10 Wonderful New Philly-Area Wedding Venues for 2021
Wedding-venue shopping? Here’s our list.
Casablanca Weddings and Events, located at Midway Arts in Coatesville, is among the new Philadelphia-area wedding venues to check out now. Photo by Right Start Photography
Newly engaged? Congrats. Not sure where to start? No problem. Your first step — and New Year’s resolution — should be to find your wedding venue. And this list of new Philadelphia-area wedding venues will provide plenty of inspiration, whether you’re planning a far-future celebration or a unique micro-wedding, a city soiree or a contemporary country escape. We’ve even got an event destination with a wellness connection for those who want to party and feel good, too. And if none of these strike your fancy, this list has everything else in between.
Note: The event capacities listed below are subject to change based on updated COVID-19 requirements per federal, state and county guidelines. We recommend you speak directly with each venue for its latest accommodations.
Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia
Midtown Village
A pretty tablescape at the Wayward restaurant at Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia. Photo by Afrik Armando; styling & event design by Lovehaus Events; florals by Faye + Renee
The 236-room modern Beaux Arts hotel in the buzzy East Market neighborhood opened this past summer and is tops for a couple seeking a sleek, playful and hip setting for their nuptials. It’s housed in the 1896 Stephen Girard Building and blends historic elements like plasterwork, rosettes and columns with an homage to Philly’s creative culture. There’s plenty of art from local talents (many of the works are influenced by the hip-hop genre), including a Dancers sculpture in the lobby by Tyler School-trained Adam Parker Smith, eye candy (gold records on the walls), and patterns (on the furnishings and floors) that make for great photo moments. There are both indoor and outdoor event spaces. Cocktail or seated capacity normally ranges from 25 to 150; only 40 can be accommodated inside in either arrangement. The outdoor patio holds up to 100 (cocktail or seated), and a full buyout of the Wayward restaurant (offered on limited availability) is up to 150 seated. Three-hour micro- and full weddings include an on-site coordinator, a three-hour open bar, hotel room upgrades, discounts on related events (showers, rehearsal dinners), and other perks and upgrades. Cuisine is provided by the eatery (whose Salade Verte, by the way, is a refreshing light bite), and there’s a Federal Donuts on-site for your sweet treats, too. Weddings range from $115 to $175 per guest; restaurant buyouts are priced separately. 1180 Ludlow Street, Midtown Village.
Casablanca Weddings and Events
Coatesville
A springtime wedding at Casablanca. Photo by Right Start Photography
The industrial-chic wedding venue in Chester County’s Midway Arts hub opened in September and is run by husband-and-wife photographer duo Matt and Grace Rauppius. There are both indoor and outdoor ceremony locations, available for micro- and full weddings of no more than 60 guests. The venue manager and day-of coordinator can work with the couple every step of the way and offer various packages as well as a build-your-own bash. (Packages range from the basic, with just a three-hour venue rental, to a full soiree complete with a sit-down meal.) All packages begin with a champagne toast and a pre-designed signature drink; Casablanca partners with Doe Run Catering, a family-owned biz whose menus could include osso buco or pesto-rubbed chicken. Among the more popular packages is the whimsically named “Just a Little Less Than a Sit-Down Dinner,” featuring a bouquet and boutonniere, a ceremony with backdrop and chairs, and three hours of photography. Prices range from $750 to $6,600. 139 East Chestnut Street, Coatesville.
Château Grande Hotel
East Brunswick
Orchard Park Restaurant at the Château Grande Hotel. Photo courtesy of the hotel
Sheer elegance awaits you about an hour and 15 minutes outside of Philly at this recently opened New Jersey destination. (It debuted in early December.) The boutique hotel sits on the 15-acre grounds of Park Château and offers 108 rooms. It’s the work of the experts behind Nanina’s in the Park, Park Savoy and Park Château, along with chef David Burke. The destination provides a blend of French and American style. You’ll find the Angelique ballroom (normal capacity is 150), private wine and conference rooms, the Orchard Park Restaurant, and an outdoor patio. All offer various seating and standing arrangements for your event, from welcome dinners to ceremonies to after-parties. The full-service venue can hold weddings with fewer than 75 guests if food and beverage minimums are met; planning services, day-of coordination, a bridal attendant and other aspects are handled by the team. (All you have to do is bring in entertainment, a photographer and a florist.) A tip: Burke can personally curate a menu for your tastes. Pricing typically ranges from $135 per person to $300 per person and up. 670 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick.
