You got engaged. YAY!!!! Now what? Choosing a wedding venue is one of the first (if not THE first) step in planning a traditional wedding. Booking a venue gives you a wedding date, and that’s what you use to plan everything else. There are SO many Philadelphia wedding venues to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

Enter: The top 13 European, garden-style wedding venues near Philadelphia!

I created this guide to help you narrow your list in process of choosing a location to say “I do”. This is by no means an end-all guide but rather a starting point — a launching pad, if you will — to finding the perfect venue for your one-of-a-kind love story (in no particular order). Because the only thing you should be obsessing over right now is the fact that you’re about to marry your very best friend 🙂

Philadelphia Wedding Venues

Winterthur

This is the most magical, fairytale, woodland, luscious, mansion, smooth architecture venue I’ve photographed at!! Winterthur has massive grounds and is open to the public, but your wedding is guaranteed to be private and stunningly beautiful.

White Chimneys Estate

White Chimneys is one of my absolute favorites because it brings a bit of American countryside to the European garden vibe!! The ceremony takes place under white marble pillars and next to two lush gardens. The reception, however, is in a beautiful barn!

Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard

At what other venue are you surrounded by beautiful plants … and have the potential to bring them home with you?! Terrain Gardens is not only a gorgeous wedding venue but also serves as a cafe and a garden shop where you can purchase flowers and plants. The indoor reception hall has massive ceilings with skylights & hanging florals, making it a beautiful pairing to the outdoor ceremony space!

Fairmount Horticulture Center

Do you picture yourself getting married inside a greenhouse? Look no further – Fairmount Horticulture Center is your place. When it gets dark the twinkle lights come on and turn the gorgeous garden scene into a magical nighttime fairyland.

Parque at Ridley Creek

A stone-walled mansion. A romantic, garden ceremony. A quiet forest enveloping the scene. Parque at Ridley Creek State Park is a dreamy venue for the hopelessly romantic and elegant-inclined.

Cairnwood Estate

Cairnwood Estate is a super romantic & elegant wedding venue with Gilded Age architecture and beautiful landscaped gardens. They only host one wedding reception on a given day so you have the staff’s full, undivided attention!!

Tyler Gardens

I’ll let the quote on their website speak for itself: “Tyler Gardens are reminiscent of a golden age of elegance with fairy tale charm.” The landscape features lush gardens, dramatic stone staircases, fountains, sculptures and manicured lawns.

Greenville Country Club

While technically closer Wilmington, Delaware, Greenville Country Club is gorgeous enough to be considered by Philadelphians far and wide. The ceremony sits right in the middle of a beautifully landscaped garden with a stone tea room at the back and a gorgeous brick rotunda in the front. The inside of the country club is reminiscent of a century-old mansion and even has markings from a family who lived there in the early 1900s!

Highlands Mansion and Gardens

This elegant, Georgian-style mansion built in 1796 is a gorgeous place to host an intimate wedding and reception. With ivy-covered stone walls, mystical ponds and spacious ceilings inside the mansion, the word “elegant” comes to life at Highlands Mansion.

Glen Foerd Mansion

Last but most certainly not least, Glen Foerd Mansion is a hidden gem in Northeast Philadelphia. It sits right on the Delaware river and boasts beautiful indoor AND outdoor spaces. The mansion itself is full of history and preserved artwork, while the outside features scenic overlooks and plenty of space for a large tent reception.

Inn at Barley Sheaf

The Inn at Barley Sheaf is another Americanized, European-style venue. There’s over 100 acres of preserved farmland and forest, luscious gardens and a rustic reception hall. They offer both indoor and outdoor ceremony options which is a great option for the rainy summer months!!

Morris Arboretum

Located at the northernmost end of the Wissahickon, Morris Arboretum is filled with landscaped gardens and gorgeous architecture … not to mention plenty of twinkle lights! Check out this engagement session at Morris Arboretum in the summer of 2022.

Portico at Awbury Arboretum

At Portico, you can host an outdoor ceremony surrounded by the nature of Awbury Arboretum. With lush forests and enchanting stone walls, this is a beautiful place to get married! Additionally, you can host your cocktail hour and reception in the Francis Cope House, a mansion onsite.