Why Explora Children's Museum Might Be Albuquerque's Most Unexpected Wedding Venue

There are plenty of beautiful wedding venues around Albuquerque.

Elegant ballrooms, resorts, gardens. But then there is those that are more like hidden gems, my personal favorites. Some you can find within properties, farms (yes ABQ has farms) breweries , and then there's Explora.

At first glance, a children's science museum probably isn't the first place you'd imagine exchanging vows. But once you've experienced a wedding here, it quickly becomes one of the most memorable venues in New Mexico.

We've had the opportunity to photograph a few weddings at Explora, and each one reminded us that the best wedding venues aren't always the fanciest, they're the ones that create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

If you're looking for something that's playful, creative, and completely unlike a traditional wedding venue, Explora deserves a spot at the top of your list.

A Wedding That Feels Like an Adventure

Once the museum closes to the public, Explora transforms.

The exhibits become yours.

Instead of guests waiting around between dinner and dancing, they're wandering through hands-on science exhibits, making giant bubbles, experimenting with physics displays, laughing together, and rediscovering that childlike curiosity most of us forget we still have.

It's one of those rare venues where every generation has something to enjoy.

Kids naturally gravitate toward the exhibits, but honestly? The adults might have even more fun.

Watching grandparents, parents, and friends all interacting with the museum together creates moments that simply wouldn't happen anywhere else.

As documentary photographers, those unscripted moments are some of our favorites to capture.

Rewind, I did skip one thing!

Explora wasn't originally designed as a wedding venue, so its getting ready accommodations are fairly limited. Not impossible to work with though I will say as they do have a lot of light, and I always think there is this beauty to

just remember it is a conference room normally..I believe? lol.

Heres the great thing about Albuquerque, for the most general part everything is fairly close if you are at least near the freeway or within Old Town.

(which little note to remember if you have out of town guests and need activities, Old Town is iconic. )

There is so many airbnbs + rentals within the area of Nob Hill and Old Town which are an easy route to Explora.

One of our favorites is Desert Compass, a beautifully designed desert-inspired Airbnb that photographs incredibly well and gives you a relaxed, stylish place to spend the morning with your closest friends and family, its also just a dope place to stay on your wedding weekend.

Staying nearby also lets you enjoy Old Town before your wedding day, making the entire weekend feel like a destination experience without ever leaving Albuquerque.

If I ever get around to it I will write a blog about activities in and around New Mexico for when your families and friends, maybe even yourselves are all from out of town, I will link it here lol

Destination Wedding Activities for Out of Towners | Albuquerque, New Mexico

Austin got ready at Explora with his friends, I will say for locals who book this venue it is kinda cool to see the backside of Explora lol the staff there really are great people.

ps. Explora just in general is a great place to visit. so please check it out.

Old Town Area Rentals

Emma + Andrew rented an airbnb nearby and it was toot sweet and actually walking distance from Explora and was absolutely the cutest thing watching them cruise over there together.

Ceremonies with a view of the Sandías

Located upstairs, the dedicated ceremony space is an indoor/outdoor area of the museum.

It does feature a pretty decent view of the Sandía Mountains while still keeping you right in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, so for that its a win in my book. *There is also another outside location "the dome" which could also be utilized for a pretty sweet ceremony spot I think. Read on to see what I mean.

I will also say that noise level wise, it does feel surprisingly intimate despite being in the middle of the city.

The weddings we have photographed at Explora they were both set up in the same part of the museum in somewhat similar ways. Now I don't know if this is by choice of the couple or if Explora just sets up there by default. Either way it does work, with a few lighting considerations when planning. It is an inside outside area, so if I was to make any suggestion after shooting there, I would consider opening up the other garage doors during ceremony. Why? one it gives your photographers more angles and areas to move around without disrupting your ceremony in any way. Also you can get away with having an earlier ceremony and the lighting being a little easier to photograph.

if I was to make any suggestion after shooting there, I would consider opening up the other garage doors during ceremony. Why? one it gives your photographers more angles and areas to move around without disrupting your ceremony in any way. Also you can get away with having an earlier ceremony and the lighting being a little easier to photograph. Even better have the ceremony under the dome and the reception in this area.

Ok now listen if I was a planner or Explora let me set up however I wanted for a wedding there I would say this... Consider a fall wedding in New Mexico, possibly dare I say past into early November to beat the Balloon Fiesta crowd and price surges. I would plan to open up the whole patio *weather permitting of course but thats part of the risk, but hell the reward is too sweet, trust me.

Now before I proceed I should say this plan works but you will need a team, cue hiring a wedding planner is not a terrible idea.

Have your ceremony under the dome, then head across the upstairs to the inside/outside area for cocktail hour and if you want some casual and easy family photos with Sandias in the background. During that time the flip happens, and the dome ceremony space becomes the reception area of your dreams. *cue disco lights and vibes.

Now of course weather permitting this plan would need to flip ,instead utilize the inside/outside room for your ceremony as pictured.

Don't Skip the Theater

One of the most underrated spaces at Explora is the theater. It has always been a favorite of mine when our kids were really little. They would do this draw your own animations in there and it was too fun. Although the exhibit is different now, I love that they open it up during weddings and it can be a great opportunity to show off some memories of your story thus far for your guests since they have a huge screen still in there!

Whether it's a slideshow of your relationship, old home videos, travel photos, or even old wedding films of your loved ones later in the evening, the theater creates an experience that feels far more immersive than simply projecting images on a reception wall.

A feature many couples might not even think about, but it can become one of the most meaningful parts of the day.

One museum, two locations.

As I have mentioned there is two different spaces upstairs for events and both have tons of space and their own unique looks and potential.

Emma and Andrew utilized the indoor/outdoor space and had it flipped during cocktail hour while their guests roamed around the museum. One of my favorite elements they included in their table set up were two different pieces actually; one was handmade postcards that represented New Mexico as Emma & Andrew and a majority of their family and friends were coming from out of state. The other was envelopes for each guest with photos of them with Emma and Andrew at any point in their lives.

Austin and Alyssa did things a little different and held their reception under the dome and I think to this day their table layout has and always been one of my favorites (it was just so cool)

Side Story : the game lives on!!

I will never get over a good dance party and I loved how either space upstairs in Explora offers a great space for a dance floor under the moonlight. PS we actually met some of our most recent clients during one of these weddings and they are in the photos above ~ read about Karen and Jakes Nature Pointe Wedding.

Have we convinced you that Explora is an ABQ hidden gem of a venue yet?

If you can't tell by now Explora also has a little special place in our hearts, both Nickolaus and I can remember when Explora opened and the first time seeing it as a kid, the massive elevator, the bubble area. It is all iconic and an incredible staple in our city for youth and adults alike. I would highly consider it for your wedding day as a fun and funky venue for those who want something a little more unique for their wedding day.

Below you can find the awesome vendor teams that made these weddings you see above possible.

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