVAM and knew we wanted to get married here. We got married on the first floor of the Rouse building (JRVC) and had the reception upstairs on the 3rd floor. The staff was down to earth and easy to work with. It isn't the least expensive venue around and it definitely isn't for everyone, but we loved it.

Chris Sent on 06/24/2010

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The museum is a beautiful and magical place to have a ceremony. We used the smaller "barn" area and got married in the garden. It was perfect. The bar was outside, no one had to drive around between ceremony and reception. I had read that AVAM is expensive and inflexible. They do have a list of approved vendors, but you don't HAVE to use them. It's a recommended list of people that are good and comfortable working there---which is a good thing! but I used some different people and just had to get a vendor contract signed-no big deal! Everyone loved the site and it's right downtown by the water. Several people decided they're having their next event there! The Barn area holds about 140 people. We had about 78 guests and it was perfect! Could not say enough great things about the people there. Their onsite coordinator who works with you at the rehearsal and is there for the event was too sweet! He was so helpful and cheery and wonderful. I wish we could keep in touch! And the main event coordinator there is great! She is very responsive and helpful--I never had one issue with any of it!

Ashley Sent on 12/29/2009

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Our ceremony and reception were in the Jim Rouse Visionary Center (the O Say Can You See building) at AVAM in December 2009...the night before a blizzard. Alicia and Scottie were so amazingly helpful, leading up to the wedding and the day of, respectively - and I think every single one of our 200+ guests said it was the best wedding, and most fun/amazing space they've ever been. Highly recommended!! -- Ashley Daniels Schall, 12.18.09

Jordan Sent on 11/23/2009

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Above and beyond our expectations! Alicia Karoll, the Visionary's event manager, was extremely attentive and was more than gracious in constantly responding to our panicked wedding requests. Very well networked with our other wedding vendors, which made many aspects of our planning that much easier. The venue itself was gorgeous and provided us with exactly what we were looking for to make our day absolutely spectacular!

Mary Sent on 10/14/2009

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It was a pleasure working with the American Visionary Art Museum! Alicia was extremely helpful and everything was taken care of! She met with me and emailed with me a number of times to answer all of my questions. Compared to the price for other venues in dowtown Baltimore it was a great deal! We didn't even need to rent tables and chairs because they had them available! There was a great view of the harbor at night and all of our guests loved the art!

Beatrice Sent on 09/16/2009

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We used the Jim Rouse Visionary Center for our entire wedding. We had an unusual order of events: cocktails and dinner on the 3rd floor, ceremony on the 1st floor, and then back upstairs for dessert and dancing on the 3rd floor again. AVAM was the most creative, unique, and beautiful place for our wedding. We are beyond thrilled with the venue. What could be better than getting married right under two pink poodles!

Although other reviewers have given the venue a lower rating because of the cost, think about it this way: you are helping to support the museum with your money. If you pay to have a wedding at a ballroom or a hotel, the money is going to something that does little for the community. AVAM offers the Baltimore community culture, resources for teachers and students, the Center for Visionary Thought (seeks to improve low cost grassroots efforts), and more.

Alicia Karroll was an incredible help! She helped us sort through the list of preferred vendors and made suggestions about the space that were very useful.

We HIGHLY recommend hiring a wedding planner or at least "day of" coordinator for this venue, because you have to bring all of the vendors into the venue- none are supplied.

FANTASTIC VENUE!

Sandhya Sent on 09/09/2009

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AVAM was an outstanding wedding venue. The facility rentals manager and staff were highly professional, were easy and friendly to work with, had great suggestions for other vendors, and were very responsive to guests. The venue itself has stunning views of the Baltimore Inner Harbor and great artwork and a great vibe. We used the JRVC 1st Floor for our ceremony, the Sculpture Barn and Garden for a cocktail reception, and the JRVC 3rd floor for our dinner reception. Since we had booked the entire venue, our guests were able to see the exhibits free of cost until 8 pm. The team which was on-site on the evening of our ceremony/reception was outstanding, and great at steering our guests to where they needed to be and helping with vendors. We got so many great compliments for selecting AVAM over the run-of-the-mill hotels and banquet halls. The venue is a bit expensive, but our total wedding per-guest cost ended up being about the same as it would have been if we had used a hotel or other venue. We highly recommend AVAM as a venue.