Conestoga House and Gardens
Lancaster
One of the scenic venues at Conestoga House & Gardens. Photo courtesy Conestoga House & Gardens
While it’s not technically new, the historic destination has been under new management (Ecklin Properties) since March 2020 and plans a larger focus on weddings moving forward. (It previously only hosted nonprofit events and occasional weddings.) First opened as a tavern in the 1700s, turned into an inn in the 1840s, and remodeled in the late 1920s, the property was originally owned by Christian Hershey (of chocolate fame). The three-story colonial revivalist mansion has 12 bedrooms, spans almost 10,000 square feet, and sits on nearly eight acres of gardens for a charming, flower-filled alfresco ceremony, reception, shower or rehearsal dinner. (There are more than 3,300 annuals, 400 tropical plants, 160 perennial varieties, and 160-plus rosebushes.) Most of the venues here are outdoors; because Conestoga offers the event space only, all vendors (caterers, coordinators, planners and designers, etc.) must be booked separately. (Proof of insurance is required, but the destination welcomes your team of choice.) Prices are dependent on the location, day of the week, event duration and number of guests but generally range from $750 to $4,000. 1608 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster.
Guild House Hotel
Midtown Village
The Eliza room at Guild House Hotel. Rendering by Rohe Creative
Female empowerment is the name of the game at this boutique hotel and micro-wedding venue, which is expected to open in spring 2021. Not only is it a National Historic Landmark; the rowhouse is the former hub for the New Century Guild — a club dating to the late 1800s that supported the burgeoning number of working women in the city, from suffragists to abolitionists. Each of the 12 rooms and suites of the restored destination (which sleeps 28 total) is designed to showcase one of these female figures. On the second floor, the 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bath suite can easily serve as your space for day-of pampering or pre- and post-celebrating. Intrigued? You’ll have to book the entire house (yep, all rooms and common areas). Packages start with full use of the library (it’s the only wedding space and accommodates up to 43), a coordinator, and access to the vendor list, which is still in the works. Wedding packages range from $4,500 to $6,500. 1307 Locust Street, Midtown Village.
Hyatt Centric
Rittenhouse Square
The Alexander Ballroom at the Hyatt Centric. Photo by Philip Gabriel Photography
This newly built 332-room hotel may be a chain, but it draws on the city around it to personalize matters. Take, for example, the Patchwork Restaurant and Bar: Its name was inspired by a patchwork quilt that pays homage to Philly’s Quaker roots and neighborhoods. Artwork nods to local landmarks and iconic spots. And the meeting spaces are named after pioneering figures of the region, like the 2,700-square-foot Alexander Ballroom. The largest of the event spaces (which total 5,000-plus square feet), it’s named after Sadie Mossell Alexander, the first Black woman to receive a law degree from Penn and the first admitted to the bar in the Commonwealth. Typically, the ballroom can hold up to 150 for a reception, though that figure is currently reduced due to COVID guidelines. Wedding packages are adaptable and can accommodate smaller gatherings as well, should you want or need to keep things more intimate. Featured are a five-hour open bar, a cocktail reception, dinner wine service, a bubbly toast, custom menus with a cake or petite Viennese display, a coordinator and more. Couples can work with local vendors such as Pizzeria Vetri for late-night snacks or South Jersey Party Rentals for linens, chairs, and other decor items. Packages start at $170 per person. 1620 Chancellor Street, Rittenhouse Square.
