Jae Heydet-Sosa

It is human nature to seek out bodies of water. Millions of people flock to lakes, rivers, and go down the shore for vacations every year. It’s no surprise that couples are drawn to waterfront venues for their wedding day. The water is calming, romantic, and often nostalgic.

Destination weddings to tropical lands and heading to sunny beaches along the Jersey shore are often the first thought to host a waterfront wedding, but hosting a destination wedding can be difficult to accommodate guests at times. If waterfront is a must-have for your wedding, don’t fret! There are some incredible venues right in the Philadelphia area with spectacular waterfront views.

Water Works by Cescaphe

This incredible venue provides a rich contemporary environment to host any wedding event. One of a kind views featuring the Philadelphia Art Museum perched perfectly atop Boathouse Row lining the Schuylkill River, beautiful walkways, and a stunning vintage gazebo will make your day picture perfect. With three dedicated spaces to hold ceremonies at Water Works, there are many options to make your wedding event uniquely you. The Engine House, which holds up to 140 guests, has an old world Philadelphia appeal. The Grand Pavilion provides 180-degree views of Philadelphia outdoors and holds up to 180 guests. The Mill House can hold up to 400 guests for the most grand affairs.

Moshulu

Located on Penn’s Landing, The Deck at Moshulu offers dining, drinking, and special events aboard the only restaurant on a tall ship in the world. Spectacular views of the river, city skyline, and Ben Franklin Bridge are all visible from the deck. Their multi-level decks offer three open air decks, two year-round heated tented decks, and seven dining rooms, including the newly remodeled State Room. Seating up to 200 guests, this venue is a beautiful option for any waterfront wedding.

Glen Foerd on the Delaware

Just 20 minutes from downtown Philadelphia, your guests will enjoy the unforgettable and historic Glen Foerd. Their fully-customizable Riverside Pavilion can seat up to 300 guests, and you’ll have full access to the mansion and gardens that reside on the 18-acre estate. A second floor bridal suite in the mansion overlooks the river, and the soft, natural light makes it perfect for bridal portraits. Glen Foerd’s exclusive caterer, Jamie Hollander Catering Events, will work tirelessly to create delicious meals for your guests.

Lambertville Station | Riverside Ballroom

Just after crossing the bridge from New Hope into New Jersey, you will arrive at the Lambertville Station. Seating up to 200 guests, the Riverside Ballroom offers floor-to-ceiling windows with gorgeous views of the Delaware River. Their outdoor terrace is perfect for portraits and guest mingling, with a stunning backdrop of the New Hope-Lambertville bridge and the towpaths.

River House at Odette’s

Debuting in Spring 2020, the River House at Odette’s is the sister venue to the Reeds at Shelter Haven. This all-new luxury lifestyle hotel will be located in New Hope along the Delaware River banks. Its rustic-contemporary style will feature reclaimed materials, soft textures, and a serene color palette. Equipped with 34 well-appointed guest rooms and suites and event seating of up to 200 guests, this hotel will be the perfect location for a waterfront getaway wedding – only 1 hour from Philadelphia!

Hilton Penn’s Landing

Guests won’t need to travel far if you choose to get married at this waterfront 4-star hotel. Hilton Penn’s Landing‘s spacious venue can hold up to 500 guests with a huge menu to appease even the pickiest of eaters. This is the only waterfront hotel in Philadelphia and is conveniently close to Spruce Street Harbor park, so the gorgeous views don’t just stop at the water.

Pen Ryn Estate

Just a skip and hop outside of the Philadelphia city limits in Bensalem, Pen Ryn Estate is downright beautiful. Couples can tie the knot at the perfectly placed pergola that faces the Delaware River. Inside the mansion, your guests will find a library, gallery, dining room, a parlor with a grand piano, and antique decor. You will forget that you are close by to one of the biggest cities in the United States on this 100-acre property, especially while entering through the gorgeous and stately 200-foot tree lined entrance to the estate.

Belle Voir Manor

Sharing the Pen Ryn Estate is their sister venue, Belle Voir Manor. Though they share the grounds and spectacular views, Pen Ryn and Belle Voir are separated by landscaped lawns and gardens. Their 22-foot ceilings, grand staircase, twinkling chandeliers, and breathtaking river views will leave your guests as swoony as you are.

Did you choose to get married at one of these incredible Philadelphia-area waterfront venues? If so, contact us! We would love to hear all about it.