Sara Sent on 10/08/2008

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This was the best decision I made regarding my wedding. I loved everything about AVAM. Everything. I am so incredibly happy we booked there, and everyone raved about how great the site was. We have so many amazing pictures and with AVAM as the backdrop, it was absolutely magical. I will say not having a kitchen on site is a bummer. But I loved AVAM so much I didn't really care in the end.

Casey Sent on 06/10/2017

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AVAM is an incredible venue, and Michele is a fantastic coordinator! Our first plan was to have a backyard wedding, but when we started to consider the time, energy, and money it would require, we quickly wised up and sought out a fun venue that would match our needs and personalities. AVAM was that venue, and here’s why:

LOCATION
It’s perfect! AVAM is within walking distance of hotels, bars, restaurants, and so may cool things to do. Our guests, especially the out-of-towners, were spoiled. And so were we! Location is EVERYTHING! We avoided so much stress by choosing this location.

FUN
This museum is FANTASTIC! The art is so kooky, so cool, so thoughtful, and the whole place is filled with joy and personality. From the LOVE sign outside to the bird’s nest to the sculptures (Fifi the poodle, Tic Toc the croc, robots, LOVE balloon, etc.). It’s like no museum you’ve ever seen. In fact, we didn’t even bother with decorations during the ceremony because the museum itself was all we needed.

MICHELE
Michele is an awesome coordinator! She’s responsive, thorough, thoughtful, and she gets it. She happily met with us for a walk-through and our rehearsal, and she even met with our coordinator when she asked for a separate walk-through. Oh, and if that’s not enough to convince you, when my mom went rogue and sent Michele an email with a million questions, she responded with sincere kindness and care.

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
At first glance, the fee seems high, but you’re getting a lot: beauty, charm, convenience. We got married on the first floor of the JRVC building and had our reception on the third; that saved time and made for a seamless transition. Plus, AVAM provides the tables and chairs, lots of space, and a coordinator who cares. The museum does have some restrictions (specific timing, no confetti, preferred vendors), but those are all for good reason and minor when you consider how special the space is.

It’s a venue you and your guests won’t ever forget!

User2300826 Sent on 09/01/2015

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4.5 out of 5 rating

My now-husband and I were having a rough time finding a budget-friendly venue in DC that felt like somewhere we would actually want to find a wedding. Then we expanded our search to Maryland and found AVAM. AVAM made our entire wedding. Michele was the most responsive person I've ever worked with - she came in early on a Saturday morning to let us see the venue when we were looking to book and I swear every single email I sent her had a reply in under 20 minutes. She was so friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely cared about our wedding at AVAM being awesome. There were times our caterer/day of coordinator communicated with her directly and it took stress off of us that we didn't constantly have to be the middle men.

The space itself was STUNNING. Our guests were absolutely blown away and I think AVAM is the part of our wedding guests will remember most for years to come. The garden worked perfectly for our ceremony and tiny wedding party, and knowing that we had an equally beautiful backup plan if the weather was bad gave us such peace of mind leading up to our wedding day (thankfully, it was all sun!). I'd make a note that while there is no AC in the barn, the fans are pretty powerful and if your guests are anything like ours they'll spend the time wandering outside in the garden or the space between the bar and the main museum. Older relatives especially appreciated the opportunity to explore the main museum building. There are tons of amazing photo opportunities throughout the space too, as well as Federal Hill park right next door. I could write pages upon pages about how lucky we feel to have found AVAM for our wedding. If you're looking for a fun, unique venue that's funky and playful but still beautiful and elegant, you cannot beat AVAM for value, responsiveness, and guest experience.

