Timeless Wedding Reception at The Met Museum

Few experiences compare to photographing a wedding reception inside The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. For Dr. Jennifer Ashton and Tom Werner's celebration, I documented an evening where ancient art, monumental architecture, thoughtful design, and personal moments existed within the same remarkable setting.

The reception unfolded among The Met's Egyptian galleries and the Temple of Dendur. Photographing people within that environment creates an interesting contrast: the museum carries thousands of years of history, while a wedding is completely alive and happening in the present.

That relationship shaped how I photographed the evening. Wider compositions kept the architecture and scale of the museum in the story, while closer photographs focused on expressions, conversations, and moments between Jennifer, Tom, and their guests. Lewis Miller Design's floral design introduced softness and movement against the stone and ancient Egyptian forms without overwhelming the setting.

The photographs move between those two scales throughout the reception: the grandeur of the museum and the intimacy of the celebration taking place within it. Jennifer and Tom's wedding and my photography were later featured in People and HELLO! Magazine added another chapter to a New York evening defined by that relationship between history, place, and the people experiencing it.

A reflective wedding or event table with handwritten notes and a chandelier's reflection, with chairs on either side.
An indoor space with ancient Egyptian stone pillars and hieroglyphic carvings, surrounded by modern furniture and large windows, illuminated for an event or reception.
A wedding ceremony taking place indoors with a crystal chandelier hanging from an ornate ceiling. The bride and groom are standing in front of an arch decorated with pink and white flowers, surrounded by guests seated in rows.
A wedding ceremony inside a grand hall with ornate dark wood ceiling and a large crystal chandelier. The bride and groom are standing at the altar, surrounded by guests seated on either side of a reflective aisle.
A newlywed couple with the groom in a tuxedo and the bride with a bun hairstyle, stand at the altar with two friends, surrounded by an arch of white and blush flowers and greenery, during a wedding ceremony.
A bride and groom share a kiss during their wedding ceremony, surrounded by floral arrangements and a chandelier, in an elegant decorated venue.
A wedding ceremony in an elegant, decorated ballroom with chandeliers, featuring a bride and groom walking down the aisle together, surrounded by floral arrangements and guests taking photos.
A bride and groom dancing on a grand staircase inside a historic building with ornate columns and a large painting above the steps, with dim lighting and illuminated steps.
A newlywed couple in wedding attire, standing on a grand staircase decorated with small candles, inside an elegant, historic building with ornate architecture and arches.
Museum exhibit featuring ancient artifacts, including a stone sculpture of a human figure, a glass display holding smaller objects, and a large carved column on a pedestal, with candles illuminating the reflection on a pool of water.
Inside a museum or cultural center at dusk or evening, with a large art installation or display area featuring shelves of golden objects or sculptures. The interior includes large windows with a colorful sunset view, overhead lighting, and reflection
Elegant indoor event space with round tables and white chairs, decorated with floral centerpieces, illuminated softly, with large glass windows revealing a night view outside, including a decorated Christmas tree with string lights.
Interior of a museum or exhibition hall with two statues in the foreground, a display case with bottles on shelves, a backdrop with a starry sky and a full moon, and a large wooden structure in the background.
An interior museum space with a large wall display that has a colorful, glowing sky projected on it. Visitors are gathered below, viewing exhibits and displays along the wall.
Elegant event space with high glass walls, ambient lighting, floral arrangements, and a stage with candles and musical instruments, set for a celebration or concert.
A woman in a white suit holding a bouquet of flowers walking with a man in a tuxedo, surrounded by other formally dressed people inside a grand building with large columns.
A bar or counter with bottles of champagne, wine glasses, and menus, illuminated by candlelight in the background, viewed through a glass with a decorative bird design.
A stack of white paper napkins with a decorative logo on top, placed on a metallic surface.
A decorative table setup with a large vase of pink and white flowers, two large candles in glass hurricanes, and three cocktails labeled 'Especialty Cocktails' on a menu, including a red drink with a garnish and a green drink with cucumber slices.
Decorative bar or counter with bottles and candles, overlooking a wall with numerous lit candles on shelves, and a silhouetted design of two birds with antler-like headpieces on the front panel.
Elegant conference or event space with floral arrangements, seating, and stage area, decorated for a celebration or wedding.
A person holding a tray with five pink cocktails garnished with mint leaves in a dimly lit setting.
Elegant indoor space with a large floral arrangement on a white pedestal, staircase with illuminated steps, and a colorful floral wall in the background.
An elegant event space with round tables, white chairs, floral centerpieces, and ambient candlelighting. A large stone archway stands prominently in the background, illuminated softly, with a decorative floral arch nearby.
An indoor event with large stone ruins as decoration and many people dressed in formal attire, including tuxedos. The setting suggests a gala or formal celebration, with a modern architecture interior and ambient lighting.
Indoor event space with tables and chairs, decorated with floral arrangements, under a starry sky mural with a full moon, featuring a large wall of solar panels on one side and stage lighting overhead.
A table display with large glass candle holders, each containing a lit white candle, and two cocktails placed in front. One cocktail is a pinkish Sunset Spritz with lime slices, and the other is a greenish Agave Spice with cucumber slices. Behind the
Waiter holding a tray with four glasses of pink cocktail garnished with mint leaves.
A black and white photo of a bride and groom smiling and walking hand in hand outside a building at night, with guests and columns in the background.
A black and white photo of a man and woman in formal attire, standing close and holding hands, in front of an ancient Egyptian stone doorway with hieroglyphs and carvings, inside a museum.
Elegant banquet hall with two long tables set with white floral centerpieces, candles, and gold cutlery, located in a modern building with large glass windows, exposed stone walls, and ambient lighting.
Elegant dinner setup with a long table, floral centerpieces, and tall candles in a luxurious setting with ancient stone and glass architecture.
Elegant banquet table with candles and floral centerpieces at an event venue, with purple twilight sky background.
Elegant wedding reception table with white floral centerpieces and tall candles, set against a historic brick wall with lighting at an outdoor event at dusk.
Three elegant champagne flutes with gold rims, one filled with a clear liquid, set on a decorated table with white flowers in the background.
Elegant table setting with white flowers, dark wine glasses, and candles.
Elegant dining table setting with white plates, silverware, flowers, candles, and tall glass centerpieces.
Elegant indoor evening event with warmly lit tables, floral centerpieces, and guests socializing in a spacious room with exposed brick columns and large glass windows.
Full moon in the night sky with reddish foliage in the background and stars visible
A formal dinner in a modern, glass-walled venue with a large projection of the moon and stars on the wall behind the guests.
A gourmet dish on a white rectangular plate with a stuffed root vegetable topped with edible flowers and a small portion of meat or fish, accompanied by a green sauce, set on white tablecloth with two glasses of red wine in the background.
A woman wearing a black, sequined dress singing into a microphone on stage with a band in the background and candles on shelves.
A black and white photo of a man and woman in formal attire at a fancy event, with the moon and starry sky in the background.
Ancient Egyptian stone gateway with hieroglyphics, set inside a modern museum, with guests in formal attire in the background.
A bride and an older man dancing at a wedding reception, surrounded by guests who are taking photos and clapping in a dimly lit, elegant venue with stone walls and large windows.
A bride and groom dancing at their wedding reception surrounded by guests in formal attire, in a large elegant venue with rustic stone walls and dim lighting.
Couple dancing at a wedding reception, with guests watching in the background.
Women dancing and enjoying themselves at a formal event, dressed in elegant gowns and tuxedos, with a large window and bright lighting in the background.
An Egyptian-style stone doorway or arch with ancient hieroglyphic carvings, illuminated in warm lighting, with a crowd of people in the background at a nighttime event.
People dancing and enjoying themselves at a formal event or party, with some dressed in tuxedos and women in evening gowns. The setting appears to be indoors with a high, glass ceiling, and there are bright stage lights.
People gather at a party with an ancient Egyptian temple replica as the backdrop, under a starry sky with a large full moon.

