With wedding season quickly approaching, we’ve gathered a bevy of superior venues, top notch wedding packages, and even custom boozy beverages to ensure a seamless and delightful planning journey for those newly engaged. Check out all of the top tier offerings from locales in Philadelphia and beyond, including Bolo, Cake Life Bake Shop, El Merkury, Dock Street Brewing Company, My Local Brew Works, Panorama, Penn’s View Hotel, Ocean Prime, Old City District, Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, Stella of New Hope, The Twisted Tail, and Stratus Rooftop Lounge.
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PICTURE PERFECT VENUES IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA:
Bolo, Chef Yun Fuentes’ Latin American dining room and rum bar nestled in bustling Rittenhouse Square, sets the stage for unforgettable wedding celebrations. Its charmingly authentic ambiance and versatile offerings make it an ideal locale for weddings of all sizes, with a dining room on the second floor accommodating up to 80 guests, and both floors combined allowing for a cocktail-style reception for 175 guests. Explore a variety of wedding packages, including customizable options for the expansive rum bar, signature cocktail hour plus appetizers, and elegant four-course dining experiences, ensuring that every aspect of one’s special day is tailored to perfection.
Please contact hospitality@bolophl.com for more information.
Hours of operation: Monday through Sunday, 5pm – 10pm for dinner, Saturday 10pm – 12am for late night, and Monday through Friday, 5pm – 7pm for happy hour
2025 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 | WebsiteInstagram
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Ocean Prime, the classic steak and seafood-forward modern American restaurant and lounge located in the heart of Center City Philadelphia, offers an extensive array of luxurious event spaces suitable for gatherings of any scale, from bridal showers to rehearsal dinners, whether private or semi-private —along with the option of partial or full buyouts accommodating up to 279 guests.
Room offerings include:
- Fairmount Room: Seats 16 people or accommodates receptions for up to 28 guests.
- Rittenhouse Room: Seats 27 people or accommodates receptions for up to 35 guests.
- Manayunk Room: Seats 30 people or accommodates receptions for up to 45 guests.
- Mezzanine: Seats 56 people or accommodates receptions for up to 75 guests.
- Cove: Seats 24 people or accommodates receptions for up to 30 guests.
Ocean Prime’s private dining packages boast a variety of food and beverage options tailored to fulfill every individual’s desires for their special day. Dining choices range from selecting from a diverse à la carte menu to opting for one of four top-tier preset menu options, priced between $100 and $170 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). Additionally, the venue caters to a range of special requests, including valet service, floral arrangements, audiovisual support, and specialty cakes or desserts.
Please contact Ocean Prime’s sales and event manager at (215) 563-0163 for more information and click HERE to view the full brochure of offerings.
Hours of operation: Sunday through Thursday, 4pm – 9pm, and Friday and Saturday 4pm – 10pm
124 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102 | 215.563.0163 | WebsiteInstagramFacebookTwitter
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Penn’s View Hotel, a boutique European-style hotel located in Old City, and in-house Panorama, Philadelphia’s premier wine bar boasting a Guinness World Record custom-built wine keeper boasting over 120 wines on tap, offers versatile event spaces for room blocks and wedding-adjacent events such as bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and beyond. Panorama boasts one of the most romantic venues in the city with its candlelit wine cellar (wheelchair accessible) perfect for intimate rehearsal dinners for up to 30 people for a sit down dinner or 45 for a reception. The hotel and restaurant also offer four other event spaces, accommodating 20-80 guests, with customizable menus boasting authentic Italian dishes paired with Sommelier-picked wines.
The historic Penn’s View Hotel boasts 49 rooms and 2 suites available to wedding parties and families, conveniently located in the heart of Old City.
For more information, call 215.922.7800.