Andrea Sent on 01/06/2014

4.9 out of 5 rating

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My husband and I chose the JRVC building at AVAM for our wedding of 125 guests. Michele, the rentals coordinator, was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. She responded to our emails immediately with thoughtful suggestions. We booked almost all of our vendors based off of AVAM's list of recommended vendors. The space is stunning and completely unique. The ceremony space is filled with artwork and sculpture, including Fifi, a fluffy, 15-foot pink poodle. The reception area is open, with exposed brick and woven whiskey barrel planks. There is a balcony that overlooks the harbor. In short, it was a beautiful canvas that doesn't need a lot of decoration. All we added were some drapery, and up lighting. It wasn't cheap, but it was worth every penny!

Margot Sent on 08/11/2013

4.9 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

We loved our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception at AVAM! Michele was helpful and lovely to work with throughout our engagement. Jonathan was sweet at the rehearsal, but do know that they can't guarantee that anyone will be there during the actual ceremony to help run it. We were more than fine with no day of coordinator though.The first floor of the JRVC was a delightfully unique space to have our ceremony, the cocktail hour in the sculpture barn was beautiful but very hot on our 97 degree wedding day, and the reception on the third floor was fabulous! My girls and I got ready on the second floor which was a lovely space as well! Although it cost even more money to book the sculpture barn, we were so glad that we were the only event at AVAM that day since we had booked all the spaces. My husband and I, our friends and family truly enjoyed everything! We just wish we could have started the evening earlier and had the evening go longer. Thanks AVAM!

Macy Sent on 08/20/2023

4.8 out of 5 rating

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Stunning indoor/outdoor venue

We loved having our reception at AVAM! They had a great relationship with the caterer which made coordination so easy. The location was enticing and convenient for out-of-town guests. There were so many opportunities for great photo backdrops, even on our rainy wedding day. I wanted to have minimal extra decorations, since my family was from out of town, and the Sculpture Barn and wildflower garden spaces needed nothing extra! They had exactly the vibe I was hoping for, and they were the perfect size for our 100-person wedding.

+2 photos

Stephanie Sent on 10/03/2019

4.8 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating

Unique and unforgettable venue

We only looked at one place, and that's because it was so perfect for us. We've always enjoyed admiring AVAM and when we finally went to view it through the lens of a newly engaged couple, we knew it was the best fit! Our ceremony was in the Sculpture Garden and reception in the Barn. We loved having everything in one place! Our guests enjoyed the awning outside and viewing the museum, everyone's pictures were gorgeous and fun! Staff at the museum were great to work with. While we had some constraints (it is a museum after all) it was nothing we objected to or that put a damper on our experience. The barn is not air conditioned, but with the doors open and the fans on, the temperature was just fine for our warm Sept 21 wedding. Highly recommend AVAM if you're looking for a beautiful and one of a kind venue.

+3 photos

Caitlin Sent on 06/10/2019

4.8 out of 5 rating

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Incredible venue!

Michele was nothing short of amazing. She knows the venue backwards and forwards and was always willing to answer questions. The Sculpture Barn was the exact venue we wanted for our wedding and did not disappoint. We had a great evening with 111 guests, a buffet, lots of dancing and incredible photos. Thanks AVAM!

Sarah Sent on 04/26/2019

4.8 out of 5 rating

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A Beautiful Place To Get Married!

My husband and I were just married in the JRVC building and did our ceremony on the first floor with our reception in the same building on the 3rd floor. Michele was extraordinarily helpful with all things planning and was always very responsive and informative. She has recommendations for everything! The displays on the first floor are a bit unpredictable and were different from when we first looked at the venue, but if you are a fan of the type of art in the AVAM, this shouldn't bother you. In fact, we were excited that Fifi the pink poodle was front and center when we got married. You are limited in how long your reception can be (after all, it is a public space), which was the only down side for us because we were limited to 5 hours and we got married on a Friday night. Overall, we loved our experience and would highly recommend.

