The perfect wedding venue varies from couple to couple, but finding the right place for you is essential to your special day coming together in the way you and your partner have always dreamed. Your venue sets the tone and theme for your entire wedding and in many ways, the venue you choose can make or break your entire experience. The venue’s style, ceremony options, staff, and location all have an impact on your planning process.

As a seasoned luxury wedding photographer based in Wilmington, DE, I’ve had the pleasure of being invited to plenty of luxury venues in and around Philadelphia. Fun fact: I’m only about a 30 minute drive from center city Philly! If you’re looking for a unique wedding destination that oozes sophistication and charm, Philly is one of the best places to look, but what are the best luxury wedding venues near Philadelphia? 

Here are a handful of my favorites. 

Appleford Estate: A Garden of Romance

Location: Villanova, PA

No Philadelphia wedding guide would be complete without giving the Appleford Estate a mention. Situated in the heart of Villanova, the Appleford Estate has 40 years of wedding experience under their belt, winning award after award in the wedding category. 

READ: SUMMER GARDEN PARTY WEDDING AT APPLEFORD ESTATE

The estate is nestled among 24 acres of carefully manicured gardens, woodlands, and meadows—perfect for capturing those intimate first-look shots. Whether you’re looking to tie the knot outdoors in the midst of the blooming flowers and lush greenery, or you’d prefer to say “I do” in the charming 300-year-old house in the heart of the estate, this enchanting setting is perfect for your wedding in the suburbs of Philly. 

The Franklin Institute: Science Meets Elegance

Location: Philadelphia, PA

Who doesn’t want to get married under the stars? The Franklin Institute is located in downtown Philadelphia and is easily the most unique wedding destination on my list (it’s a photographer’s dream to shoot!). Offering you the opportunity to get married—quite literally—under the stars in The Fels Planetarium as well as on the rooftop deck overlooking Ben Franklin Parkway, the institute is truly one of a kind. 

Being inside a museum offers a variety of unique photo opportunities, but the real highlight of the Franklin Institute is the planetarium. Whether you want to get married under the Milky Way, get up close and personal with the moon, or look out at the solar system, let me promise the photos will be out of this world. 

Brb while I sit here and daydream about all the different Star Wars themed weddings you could pull off in this otherworldly setting. Sigh.

Parque Ridley Creek: Nature’s Serenade

Location: Media, PA

What’s more dreamy than an English garden wedding? Parque is home to an English Tudor stone building located in the heart of Ridley Creek State Park and another one of Philly’s incredible wedding venues that is an absolute pleasure to photograph.

The gardens at Parque were completed 100 years ago by the same firm that created Central Park and the result is endless intimate outdoor spaces, each unique in their own way. The old mansion itself wouldn’t look out of place in a Harry Potter film, with endless staircases, stone archways, and candlelit dining tables—perfect for magical shots with your new spouse. 

The Lake House Inn: Waterfront Weddings

Location: Perkasie, PA

The Lake House Inn is a European-inspired lake house on Lake Nockamixon’s waterfront. The Inn was once a private residence that has now been transformed into one of Pennsylvania’s best wedding locations. 

The historical inn offers views across the lake and surrounding woodlands—a truly peaceful location, a short drive from New York and Philadelphia. With endless reception rooms, a wine cellar, manicured lawns, and beautiful gardens that overlook the water, it’s one of my favorite places to shoot, whatever the season. We celebrated a storybook romance between Sara and Jacob as they tied the knot here this past November. I’m still obsessing over their gallery!

Hotel du Village: French Countryside Flair

Location: New Hope, PA

Previously a schoolhouse, the Hotel du Village is now an event venue with a French twist. As you enter the property, you’re transported from Pennsylvania to a French country estate. With French-style gardens, towering oak trees, and a stream, the gardens are perfect for an outdoor wedding, whatever the season. The venue can host you, your guests, and your wedding party within it’s 29 luxury guest rooms, making Hotel du Village a destination getaway.

The Hotel du Village states on their site that they have “limitless photo backdrops,” and they’re not lying—the grounds are perfect for romantic wedding photos you’ll cherish for decades to come. 

Holly Hedge Estate: Rustic Splendor

Location: New Hope, PA

Nestled in New Hope, the Holly Hedge Estate has a quarter century of experience in luxury weddings. The estate is family-owned and operated, taking an intimate and personal approach to luxury weddings. 

Overlooking the Delaware River, the estate is home to The Old Barn, a favorite for weddings, as well as English Gardens, fountains, ponds, and courtyards. If you’re dreaming of an outdoor wedding that feels private and tucked away, I’m dreaming of capturing perfect photos of your day here. 

Bear Mill Estate: Where History Meets Tranquility

Location: Denver, PA

Just beyond the Philly Metropolitan Area, Bear Mill Estate started life a far cry from luxury as a gristmill in 1739. It has since been transformed to become one of the area’s most luxurious wedding destinations. The historic mill and surrounding grounds come together where history meets tranquility. 

The intimate wedding location provides both indoor and outdoor spaces for your wedding, as well as onsite accommodation for you and your guests. As a photographer, some of my favorite spots on the property are around the water, especially the footbridge, which is perfect for your couples portraits. 

No matter where you choose for your luxury Philly wedding, some of your biggest momentos from the day will be the photographs that are captured as you and your partner start your story together as one. Choosing a photographer who gets to know who you are, understands what you want, and isn’t shy about getting you to step out of your comfort zone can be the difference between a dusty photo album on the shelf and the pride of place on your mantelpiece.

Getting married in Philly in 2024? Congratulations on your engagement! Let’s talk about how I can capture your special day the way you want!