8 Small Wedding Venues in Philadelphia

November 5, 2022

Finding your wedding venue is the first step in having the wedding that you really want. Just like any other aspect of your wedding, you want it to reflect you and your priorities. Philadelphia has so many unique and modern small wedding venues to choose from. Find inspiration in this roundup of my favorite small wedding venues in Philadelphia.

A bride walks down the black and white checkered staircase at Vaux Studio.

8 Small Wedding Venues in Philadelphia

From restaurants to intimate event venues, you’re sure to find a space you love.

A couple kisses on the rooftop of a Philadelphia wedding venue with the skyline behind them.

1. Irwin’s

Irwin’s is a rooftop restaurant in the BOK Building. Developers transformed this former school into artists’ studios with a bar and restaurant overlooking the skyline. There are diverse spots for portraits, including the former auditorium and rooftop. As far as small wedding venues in Philadelphia go, this has one of the best views and some incredible food to go along with it.

A bride and groom stand in the hallway of the BOK Building.

A couple gets married under a chuppah at Irwin's, one of the small wedding venues in Philadelphia.

Gillian and Bradie lean against a white wall.

Irwin’s was just the right setting for Bradie and Gillian’s non-traditional celebration. You can see more, including nostalgic film photography, from this wedding at Irwin’s here.

A chef grates cheese over a dish at an Irwin's wedding.

A bride and groom kiss while their guests dance on the rooftop at Irwin's.

2. Martha

Martha is a restaurant in Kensington. It’s known for its colorful patio and fun cocktails. A Martha wedding feels like an elevated backyard affair. Its multicolored furniture and strings of lights create a sense of warmth and welcome.

If you’re interested in small wedding venues in Philadelphia that feel relaxed, Martha is your place. A reception here feels like a cozy dinner party. Guests can enjoy the sunshine on the patio and wander between tables.

3. Suraya

A Suraya wedding is the perfect balance of intimacy, artistry, and comfort. The tiled courtyard and blue-and-white dining area create a distinct Mediterranean atmosphere. You can have an outdoor ceremony in front of the mural. Lush florals on the wooden arch add to the coastal European ambiance.

A wedding cocktail hour begins in the Suraya courtyard.

A bride and groom walk through a Philadelphia courtyard towards their reception.

A bride stands against a white wall in a small wedding venue in Philadelphia.

A wedding couple casts shadows from the doorway of Suraya on their way to their dinner reception.

The small but sunny dining room is perfect for a luxurious dinner reception. You’ll feel right at home sipping wine and eating labne with fresh pita while you connect with the people you love most.

Suraya's dining room is set with two long tables for the wedding reception.

A colorful wedding bouquet decorates a reception table.

A slice of wedding cake sits beside a floral-decorated cake.

Wedding guests enjoy dinner by candle light at Suraya.

4. Morris House Hotel

Morris House Hotel is a boutique hotel in Old City. It has all the charm of colonial architecture with a brick courtyard that matches the building. The interiors are in keeping with the historic theme but streamlined to feel approachable.

When you get married at one of the small wedding venues in Philadelphia, you can indulge in some luxuries that can be out of reach when you’re stretching a budget to accommodate a big guest list. Some couples embrace this with big floral installations that suit Morris House Hotel’s courtyard. I photographed a garden-themed wedding at Morris House Hotel. You can see it here.

5. Osteria

Osteria is another restaurant wedding venue that has a strong Mediterranean influence with its Italian cuisine and lush patio. Rows of vining plants hang over the patio tables and almost make you forget that you’re in a glassed-in patio. When the sun goes down, strings of lights peek out between the leaves and illuminate the candlelit tables.

A couple gives a speech to seated guests at an Osteria wedding.

Guests pass plates of food at Osteria, one of the small wedding venues in Philadelphia.

This is another great wedding venue for anyone who wants to spend their wedding connecting with everyone. The intimate space allows you to move between tables without feeling rushed or like you’re missing anything. You can see more from this intimate gathering at Osteria here.

A bride and groom listen to speeches at a rehearsal dinner.

6. Vaux Studio

Vaux Studio is one of the small wedding venues in Philadelphia that is truly designed to be an intimate wedding venue. It is designed for weddings of up to 25 guests with beautifully decorated on-site getting ready suites. Vaux Studio can even provide your officiant.

A wedding arch is draped with white fabric and ribbons at one of the small wedding venues in Philadelphia..

A couple walks down the sidewalk outside Vaux Studio.

A woman puts on a white wedding dress while looking in a floor length mirror in her getting ready suite.

Check out more from this winter solstice wedding at Vaux Studio here.

A wedding cake sits beside mirrors with sun-shaped frames at Vaux Studio.

Antiques, including a swan bowl, decorate a sunny room in Vaux Studio.

7. Royal Boucherie

Royal Boucherie is a cozy restaurant in Old City. Stately dark wood and an elegant bar decorate the interior. For a small wedding, the courtyard is the real gem. The fern-lined courtyard feels like a world apart from the neighborhood’s busy streets. You could easily have an intimate ceremony among the ferns that line the brick wall and a dinner reception en plein air.

8. Terrain

Terrain is one of the more popular small wedding venues in Philadelphia. Since Terrain is a working plant nursery during the day, endless greenery fills every room. The right decor can still make it feel decidedly modern.