User2619381 Sent on 05/23/2016

4.8 out of 5 rating

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AVAM was the perfect location for my wedding! Michelle was wonderful to work with and the venue was so unique and beautiful. There were a couple of things that happened the day of that were a little dissapointing though, there is a moterized statue that moves up and down the staircase we had our ceremony on and I was told that it would be stopped. While lining up to start the ceremony my bridesmaids told me it was still moving and michelle was nowhere in sight, I wouldn't of minded but we didn't get as many nice photos of the ceremony because of it.
Also, the bathroom's were pretty dirty. This is something I never thought to look into until I had to step over a large puddle in my gown to use the facilities.

Karen Sent on 01/28/2015

4.8 out of 5 rating

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Perfect for the offbeat couple--we got married in the sculpture garden and wouldn't have traded it for anything. It's such an interesting and beautiful place that we didn't even need to do any decorating! The murals on the ceiling of the barn and the red brick walls create this really gorgeous warm light, and the garden itself is delightfully chaotic.

Sarah Sent on 10/07/2014

4.8 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating

Booking the AVAM was the first thing we did, immediately after getting engaged. I'm glad we did because they fill up fast! This was the perfect venue for us - very beautiful and quirky. Guests loved it! We really liked that guests could pop into the main museum if they wanted. Michele was also super easy to work with and very responsive!

The only things I think the AVAM could improve for their events in the Barn are the bathrooms (just two small unisex bathrooms that could use some updating, but are completely functional so it's not a big deal) and the general cleanliness of the floor. My dress was filthy on the bottom, pretty much immediately after the ceremony. Maybe there is no getting around that though, I don't know :)

Aside from those two minor things, overall I am so happy we selected the AVAM for our wedding. Our pictures are gorgeous with AVAM features in them and Michele was great to work with!

User1680302 Sent on 06/26/2014

4.8 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating

This venue was awesome. So many cool spots to take pictures. I would highly recommend having your ceremony somewhere else before hand though because you only have from 6-11 in the space which leads to a VERY short reception. That means you have to your ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all in a short 5 hours, and trust me, you want that day to last forever! Other than that it is a phenomenal place to have a wedding and we loved working with michele!

Lauren Sent on 12/01/2013

4.8 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating

I LOVED having my wedding at AVAM! It was so much fun to be married with the sculptures... and the guests loved it too. The JRVC has the perfect spaces for the ceremony and reception and could accommodate my large guest list.

Becky Sent on 07/10/2013

4.8 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating

The moment my (then) fiance and I saw the giant poodle and elephant kinetic sculptures....we just knew we had to get married here. Don't think we could have found a more fun, quirky space for our ceremony. Also, Michele is the best - she's super, lightning fast responsive + helpful.

Something to bear in mind for the JRVC - if you plan on having over 250 guests, you might need to rent more chairs. We had 300 guests and ended up having to rent an additional 100 chairs to have enough for both the ceremony + reception. It was kind of a last minute hassle because we didn't ask about this earlier.

Tarra Sent on 11/09/2012

4.8 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating

The AVAM is the perfect place for anyone who wants a unique, memorable, absolutely gorgeous wedding. The facilities rental coordinator Michele is a true pleasure to work with. I am really sad the whole thing is over and that I have no reason really to speak with her! She helped make our special day as perfect as possible, even with the threat of Hurricane Sandy. Michele and her colleagues were more than willing to accommodate any changes to our regularly schedule program due to the storm. They went above and beyond. Everything worked out just fine with a little bit of rain. Both the ceremony (on the staircase of the main museum) and reception (in the Barn) were wonderful LOVE LOVE LOVE THE AVAM!!

User983398 Sent on 10/21/2012

4.8 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating

We went with AVAM for these main reasons: 1.) They have a large list of caterers to choose from 2.) There was plenty of space to accommodate 200 guests and 3.) Michele, the event coordinator was very straightforward and responsive. We had a Hindu/American ceremony on the 1st floor of the JRVC, and the reception was on the 3rd floor.