Planning & Design: @toddevents, Photography: @andreassellinidis, Cinematography: @peytonfrank, Reception Venue: @metmuseum@metmuseumevents, Floral & Decor: @lewismillerdesign, Museum Logistics: @inanyeventny, Catering: @olivierchengcatering, Entertainment: @elanartists, Lighting:@frostproductionsnyc, Set Design & Fabrication: @hitecheventsllc, Sound: @lmsoundlight, Stationery: @bellinvito, Transportation: @allstarlimo, Bride’s Attire: @ralphlauren, Bride’s Jewelry: @suegragg, Hair/ makeup @dsmags, Stylist @iamlindsayflores, Security @elite126, Wardrobe @johnettatao

  • Featured in People & HELLO! Magazine

    Discover more of Andreas Sellinidis’s published wedding photography, including this New York celebration featured in People and HELLO! Magazine.

    EXPLORE PRESS

  • Planning an event at the Met?

    Explore venue details, planning considerations, and photography inspiration for celebrations at this venue.

    VIEW VENUE

EXPLORE SIMILAR GALLERIES

A bride and groom standing on a balcony overlooking the water with the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

cipriani south st

Black and white photo of a bride and groom walking outdoors. The bride is holding a bouquet of flowers and wearing a white wedding dress. The groom is dressed in a tuxedo. They are smiling and holding hands.

Guggenheim MESUEM

A bride and groom kissing at their wedding ceremony outdoors, surrounded by friends and family, with a large tree and a dark-colored house in the background.

PARRISH ART MESUEM