MOYO
Schwenksville
MOYO’s rustic retreat in Montgomery County. Photo by Rebecca Barger; event hosting & catering by Seedling & Sage; florals by 25th and Ivy; gown by Claire Pettibone at Nicole Bridal & Formal Shoppe; hair by Bridal by Natalie; makeup by Nicolette Brycki; modeling by Shantae Nicole
This one’s for all of you outdoorsy health lovers: A rustic wellness haven in Montgomery County will take on an event-driven focus (that means weddings, folks) in 2021, and it will be managed by women-owned Seedling + Sage Catering. While the space has been open for about five years, the owners used it to teach yoga and host retreats, with an occasional wedding held on-site. But don’t worry: You can still get your mindful fix. Receptions at MOYO can be paired with yoga classes, wellness treatments, craft cocktail classes, and other soulful activities. The property includes a restored barn, a ballroom, yoga studios, a newly built sister barn for micro events and smaller gatherings, a ceremony pavilion in the woods (guests will sit on carved trunks rather than pews), a fire pit, and a vintage underground barrel room. The latter is a Prohibition-style space that puts you in the spirit with its 10-foot-long hand-carved bar, cement walls, and drinks by 13th Street Cocktail Catering, which partnered on the drink den. Currently, COVID guidelines have capacity capped at 50 indoors and about 150 outdoors. Book a wedding here (2021 dates are still available) and you’ll have exclusive use of the space, along with seasonal appetizer boards, butlered hors d’oeuvres, dinner, a styled sweetheart table, vintage couches and farm table, a cake by Bredenbeck’s, event coordination and styling, and other touches to make you feel, well, at peace on your Big Day. Prices range from $135 to $175 per person depending on the season. 4335 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville.
Pocono Palms
Canadensis
The stunning indoor ceremony and reception space at Pocono Palms. Photo by Jessica Manns; florals by Kraft & Co.; rentals by Chippy White Table
If you’re seeking destination “I do’s” without having to go too far away, this is your place. (It’s about two hours from Philly.) The centerpiece of this four-acre mountain oasis that debuted in the fall is a 108-year-old Catholic church that’s been restored to a modern event enclave. It’s the brainchild of Allentown natives and sisters Alyssa and Carolyn O’Leary, who left their NYC jobs in design and marketing to open it. The interior is transformable and can hold up to 150 for a larger affair or 40 or fewer for a micro-wedding. Its arches will stun during glam winter celebrations. Hold your ceremony on the black-and-white dance floor, and say your vows under the trio of windows. The venue is furnished with flexible decor that includes several handmade altar backdrops, and planters and other accents can be positioned to create intimate spaces for smaller gatherings. A downstairs lounge doubles as a day-of suite with a bar and beauty stations, while upstairs is a loft-style space that looks out on the action. There’s alfresco space, too, should you want to brave the weather or plan for spring. Saturday micro-weddings start at $3,000; weddings start at $6,500. Read more about the venue here. 1365 PA Route 390, Canadensis.
W Philadelphia
Center City
The ballroom at W Philadelphia. Photo by Ralf Tooten, courtesy of Marriott Inc.
In early 2021, the luxe hotel brand will bring 45,000 square feet of edgy space for gatherings of up to 250 or for more intimate affairs. We already know where we’d plan a first look: beneath the coin chandelier by local artist Brendan Keen, who was inspired by the city’s banking history. Say “I do” in the Extreme WOW suite with up to 15 guests; it has a built-in DJ booth and floor-to-ceiling windows to help set the mood. Prices upon request. 1439 Chestnut Street, Center City.
The Windsor Suites Philadelphia
Logan Square
A small ceremony in the skyline-level Observation Lounge at the Windsor Suites. Photo by Pixellab
New at this hotel is the “skyline level,” a collection of penthouse suites and luxury amenities (think a stunning rooftop infinity pool) that was finished in August and welcomes an array of cozy wedding arrangements. Here, you’ll find the indoor-outdoor observation lounge accommodating 25 people (it has a fireplace with color-changing LED lighting to keep you warm in winter months), the terrace for 40 (adjusted to 10 people, reception-style only, during COVID-19), and a combination of the two for 60 guests, reception-style only (that means no sit-down banquet seating). A five-hour micro-wedding rental comes with chair and table setup; and preferred catering vendors Con Murphy’s, located on-site, and 12th Street Catering, whose options for intimate affairs are delish. The couple and/or wedding-party members can stay or prep in one of the Skyline suites, whose floor-to-ceiling windows offer pretty panoramas of the city. These suites vary from 270 to 380 square feet, and two can be combined for a slightly larger group. Rentals range from $1,000 to $2,000 for the space, with no food and beverage requirements. We foresee poolside micro-parties come summer — don’t you? 1700 Ben Franklin Parkway, Logan Square.
Get more great content from Philadelphia Wedding:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | NEWSLETTER | PINTEREST