On the negative side: It's a little pricier than most places (although when you factor in the cheaper caterers, it still costs less than some of the places in Baltimore). Second, there is no parking included (although we were able to rent out the parking lot of Digital Harbor High School for ~$300 or something like that). We also had our wedding during the Grand Prix, so have the parking lot was extremely clutch. We also looked into water taxi for guests, but they weren't available for us to rent that day. It also would have been cool if they had some kind of discounted rate for museum admission for the guests, although maybe there is a way to work that in the price, somehow.

All in all, I would definitely choose the AVAM again for our wedding. Very spacious, great background for interesting pictures, plenty of food/drink options, flexibility with decorations, Michele is awesome, good prep area available for bridal party, price includes most of the chairs/tables needed, and definitely a relaxing/fun environment that mitigates the stressfulness that's associated with the wedding day.

Kristin Sent on 07/07/2011

4.8 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating

Not only is this venue totally unique and fun for guests (they get to tour the museum during the event), the service was outstanding. Michelle is fabulous to work with and always had a quick answer for our questions. We are a lesbian couple and this venue is very gay friendly and just all around awesome. The rates are very reasonable for the location and you can save even more by supplying your own alcohol. You do need to work within their preferred vendors for catering, but we had a great experience with Absolutely Perfect Catering.

Erica Sent on 09/29/2010

4.8 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating

We loved, loved, loved having our wedding ceremony and reception at AVAM!!! We had long been fans of the museum, so it was a natural choice for us when we decided to get married. All of our guests, many of whom had never visited AVAM before, enjoyed exploring the museum and said that it was by far the most interesting location for a wedding they had ever been to. We had about 175 guest; got married on the first floor of the Rouse building; had cocktails in the garden and Barn; and had the reception on the 3rd floor of the Rouse.

Despite the fact that the Event Manager transitioned a month or so before our event, Alicia (the old event manager) and Michelle (the new event manager), as well as their assistants, were responsive and accommodating during the planning process and event. The only drawback that I can see of having an event at AVAM is that events can only start at/after 6PM and must end promptly at 11PM. Had we had our ceremony elsewhere, the reception would have seemed longer (or not - it went by in a flash). It would have been excellent if it could have gone on until 12 midnight. That said, rules are rules and AVAM was super flexible about letting our vendors set up several in advance.

A few other tips: we did not have a ton of people driving directly to the ceremony and we directed them to park at the Rusty Skupper garage across the street and street parking along Covington, which worked great and allowed us to skip having a valet. Also, we wanted to have an after party at a nearby bar and Little Havana, about a 5 minute walk away from AVAM, came highly recommended (we live in DC and are not too familiar with Baltimore nightlife). It was close by and ended up being the perfect after party spot - a large, fairly low-key space with indoor and outdoor seating and right on the water.

Mj Sent on 08/12/2016

4.7 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating

AVAM was such an amazing and relatively affordable venue for our wedding! Michelle and the entire staff there was incredibly helpful and professional from day one, answering every question, big or small quickly and fully. We used the JRVC building for our wedding; ceremony on the first floor, signing our Ketubah and marriage license on the second floor (privately) and reception/cocktail hour on the third floor. The entire facility is already so beautifully and uniquely decorated that we really did not add any decorations to the space itself at all except to separate our cocktail space from the reception area. If you're looking for a place to have a quirky and fun "Baltimore-style" wedding, look no further than AVAM!

User2197462 Sent on 06/25/2015

4.7 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating

We had our reception at the American Visionary Arts Museum. Our cocktail hour was in the barn and dinner and dancing was on the 3rd floor of the JRVCC building. Michelle was our event coordinator and she was great to work with! She was also responsive to the emails I sent her and no question or request was too big or small. We had 200 people attend and the space was more than big enough to accommodate about 25 tables with a huge space for the band and dance floor. The space is pretty plain which allows to you to totally make your wedding look and feel exactly how you want it! I would 100% recommend this as a reception venue!