Panorama hours of operation: Tuesday through Thursday 5 – 9pm, Friday 5 – 10pm, Saturday 3 – 10pm, Sunday 3 – 9pm
14 Front St • 215.922.7800 • www.pennsviewhotel.com/panorama
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Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, South Jersey’s quintessential historic hotel in Galloway, NJ, just 20 minutes from Atlantic City, offers the picture-perfect setting for an indoor or outdoor wedding, with its Georgian architecture, manicured lawns and seasonal gardens. Also, Seaview has begun a $250K overhaul of it’s elegant Bayview Ballroom, a popular wedding venue boasting a large pre-function area and terrace overlooking the hotel’s championship Bay Course and Reed’s Bay. This renovation is projected to be finished by the end of March 2024, just ahead of peak wedding season. Seaview also boasts other venues including the Bayview Terrace, Centennial Pavilion, Presidential Ballroom, Oval Room and Oval Lawn and an award-winning culinary team to make wedding dreams come true. Seaview can accommodate weddings of every size, from 40 to 400.
Call (609) 748-7660 for more information.
401 S New York Rd, Galloway, NJ, 08205 | 609-652-1800 | seaviewdolcehotel.com
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Stella of New Hope, Bucks County’s modern American restaurant located in the Ghost Light Inn with 180 degree views of the Delaware River, boasts a beautiful 150-seat banquet room that offers an exceptional river view back drop or a ground level open air event space with riverfront views, making it the perfect location for a wedding. The restaurant boasts a unique twist to American classics inspired by local ingredients from the region’s best farmers and artisans, so couples and guests can expect a selection of local products, such as meats, poultry, fish and seasonal produce alongside vegetarian dishes for their special day. Fun add-ons include signature cocktails, DIY Taco Bar, Hot Chocolate Bar, Mini Root Beer Float Station, and much more.e
The Ghost Light Inn offers 12 rooms that are set aside exclusively for wedding guests and a sister inn, The Carriage House, which offers another 3 riverfront rooms, just steps away from Stella.
For more information, email info@stellanewhope or call 267.740.2691.
Hours of operation: Thursday 5 – 12am, Friday 5 – 2am, Saturday 8 – 2am
50 S Main St, New Hope, PA 18938 • 267.740.2691 •Website•Instagram•Facebook
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Stratus Rooftop Lounge, the chic rooftop venue on the 11th floor of the Kimpton Hotel Monaco in Old City, stands as a quintessential and iconic Philadelphia wedding venue. With its chic ambiance and panoramic views, Stratus Rooftop Lounge offers a chic backdrop for every wedding-related event, from intimate rehearsal dinners to elegant champagne toasts and morning-after brunches, and even the full ceremony. The venue features two opposing private rooms accommodating 20+ guests each: the Mist Pavilion, offering a bright and airy atmosphere, and the Vapor Pavilion, exuding a moody and mysterious ambiance.
433 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA | 215.925.2889 | Website Instagram Facebook
Hours of operation: Thursday 5pm – 12am, Friday 5pm – 2am, Saturday 8pm – 2am
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The Twisted Tail, the Southern-inspired restaurant, bar and live music venue on Headhouse Square, offers multiple private and semi-private spaces, including the Headhouse Shambles (for an outdoor ceremony), the restaurant’s second-floor Juke Joint for groups up to 100 (130 if combined with the adjacent Club Room). Two long tables at the rear of the Juke Joint can accommodate 40 people for a seated dinner. The first floor offers a full dining room and large horseshoe bar which is also available for bookings. Instead of a set price, The Twisted Tail will customize food and beverage specific to guests’ taste and preference with options such as a cocktail hour, dinner buffet, whiskey open bar, and more.
George Reilly, Owner of The Twisted Tail, is also available for private parties, bachelor parties and more, offering guided tastings, cocktail classes and more. Additional information can be found here.
To inquire about an event, visit here.
Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday 4 pm – 10 pm; Friday 4 pm – 12 am; Saturday 11 am – 12 am; Sunday 10 am – 10 pm
509 S. 2nd St. • 215.558.2471 • Website • Instagram • Facebook • Twitter
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UrbanFarmer, the modern American steakhouse located in the Logan Hotel known for its locally sourced ingredients and in-house butcher shop and mushroom program, is the perfect spot to host an intimate reception or a charming rehearsal dinner. Executive Chef Sonny Ingui and his culinary team offer experiential and interactive add-ons including table-side Wagyu carvings, exquisite seafood and caviar presentations, artisanal charcuterie and fromagerie stations, interactive cocktail carts with personal bartenders, and an array of gourmet delights. This luxurious program caters to diverse events, from intimate rehearsal dinners and bridal showers to bachelor dinners. Guests can relish in mixologists conjuring up inventive cocktails at their table and savor the elegance of expert servers carving porchetta, ribeye, or NY strip right onto their plates. The seafood and caviar displays showcase a delectable selection of fresh seafood and premium caviar, offering a variety of indulgent choices.
