Outdoor wedding venues are always a hit, and when you've got a beautiful city like Philadelphia, with the Delaware River and Schuylkill River right on the edge of the city, they become even more coveted. Whether you want to enjoy the cherry blossom season at the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center or just have a ceremony on the covered porch of a restaurant, there's a wedding venue for you in Philly.
Giggster's range of venues spans all the way from grand and historic ballrooms with immense windows and a lovely view of the outdoors to small courtyard gardens attached to suburban homes. Take in the beauties of the natural world at a remote private residence surrounded by trees and with lawns sloping away from the back porch. On the other hand, a formal cocktail hour bringing an end to the wedding day at a distinctive bar with an open patio might be just the kind of party for you.
The Giggster site has venues that vary in both price and aesthetics, so you can pick out the sort of reception venue that works best for you from the website. Throw the garden wedding of the year and impress your guests with one of our unforgettable event venues!
Giggster can help you find the dream reception space for your wedding, whether it's formal gardens with reflecting pools in the backdrop so you can take the most lovely bridal photos, or a lush greenhouse with flowers in full bloom that you're looking for. We've got the perfect venue for you.
The historic gardens of an elegant Georgian mansion are not only beautifully landscaped but a fitting venue for the bride and groom to share their new hopes for the future.
If you're looking for a smaller and more intimate setting, you could always host weddings at the well-maintained backyard of a remote cottage.
An outdoor deck of a modern home has a high fence around the perimeter for maximum privacy and allows you to celebrate with your closest circle without fear of interruption.
A historic hotel with an outdoor patio that has room enough for multiple tables is the ultimate wedding reception venue.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: Choose from as many as 8 outdoor wedding venues in Philadelphia on the Giggster site. Looking for the picture-perfect rustic barn or overgrown gardens to say your wedding vows? We've got the place for you.
Hassle-Free Booking: The Giggster site also provides all the information that you may need prior to booking a venue for a wedding ceremony, from rental rates to the number of people the space can fit. Find Philadelphia venues starting at just $58/hour.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Provided you've booked the venue at least 48 hours before the actual ceremony, our flexible and easy cancellation policies allow you to cancel the booking at no additional charge within 24 hours of confirmation.
Platform Protections: Have you fallen in love with Expansive Club Room in Philadelphia? Book the space without a single worry thanks to Giggster's optional protection packages against issues like liabilities and damages.
When it comes to picking an event venue in any city, it's equally important to take the pros and cons of the city in general into account.
Advantages
Philadelphia is certainly a scenic area, with lots of trees and outdoorsy areas like the Curtis Arboretum and Morris Arboretum. Nearby places like Bucks County are just as fitting for outdoor weddings.
There's great public transport, especially around Center City, and Philadelphia is very accessible from other big cities like NYC or Washington, DC.
The city has a rich cultural history and lots of fascinating neighborhoods, not to mention lovely parks. Looking for epic photoshoots prior to your ceremony? You'll find a nice backdrop.
Disadvantages
Weather extremes are one thing that you certainly have to contend with in Philadelphia. Beware of your special day being ruined by extreme humidity or snowfall.
The infrastructure in Philly can be described as aging. Guests might need to deal with potholes on roads and lots of construction projects on their way to the festivities.
There are still a limited number of backyard locations where you can plan a wedding in Philadelphia. So you'd better get booking early.
Philadelphia's 8 wedding venues found on Giggster can really compete with the best of the best. If you love spaces like Eastwick Pavilion or The Inn at Grace Winery, then you could pick out one of our dream garden wedding venues.
Mansion Garden – Perfect for Photos. The front lawn of an old, historic mansion is just the sort of space to host a quiet and intimate wedding ceremony and a cocktail hour for the friends and family afterwards. Not only is there enough space to accommodate all your guests, but the mansion will make for extremely photogenic bridal photos.
Restaurant or Bar – All Services Included. Restaurants and bars that have both indoor and outdoor seating can make for great wedding locations. Not only will the restaurant provide excellent food and service and cater to all your needs, but also booking out the patio guarantees privacy during the wedding reception.
House – Quiet Ceremony Space. There's no shortage of suburban houses with gardens and lawns or even just a small paved patio space where you can gather your immediate family and best friends for a memorable reception. Set up a table on one side with appetizers and drinks, and use the space at the center for the traditional dances.
Hotel – Romantic Patios. When you're in Philadelphia, there are many historic inns and hotels that you can make use of. A convenient solution for housing out-of-town guests as well as setting up bridal suites for the bride and groom to get ready, these hotels with their intimate outdoor patios make for excellent spots to get married in.
Greenhouse – Flowery Settings. If you're afraid to have a fully outdoor wedding due to the elements, but you still want a green and flowery background, a greenhouse or arboretum can be a great alternative. Get married surrounded by seasonal flowers and save on decorations!
While micro wedding packages and event planners who know how to plan this specific kind of event have become very popular, if you want to do the wedding planning yourself, there are a ton of little things to work on.
Choose the Venue – Of course, one of the first steps to planning the ceremony is to find the ideal venue for it. Whether it's historic mansion grounds or the tiny patio of a private home, the space has to be ready to host you and your guests.
Create a Layout Plan – A backyard doesn't have much. So, from setting up tents and tables and chairs to arranging for golf carts to transport the guests around a sprawling property, you'll need to plan out exactly where the ceremony and the reception will take place.
Think About Catering – Food is an important part of any party. Hiring an exclusive caterer to create delicate appetizers and serve drinks for cocktail hour or a full five-hour event with a four-course meal is a challenge, especially when considering that it will all take place outdoors.
Book Other Vendors – And finally, don't forget about speaking to and booking other vendors like decorators and florists, photographers, and a DJ. Make sure that their schedules line up with yours and appoint someone to oversee their arrival and their work.
When you're hosting a backyard wedding, it can be either intimate and budget-friendly or grand and over the top. There are some simple ways in which you can cut costs without compromising on what you want.
Limit your guest list.
There's no shame in limiting your wedding ceremony and reception to just your closest friends and family. It's your day, and you don't need to invite random acquaintances.
Work out deals with vendors.
Backyard venues don't usually come equipped with much. So if you want a tented reception and ceremony chairs, you'll probably need to rent furniture. If you're in the habit of planning receptions and parties, you can work out a deal with vendors at discounted rates. They love repeat customers.
Don't hire a professional photographer.
The golden light afforded by such outdoor locations is the best opportunity for taking photos. Ask your guests to upload all the pictures onto a common forum so everyone can enjoy them without the need for a professional photographer.
The perfect outdoor wedding venue for your wedding is just waiting to be found on Giggster. Get ready for the big day by finding an elegant mansion for your dream garden wedding or a breathtaking greenhouse venue for a reception no one will ever forget!
