If you’re looking to wed in a place that contains the perfect blend of modern architecture and historic charm, then Philadelphia is a great city to consider. Seriously, it’s the perfect fusion of the past and present.
Whether you’re looking for whimsical garden spaces, elegant mansions, or chic rooftop spaces, Philadelphia offers all of that, plus more. And it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg either.
Yes, Philly is one of the most expensive US cities, but that doesn’t mean that your wedding has to follow suit! The average couple spent $24,763 on their wedding in 2021, according to the Wedding Report, but trust me, there are plenty of venues you can rent for far less.
Lucky for you, we’ve made it our business to compile the best, most affordable wedding venues in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
Bartram’s Garden
Who says you have to choose between a historic landmark and a whimsical garden space? Bartram’s Garden, founded in1728, is the oldest surviving botanical garden in the country, making it a truly special venue to host your wedding.
Most couples choose to exchange vows on The Eastwick Pavillion, a stunning outdoor space with views of the river and a covered porch area. Or, you can head on over to the onsite barn, which is perfect for an indoor reception.
For wedding photos, well, take your pick! This botanical garden spans 45 acres and features lush lawns, colorful flowers, and stunning water features.
Price Range: $3,100 – $3,500 for venue rental; add-ons extra.
Capacity: 60 – 250 guests.
Find Bartram’s Garden at Bartram’s Garden or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Morris Arboretum
Located on the University of Pennsylvania campus, The Morris Arboretum is a public garden space, that spans 92 acres. Perfect for outdoor weddings, this venue offers countless lush, scenic spaces for all of your wedding activities.
You can start your wedding day off right by taking photos in front of a gorgeous feature of entangled branches, surrounded by towering trees. For your ceremony, you can exchange your vows at the Magnolia Slope, a stunning outdoor space that features hillside views and sculpture gardens.
When it’s time for your ceremony, you can choose between The Rose Garden or The Azalea Meadow.
Price Range: $5,000 – $6,000.
Capacity: Up to 175 guests.
Find Morris Arboretum at Morris Arboretum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Arts Ballroom
The Arts Ballroom is the perfect venue who want their wedding to feel as if they’ve stepped foot inside a fairy tale. This sprawling ballroom boasts French acoustic ceilings, hardwood floors, and crystal chandeliers. There are also paneled walls and mood lighting.
Spanning 10,000 square feet, you can choose from several spaces to host your wedding festivities. You can start your wedding procession by descending a grand staircase with your closest friends and family watching in admiration. Of course, this same staircase makes a dreamy backdrop for wedding photos.
Then, once you’ve exchanged vows underneath the dreamy lighting, you can head on over to the banquet hall for your wedding reception.
Price Range: $3,500 and up.
Capacity: Up to 250 guests.
Find The Arts Ballroom at The Arts Ballroom or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Deacon
First built in 1906, The Deacon once served as the home of the First African Baptist Church. Today, it’s a chic, boutique hotel that also hosts weddings and other events.
Despite the transformation, key features of the building’s former life remain, making it perfect for couples who may enjoy a church aesthetic, without religious affiliations. This venue boasts a vaulted ceiling, a suspension staircase, and cool lighting features.
Here, weddings are weekend-long events. And while this venue is more expensive than some of the other venues on this list, you have to remember that you’re getting 3 full days of activities for the price of one eight-hour timeslot for more upscale venues.
Price Range: $5,500 – $10,000.
Capacity: Up to 150 guests.
Find The Deacon at The Deacon or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The Franklin Institute Science Museum
Whether you and your love share a love of science or just appreciate beautiful architecture, The Franklin Institute Science Museum may be the perfect venue for you.
This museum features an array of cool, charming, historic spaces to host all of your wedding activities. If you’d like to enjoy an outdoor wedding venue, then you should consider the Rooftop Deck.
If you’d prefer an indoor wedding, then The Planetarium is a unique space that features a large, retractable dome capable of projecting star sequences. After you’ve exchanged your wedding vows, your wedding reception can take place in the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, which features a striking 20-foot statue of the late president.
