UPDATED in February of 2024
Wow, we wrote the original post in May of 2020 (time flies!!!!) and a lot has changed in those almost 4 years! We edited the post to reflect those changes, added some new venues (exciting!) and deleted the ones that are sadly no longer there. We hope this updated post is going to be a great resource for newly engaged couples in Philly looking for their ideal venue!
As wedding photographers based in Philadelphia, we’ve seen and worked at so many unique non-traditional wedding venues in the city and surrounding areas. Our documentary, true-to-life and organic style of photography works best for non-traditional, modern couples who choose venues that reflect their style and aesthetic. We want to share our knowledge of local venues and experience photographing couples who had their celebrations there.
Because there are so many great venues I wanted to feature, we broke our list down to 5 categories: INDUSTRIAL/URBAN/LOFT, ONE-OF-A -KIND/UNIQUE/ECLECTIC, RESTAURANT/BAR/COFFEE SHOP, OUTDOOR/BOTANICAL/ARBORETUM, HISTORIC/MUSEUM/ART GALLERY. They are listed in no particular order. We’ve photographed in most of them multiple times and truly enjoy coming back! Hope this is going to be helpful for Philly couples planning their upcoming celebrations. Feel free to comment or message us if you’d like more information or have questions.
INDUSTRIAL/URBAN/LOFT
1) POWER PLANT PRODUCTIONS (more info)
Location: Old City
Vibe: minimal, clean, white, modern
Capacity: 120
Special touches we love: huge camera-shaped Photo Supply neon sign and giant globe lights that create an intimate atmosphere
We’ve worked at Power Plant Productions many times and it’s always a joy to come back. Located in the heart of historic Old City, Power Plant Productions is in an ideal spot for great photo locations right around the corner (Race St. Pier, Elfreth’s Alley, etc). Besides being an event space, Power Plant has been a photography studio for many years. It features tall ceilings, white brick walls and massive industrial windows. Bonus point, you can get ready at the stylish Lokal Old City just blocks away.
Check out this modern stylish Power Plant Productions wedding.
2) GLOBE DYE WORKS (more info)
Location: Frankford/Northeast Philly
Vibe: industrial, original details, warehouse-style
Capacity: 220 for a seated dinner, and 350 for a cocktail-style reception
Special touches we love: cool neon sign, original machinery, velvet curtains
Globe Dye Works, a former yarn-dying factory, is a truly unique space for your celebration with tons of history and original details. Their 12,000ft event space, The Boiler Room, can host weddings with up to 350 guests (or 220 for a seated dinner). The space has exposed brick and pipes, concrete floors and some impressive-looking machinery throughout. They allow couples to take photos anywhere in the space, with plenty of cool backdrops for portraits! We also love their outdoor courtyard with vines lining up the walls for warm weather ceremonies.
Check out this industrial chic wedding at Globe Dye Works.
3) LOCATION 215 (more info)
Location: Spring Arts District
Vibe: industrial, white, minimal, light filled
Capacity: up to 300
Special touches we love: tall ceilings and huge windows for tons of natural light!
Location 215 is a modern all-white event space and photography studio filled with natural light. Its minimalist vibe lets you use it as a blank canvas for your celebration with a flexible floor plan.
Check out how this boho chic wedding designed by Papertini featured in Philly Mag!
4) FAME (more info)
Location: North Kensington
Vibe: industrial, modern, open
Capacity: up to 500
Special touches we love: huge windows, rooftop access and a fun colorful mural outside for photos!
FAME is the newest Feast Your Eyes Catering venue in North Kensington. It’s on the top floor of a former textile factory and has a gorgeous view of Philly skyline. They can do flexible space layouts for different size events but can fit up to 500!
ONE-OF-A-KIND/UNIQUE/ECLECTIC
5) BOK (more info)
Location: South Philly
Vibe: hip, fun, original details
Capacity: varies depending on the space
Special touches we love: the rooftop with the best view of Philly skyline (obviously!), all kinds of cool old details from the time it was a school
This South Philly event space is a former vocational school that has been transformed into a very cool multi-use space. Besides being a wedding and event venue, it also has artist and small business studios, a coffee shop, two restaurants (and probably something else by the time you’re reading this!) The best part is their huge rooftop that has an amazing panoramic view of Philly! They offer multiple spaces you can use for your ceremony and reception (Gym, Auditorium, Rooftop). BOK provides a beautiful getting ready space for their couples. We love that there are multiple spaces in the building available for couple photos, which makes it easy to create a variety of cool portraits without leaving the building.
