A Guide to Getting Married in Philadelphia
Are you planning a wedding in Philly? This large and diverse city offers unique locations and vendors to accommodate your big day. Whether you're choosing where to get married in Philadelphia, looking for wedding photo shoot locations or are trying to decide the best time of year to have your wedding, our detailed guide to getting married in Philadelphia will provide plenty of helpful recommendations for an unforgettable day of celebration.
Philadelphia Wedding Venues
If you need some ideas for a dream ceremony or reception spot, here are some stunning and picturesque wedding venues in Philadelphia.
1. Free Library of Philadelphia
If you're open to a more creative and unique wedding venue, the modern yet historic Free Library of Philadelphia may pique your interest. This extraordinary venue offers indoor and outdoor event spaces to choose from as well as a passionate and hardworking staff that's ready to meet your needs.
The library features a rooftop terrace with a stunning skyline view, fine dining for guests, wide-open space for dancing, intricate architecture and a grand staircase, providing luxurious photo backdrops and making for an unforgettable ceremony. With the ability to host up to 250 guests, this venue is ideal for a large wedding.
2. POMME
Planning a rustic or outdoorsy wedding? The POMME venue in the suburbs of Philadelphia offers a dream wedding location for nature enthusiasts. Host your outdoor cocktail hour or reception creekside under a covered veranda with wooden globe lights in raftered ceilings while dancing on elegant reclaimed hardwood floors. This peaceful location is perfectly secluded by tall trees and rushing water while still providing close highway proximity.
With plenty of space for dancing and seating, this venue can host up to 200 wedding guests. Consider POMME for a rustic and breathtaking outdoor celebration!
3. Huntingdon Valley Country Club
For a classy and glamorous wedding location, consider the Huntingdon Valley Country Club for your wedding. This venue seats up to 200 guests. Whether you're having a large or intimate celebration, the experienced staff provide impeccable customer service and can help ensure everything runs smoothly down to every last detail.
Choose from luxurious indoor and covered outdoor event spaces for your ceremony and reception. The country club features a breathtaking ballroom with high ceilings, professional lighting and hardwood flooring for dinner and dancing. You and your partner can also utilize its lavish get-ready suite to prepare for your big day.
4. Arts Ballroom
Located in the heart of the Avenue of the Arts District in Philadelphia, the Arts Ballroom makes for a stunning and timeless celebration for you and your guests. This venue provides the illusion of a roaring 1920s gala the moment you step inside. Choose from several rooms that you can customize to your liking — its extravagant interior features a grand ballroom, French acoustic ceilings, a granite staircase, a vintage fireplace and crystal chandeliers, which provide remarkable photo opportunities.
Sip custom cocktails at an elegant marble bar and celebrate in style with everything this luxurious venue offers. Whether you're having an intimate ceremony with 100 guests or need ample seating for 230, the Arts Ballroom can provide the space you need.
5. FAME
Located in Philadelphia's North Kensington Art District, FAME is a modern event space on the top floor of a former textile factory. This venue offers a charming and industrial atmosphere for any wedding ceremony or reception.
With a complete panoramic view of Philly's skyline and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, incredible natural lighting for photos, an outdoor patio and an adjacent lounge and cocktail area, this luxurious one-of-a-kind location makes for a dreamy celebration you'll never forget. This venue provides 9,000 square feet of event space and can accommodate up to 350 guests.
Which Season Is Best to Get Married?
With remarkable parks, gardens, farms and vineyards, Philadelphia — and Pennsylvania in general — offers gorgeous settings year-round, making any season an ideal time for a wedding. However, some seasons tend to be more popular for weddings than others, which is important to consider when deciding the best time of year to get married in Philly.
Like other Mid-Atlantic states, Pennsylvania experiences humid summers and cold winters, but temperatures can vary by region due to the largeness of the state. Overall, May through September tends to be the most popular time for weddings in Pennsylvania.
Fall
A fall wedding provides vibrant, colorful backdrops and both indoor and outdoor — weather permitting — wedding venues. However, if you're planning an autumn wedding in September, keep in mind that it could be slightly more challenging to book a venue or other vendors during this time.
To secure your desired date and venue, establish these details as early in your wedding planning as possible. You also might consider getting married in late October or November to avoid potential competition in the early fall season.
Winter
The deep winter months of January through March are typically considered the "off-season" period for weddings. If you'd prefer to have your wedding during a less busy season and aren't afraid of the cold temperatures, consider a rustic lodge in a forest destination, a grand ballroom setting or an art gallery or museum in the city. Add some lush evergreen, twinkling lights and plenty of candles for a stunning and memorable winter wedding.
Spring
Spring provides crisp and pleasant temperatures and newly blooming flowers for gorgeous wedding settings. April may be the ideal time to host your wedding — you can avoid the competition associated with the autumn and summer months. If temperatures have climbed thoroughly, you may be able to host a lovely outdoor celebration. If not, an indoor venue such as a stunning hall or country club can still make for an unforgettable spring wedding.
Summer
If you're planning a summertime wedding, consider taking advantage of the sunshine and warm temperatures to host a beautiful outdoor wedding ceremony in a garden, park, vineyard or similar location. As we mentioned before, fall and summer tend to be the most popular wedding seasons, so plan your summer wedding carefully and far in advance to book your desired venue or other vendors.
Best Places to Take Wedding Photos
Searching for some breathtaking backdrops in the area for your wedding or engagement photos? Here are some of the best engagement photo locations in Philadelphia:
1. Philadelphia Museum of Art
If you and your partner are looking for a more creative and whimsical photo location, the Philadelphia Museum of Art provides many spots to choose from. The grand step entrance and beautiful architecture paired with various fine art and decor will make for charming and artistic engagement photos you'll both treasure and look back on forever.