Jen Sent on 11/07/2014

4.7 out of 5 rating

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3.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

AVAM was the first venue we visited, and nothing else ever quite measured up. We loved it the moment we walked in. The only downside is the price, but at least you do not have to rent tables and chairs. There was also no need for any decorations during the ceremony because there was plenty for guests to look at! We were married in the Rouse building among all fun sculptures including a hot air balloon that flashed “LOVE” as it turned. Our guests were so excited; it really set the tone for the rest of the wedding. Moving from the first to third floor for the reception was easy and quick, so guests never had a dull moment. Michele was one of my favorite vendors to work with; in fact, other vendors were genuinely excited when I told them where the wedding would be (my DJ even offered a discount specifically because it was at AVAM). She answered all my questions within a day or so and seemed at ease no matter what I threw at her. I highly recommend AVAM if you are looking for a fun, funky setting and great people!

Sarah Sent on 11/25/2009

4.7 out of 5 rating

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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating

We both LOVED this site! You need to do very little to make it unique because the setting provides this for you! The third floor is huge and a blank slate, so even though the museum is decorated as if, you still have plenty of opportunity to do some decorating if this is for what you are searching. Flexibility is somewhat limited with the site as it is an art museum, but they are flexible with what they can be. I would get married here again if I had to do it all over again! It was GREAT!! Our guests continue to talk about our wedding and want to visit the museum again!

Marissa Sent on 10/11/2007

4.7 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

AVAM was a great, unique venue. Alicia was so great from the first time we met her, we knew we wanted to work with her. She's funny and friendly, but she gets things done. We had no problems with booking at AVAM at all or with any dealings with them. The only problem was that at the reception, there was another person handling the reception for AVAM and when we were supposed to play my childhood slideshow during my dance with my father, he managed to shut down the whole system which then had to be rebooted and the slideshow that my husband had stayed up until 4am wasn't shown. I felt really bad because that was a big part of that moment and my husband put a lot into it as a surprise to my parents. I know the guy felt really bad and it was just a mistake, but it was the only bad part of my wedding so it stands out. So basically, all I can say is if you have a slideshow make sure someone knows how to work it and you have it all planned out. At any rate though, we loved AVAM, our guests loved it because they had never been to such a unique place, and the facilities were great. We were able to have kids in an activity room on the 2nd floor where they could have pizza and watch videos. We were also able to get some great photos around the museum.

Madeleine Sent on 07/08/2019

4.6 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating

Beautiful, fun, and interesting space

I wouldn’t trade my experience for anything! The Avam is very used to hosting weddings and are great and connecting clients to other great vendors and helping with the flow. Just 1 word of caution is if you are getting married in the Rous first floor ceremony space the window permitted for set-up is very tight. Even with this right frame our vendors somehow managed to get everything set up on time so it all worked out!

Samantha Sent on 09/19/2015

4.6 out of 5 rating

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3 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

The AVAM was a BEAUTIFUL and unique venue for our wedding ceremony and reception in August of 2015. We knew we wanted to get married in an art museum in Baltimore, but we also did not like the "stuffy" atmosphere of the other museums. As soon as we walked in the AVAM and saw the hard wood floors, the Baltimore street facade, Fluffy, and the brick walls of the 3rd floor in the JRVC building, we knew this is where we wanted to begin our marriage. All of our guests raved about the venue and how different it was. They loved to check out all of the different views of the museum. Michelle, who is the event coordinator for the museum, is amazing to work with and very responsive and helpful with any ridiculous number of questions you may ask. She helped us with anything that we needed. It was great that chairs and tables were included with the rental fee. It was a little pricey, but well worth it. If you are looking for somewhere different for an "untraditional" wedding, the AVAM is for you. We LOVED IT!

Grace Sent on 09/23/2013

4.6 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating

I had my wedding here recently & have nothing bad to say about the venue. We used the sculpture barn for cocktails, the first floor of JRVC for the ceremony & the 3rd floor of the JRVC building for the reception. It is a little pricey especially compared to some other venues in Baltimore but we fell in love with the space & all our guests were raving about it. It is definitely not a traditional venue but if you are into more modern and quirky art it is GREAT and allows for so many photo opportunities! The coordinator Michele Goldberg is so professional & responsive too by email with any questions I had along the way. The venue is also well located and near the hotels in the Inner Harbor so you don't necessarily need to provide guests with transportation, etc.