Check out this modern BOK wedding with gorgeous florals.
6) THE HORTICULTURE CENTER (more info)
Location: Fairmount Park
Vibe: botanical, plant-filled, bright
Capacity: up to 300
Special touches we love: their variety of plants in the greenhouse, cherry blossoms right outside in the spring
This gorgeous botanical historic venue is located in Fairmount Park. The Horticulture Center (or The Hort) is the only greenhouse venue in the area, so it’s a must-see for plant lovers. The best part is that your event can be held indoors or outdoors and both options are beautiful. The outdoor part is versatile and has a long reflecting pool. There are cherry trees right outside of The Hort, which means cherry blossoms for spring weddings! You can also have a beautiful winter wedding in the greenhouse (which is heated and filled with natural light!)
Check out this colorful summer wedding at The Hort.
7) TERRAIN (more info)
Location: Glen Mills, PA
Vibe: boho, intimate, stylish, modern rustic
Capacity: 110
Special touches we love: too many! the firepit at night, their food presentation, ever changing seasonal design displays that work perfectly for photos.
Terrain might just be the perfect place to get married! We love its modern rustic vibe with natural wood and an abundance of plants. It is located on the historic site of J. Franklin Styer’s nursery, a Philadelphia landmark for over 100 years. Every detail of the space is thoughtfully designed and provides a beautiful backdrop for wedding celebrations with a touch of boho. Your ceremony can be held both outside (in the garden in front of a wooden wedding temple) or inside (in the hothouse) and it’s a tough choice to make because both are stunning! You can get ready on the property in the beautifully restored Mushroom House filled with lovely rustic details. The main event space (Garden Shed) features rustic farmhouse tables and twinkling globe lights for an intimate setting for your reception. The food at Terrain is amazing and the presentation and attention to detail is truly impressive. Also, their staff is friendly and personable (and stylish!) and makes you feel at home. Their fire pit might be our favorite little touch. In short, Terrain takes care of everything from start to finish so that you can relax and have a stylish and memorable celebration!
Check out this fall Terrain wedding with some vintage touches.
8) MAAS BUILDING (more info)
Location: Olde Kensington
Vibe: urban garden, cool, intimate, original details
Capacity: 100
Special touches we love: the cool old blue entrance doors that can be a perfect ceremony backdrop, the trailing vines
The MAAS Building is truly a hidden gem in Olde Kensington area. The building itself used to be a brewery, a trolley car repair shop and an architectural salvage space before the new owners restored it to its former glory. The best part is their urban garden with a cobblestone path, trailing vines, concrete planters and a fire pit. Perfect for a smaller, intimate celebration. Bonus point: tons of cool murals and colorful urban backdrops nearby for photos.
Check out this fun and quirky wedding at MAAS on our blog.
9) THE DEACON (more info)
Location: Graduate Hospital
Vibe: Bauhaus, contemporary, eclectic
Capacity: up to 150 for a seated dinner, up to 175 for a cocktail-style reception
Special touches we love: arched windows, vaulted ceilings, stained glass and cool artwork
The Deacon is truly a gem of a venue (and hotel!) in South Philly/Graduate Hospital. Originally a Baptist church, it’s been transformed into an event space and hotel that combines the original elements with modern amenities. They can host a celebration for around 150 guests in their Bauhaus contemporary space. Bonus point is that you and your guests can also stay in their gorgeous guest bedrooms! The Deacon is also perfect for rehearsal dinners and post-wedding brunches.
RESTAURANT/BAR/COFFEE SHOP
Celebrating at your favorite restaurant or bar has become a popular trend in modern weddings. First of all, you already know the food and drinks are fantastic (DUH!) Second, it makes for a more relaxed and non-traditional evening that feels more like an intimate dinner with your closest people without too many formalities. Third, most of these places have stylish design already and don’t need much in terms of decor. A WIN WIN situation!
10) MISSION TAQUERIA (more info)
Location: Center City
Vibe: bright, filled with natural light, colorful, neon signs, plant-filled
Capacity: 150
Special touches we love: neon signs, all the plants, how colorful and fresh their food and drinks are!
Mission Taqueria’s space is truly a dream! Think neon signs, plants everywhere, open floor plan with huge windows and tons of natural light, large communal tables and colorful furniture. The vibe is very Mexico City and we love it. Their menu has colorful Margaritas made with fresh juices, festive tacos with made-to-order tortillas, spicy salsas and more.
Besides weddings, they can host your rehearsal dinner or post-wedding brunch.
Check out this taco-filled wedding on Philly Mag!
