Hi cuties! This week’s wedding topic is the VENUE… arguably the hardest part (in my opinion). This is where my wedding planning stress first started because we were looking for something very specific…
We knew we wanted to get married indoors because spending the next year being worried about the possibility of rain and wind was a no-go so we excitedly began our search for a location inside. We also wanted to try to have our ceremony and reception at the same place so we didn’t have to worry about transportation between the two spots. That, in addition to trying to find local, bohemian venues that had weekend availability for Fall 2020, proved to be a tough search!
One tip I have for finding the perfect venue is finalizing your guest list before really diving into your search. I’ll be doing a separate blog post on how to tackle the guest list but knowing the approximate size of your wedding is a must before booking your venue.
Here are my favorite venues I found in my search! All are accessible from the Maryland/Delaware/Pennsylvania area and all fit the bohemian, romantic look we were going for so if you’re looking for the same, keep reading!
TERRAIN (Devon, PA and Glen Mills, PA): Terrain is the very first venue I looked into after getting engaged. I’m obsessed with the aesthetic of all the companies under the URBN brand (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, BHLDN, Free People) and Terrain is a part of that! They have a couple different locations in Pennsylvania so I looked at the Devon location and the Glen Mills location. The Glen Mills location was more suited for the smaller size our wedding will be but both were absolutely beautiful! I will share that for smaller weddings (they call them micro-weddings), you will most likely have to get married during a weekday (Monday-Thursday) if you want to go with this venue.
MAAS BUILDING (Philadelphia, PA): This one was a surprise find! I wasn’t initially considering venues in the city just because of trying to keep the commute as easy as possible for guests but this one caught my eye. It looks like a normal city building with street parking on the outside but when you go in, it transforms into a beautiful enchanted garden! It has a weather-proof canopy so even though the ceremony spot is outside, it’s still covered in case of rain, and has a cute newlywed suite included!
HORTULUS FARM (Wrightstown, PA): If you’re a greenhouse lover, this is totally the place for you! They have plants, plants, and more plants and it’s an absolute greenery dream. A location like this is awesome if florals are what you’re going for in terms of decorations because they’re already there! They only do a few weddings a year though so if you have your eye on this place, you should book fast!
HISTORIC SHADY LANE (Manchester, PA): Historic Shady Lane is amazing! It’s set on 34 acres of land so they have tons of different ceremony location options. Outside, inside, whatever you want – they have it! Their indoor location is actually an old greenhouse and it’s MAGICAL. They have separate spots on the property where the bride and groom can get ready and the photo opportunities are endless. Once we found this place, it quickly rose to the top of our list!
EXCELSIOR (Lancaster, PA): Excelsior was definitely one of my favorites. Indoor with lots of character – tall ceilings, walls with old chipped paint, grand staircases – I fell in love! They have a very vintage, romantic feel and it really fit was I was going after. Like I’ll say for some of the others, this location has great natural light and I think that really makes a difference!
VAUGHN HOUSE GREENHOUSE (Forest, VA): This is the first venue I found in Virginia and I was DYING over it. It’s a beautiful, brand new greenhouse set smack dab in the middle of nature and it’s absolutely perfect for elopements or small weddings (or even to rent out for a photo shoot!) – it’s a very intimate setting. The ceremony location can only fit about 20 guests or so but if that’s the size of your wedding, this is the perfect spot for you!
READING ART WORKS (Reading, PA): This one is a gem! It has a hint of industrial, a hint of bohemian, a hint of rustic – everything! It’s really able to take the shape of whatever your vibe is. And it has lots of natural light, which is something that I was looking for. The location is pretty good, too, if you have guests coming from Maryland or Delaware!
PARQUE (Newtown Square, PA): This one is sooo elegant! Parque is a stone mansion and the grounds are incredible. They have a few different outdoor options for the ceremony because they have extensive gardens and a reflecting pond but with this one, you would probably have to get a big tent just in case it rains, if you’re paranoid like me!
GOLDSTONE INN (Middleburg, VA): Okay, guys – this setting is so unique! The ceremony location is outdoors but I was willing to look past it because it was so cool. The backdrop is a huge ivy wall and it couldn’t be more perfect. Such a beautiful spot for an event!
THE FAIRMONT PARK HORTICULTURE CENTER (Philadelphia, PA): This is another city venue and I have to say, it’s pretty epic. Imagine a huge, tall greenhouse with a minimal vibe but lots of greenery… that’s this place! Lots of open space to accommodate weddings of varying sizes and very, very pretty for photos.
SUPPLY (Manheim, PA): Supply is really a blank canvas. It’s an industrial building with lots of open, white rooms which is awesome if you want the option of designing your event from scratch. You can really curate every detail of your day because you would be adding the character in with your decorations and all that. Very cool and minimal!
Did you see any you liked? I sure did! Going through this wedding series, I won’t be sharing which one we ended up choosing until after we get married. Afterwards, I’ll do a big post sharing all the details about our special day but until then, it’ll be a secret! Which venue do you think we ended up booking?
