Demand for weddings at National Museums Liverpool venues is continuing to rise with the World Museum in Liverpool joining the roster for the first time. Tony McDonough reports
National Museums Liverpool (NML) says demand for weddings at its venues with the number now hitting the 100 mark.
NML’s events armed, Hosted by NML, says since the end of the pandemic it has already seen 26 wedding events in its spaces in Liverpool and Wirral. In October, the World Museum in William Brown Street hosted a wedding for the first time.
NML operates seven venues – the oldest dating back to the 1800s – and includes some of the most visited museums in England outside of London. They welcome around 2.5m visitors a year.
They are the Museum of Liverpool, World Museum, Walker Art Gallery, Maritime Museum, International Slavery Museum, Sudley House and Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight in Wirral.
Weddings have been held at selected locations over the past decade. The Maritime Museum at the Royal Albert Dock is so far the most popular choice with the Walker Art Gallery although a sought after venue. The Lady Lever joined the list in 2022.
Following a record year for the events team, wedding requests have continued to flourish, with couples seeking more unusual venues for their nuptial celebrations. NML has seen year-on-year growth in wedding income and is extending its weddings portfolio.
Gareth Nuttall, head of sales for Hosted by NML, said: “We’ve seen wedding requests for the use of our art galleries and museums increase, and are extending the options we provide to couples who want to host their celebrations in a unique setting.
“Weddings are a popular part of our private events offering and we’re exploring new and exciting spaces in our portfolio for these special bookings.
“We have a creative schedule of celebrations lined up across our venues – including our first weddings in the stunning spaces of World Museum, with specially themed catering from our renowned in-house chefs.”
The World Museum is home to beautiful event spaces, fascinating galleries and displays of culture and life sciences from around the world, including an aquarium and planetarium.
Wedding guests can be welcomed into the historic Richard Foster Wing which dates back to 1901, with original features, marble pillars and intricate plasterworks.
Dinner can be hosted in the Old Examination Hall before dancing the night away in the spacious atrium under the museum’s famous dinosaur.”
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Gareth added: “The nature of our venues means each wedding we plan is tailor-made for the couple – to make their day special, in spectacular surroundings.
“The fact that our venues are closed to the public on Mondays also provides further opportunity to be creative with our stunning spaces.”