11) OSTERIA (more info)
Location: N. Broad Street
Vibe: warm, inviting, intimate
Capacity: 65 for the glass-enclosed patio, 120 seated / 150 standing for the entire restaurant
Special touches we love: hanging plants on the patio, intimate dinner party vibe and amazing food
Osteria is one of the country’s most critically acclaimed Italian restaurants. Their food is out of this world and they have an impressive wine list to match. The can host private events in the entire restaurant (120 seated/150 standing) or in the glass-enclosed patio with tons of natural light and hanging plants (for up to 65 people).
Check out this colorful Osteria wedding on our blog!
12) LA COLOMBE FISHTOWN (more info)
Location: Fishtown
Vibe: cool, trendy, industrial, modern
Capacity: 100
Special touches we love: the best coffee ever at your wedding, their building is really cool
Imagine having your wedding at the coolest coffee shop in the heart of Fishtown! Well, La Colombe Fishtown Flagship location is now available for hosting wedding receptions for up to 100 people. Their huge space with high ceilings, exposed brick walls and a huge mural by ESPO (!!!!) is surely going to impress your guests. The food is fresh and delicious, their craft cocktails are great and you’re definitely going to have the BEST COFFEE at your wedding reception!!!
For an ultimate Fishtown wedding, get ready at the nearby Lokal Fishtown, WM Mulherin’s Son’s hotel or Archway Fishtown. The area right outside of La Colombe is full of character and perfect for modern and vibrant photos.
Check out this cool Fishtown wedding at La Colombe on Philly Mag.
13) LARK (more info)
Location: Manayunk/Bala Cynwyd PA
Vibe: intimate, clean, modern
Capacity: 60 – 75 at the Library, 120 – 200 in the Dining Room
Special touches we love: gorgeous lounge space perfect for photos, scenic view of the river from their rooftop
Lark is an award-winning restaurant focusing on coastal mediterranean fresh local food. Having your celebration at their beautifully designed space means that the food is going to be on point! You can expect a menu of fresh pastas, seafood and local produce. A covered outdoor area facing the river is available for warm weather ceremonies. We loved taking photos of our couples at Pencoyd Bridge right outside the restaurant.
14) PHILADELPHIA DISTILLING (more info)
Location: Fishtown
Vibe: modern, industrial, sophisticated, light filled
Capacity: 120
Special touches we love: massive glass windows that let you see the inside of the distillery, innovative and beautifully presented cocktails!
Philadelphia Distilling is a working distillery with a huge, bright and open tasting room with a view of handmade copper pot stills and a 30-foot marble bar. Their craft cocktails are truly impressive and the staff is accommodating and friendly. You can have your reception in their 4th floor cocktail lab with stunning views of the iconic Ben Franklin Bridge.
15) MARTHA BAR (more info)
Location: East Kensington
Vibe: cool, intimate, neighborhood-y
Capacity: 100
Special touches we love: awesome outdoor patio, fireplace, their selection of house made kombuchas and fermented foods
Martha is the closest bar to our studio in Fishtown/East Kensington and we just really love this place. How cool is it to get married at an awesome local bar?! We agree. From the playful and quirky design of the space, to lots of plants outside the building to interesting food and drinks with hyper local ingredients, Martha offers a perfect vibe for an intimate wedding in East Kensington.
Check out this modern laid-back Fishtown wedding at Martha on our blog.
16) LILAH (more info)
Location: Fishtown
Vibe: industrial chic, modern, exposed brick and reclaimed materials
Capacity: up to 250 for a seated dinner, up to 300 for a cocktail party
Special touches we love: their gorgeous reclaimed doors, how every table gets the spread of seasonal delicious appetizers a la Zahav or Laserwolf
Ok, so Lilah isn’t actually a restaurant and yet it fits perfectly into this category. It’s a new wedding venue by CookNSolo, the team behind Philly staples like Zahav and Laserwolf. So you know this venue is going to be perfect for food lovers! Their 7,000 sq. ft space can offer a seated dinner for 250 guests or a cocktail-style reception for up to 300. Their meals are served family-style with a gorgeous spread of fresh seasonal appetizers (think a meal at Zahav or Laserwolf!) Bonus point, they are located right in the heart of Fishtown, so there are plenty of cool spots for photos right around the corner.
Check out this modern Fishtown wedding at Lilah on our blog.