Price Range: $1,500 and up.
Capacity: Up to 150 guests.
Find The Franklin Institute Science Museum at The Franklin Institute Science Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Talula’s Garden
If you and your soon-to-be spouse prioritize quality food over aesthetics, then Talula’s Garden may be the perfect place to host your reception. As a reception-only venue, this restaurant doesn’t host ceremonies, but we doubt you’ll miss that aspect too much.
Talula’s Garden offers an array of quality cuisine, always firm in its farm-to-table promise! This means that the skilled staff will only serve you and your guests the highest quality, freshest ingredients for your meals.
Plus, the outdoor green space actually isn’t too shabby either. It’s actually a visually pleasing urban-chic setting that features lush greenery and foliage, sprinkled over an industrial setting.
Price Range: $4,200 and up.
Capacity: Up to 100 guests.
Find Talula’s Garden at Talula’s Garden or check out Facebook.
Penn Museum
Perfect for cultured couples The Penn Museum provides an elegant, ornate setting to host all of your wedding activities. Built in the 1800s, this museum exudes historic charm, and will surely transport you and your guests to another time.
It spans 300,000 square feet and houses over one million artifacts, making it a great space to explore after your wedding. For your ceremony, you can exchange vows on The Chinese Rotunda, a massive dome event space, which boasts 90-feet ceilings and nods to Chinese art.
If you’re hoping to host a reception that you and your guests won’t soon forget, then you might want to consider the Warden Garden, a gorgeous garden space that features water features, stone walls, and manicured foliage.
Price Range: $3,500 – $4,500.
Capacity: Up to 500 guests.
Find Penn Museum at Penn Museum or check out Facebook or Instagram.
The German Society Of Pennsylvania
If you’re in the mood for a colonial-style wedding, then look no further than The German Society of Pennsylvania. From your cocktail hour to your reception, this venue offers several stellar settings to host all of your wedding activities.
But first things first: pictures with your wedding photographer! You should kick off your big day by taking wedding photos at any number of spaces, including the John Horner Memorial Library, which boasts two stories and antique bookcases, giving the space a touch of historic charm.
When it’s officially time for your wedding to start, you can use The Auditorium for both your ceremony and your reception. The colonial-style space is extremely versatile, able to stand confidently in its ornate detailing or transform into a colorful dream!
Price Range: $2,000 and up.
Capacity: Up to 200 guests.
Find The German Society of Pennsylvania at The German Society of Pennsylvania or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Stotesbury Mansion
Stotesbury Mansion is the perfect wedding venue for couples who can appreciate historic landmarks which boast stunningly gorgeous architecture. This mansion, which features intricately carved architecture, high ceilings, and crystal chandeliers, offers several spaces for your to host all of your activities on a wedding budget.
You can start your day off right by taking wedding photos in front of the mansion’s hauntingly charming entrance—a perfect backdrop. Or you can pose inside the home’s stately foyer.
When it’s time to say “I do,” you and your guests will venture to the ceremony space, which features high, decorative ceilings, ornate columns, and plenty of room for dancing and mingling. After the ceremony, this same space can be transformed into a grand reception hall.
Price Range: $1,200 – $2,500
Capacity: Up to 125 guests.
Find Stotesbury Mansion at Stotesbury Mansion or check out Facebook or Instagram.
Powell House & Gardens
Perfect for charming, intimate weddings Powell House & Gardens is a great option for your big day. The historic ground is not only an affordable outdoor venue for ceremonies and receptions, but it’s also quite dreamy.
Here, you and your guests will be surrounded by the splendor of stone-lined paths, delightfully manicured gardens, and a Georgian-style home at the center of it all. And while there are indoor amenities for you to use, this venue is best suited for an outdoor wedding.
Rentals include access to the ceremony and reception sites, a tour of the mansion, a day-of wedding coordinator, and the bride and groom suites.
Price Range: $900 – $2,000
Capacity: Up to 100 guests.
Find Powell House & Gardens at Powell House & Gardens or check out Facebook or Instagram.
