Philadelphia, PA, isn't exactly the most provincial and rural of places. So when you think of the perfect rustic wedding venue, it's not the first city that comes to mind. But that specific sort of aesthetic has become very popular nowadays.
Looking for an iconic event space like Meredith Manor for your wedding day? Giggster can help! From a hidden gem of a barn at a farm that's been meticulously restored to a full, sprawling estate with outdoor and indoor spaces for the ceremony and the reception afterwards, Giggster has some of the best venues in Philadelphia.
For a truly unique experience, you could head to an old chocolate factory and warehouse that has been repurposed into the ultimate wedding venue. Whether intimate ceremonies at a small barn or large-scale celebrations at amazing estate gardens, we can guarantee that these venues will make your special day even more memorable.
Use Giggster to find the right spot for your big day. Our app is not only easy to use and navigate, but it's also got all the relevant information that you need to book an event space.
Your wedding day will certainly be one of the most important days of your life. So, whether you want to go for the elegance of an estate with a mansion and a large garden or a gorgeous farmhouse with original stone walls and surrounded by natural beauty, Giggster's Philadelphia locations will deliver.
A wedding ceremony in the gardens of an old Georgian-style mansion has the kind of dreamy and romantic vibe that everyone will remember for years to come.
A permanent tent and pavilion setting in a rustic and natural environment eliminates all distractions and allows you to sit in the moment and take it all in.
A farm with a long barn and hall outfitted with all the modern amenities is certainly a picturesque wedding venue.
Invite guests to an outdoor venue with trees, gardens, bridges, and creeks all around. The beauty of the spot is sure to charm everyone right away.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: With 0 wedding venues on offer on Giggster, you'll want to book a Philadelphia property that suits your vision and expectations. Bare ranch barns and quiet overgrown gardens alike make for extremely pretty reception venues.
Hassle-Free Booking: The Giggster site and all the information about the venues that it offers are an absolute delight. Find out how many people a space can accommodate and whether it has handicap accessibility before you book. These event spaces in Philadelphia begin at $350/hour.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: It's always a hope that you won't have to cancel your booking for any reason. But in case of emergencies, we do allow you to cancel for free within 24 hours of confirmation, just as long as you booked it at least 48 hours before the event.
Platform Protections: Book a space like Former Wilbur Chocolate Factory 25' NY style Loft and pull off your rustic wedding with zero worries with the help of Giggster's add-on optional protection packages against damages and liabilities.
You wouldn't want things to go wrong at the last minute, so it's best to do your research about both the venues and the city as well before you book a space!
Advantages
It's definitely in a prime East Coast location, being just a few hours from NYC or Washington, DC. If you want small-town vibes in a big city, you can just drive down from one of those and plan your wedding in Philly.
While winters are very cold, for a spring or summer wedding, you'll generally have nice weather. And you can relax even in a barn setting without air conditioning.
No need to fear lackluster wedding food when hosting at a city like Philadelphia, with its vibrant food scene and mouthwatering delicacies.
Disadvantages
Barns in the heart of Philadelphia are hard to come by, which means you'll have to drive out of the city proper and deal with the nightmares of traffic and parking.
Philadelphia is, unfortunately, pretty crowded. The best venues and vendors tend to get booked up early.
One of the strangest things about Philadelphia is its odd liquor licensing laws, which might make a top-shelf open bar situation pricey and inconvenient at your wedding.
Looking for venues on par with the likes of Philander Chase Knox Estate and Sage Farmhouse in Philadelphia? Giggster can help you in that sphere.
Estate – Expansive Setting. If you're looking for an outdoorsy, rustic setting but with some of the elaborate grandeur of a big wedding, an estate on the outskirts of the city with some historic charm is great. Schedule a cocktail hour after the wedding ceremony to mingle and chat with guests.
Garden – Stunning Outdoor Celebrations. A garden filled with gorgeous flowers, shrubs, and trees, no matter how big or small, how far outside or within the city, is always an especially beautiful location for a wedding. It's rustic without being provincial and elegant without being over the top.
Farmhouse – Indoor Receptions. From a converted carriage house originally built a few decades ago to organic farms with stone and wood structures, these are obviously hit venues when it comes to rustic weddings. You could even provide a small, homely lunch to make the wedding feel even more cozy and intimate.
Warehouse – Raw and Unpolished. The raw, unadorned look has become very popular with down-to-earth bridal couples these days. If you do want a venue in the heart of the city while preserving the rustic barn vibes, celebrate your big day in a factory and warehouse while your friends and family watch you exchange vows.
Cabin – Tons of Rural Charm. There's something about log cabins that's very typical of rural America, and if you're a nature lover, then that's exactly the kind of venue you might enjoy. Not a typical barn wedding venue, but the serene and peaceful greenery around you will certainly make guests smile.
From finding the perfect spot to engaging the services of a dozen vendors, use a list to prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks.
Pick the Season – With outdoor celebrations of this kind, weather, season, temperature, and allergens are all considerations. Opt for a time of the year that is neither too hot nor too cold.
Plan the Menu – There's this idea that wedding food often isn't good, which absolutely need not be the case here. But do keep in mind with barn weddings and outdoor events that there are logistics to keeping the food hot or cold.
Speak to Other Vendors – Even apart from food, there are so many vendors you need to talk to about customized wedding cake orders, flowers, and furniture rentals. Bakers and florists are often ready to provide good details if they know your budget.
Send Out Invites – You can have an intimate wedding with just a few close friends outside of the wedding party, or you could have a huge to-do. Send out invitations well in advance of the wedding day so they can send back their RSVP cards.
Think of Decor – Add those little rustic elements, from dried leaves and flowers for an autumn wedding to string lights in the darker corners of the barn. Even hay bales can make for a great photo opportunity!
A rustic wedding already gives you the advantage that you can be low-key and simple about planning the whole thing, and save money at the same time.
Start out with a budget.
We promise that this makes the entire experience so much more bearable and simple. Once you've got the different heads worked out, wedding planning also proceeds much quicker.
Be innovative about dessert.
Yes, wedding cake is traditional, but huge tiered cakes are very expensive. Getting sheet cakes that you can cut up and serve, individual cupcakes, or even an ice cream bar are all great alternatives.
Skip the formal dinner.
Your guests are there to celebrate the most important day of your life, not for an elaborate meal. Organizing a cocktail hour with some appetizers or even getting food trucks to serve your favorite fast food is certainly a unique concept that will make you pretty popular.
Reuse and repurpose flowers.
Don't waste those bouquets used by the bridal party during the ceremony! These can be reused as table centerpieces for the reception instead of spending twice on flowers.
The perfect wedding venue can make or break your dream wedding, so don't hesitate to book your favorite venue on Giggster. A Pennsylvania farm with sweeping mountain views or an urban loft that nevertheless retains the rustic, simple look of a barn makes for some beloved memories that you can look back on with fondness.
