Wedding Band at the Carnegie Museum
A gilded foyer, a hall built after the Parthenon and a three-story staircase in Oakland. We have performed at the Carnegie Museum and work within its rules.
Inquire About Your DateAbout the Carnegie Museum
On Forbes Avenue in Oakland, one historic building holds the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Carnegie Music Hall, and the museums rent more than ten of its spaces for events. The Founders Room, with alabaster lamps and a fireplace, is where Andrew Carnegie once received guests to his museums.
For weddings, the museums point first to the Carnegie Music Hall Foyer: gilded baroque decoration under a 50-foot ceiling, carried on marble columns from five countries, with room for 320 at a wedding reception. The Grand Staircase Mezzanine climbs three stories past a John White Alexander mural of nearly 4,000 square feet, and its balcony serves for photographs, cocktails or a standing ceremony of 150.
Two halls borrow from the ancient world. The Hall of Sculpture is modeled on the inner sanctuary of the Parthenon and built of white marble from the same Greek quarries, while the Hall of Architecture follows the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and holds more than 140 plaster casts of ancient masterpieces. On the natural history side, the Hall of North American Wildlife puts a ceremony among habitat dioramas.
- Address
- 4400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Venue website
- carnegiemuseums.org
The spaces at the Carnegie Museum
Carnegie Music Hall Foyer
A 50-foot gilded ceiling over marble columns, for up to 320 at a wedding reception or 1,000 for cocktails.
Grand Staircase Mezzanine
Three stories of staircase and balcony beside the Alexander mural, for cocktails or a standing ceremony of up to 150.
Hall of Sculpture
Parthenon-inspired and built of Greek marble, for up to 250 at a ceremony or 120 at a reception, with seasonal availability.
Hall of Architecture
More than 140 plaster casts, for up to 150 at a ceremony or 90 seated with a dance floor, with seasonal availability.
Hall of North American Wildlife
A second-floor hall of habitat dioramas, for ceremonies of up to 150 depending on the exhibit layout.
Founders Room
Andrew Carnegie's old reception room, with an ornate high ceiling, for 40 seated or 60 for cocktails.
Planning your night at the Carnegie Museum
Working back from 1 a.m.
The museums ask that most events end by 1 a.m., and everything brought into the building has to leave the same day. We build the timeline backward from your end time with your planner, so the last dance lands on schedule and our gear is packed out that night, not the next morning.
Museum rules cover the band too
The museums prohibit open flames, confetti and balloons, and in most cases they ask that nothing hang on the walls. Our stage lighting stands on its own, and we confirm power and placement with the special events staff member who oversees your evening.
Music in marble rooms
The Music Hall Foyer and the Hall of Sculpture are tall rooms of stone, and sound carries in them. We keep dinner music soft enough for conversation across the tables, then open the band up once the dance floor fills.
Confirming the hall first
Some wedding uses of the Hall of Sculpture and the Hall of Architecture depend on the season. We wait for your confirmed room before we plan the stage, so the band fits the floor plan you actually book.
The band at the Carnegie Museum
Scaled to the room, from the duo to a full eleven-piece band.
Your Playlist
The full live band, seven to eleven pieces: lead female and male vocals, keys, guitar, bass, drums and saxophone, with horns, electric violin or a second vocalist to add.
Eddie & Gabby
The two founders, with every decade from the fifties to now. Made for cocktail hours, ceremonies and smaller rooms.
DJ Hybrid
A DJ anchors the night while live musicians move through the crowd on saxophone, electric violin, guitar or vocals.
"Eddie learned custom ceremony music and Gabby was an amazing emcee who kept the evening going in a subtle and classy way. Absolutely SLAYED."
Madison A. · The Knot
Questions about the Carnegie Museum
Have you performed at the Carnegie Museum?
Yes. The Carnegie Museum is on the list of Pittsburgh venues where we have performed.
Can we bring our own band to the museum?
Yes. The museums let you hire the entertainment and florist of your choice and will recommend vendors if you ask. Catering is the exception: Culinaire is their exclusive caterer.
Can guests visit the galleries during the wedding?
The museums can arrange docent-led gallery tours, live demonstrations and other experiences for an added fee. If you schedule one during cocktail hour, we keep the music going for the guests who stay behind.
Is there room for a Pittsburgh cookie table?
The museums welcome one and say they are fans of the custom. Our emcee can point everyone toward it when the cookies come out.
Let's fill the floor at the Carnegie Museum
Tell us your date and we will take it from there.
Let's Talk Pittsburgh weddings