Irwin’s Philly is an incredible restaurant wedding venue for anyone who wants their wedding to feel like the best dinner party ever. From the epic view of the skyline to the delicious food, it’s a great place to celebrate your wedding. K and M’s windswept wedding went off seamlessly despite an unexpected storm.
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Irwin’s Philly has a cool aesthetic. It’s located in the BOK Building, a former vocational school. Inside, the restaurant is decorated with simple, modern finishes layered over a lot of the original building materials. You get a sense of the building’s history when you sit in the dining room.


As fun as the interior is, marriers love the rooftop most of all. You can get married with the Philly skyline in the background. Irwin’s puts out the fun multicolored chairs that are used for dining later. You can see in these photos how the bright colors of the chairs, flowers, and chuppah really pop against the neutral backdrop.


Irwin’s specializes in Sicilian cuisine. Everything they serve is fresh and colorful. Think heirloom tomato salad, bucatini, and whole fish. It’s easy to turn a wedding reception into a decadent dinner party.


Depending on the day and season you choose, the food and beverage minimum for a wedding at Irwin’s is around $30,000. This gets you a buyout, so the whole restaurant and rooftop will be available for your wedding.


Irwin’s Philly is located in the BOK Building. This isn’t your typical industrial space-turned-wedding venue. BOK was built in the 1930s as a vocational high school, and it operated as such for about 80 years before the district closed and auctioned off the building.


Now BOK serves as a makerspace. It houses artists, businesses, and nonprofits. The former gym and auditorium operate as gathering spaces for community events. With the lockers still lining the halls, the building has an interesting mix of history and youthful energy. It’s definitely a memorable wedding venue.


If you want to get married at BOK, there are multiple spaces available in addition to Irwin’s.

The Gym
The gym is a brightly-lit space complete with hardwood floors, brick walls, and basketball hoops. You can transform this space in so many ways, especially with cool florals and installations.


The Auditorium
For theater lovers, the auditorium offers a beautiful location for ceremonies. The blue curtain and architectural details make an amazing backdrop with minimal decor.


The Rooftop
Regardless of whether you get married at Irwin’s, you can have a rooftop ceremony with the Philadelphia skyline in the background.


When I say that K and M had a windswept wedding, I mean it. We were able to do portraits and a sunny ceremony on the rooftop. Before the reception started, though, a big storm blew in.


Luckily, the staff at Irwin’s stayed flexible and seamlessly moved dinner inside. When you’re picking out a wedding venue, it’s always good to ask what backup plans are for bad weather. It will take a weight off your mind knowing that your venue can handle whatever comes your way.


I loved being part of K and M’s wedding day. Between them, they have five preteens and teens, who were all a part of the wedding. This blended family brought so much love to the celebration! I’m so glad I could document it all.



Most of the photos featured in this blog post are documentary wedding photos, and I specialize in this style. While I make sure to take the posed photos people want to hang on their walls, I tell the story in between those posed moments.



I live for the images of misty-eyed laughs and excited hugs. I want you to look at your gallery and remember the moment the wind came out of nowhere and whipped up everyone’s hair during your ceremony or the quiet moment you shared with an elderly family member before the party got too rowdy. Those are the moments that give your wedding story depth.


Would you like me to tell your story with documentary wedding photos? I’d love to photograph your day! Inquire with me.
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.
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At Heather McBride Photography, I welcome clients of all gender identities, sexualities, races, cultures, religions, bodies, and abilities. Your love deserves to be celebrated with joyful photos.
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