Robin Sent on 06/24/2013

4.6 out of 5 rating

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3 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

The venue was everything that my children wanted for their wedding. I had 2 concerns, the refrigerator had left over food in it and was not too clean, and my guests had difficulty finding their way around. This venue requires an "a la carte" approach which can quickly add to any budget.

Krista Sent on 10/30/2012

4.6 out of 5 rating

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3 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating

The venue was beautiful and Michele was helpful but for $7,000 I had to have my table switched because it rocked and even when switched my table still shook which almost caused my dinner to be on my dress.

Sarah Sent on 10/17/2011

4.6 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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3.5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating

The venue is spectacular! Michele, the rental manager, was really easy to work with even when I had a major freak out about a payments going awry. She was easy to get a hold of via phone or email when I had questions and she mainly dealt directly with my caterer making it so that I didn't have to get information from one and pass it along to the other in what could have been a really confusing game of telephone.

It was an expensive venue and had we planned better, we may have rethought the location based on the amount of our budget we spent on it. However, hind sight is always 20/20 and I don't think we could have found a more fun or interesting venue that fit our personalities as well. Due to residential noise regulations, the reception couldn't go as long as we may have wanted, but the museum's location allowed us to head straight to Little Havana for an afterparty.

Overall, the museum is perfect is you want a non-traditional, not so formal fun/quirky atmosphere

Jennifer Sent on 11/14/2010

4.6 out of 5 rating

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AVAM was the perfect location for our reception-it does cost more money than other places, but everyone raved about the uniqueness of the location. The 3rd floor of the Jim Rouse building was a huge space and the dance floor (the most important aspect for my husband and I) was big enough for everyone to dance comfortably. We loved it! The staff was helpful-make sure to get your vendor forms filled out early (all vendors need to sign a form with AVAM)

Sheila Sent on 08/02/2007

4.6 out of 5 rating

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4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

This was a wonderful place for the ceremony. They allowed us to have a fire for the Hindu ceremony in their Sculpture barn and we had our Christian ceremony in their courtyard. The downside to the outside ceremony is that now they have built the Ritz-Carlton residences across the street which are such an eyesore at the moment. They also reflect traffic sounds into the courtyard and therefore the traffic sounds created a muffling effect of anything that was occuring in our ceremony. We had to use microphones.

Kristie Sent on 08/16/2016

4.5 out of 5 rating

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2.5 out of 5 rating

The exquisite location mask the lack of flexibility at the venue. They are stringent on their rules in regards to keeping supplies at the location prior and overnight. In addition no one from the venue assists the day of, it will be your caterer running the show so make sure you contract a great one!

Meghan Sent on 11/13/2013

4.5 out of 5 rating

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5 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4.5 out of 5 rating

I just had my wedding a couple months ago at AVAM and it was absolutely beautiful. A lot of guests thought the venue was awesome and a couple friends who haven't gotten married yet told us we really stepped up the game with this venue choice. My event was in the JRVC 3rd floor as I had to many guests for the barn. Michelle who is the event manager there is great, she is always super responsive to emails or calls. The contract comes with white folding chairs, a variety of tables, and audio/visual equipment which is nice. I ended up switching out the chairs as I wanted chaivari chairs, but still always great to have a backup. The cost was probably a little higher than the average, but for a unique venue it made sense. Also chair and table rentals can get expensive so if you are looking at a venue without them put that in your cost comparison. Probably the only downside is that you only have the space for a max of 5 hours and everything has to be cleaned up by midnight, which really requires a lot of planning to get everything in that you want. I didn't have my ceremony there as I had a church wedding, but the pictures would be amazing had I done that. Lastly, you have to pick from a list of approved caterers, which actually helps in the process as it helps narrow it down and you have 14 to choose from. Michelle also gives you a list of recommended vendors and it is good to check them out as having a vendor that has worked in the space before is really nice.

American Visionary Art Museum Reviews

Reviews

American Visionary Art Museum