The Powel House is an incredible wedding venue for anyone who loves the elegance of Old City and the charm of a garden party. J and L’s summer ceremony made the most of this beautiful space. Learn more about getting married about the Powel House and see the photos from their sweet celebration.

In this blog post:

• Getting Married at the Powel House
• A Historic Wedding Venue in Philly
• J and L’s Garden Wedding

Getting Married at the Powel House

Features of the Powel House

For a historic wedding venue in the heart of Old City, the Powel House has a surprising number of indoor and outdoor spaces available. Some of the highlights indoors include

• The beautiful wooden staircase and French blue walls in the hallway
• The dining room featuring a marble fireplace
• A sunny ballroom featuring carved Rococo style ceiling

You could easily have a small wedding indoors with a fully seated dinner in this elegant space.

Outside the Powel House has a stunning garden. It includes an arbor, azaleas, a stately redbud, and daffodils. There’s plenty of room for a tent if you’re hoping for an outdoor celebration like L and J’s. It’s great for creating a timeless garden party feeling.

Here are some quick facts about this Philly wedding venue.

Venue Type: Indoor/outdoor
Capacity: 100 guests for a cocktail-style reception, 75 for a seated reception
Wheelchair accessibility: Not wheelchair accessible

How much does it cost to get married at the Powel House?

As Philadelphia wedding venues go, the Powel House isn’t expensive. Here’s how pricing breaks down for a four-hour rental:

• $1,000 refundable security deposit (separate from your rental fee)
• Monday through Friday, and Sunday: $2,500 + $500 for each additional hour
• Saturday: $3,000 + $500 for each additional hour

If you do want to have your ceremony and reception at the Powel House, you’re required to pay for five hours of rental time, making the fee for a full Saturday wedding $3,500.

What’s included in the rental fee? And what’s not included?

The drawback to the low prices is that it doesn’t include much beyond the basics. Here’s what you do get covered in your rental fee:

• Access to indoor and outdoor spaces
• Two dressing rooms
• A coat check room
• The kitchen for food preparation

In addition to these items, you’ll need to rent a tent (for outdoor weddings over 40 people) and obtain catering and bar services through the venue’s exclusive vendor list.

The Powel House doesn’t allow amplified music or DJs. This is the perfect opportunity to hire an elegant string quartet that adds to the venue’s ambiance.

A Historic Wedding Venue in Philly

History of the Powel House

The Powel House is more than a wedding venue. For architecture lovers, it’s a bit of an icon. Built in 1765, this brick home is considered one of the best-preserved examples of Georgian architecture in the U.S.

Named for its first occupant, Samuel Powel, it includes elaborate details created by the city’s leading craftsman in the late eighteenth century. As one of the richest families in Philadelphia at the time of America’s founding, the Powels hosted notable figures such as George Washington and John Adams.

Eventually, the Powel House became part of the industrialization that overtook Old City in the late nineteenth century. In the 1930s, PhilaLandmark purchased the property, saving it from demolition. The organization then hired an architect to restore the house to its appearance at the time of the Powel family’s residence. 

Now the Powel House is a dream wedding venue for any Philly history nerd. As you can see from these photos, it’s a gem inside and out.

More Philly Wedding Venues Like the Powel House

Philly is full of amazing historic wedding venues like the Powel House, in Old City and beyond. Each has unique features that could make it perfect for your celebration. 

If you like the Powel House, check out these blog posts, too.

• Hill Physick House
• Mutter Museum Wedding
• Wyck House Wedding

J and L’s Garden Wedding

J and L’s Powel House wedding was amazing. They made the most of all the beautiful spaces the venue has to offer. The weather also couldn’t have been better for an afternoon in the garden. 

After some portraits and candid moments (including the sweetest first look!) inside the house, we headed to the garden for the ceremony and reception. As incredible as J and L’s decor and florals were, their community really made the day magical.

Are you looking for a wedding photographer? Hi, I’m Heather! I’m a Philly wedding photographer specializing in documentary photos of nontraditional celebrations. I’d love to tell your story with photos that feel true to you. Inquire with me!