The program presents four unique spaces with availability from 10 to 60 people: The Verdant Room, a newly renovated private room with scenic views of Swann Fountain; The Pantry, a semi-private area adorned with house-made pickled vegetables; The Farm Table, nestled in the dining room, perfect for casual drinks, dining, and gatherings; and The Patio, an al fresco space on the Ben Franklin Parkway, ideal for warm-weather receptions. Urban Farmer’s private dining program offers an extensive menu, featuring hors d’oeuvres like Smoked Duck Breast Canapes and Lobster and Scallop Shooters, along with entrees such as Creekstone Natural Prime Filet, Tomahawk Prime Rib, and Jail Island Salmon. Additionally, guests can relish displays of Chilled Seafood, Caviar, Cheese, and Charcuterie to complete their extraordinary dining experience.
For More information or to inquirer about an event, visit here.
Hours of operation: Tuesday through Saturday, 8am – 9pm, and Sunday, 8am – 3pm
1850 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2788 | Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
SIGNATURE OFFERINGS AS UNIQUE AS ONE’S LOVE STORY:
Old City District, America’s most historic square mile hosting a dynamic collection of retail, restaurants, services, and more, is hosting its 3rd Annual Old City Wedding Stroll on Wednesday, April 24, from 5pm – 8pm. This iconic district has become a hub for weddings, offering an impressive array of venues, services, custom attire, rings, flowers, and more. This year’s event will showcase over 35 businesses, providing opportunities for meet and greets, expert consultations, tastings, and open houses at top bridal boutiques and custom tailors throughout the city.
Registered attendees of the 3rd Annual Wedding Stroll are automatically entered to win a prize from Old City District, valued at nearly $4,000. The grand prize includes an Old City wedding gift basket filled with stellar items.
The event is free to attend, however, registration is required and can be completed online HERE.
231 Market Street, Philadelphia PA | (215) 592-7929 |www.oldcitydistrict.org
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Cake Life Bake Shop, Philadelphia’s award-winning small-batch artisanal bakery and all-day café, offers a curated selection of expertly crafted cakes perfect for any wedding. Partners planning a wedding (or anyone else interested in a flight of cakes) can order Tastings for Two ($50 to-go, $100 in store consultation and guided tasting), which includes six types of cake in wedding-size servings. During the tasting, partners can choose from a variety of decorative cake styles, including nude, semi-nude, smooth, rustic spiral, ribboned, and rustic vertical.
Available cake flavors:
- Strawberry Fields – Vanilla cake layered with mascarpone-vanilla bean whipped cream with strawberry compote, encased in vanilla buttercream
- Honey-Lavender – Vanilla cake infused with honey and lavender, layered with honey-goat cheese frosting
- Red Velvet – Moist, classic Red Velvet cake layered with tangy cream cheese frosting and encased in vanilla buttercream
- Vanilla Latte – Vanilla cake layered with espresso buttercream and finished in creamy vanilla buttercream
- Neapolitan – Chocolate cake layered with strawberry buttercream and finished in creamy vanilla buttercream
- Lemon-Berry – Lemon cake layered with raspberry buttercream and encased in vanilla buttercream
Wedding cakes are available in up to three tiers, and start at a minimum of $500. A deposit of 50% is required to hold the date (half is refundable up to eight weeks prior to the event), with the remaining balance due eight weeks before the event. Interested parties can email allison@cakelifebakeshop.com for more information.
Hours of operation: Wednesday through Saturday 8am – 9pm, Sunday 8am – 7pm
Cake Life Bake Shop | 1306 Frankford Ave | www.cakelifebakeshop.com | Instagram @cakelifebakeshop
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Dock Street Brewing Company, Philadelphia’s original craft brewery, woman-owned and family-run since 1985, boasts a unique packaged beer specifically brewed for weddings, with symbolic ingredients and label art. Dock Street’s Wedding Beer is the only packaged beer of its kinda in Philadelphia with ingredients symbolizing unity, purity (of heart), love, fertility, prosperity, and joy. The stunning label, featuring illustrations by artist Sarah Russell and designed by Johanna Roebas, features the elements found in the beer including orange blossom, honey, sage, and champagne yeast, as well as symbolic items like a birds nest representing a warm, safe and stable home life, a knot and an anchor, wheat shafts symbolizing wealth, luck and prosperity, and Eros, the Greek god of Love.
