A bride and groom hold hands during a wedding ceremony at Grounds for Sculpture.

Colorful Grounds for Sculpture Wedding with Whimsical Decor

Weddings

November 1, 2025

Having a Grounds for Sculpture wedding is the perfect way to make your celebration unforgettable. It’s perfect for creative marriers who want to turn their day into a whimsical, one-of-a-kind experience. I photographed Julia and Mitch’s Grounds for Sculpture wedding on a mix of film and digital. These photos show how they embraced the artistic nature of the venue to design an authentic, memorable day.

A bride and groom walk their recessional.

In this post:

A Grounds for Sculpture Wedding

Planning a Grounds for Sculpture wedding opens up so many possibilities. The property includes 42 acres of gardens with over 250 sculptures throughout. Several buildings include art exhibits in glass-walled galleries. 

A woman carries a wedding dress.
A bride and bridesmaids react to florals arriving.
A groom rides a trolley with his groomsmen.

Getting Ready: This venue has one getting ready suite. It’s large enough to accommodate one partner and their wedding party members. If you decide to get ready together, you might consider having fewer people in there with you, especially if you’re getting photo coverage for that part of the day.

A bride and groom hug during a private first look.
A large bust sits beside a lake at Grounds for Sculpture.
A bride and groom smile at each other in front of a sculpture before their Grounds for Sculpture wedding.

Ceremony: A ceremony for a Grounds for Sculpture wedding typically takes place outdoors on a platform in front of Carlos Dorrien’s “Nine Muses” sculpture. Trees and wide open sky behind and a reflecting pool in front make you feel like you’re in a world created just for this moment. It’s honestly unlike anything I’ve seen elsewhere.

A bride holds a bouquet and laughs in a sunny room before a Grounds for Sculpture wedding.
A bride and groom pose in front of a doorway leading to a sculpture garden.
A groom puts his arm around a bride's waist.

Reception: The West Gallery, East Gallery, and Domestic Arts tent all offer unique spaces for receptions. With the tent, you get a pretty typical wedding tent experience. With the East Gallery and West Gallery, you feel more like you’re in an upscale restaurant. The colorful spaces incorporate sculptures and cool lighting.

A bride and groom pose with their wedding party dressed in colorful clothes.
A groom hugs a bridesmaid under an arch.
A bride chats with her wedding party.

Here are some quick facts to help you plan your Grounds for Sculpture wedding.

  • Location: Hamilton Township, New Jersey
  • Venue type: Indoor/outdoor
  • Capacity: 300 guests
  • Starting cost: Rental fees range from $2,000-$7,500 depending on the season
A bride's father walks her to her ceremony.
Wedding guests watch a ceremony at a Grounds for Sculpture wedding.
A bride and groom listen to a speech during a Grounds for Sculpture wedding ceremony.

Grounds for Sculpture is located in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. It’s a bit under an hour northeast of Center City Philadelphia. Philly marriers looking for a creative venue option will find the drive past Trenton well worth it. There are lots of hotels nearby if you don’t want to drive all the way back to the city after your reception. 

A bride and groom hold hands while a groomsmen does a reading.
Family members laugh during a wedding ceremony.
A bride and groom kiss at the end of their wedding ceremony.

A Whimsical Wedding Day

I’m so excited that I got to document Julia and Mitch’s Grounds for Sculpture wedding. They fully embraced the colorful, creative atmosphere of the venue. Their decor even took it up a few more notches.

A bride and groom walk away from their ceremony in a film wedding photo.
A bride and groom pose beside a metal sculpture at their Grounds for Sculpture wedding.
A bride and groom stand beside a reflecting pool.

This venue has color everywhere. Some people might be tempted to stick to neutral colors with their wedding decor. Julia and Mitch went the opposite direction. Each of Julia’s bridesmaids wore a different colored dress. I loved the effect during the ceremony with the rainbow of ribbons behind Julia and Mitch. 

A bride and groom pose in the middle of a bridge at their Grounds for Sculpture wedding.
Wedding guests gather for cocktail hour on a patio.
Flowers and blue glasses decorate a reception table.

My favorite thing about this vibrant Grounds for Sculpture wedding is that I could tell it was an authentic expression of Julia and Mitch. They seemed right at home amid the jewel tones, lush florals, and cool glassware. Their wedding was all the more fun and meaningful because it reflected their personalities.

A bride and groom share their first dance.
A groom twirls a bride.
Wedding guests watch a bride and groom's first dance.

Would you like to see more weddings at artistic venues like this one? Check out these blog posts:

A bride and groom hold hands while they listen to a toast.
Flowers decorate a tiered wedding cake at a Grounds for Sculpture wedding.
Wedding guests raise their glasses for a toast.

Creative Wedding Photos

You literally never run out of great places to take photos at a Grounds for Sculpture wedding. Between the outdoor sculptures, winding garden paths, reflecting pools, and art installations, every spot is a photo opportunity. I can’t wait to photograph another wedding at this venue!

A groom dances with his mother.
A bride dances with her father.
A bride laughs while she talks to a guest.

At Julia and Mitch’s wedding, we took a good mix of photos indoors and outdoors. It gives you the sense that no matter what the season or weather, you’ll end up with a great experience and beautiful photos if you get married at Grounds for Sculpture. 

A bride and groom stand at the edge of the dance floor.
A bride and groom laugh while they dance.
A bride and groom dance at their reception.

Would you like me to photograph your wedding? I’m Heather, a Philly wedding photographer. I live turning candid moments into artistic photos. Reach out to me here!

Thank you to these Philly wedding vendors for making this day so memorable.
Venue: Grounds for Sculpture
Coordination and Signage: Philly DIY Wedding
Photography: Heather McBride Photography
Videography: EE Visuals
Catering: Constellation
Desserts: Dream World Bakes
DJ: Luv’d UP DJs
Florals: Walter Pine Studio
Live Music: Midnighters Band

LOOKING FOR A PHILLY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?

I’m your friendly neighborhood photographer here to capture all your intimate moments! Whether you're planning an elopement, family session, or lifestyle photoshoot, I would love to work with you! Check out my services for more information.

WORK WITH ME

INTIMATE PHILLY WEDDINGS