The City of Brotherly Love is home to some of the best art, food, and music in the U.S. Its rich history, vibrant cultures, and fun activities make it an incredibly diverse and interesting city in which to work and live. So, whether you’re a local or visitor, why not host your wedding here? Let’s take a look at the best wedding venues in Philadelphia!
Best Historical Venues
Philander Chase Knox Estate
Surrounded by 3,500 acres of rolling green meadows and towering trees, The Philander Chase Knox Estate provides an oasis of natural beauty for your wedding. This historic estate is located just over the Knox Covered Bridge in a picturesque setting in Valley Forge National Park, the site on which George Washington’s army camped from 1777 until 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. Originally built in the late 1700s, The estate served as the summer home of Philander Chase Knox, former U.S. Attorney General, Secretary of State and Senator, and now serves as the perfect location to host events that are truly revolutionary. Prepare for your special day surrounded by historic elegance in a private bridal suite and a private bridesmaids suite, each with its own powder room. The beautifully manicured lawn looks out to colorful wildflowers and the charming Valley Creek, creating the perfect backdrop for exchanging vows. For cocktail hour, your guests will enjoy the stunning view from the slate patio or mingle amongst the vintage furniture in the living and dining rooms. Your guests will celebrate you under a tent, where they’ll eat seated at gorgeous reclaimed barn wooden farm tables. Take your event up a notch with historical significance here!
Duportail House
This 1740 farmhouse played a role in the American Revolution: situated at the edge of what is now Valley Forge National Historical Park, it hosted Louis Duportail, a French general and our army’s chief engineer, who designed fortifications here that enabled Washington’s troops to hold off an attack. The pastoral grounds offer a great setting — three woodsy acres feature a charming wooden bridge, barn, old-growth trees, and large lawns. These are not only beautiful and idyllic, but they are all perfect backdrops for your ceremony, cocktail reception, and photos. You can choose to celebrate inside and/or outside the gracious farmhouse, make use of the lovely patio, or dine on the lawn with a tent. The capacity is 160 guests, and your wedding party can use the second floor of the farmhouse to get ready for the big day. You can also add the inside of the historic Federal Barn for cocktails or your ceremony!
Best Big Guest List Venues
The Logan
The Logan, Philadelphia’s Hotel, is a modern and sleek hotel wedding venue in the heart of Philly. Featuring artistically-inspired design and architecture, The Logan offers personalized service and sophisticated spaces to host your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. From lush, secluded outdoor spaces to grand, elegant ballrooms, you’ll find a perfect setting to say “I do.” Their dedicated team of wedding planners will ensure that your special day is everything you’ve ever wanted it to be! They’ll help you make all the hard decisions, including selecting your ideal venue space, floral arrangements, catering menus, and more. Space choices include so many unique options for your ceremony and reception, indoor and outdoor for any number of guests. The Courtyard is a secluded outdoor space where you and your guests can enjoy a serene experience surrounded by twinkling trees and beautiful terraces with the tranquil sounds of a gentle waterfall. The Ballroom is 4,374 square feet of indoor space and can accommodate up to 265 seated guests. This space features soaring ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and a neutral color palette to suit all design aesthetics. The Stenton is a more intimate, indoor space for up to 120 guests, with a rustic and inviting atmosphere adorned with reclaimed wood tables, an inviting fireplace, and a built-in Carrera marble bar as well as sweeping views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
PAFA events break away from the traditional hotel ballroom mold, providing your guests with an immersive and unique experience. PAFA is the first art academy and museum in the United States and has incredible spaces and art collections to enjoy. Your event can take place in the elegant Historic Landmark Building, the contemporary Samuel M.V. Hamilton Building, or outdoors on Lenfest Plaza: all right in the center of Philadelphia! Location is key, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is just steps from Philadelphia’s premier hotels, Convention Center, City Hall, and many parking options. Any of the Academy’s spaces can adapt to the needs of your dream wedding. Whether it be 400-person functions to 1,000-person cocktail receptions, their various beautiful spaces can be used in creative ways to meet your needs. You also always feel good booking an event there, as your fees go towards fulfilling the Academy’s mission of educating tomorrow’s artists!
Best Open-Air Venues
Glen Foerd on the Delaware
A beloved venue for galas and events since the late 1800s, this historical riverfront estate rests on 18 acres. Wander through the formal rose garden, and the stately porte-cochère will welcome you through Glen Foerd’s front door. You’ll enter another world of elegance and refined beauty. It’s your mansion for the day, and your guests will love the living history throughout. You can admire the artwork in the second-floor gallery, the tastefully furnished rooms and architectural details, the sweeping staircase and stunning stained-glass window overhead. Your guests can grab a glass and explore the grounds while taking in the river views and the classic gardens on the large estate. Then enjoy dinner and dancing on the riverfront, in a fully customizable indoor or outdoor event structure nestled between the mansion and the river.
The Horticultural Center
The Horticulture Center is a modern exhibition hall and greenhouse, located in beautiful Fairmount Park. The Center sits on the site of the former Horticultural Hall, an 1876 Centennial Exposition building. Boasting both indoor and outdoor space, the Horticulture Center is the ideal setting for a unique, nature-loving wedding. Constellation, the Horticulture Center’s exclusive caterer, will approach your wedding with the guest experience in mind, helping you craft custom menus and a precise service plan to further your wedding vision. Overall, the venue offers impeccable service, dedication to perfected details, and amazing locally-sourced products.