Cases can be reserved by emailing weddingbeer@dockstreetbeer.com.
Additionally, Dock Street offers customizable packages from a full brewery buyout for a wedding day celebration to bridal showers, rehearsal dinners, engagement parties, day-after brunches, and beyond at its Dock Street South and Dock Street Fishtown locations for groups of 10-150. Dock Street’s wedding packages are perfect for the nontraditional beer and pizza-loving couple looking for a relaxed, fun vibe. Those interested in learning more about private events at Dock Street or would like to submit an event request form, click here or reach out directly to Marianne DiCindo, Dock Street’s longtime event planner with over a decade of experience. She can be reached at marianne@dockstreetbeer.com.
Hours of operation for Dock Street South: Tuesday 11am – 9pm; Wednesday and Thursday 11am – 10pm; Friday 11am – 11pm; Saturday 10am-11pm; Sunday 10am – 9pm
www.dockstreetbeer.com | Instagram: @dockstreetbeer
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My Local Brew Works (MLBW), the world’s first custom craft brewery focused on special events and contract brewing, is raising a toast to wedding season by extending an opportunity to beer enthusiasts to brew a unique batch of beer on their special day with the Custom Craft Brewing package. The newly-engaged will have the ability to join Tim Montague and Wayne Humphrey, two award-winning local home brewers and founders of My Local Brew Works, as well as George Hummel, brewing mentor and grain master, in the brewery (located in the industrial-chic Globe Dye Works building), to brew their own fully personalized beer. From choosing the grain to designing the label, participants have full creative control of their custom craft beer and can be as hands-on or off as desired.
Depending on their taste, couples can select from a wide array of styles including Oatmeal Stouts, Amber Ales, Hazy IPAs, and more. They have the liberty to choose the hops, malt, yeast, and every aspect of their custom brew for the occasion. Alongside the exciting brewing process, My Local Brew Works will treat guests to delectable light bites from nearby restaurants. Additionally, attendees will be treated to a guided tour of the brewery facility, adding to the overall experience.
Pricing varies based on a number of factors including volume of beer brewed, fermentation time, and ingredients, but starts at $120 per person and includes a full brew day, beer tastings, food and a parting gift. Those interested in learning more about the custom brewing process and to reserve a brew day with My Local Brew Works may do so by emailing beer@mylocalbrewworks.com.
For more information on custom brewing, e-mails should be sent to beer@mylocalbrewworks.com.
www.mylocalbrewworks.com | 4500 Worth St, Philadelphia, PA 19124 | 215.888.0360 | Instagram • Facebook
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Couples looking for a fun and unique addition to any wedding reception can reserve a Churro Bike from El Merkury, Philadelphia’s home for scratch-made Central American street food spearheaded by award-winning restauranteur Sofia Deleon. The restaurant’s Churro Bike offers hot and fresh churros, served from a highly Instagrammable pedal-powered food cart. Spouses can customize their churros in any shapes, sizes, and colors – whether it’s the couple’s initials, or heart-shaped to celebrate love, the Churro Bike seamlessly fits into any wedding reception.
From intimate gatherings, to extravagant and luxurious receptions, El Merkury offers packages for every occasion, including the Base Churro Bike Rental, Piñata Packages, and more. For pricing and more information, interested parties can emailcatering@elmerkury.com or call (267) 457-5952.
Hours of operation:
Reading Terminal Market: Monday – Friday, 10am – 6pm, Sat- Sunday, 8am – 6pm
Flagship Chestnut Street: Monday – Saturday, 11am – 8pm
Rittenhouse: 2104 Chestnut St, Philadelphia PA | Reading Terminal Market: 51 N 12th St, Philadelphia PA | www.elmerkury.com | Instagram: @elmerkury
-Eleni Sterious