2. Valley Forge State Park
This historical national park in Pennsylvania offers 3,500 acres of woodlands, meadows and monuments, making it an ideal location for rustic wedding or engagement photos. While Valley Forge is a stunning setting for any season, it especially shines in fall, pairing beautifully with the shifting colors of the leaves. Consider taking some photos on the Knox Covered Bridge to incorporate some charming and timeless architecture into your photos.
3. Tyler State Park
Featuring 1,711 acres of scenic trails and wildlife, Tyler State Park in Bucks County is a picture-perfect location for you and your partner. Whether you're looking for an elegant snow-covered backdrop for winter engagement photos, colorful autumn leaves, fresh wildflowers for spring or lush greenery for summer, this versatile park can help provide the ideal natural setting for your engagement photos.
4. Spruce Street Harbor Park
With picturesque scenery that includes a boardwalk, fountains and colorful lights, Spruce Street Habor Park in Philadelphia provides an urban beach atmosphere ideal for summer wedding and engagement photos. This outdoor setting offers perfect opportunities for unique and creative pictures you'll both cherish for many years to come. After your photo shoot, grab a bite from one of the park's pop-up bars or restaurants!
5. Love Park
For creative and charming engagement photos, the iconic Love Park in Philadelphia may be just the setting you're looking for. In addition to its famous sculpture that spells out "LOVE" in large red letters, the park offers several other unique city features for photo opportunities — walking paths, a gorgeous fountain, lush lawns and greenery.
Additionally, this location is just a short walk away from Philadelphia's City Hall, which provides even more engagement photo opportunities. However, it's important to note that these city areas can be busy with pedestrians and vehicles. If you'd prefer to avoid the risk of these showing up in your wedding or engagement photos, you may want to opt for a more open outdoor location such as a state park or garden instead.
Philadelphia Wedding Vendors
To make wedding planning easier, many couples prefer to outsource different wedding responsibilities to local vendors. Additionally, many wedding venues can provide helpful recommendations for Philadelphia wedding favor ideas, caterers, florists and other vendors they've previously worked with.
If you're looking to reduce some wedding planning stress, here are a few tasks you can outsource to Philadelphia wedding vendors.
1. Flowers
For beautiful blooms to accent your wedding decor and theme, consider contacting one of Philly's reputable florists. Experienced flower professionals can help you and your partner craft stunning arrangements to highlight your theme and personal preferences. Whether you have specific colors or varieties in mind — or you're making this decision from scratch — a florist can create the ideal table centerpieces or bridesmaid bouquets for a timeless touch of beauty and elegance.
2. Food
If you're looking to create the perfect menu for your wedding day, Philadelphia has many quality and affordable caterers. Since food is a significant responsibility to handle on your own, hiring a catering company to take this off your hands is likely one of the best decisions you can make. A professional can help you craft the ideal wedding menu based on your guest count, food preferences and theme.
3. Music
No wedding ceremony or reception is complete without music to set the ideal tone for your big day. No matter your music preferences, Philadelphia has a variety of DJs, bands and string quartets to help liven up the wedding festivities. Consider looking around to see if any of these groups in the area strike your fancy.
4. Photography
While we've already provided some excellent photo locations in Philadelphia, it's equally important to consider who will capture these photos for you. If you and your partner are looking for someone in the area to take creative and unique wedding or engagement photos, get in touch with one of Philadelphia's top wedding photographers.
5. Videography
Finally, one of the most crucial wedding services to consider is videography. Hiring a professional wedding videographer will allow you to look back on every detail of your special day with high-quality footage.
If you're searching for top-notch Philadelphia wedding videographers, consider hiring Brighter Lights. We provide high-quality videography services in Philadelphia and other locations to capture every beautiful moment of your celebration.
Wedding License Tips
While planning creative venues and photo backdrops tends to be more fun when planning weddings, it's essential to think about legal details as well. One of these is understanding how to get a marriage license in Philadelphia. Fortunately, this process is quite simple and straightforward — you'll need to schedule an appointment, bring essential documents and fill out an application.
Here are some things you'll need to do before getting a marriage license in Philadelphia:
Gather proper documentation: You and your partner will need to gather all necessary documents to bring with you to the Register of Wills. This includes valid government-issued photo IDs and documentation of your Social Security numbers.
Schedule an appointment: Email MLAppt@phila.gov to arrange an appointment with the Marriage License Department. You should contact the department at least one or two months out from your wedding to ensure an appointment in a timely manner.
Apply for your license: You and your partner will go to the Marriage License Department on the day and time of your appointment to apply for your license. You'll present all necessary documentation and fill out your application — you should receive your marriage license at the end of your appointment.
Book Your Wedding Videographer With Brighter Lights
We hope this guide provided helpful recommendations for getting married in the Philly area. If hiring a wedding videographer to capture the details of your special day artistically is one of your priorities, our team at Brighter Lights would love to handle this task for you.
Our top-notch services and careful attention to detail produce outstanding results. With three videography packages to choose from — each offering several hours of coverage and 4K Ultra High Def Resolution for crystal clear footage — your wedding video will be rich with content that tells a unique story. We have vast experience in the industry and have filmed multiple award-winning wedding stories in venues worldwide, so you can feel confident you're in capable hands.
Let us create a quality, memorable wedding video you and your partner will treasure for the rest of your lives. Contact Brighter Lights to book wedding videography services today!
