
Morris Arboretum
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaMorris Arboretum is the perfect garden setting for a truly memorable wedding in Philadelphia.
Imagine saying "I do" among towering trees and charming vistas. The grounds will be exclusively yours - all 92 acres of lush, romantic gardens, bubbling fountains, and historic features. Mother Nature provides the backdrop for a beautiful outdoor ceremony, an open-air cocktail hour and a tented reception at the Carriage House. We are also available for parties, meetings, and corporate events. Our extensive tree and plant collections ensure that the Morris Arboretum looks spectacular at any time of year, from the flowering magnolia and cherry trees in spring to breathtaking roses and wildflowers in summer. If you like cooler weather, our fall foliage can't be beaten and, in winter, our variety of witch-hazels, hollies, and large conifers really stand out in the cold.
Morris Arboretum is conveniently located in Philadelphia's historic Northwest, just four miles from the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Blue Route/I-476, and 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia. Morris Arboretum is a proud supporter of marriage equality.
Whether your party is small or large, your dream wedding is waiting for you at Morris Arboretum. Contact us today for more details or to schedule a visit.
Reviews
We had our wedding reception at the Morris Arboretum, and it was perfect! It is a gorgeous setting for photos and guests to explore. While there are restrictions on time (it is a functional public Arboretum, after all) we found them to be very reasonable. Wedding access for photos and guests begins at 4 PM, and you get the tent area from 6 PM to midnight. We had no problems loading/unloading equipment and our vendors were able to set up without a hitch. Since the Arboretum is in a residential zone, they do have limits on noise level. You can have a live band or DJ, as long as they adhere to some rules on amplification. Our DJ was able to work with these limits and pulled off an awesome night of dancing. Included in the rental are tables, chairs, a beautiful tent with ceiling fans and lights, full use of visitor center facilities (including a large changing room upstairs for the bridal party), space heaters, kitchen area for catering, and access to the entire garden for you and your guests. There's ample free parking and an Arboretum staff member onsite the entire time. We were thrilled with our experience at the Arboretum, and would definitely recommend it for anyone who wants something unique for their wedding. Anyone can rent a hall or ballroom - but your guests won't forget a night out under the stars, eating next to a canopy of trees, surrounded by the sights and smells of living, growing flowers and plants!
I recently got married at the Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful, outdoor/garden venue for their wedding. We did most of our pictures there, our ceremony on site on the lawn and the reception in their tent. The photos were stunning and their whole staff was great, very accomodating. Our caterer was Company's Coming and they were fantastic, too. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. A few things to consider: -We had perfect weather, which is where the MA really shines. If it rains, it dramatically changes the feel of the day, especially if you plan to do the ceremony on site. You have to be okay with this possibility when you book and have a backup plan for photos if you're planning to do them outside. I worked out an agreement with one of the hotels where we had a guest block to do indoor photos if needed. -Our guest count was 153, so we had 16 tables for a seated reception. In my opinion, I would not want to have a higher guest count given the space, feeling comfortable, and being able to have a dance floor outside the tiled classroom space in the carriage house. -The MA is a great venue for a DIY-type bride who is somewhat comfortable with wedding planning. It is not a "wedding factory" type of venue where you sign on the dotted line, pick a menu at a set price per head, and everything is done. You have to figure out things like which caterer to use out of their preferred ones, and who will pick up your leftover booze and any decorations you brought the day after the wedding (something I forgot!). The upside is that you can be creative, and not have a cookie cutter ballroom type wedding, which was so worth it to me.
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