The space where you celebrate with your family and friends will leave an indelible mark on your wedding day. It’s the location that will always have meaning, and it’s one you will likely want to revisit again and again so you can relive some of your favorite memories. That’s why choosing a wedding venue with a couple is one of the moments of planning we will always enjoy most. It’s where your story unfolds.
The fact that our team is welcomed into so many couples’ lives throughout the Philadelphia region (and beyond!) is never lost on us. We are constantly in awe of the complete variety of wedding venues available both in Philadelphia and outside. The city offers museums, hotels, and gardens, and rolling farms, quaint inns, and sun and sea are a quick drive away.
One of our most popular blog posts to date was this one in which we shared some of our favorite wedding venues, and today we thought we would update our list! From Philadelphia to the suburbs, New Jersey to Delaware, these are the venues currently catching our eye.
New (and improved!) Spaces:
One of the top requests made by many of our couples (and fellow wedding professionals) is for us to share the best industrial wedding settings in Philadelphia. Bldg39 at the Arsenal fits the bill! The space was once a paint factory, so it has everything you would expect in a former production space: exposed brick walls, steel accents, and a completely open floor plan that awaits a full transformation. Plus, there are indoor and outdoor spaces and the option to include food trucks.
Philadelphia is known for its beautiful architecture, and The Curtis Atrium celebrates that wonderfully! Now managed by Constellation, The Curtis Atrium features soaring ceilings, a mosaic wall, and a waterfall. That’s before your team of wedding professionals transforms the space further! Located on Walnut Street a few blocks away from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and across from Washington Square Park, your guests will feel treated to an elegant reception in the heart of the city.
The Fitler Club is a new private club without any of the pretense. Imagine hosting cocktail hour in a private garden or dancing outside under the stars. Think of moving inside for a reception in an industrial, chic ballroom. Then don’t let the party end as you and your guests slip into The Trophy Room to bowl and play shuffleboard, ping pong, classic arcade games, and more.
Philadelphia is filled with plenty of history, and one of the coolest spots with one of the most unique stories to debut recently is the Guild House. It’s a boutique hotel housed inside of a completely renovated row home that aims to create a five-star experience for guests. But where it differs from other spaces is it was originally used as a space to house the New Century Guild, a club created in the 1800s to support working women in Philadelphia. Now, the space is richly appointed with cool décor that toes the line between thoughtful and modern, and it would be a great space to get ready (there are 12 rooms inside) or even to host an intimate soiree (particularly one in the fall or winter).
Liberty Point:
Although you might have to travel for a little while to reach the ocean, Philadelphia has a waterway of its own — the Delaware River — and Liberty Point offers an incredible waterside setting for rehearsal dinners and wedding receptions at Penn’s Landing. The space typically serves as a restaurant and event space (it has a stage and live music), and you can also rent out areas within for fetes of any size (the space can accommodate up to 1,400 people). If you’re searching for a space with beautiful views in a cool location with a more relaxed feel, Liberty Point is it.
Lilah:
The city is partially known for its food scene, and the benefit of having so many great chefs in the area is quite a few decide to open event spaces. So, meet Lilah! Located on Front Street, Lilah is owned and operated by CookNSolo, a team of James Beard Award-winning chefs. It’s part foodie haven, part modern-industrial dream, and we love that you can transform this warm and inviting space for both ceremonies and receptions for up to 250 guests.
If you’re hoping to host your guests in a space you can completely transform, Location 215 may be everything you’re imagining and more! The venue is new to Philadelphia, and they will be opening VERY soon. The space will serve as both an event space and a photography studio (when events aren’t occurring!), so we can already tell it will be a haven for natural light. With a loft-like feel, thanks to a completely open concept and white walls and floors, we cannot wait to work with couples to form a team of wedding professionals to bring a unique vision to life.
If you happened to drive or walk down South Main Street in New Hope over the past few years, you likely caught a glimpse of the extensive renovations that were happening at the Logan Inn. The boutique-style hotel debuted once more, and now it offers its 16 original rooms, 22 new rooms, a fabulous restaurant, and even a gorgeous event space. Speaking of the ballroom, it brings together contemporary, modern, and industrial style beautifully, thanks to a reclaimed wood ceiling, cool chandeliers, and stone flooring. Landmark Hospitality (the team behind the space) is the same group that runs Hotel du Village, another of our favorite local venues, so you know everything single detail is well done.
Philadelphia is home to some of the top musicians and cultural acts, which allows the city to boast some of the most incredible arts venues. One of the newest spaces is The Met! The space is operated by Brulee Catering Company, one of the top catering companies in Philadelphia and a team we work with often, and they just completed a $56 million renovation. The former opera house still features nods to its past, like gilded fixtures in the lobby, but now the stage can welcome 500 guests for a reception. If music and movies are a few of your favorite things, honor your interests with a wedding reception here.
Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard:
Terrain has long been one of our go-to venue suggestions for couples desiring to host a garden-inspired soiree with a more intimate guest list, so we were delighted when the team announced their expansion to Devon, PA. Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard recently celebrated their first weddings, and the Main Line wedding venue boasts spaces for outdoor garden style ceremonies and cocktail hours as well as a modern, light-filled indoor reception space. Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard can host up to 160 guests for a seated reception. P.S.: We also interviewed Brianna from Terrain’s team all about the new venue!