OUTDOOR/BOTANICAL/ARBORETUM
17) PORTICO AT AWBURY ARBORETUM (more info)
Location: Germantown
Vibe: nature-y, Victorian, botanical
Capacity: 160
Special touches we love: the gorgeous wrap around porch of the The Francis Cope House, string lights and the gardens
With its 55 acres of green space in the historic Germantown section of Philadelphia, Awbury is a perfect spot for an outdoor wedding in nature. Their gorgeous Victorian stone mansion with floor-to-ceiling windows and a magnificent wrap-around porch is a perfect backdrop for photos. Dinner and dancing are held at a white large tent with catering by Peachtree.
18) BARTRAM’S GARDEN (more info)
Location: West Philadelphia
Vibe: green, garden, lush, outdoorsy
Capacity: up to 300
Special touches we love: a variety of flowers and plants in their botanic garden, the historic Bartram house and a gorgeous view of Philly skyline
Bartram’s Garden is a historic botanical garden on the riverfront in West Philadelphia that’s perfect for a garden wedding. Ceremonies and cocktail hours are usually held outdoors in the garden and the new Eastwick Pavilion overlooking the river provides a covered space for dinner and dancing. The garden paths, waterfront and the meadow with a view of Philly are perfect for couple photos. Fun fact: I live in West Philly and this is the closest wedding venue to my house. I also enjoy walking around Bartram’s in my free time and love watching the sunset by the river!
19) THE WOODLANDS (more info)
Location: West Philadelphia
Vibe: historic, nature-y, unique
Capacity: up to 125 for a cocktail-style party or up to 60 for a sit down dinner
Special touches we love: Hamilton Mansion’s covered porch
The Woodlands is another hidden gem of a venue in West Philadelphia. I might be biased because I live in West Philly and LOVE walking around Woodlands every week! An oasis of green with majestic old trees in the middle of West Philly, The Woodlands is technically a Victorian-era cemetery but don’t let that scare you away. Events at The Woodlands center around the historic Hamilton Mansion, which is a perfect backdrop for an outdoor ceremony and an indoor/outdoor reception. Victorian-era mausoleums can be a killer backdrop for photos for the right couple!
HISTORIC/MUSEUM/ART GALLERY
20) AMERICAN SWEDISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM (more info)
Location: South Philadelphia
Vibe: nature-y, relaxed, historic
Capacity: up to 200
Special touches we love: access to the pond and FDR skate park nearby for some cool photo ops.
ASHM is located in FDR park in South Philly. This unique venue is close to Center City but makes you feel like you’re surrounded by nature with its lovely park and access to a pond. The museum itself is really cool and available for your guests to browse through, as well as to hold indoor ceremonies in case of rain. The lawn in front of the museum and the tent with hanging garden lights are a perfect setting for your cocktail hour (with lawn games!) and reception.
21) FREE LIBARARY (more info)
Location: Center City, Ben Franklin Parkway
Vibe: historic, iconic Philly, unique, elegant
Capacity: 200 for a seated dinner, 250 for a cocktail party
Special touches we love: the view of Philly from the rooftop is unmatched! the fact that you’re allowed to take photos throughout the library
Getting married at the Free Library with the best view of Center City is as iconic Philly as it gets! As a historic library, it provides a truly unique backdrop for your celebration. With three unique event spaces, your guests are going to enjoy the views and the Beaux Arts architecture with a grand staircase. And if you and your partner love reading, it’s a dream come true to be surrounded by books on your wedding day! It’s also right in the heart of Philly with plenty of photo locations nearby (Logan Square, the Parkway, Barnes and Rodin museums, etc)
22) COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS (more info)
Location: Center City West
Vibe: academic, quirky, historic, elegant
Capacity: up to 350
Special touches we love: the medical library on the second floor, medicinal herb garden outside
College of Physicians, founded in 1787, is one of the oldest professional medical organizations in the country. It’s well known in Philly for being home to the Mutter Museum. Located in Center City West, this gorgeous 1908 building is a wedding venue that’s historic and elegant. One of the perks is that your guests can tour the Mutter Museum during cocktail hour. Ceremonies can be held in the outdoor garden or inside the library and both locations are really cool.
23) PAFA (PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF FINE ART) (more info)
Location: Center City
Vibe: artistic, elegant, immersive
Capacity: up to 300
Special touches we love: being surrounded by amazing art!
PAFA’s landmark historic building is the oldest art museum and art academy in the country. Being able to browse PAFA’s multiple galleries during cocktail hour and reception provides your guests with a unique immersive experience. Also, being right on Broad Street and just blocks away from City Hall makes it a perfect location for a memorable Philadelphia celebration. Bonus point: David Lynch is one of the most famous PAFA alumnus!