Best Intimate Venues
Fitler Club
From breakfast and bowling to karaoke and cocktails, whether it’s a celebratory weekend or one unforgettable day, when it comes to weddings, Fitler Club is where memorable becomes magical. Your two intimate space choices are The Garden and The Trophy Room. The Garden is a beautiful outdoor area, complete with festive string lights which create a very special experience. The Trophy Room is an insanely unique and fun space featuring bowling, old-school arcade games, billiards, and other games to keep your party going all night long! You can even combine the two areas for a fun and memorable party. With all-inclusive packages, Fitler Club can be your one-stop-shop for all of your needs, making your planning process stress free and easy. Fitler Club has the perfect combination of flexibility, cool features, and great service — completely ideal for your wedding!
Terrain Gardens
Terrain Gardens beautifully merges indoor and outdoor spaces to create unexpected color and texture combinations resulting in a one-of-a-kind beauty. The venue is adorned with elements like reclaimed barn wood floors, overhead festival lights, and skylights to create a unique aesthetic that’s the first of its kind on the Main Line. The venue offers a lush, horticultural setting with ever-changing greenery that creates a lavish backdrop for special occasions year-round for up to 140 guests. Their private suite is a beautifully outfitted space perfect for preparations before your ceremony. The ceremony garden is lined with wisteria trees where you’ll walk down the center aisle towards our handmade wirework pavilion, the perfect backdrop for your vows. In the cooler months or in case of inclement weather, the reception room will serve as your indoor ceremony space with our reclaimed barn doors as your backdrop. Kick-off your evening with a cocktail hour set beneath the twinkling lights on the weather-protected garden porch, the perfect place to enjoy seasonal light bites and garden cocktails no matter what season. Dance the night away beneath high ceilings accented by floating floral installations, twinkling market lights, and a large skylight. As the night winds down, enjoy included signature s’ mores by the fire pit in the gardens before you and your guests leave!
Best Affordable Venues
Ridgeland Mansion
Ridgeland Mansion, set in historic Fairmount Park, was built in 1719 in a classic Philadelphia Federal style. It sits on a five-acre estate, home to the Cancer Support Community of Greater Philadelphia. Their mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. The site fees for this venue are tax-deductible and go right to the CSCGP to support their programs and outreach! The Ridgeland Mansion is now exclusively managed by Joshua’s Catering, who are dedicated to making your wedding the best it can be. While the mansion itself does not accommodate events, it makes for a beautiful backdrop to the tent, which can hold 300 people for a sit-down affair and features a 3-sided bar, sidewalls with cathedral windows, and b-lighting. The Ridgeland barn can accommodate up to 80 guests, and the Secret Garden is the perfect setting for a ceremony or intimate rehearsal dinner. Last but not least, you’ll have a beautiful choice of Bridal and Groom Suites available for their use in the mansion, as well as a quiet sitting room for close family.
Franklin Square
The Pavilion in Franklin Square is an all-season venue, offering many great options for your affordable wedding at any time of year. With views of the Parx Liberty Carousel, what better classic Philly location in which to celebrate? For larger events, Franklin Square offers two expansive lawn areas if you’re looking for green park space. The East lawn is located along 6th Street in Franklin Square, and features views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and Bolt of Lightning…A Memorial to Benjamin Franklin sculpture by Isamu Noguchi. The Great Lawn is located along Race Street in Franklin Square and features views of the historic marble fountain and views of the beautiful Philadelphia city skyline. What a fun and historic place to host your wedding!
Best Barn Venues
Country Barn in Lancaster
Though it’s an hour’s drive out of the city, Country Barn in Lancaster is worth it. Imagine escorting your guests down a cobblestone walk into a historic 1866 barn built from brick and stone. Enter into a softly lit banquet room with wooden beams and handmade farm tables. Your dining will be farm-to-table catering; you design the meals, and the food is sourced right from the farm! Your rustic and beautiful farm wedding will be suited to your style and budget. You can choose between eight indoor and outdoor spaces for your ceremony and reception, including historic barns, a stable and a farmhouse, all of which have been beautifully restored to lend a casual-yet-elegant country feeling to your celebration. They also offer some fun, country-themed add-ons, like a “farmer’s tractor photo booth,” hayrides, a campfire pit for making s’ mores, and homemade ice cream, allowing you to add unique touches to your wedding.
Ash Mill Farm
Want that country-rustic feel, but need to be a bit closer to the city? You will love the unique, country vibe of Ash Mill Farm. Expansive grounds and a rustic barn with character-laden wood floors make this bed and breakfast a wonderful setting for your big day. Flexibility on the farm allows them to help you grow a wedding just for you. Whether you want an intimate wedding of 50 surrounded by your friends and family, or a larger gala under the stars of 250, Ash Mill Farm will help you create the wedding of your dreams. As a guest, you’ll have exclusive access to the property with all the extras and fun areas to explore. Wander 10 acres of meadows and open trails, and get ideas for customizing your reception under the tent or in the barn. Make use of the gorgeous open-air front and side porches, and have some fun shooting photos with the sheep or on the tree swing! The fresh farm air will make you want to stay forever; Ash Mill Farm can help with that too. They can provide accommodations for your rehearsal dinner, ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, after-party (and even brunch the following morning!) so you can spend more time celebrating and less time running around.