Philadelphia:
Operated by Jamie Hollander Catering & Events, Bartram’s Garden offers a garden setting moments away from Center City. There are several spaces throughout the property meant for outdoor ceremonies, as well as indoor options, including the barn. Once you have officially said, “We do,” imagine walking through the gardens with your guests as you all mingle together during cocktail hour. Then celebrate in the new Eastwick Pavilion – Bartram’s Garden’s permanent fixture tent. We’re already imaging your space complete with florals, string lights hung overhead, and a lounge for your guests to enjoy in case they need a moment to relax.
Colonial Dames is known as the Pennsylvania Headquarters House, and it’s a wonderful historic location for intimate ceremonies and receptions (think: 120 guests or less). If you’re envisioning an outdoor ceremony surrounded by classic brick architecture followed by an indoor reception with antique accents, vintage paintings, and plenty of history (the space was built in 1921!), Colonial Dames may be the perfect spot for your celebration.
You already know how we feel about the Horticulture Center! Constellation is the in-house caterer, and their team is consistently incredible at every wedding we design and plan. Because it’s within Fairmount Park, the Horticulture Center allows your guests to enjoy a drive through the park before they arrive at the venue. Once there, decide whether you and your love will get married outside with the park and fountain as your backdrop or if the indoor greenhouse feels more like your style. Guests will mingle amongst the greens during cocktail hour before being welcomed into the Horticulture Center’s main space for dinner and dancing. This venue never fails to look beautiful.
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts:
When you host your wedding at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts or PAFA, you have access to both of their buildings – the classic Historic Landmark Building as well as the modern Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building. We love when couples host their ceremonies in the Historic Landmark Building and then welcome guests into the Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building for cocktails, dinner, and dancing. The contemporary spaces used for receptions have plenty of space for guests to feel comfortable, plus everyone is welcome to admire the exhibits in between dances. PAFA is a fantastic mixture of historical and modern!
We cannot say enough glowing things about The Logan. The hotel is one of the more luxurious options in the city, and their team is sublime. Their outdoor courtyard is a perfect spot for ceremonies during the spring, summer, and early fall, and it’s also a great option for family photos. If you’re ceremony is taking place outside of the hotel, the Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul is across the street. Plenty of photo opportunities exist outside of the hotel’s doors, including the Swann Memorial Fountain, Barnes Foundation, and Rodin Museum. Plus, you can also enjoy your first look up on their rooftop bar, Assembly – the views are incredible! Their ballroom is elegant and serves as a neutral base for every celebration. If you’re dreaming of a ballroom wedding or a fete with a higher guest count, consider The Logan.
Bucks County:
Located moments away from quaint Peddler’s Village in New Hope, PA, The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm makes the city feel hours away even though it is not! You and your wedding party can spend the morning getting ready at the Inn before your outdoor ceremony in any of the gardens. Post vows, gather together with your guests for a reception in the barn. The Inn at Barley Sheaf Farm is a wonderful mix of garden, vintage, and rustic styles, and it’s a fabulous spot for couples who want their day to feel like a destination wedding without the distance.
Couples frequently ask us where they can host a farm wedding that doesn’t lack on charm or elegance. Our answer: Ash Mill Farm! Located in Holicong, Pennsylvania, Ash Mill Farm boasts opportunities to celebrate inside or outside. There are porches, swings, and sheep to add fun flair to photos, plus, you can celebrate in a tent on the lawn or in the barn. Guests will have plenty of time to explore, and you will have multiple spaces to transform with your team of wedding professionals not too far away from the city.
Located off of a winding road in New Hope with plenty of trees towering overhead, we like to think of HollyHedge Estate as one of the most elegant and luxurious locations in Bucks County! Plan to get ready at the Inn at HollyHedge Estate, celebrate your ceremony outside in the historic courtyard and duck inside the barn or ballroom for your indoor wedding reception. With I-95 down the road and plenty of hotels in the area, you will not be short on options for guests to enjoy your wedding weekend in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Delaware:
Winterthur was once Henry Francis du Pont’s mansion, and today it’s an elegant wedding venue in Delaware. The Winterthur Museum & County Estate has 1,000 acres of ground. Within that space, you will find outdoor and indoor spaces for ceremonies and receptions. The Reflecting Pool was once Henry Francis du Pont’s swimming pool, and now it’s the perfect spot for outdoor ceremonies and cocktail hours. If you would like to continue to celebrate outside, you can transform the Visitor’s Center Patio with a tent or dine under the stars on the Clenny Run Lawn. There are also plenty of indoor reception spaces, including the Visitor’s Center Pavilion and Galleries Reception Atrium, respectively.
New Jersey:
Bonnet Island Estate is one of the most exclusive wedding venues in New Jersey. Operated by Weddings of Distinction, the venue is located on a private island 45 minutes away from Atlantic City International Airport in Manahawkin, New Jersey. Featuring waterfront views, Bonnet Island Estate has options for guests to stay overnight at the inn as well as multiple ceremony and reception spaces. The most well-known ceremony space is the Boathouse Chapel. Post ceremony, sip cocktails outside on the veranda before moving inside to the ballroom. To us, Bonnet Island Estate is iconic.
Lancaster:
Pennsylvania is known for its farmland, and we wanted to include one more option outside of Philadelphia. The Farm at Eagles Ridge is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and we cannot say enough positive things about this space. The grounds feature historic buildings, ponds, and plenty of open space – all elements that allow photographers to capture incredible photos. Ceremonies can take place outside overlooking the farm’s grounds, and receptions are most often celebrated inside the classic red barn. The Farm at Eagles Ridge is one of our favorite venues in Pennsylvania, and we’re always delighted when we’re able to return!
Where will you host your wedding day? We cannot wait to plan and design with you!
