Why a Wedding Needs a Brontosaurus

Will you be at AAM 2026 in Philadelphia this week? Me too! Hit REPLY if you’d like to connect IRL.

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“Want to get married under a giant extinct lizard skeleton?”

”I thought you’d never ask.”

Exhibition halls and rotundas can make excellent event spaces. We need rentals. Without them, our financial health has one less thing to rely on.

In convention centers, generic is the norm: flexible for any purpose.

But in museums, that doesn’t necessarily apply. A museum is specific by nature. That’s exactly why someone might host an event in one.

Yet, during master planning for new museums, it’s common for museum leaders to suggest a neutral event space. Even when a brontosaurus in that rotunda is a better idea.

Why so?

It’s rare.
There are countless venues. But hardly any with brontosauri in them.

It’s memorable.
Events are about logistics — until after. Then they’re about how people remember them. Towering extinct lizards: hard to forget.

It’s an icebreaker.
Most event guests don’t know each other. A majestic fossilized carcass is a sure-fire conversation starter.

It’s decor.
Event planners won’t have to come up with a theme. We’ll go with “Brontosaurus”.

Here’s the thing:

Your museum is unique, rare, and memorable. Your rental spaces probably should be too..

Warmly,
Jonathan

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MtM Word of the Day:
Final production art (FPA). Digital files used by a production company to actually print the visuals for an exhibition. Some call this "final digital art," or "FDA." (In pre-digital times, this was "mechanicals" or "camera-ready art.")

The MtM Glossary is a growing compendium of terms, abbreviations, and jargon in museum exhibitions. Hundreds of words so far from the “MtM Word of the Day” are all here, with more on the way.