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Finding a great wedding venue to set the stage where your marriage vows will be recited can be an overwhelming task. Philadelphia is filled with some incredible venues where couples choose to get married every year. We’ve done the legwork for you and highlighted some of the best venues that Philadelphia has to offer in our Wedding Venue Spotlight. This month, we’re featuring The Loews Philadelphia Hotel.

The Loews Philadelphia Hotel is one of Philadelphia’s top hotels that also offer event spaces. With a convenient location on Market Street in Philadelphia and only a short 20 minute ride from Philadelphia International Airport, guests from near and far will have stress-free travel to this beautiful venue. This beautiful and unique location can accommodate virtually any type of wedding celebration with an incredible 22 event spaces available within the hotel. A single event space can hold up to 1,500 guests!

Guests will be blown away by the outstanding Millennium Ballroom. “The Millennium Ballroom is very impressive, especially when the giant blinds are opened to reveal a view of the surrounding buildings, particularly at night,” says EBE’s Director of Business Development, Joe Napoli. The beautiful Regency Ballroom is nearly 2,000 square feet and can accommodate 1,000 guests. Known as the crown jewel of the hotel, The 33rd Floor features direct access to The Terrace from the two interior event spaces.

A customized menu will be crafted to the request of the soon-to-be-married couple by the amazing catering team at the Loews. “Amanda Congar (Director of Catering) and her team are top notch and will take very good care of you,” says Joe. The wedding reception packages also include a beautiful custom designed 3-tier wedding cake. 

The Loews Philadelphia Hotel has 581 guest rooms which are available for your guests to take advantage of during the wedding event celebrations. Discounted room blocks are available and the hotel will even set up a personalized website where guests can book rooms directly!

Ready to relax? Your bridal party and guests can enjoy the wonderful amenities the hotel offers during the stage, such as the outstanding spa. Joe suggests, “Take advantage of how close the hotel is to everything – you can step right out front with your photographer to get shots in front of City Hall. Also, take advantage of the convenience of their restaurant, Bank & Bourbon.”

Did you host your wedding at The Loews Philadelphia Hotel? If so, contact us! We would love to hear all about it.

Want to learn more about our EBE Team Members? Vendors We Love? New Products?

Finding a great venue for each step of your wedding weekend can be an overwhelming task. Philadelphia is filled with some incredible venues where couples choose to get married every year. We’ve done the legwork for you and highlighted some of the best venues that Philadelphia has to offer in our EBE Venue Spotlight. This month, we’re featuring Branzino.

Branzino originally opened in October 2003, and was one of Philadelphia’s best Italian restaurants for almost 13 years. Unfortunately, they were affected by a tragic fire in July 2016, which forced them to shut down and start over. Much to our excitement, Branzino has reopened this year and has truly lived up to their previous notoriety!

Branzino is located on 17th Street between Locust and Spruce in Rittenhouse, Philadelphia. The menu consists of a mouth-watering assortment Italian dishes, including their namesake – a Branzino entree with roasted asparagus and lemon caper butter. Operating as a BYOB restaurant, guests are able (and encouraged!) to bring their own wine and beer for dining and private events.

The owners of Branzino are married couple – Dori and Luan. Luan is the head chef, and has decades of experience creating exquisite Italian dishes. Each morning, Chef Luan and his team churn out handmade pasta, bread, and desserts for service. They also use only fresh seafood and homegrown micro greens, and locally obtain as much of their ingredients as possible.

The restaurant features three beautiful spaces to hold private events. Events may utilize the entire restaurant and outdoor space, or just one area.

• A small, intimate dining room, which seats approximately 35 guests. This space is located in the front of the restaurant and has large windows that open when the weather is nice. This space alone is ideal for small rehearsal dinners.
• A large dining room in the back, which seats approximately 110-115 guests. This room can also be closed off in the middle with curtains for a smaller group, up to 55-60 guests.
• Their hidden gem, The Garden, has a vibe that is hard to find in Philadelphia. This secluded and romantic space is set behind the restaurant, and can seat up to 40 guests.

When asking EBE’s Director of Business of Development, Joe Napoli, about Branzino, he told us “It’s very popular for rehearsal dinners! They also have a really pretty courtyard in the back for a private dinner or event, or could even be used for a wedding ceremony. Chef Luan has many years of experience, and wants to get the word out that they have opened back up for business and are available for events. It’s also super close to many wedding venues and hotels, so it’s perfect for a rehearsal dinner or stand-alone wedding.”

Did you host your event at Branzino? If so, contact us! We would love to hear all about it.

Want to learn more about our EBE Team Members? Vendors We Love? New Products?