Small wedding venues in Philadelphia are in higher demand than ever. The city has a wide variety of spaces that run from casual, colorful restaurants to historic homes with formal gardens. You can find the right space to create whatever experience you want. These 10 small wedding venues in Philadelphia are a few of my favorites!

10 Small Wedding Venues in Philadelphia

1. Vaux Studio

Vaux Studio is an elegant and elevated venue that accommodates small weddings of up to 25 guests. Centrally located in Center City, Vaux Studio is near plenty of landmarks for pre-ceremony portraits. Once inside, you’ll be struck by the quiet beauty of the space. Vaux Studio’s interiors include airy white walls and window treatments, black and white tile, and a marble fireplace. The floor-to-ceiling windows in the ceremony room allow in plenty of natural light onto the natural wood arbor. Vaux Studio’s packages include everything from a getting ready suite to an on-site officiant – everything you need for a simple, sophisticated intimate wedding. 

2. Maas Building

The Maas Building is a wedding venue that combines Philadelphia’s historical charm with quirkiness and approachability. The building has been everything from a brewery to a trolley car repair shop. Now when it’s not serving as a small wedding venue, the Maas Building is an arts center. The result is a mix of spaces, including bright outdoor murals and a brick courtyard lined with trees and twinkling lights. The Maas Building is a great small wedding venue for couples who want to combine whimsy and warmth in their ceremony and reception.

3. Martha

Known for its delicious food, Martha will please any couple who wants a good meal to be the focus of their reception. Martha is a restaurant located in Kensington. It has a cheerful courtyard that’s perfect for an intimate wedding focused on friends, family, and food. Trees line the courtyard, and the vibrant decor lends easy inspiration for florals. Sarah and Ben embraced the bold colors down to their ketubah. Martha’s vibes are funky, fun, and casual.

4. Osteria

Do you want to get married in a small wedding venue in Philadelphia that looks like an elegant greenhouse? Osteria’s porch, which seats 65, is glass-enclosed. Vining plants hang around the porch from which you can also see Osteria’s gardens and the stained glass windows of the church right next door. It’s like having an intimate garden wedding without worrying about the weather. On top of the lush greenery, a few floral arrangements make the space feel extra festive. Oteria’s event space allows you to easily move from ceremony to reception in one spot. 

5. Awbury Arboretum

Awbury Arboretum is a unique small wedding venue in Philadelphia that combines bold art with natural beauty. The grounds are a sprawling 55 acres with a historic home and permanent wedding tent. Hosting weddings helps fund the Awbury Arboretum Association’s mission to provide the community with free admission to the grounds year-round. The beautifully furnished home and gardens make it hard to believe that you’re still in the city. Blossoming trees and flower-lined paths create downright magical backdrops for portraits and ceremonies.  

6. Powel House

For all those fans of Bridgerton, the Powel House is one of the best examples of Georgian architecture in Philadelphia. The original owners wined and dined America’s founders beneath crystal chandeliers. Today, as a small wedding venue, Powel House celebrates this history in its furnishings and gardens. History feels very much alive in the classy, classic Philadelphia wedding venue.

7. Sculpture Courtyard

The Sculpture Courtyard is another small wedding venue in Philadelphia that celebrates the historic character of its neighborhood while incorporating plant life and pops of color. In the interior, exposed brick and warm natural wood ceiling beams create an airy feeling. The indoor space opens up to the gardens, which feature an intimate ceremony space. The gardens of the Sculpture Courtyard will be fun for guests to explore during cocktail hour and beautiful for photos.

8. The Deacon

The Deacon is a boutique hotel within walking distance of Rittenhouse Square. Sweeping arches, stained glass windows, and walls painted pink, green, and blue make for a modern interior that nods to the building’s past as a church. Since it’s a boutique hotel, The Deacon can house a couple and their guests to make a long weekend of an intimate wedding. The spacious main room is a great ceremony space with room for dancing at the reception.

9. Hill-Physick House

The Hill-Physick House is a historic home in Society Hill, a neighborhood famous for its colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. This small wedding venue can accommodate up to 50 guests for a seated reception or 75 for a cocktail reception. Floor-to-ceiling windows illuminate gilded mirrors, elaborate wallpaper, and colonial furniture. The formality of the interior is lightened by the charm of the garden. Shade trees and flowering shrubs create a cool escape in the Hill-Physick House garden, so indoor or outdoor ceremonies and receptions are possible.

10. Morris House Hotel

The Morris House Hotel is another boutique hotel that embraces sophistication and classic style. Built in the 1780’s, generations of Philadelphia’s famous Morris family lived there, and the hotel embraces the history with colonial decor in warm colors. The hotel also honors the Morris family’s love of plants with a lovely garden that includes a picturesque arbor. Even in the autumn, as leaves are falling, the garden is perfect for a small ceremony. The Morris House Hotel’s Wedding Suite includes a spiral staircase and balcony that overlooks the garden.  

Want to see more small wedding venues in Philadelphia? Check out this Vaux Studio wedding and this Awbury Arboretum wedding.