Philadelphia Wedding Photographer

I’ve been photographing Philadelphia weddings for more than 10 years, and to be honest, the city still surprises me. I live just over the bridge in South Jersey, so Philly is basically my backyard… the grand old ballrooms, the churches, City Hall, the Rodin Museum, the little side streets in Old City. A Philadelphia wedding day usually moves around a lot, from getting ready to the church to portraits somewhere in the city and then on to the reception, and that’s exactly the kind of day I love to photograph.

Branon and Celeste on a dark stone staircase with her veil trailing at Philadelphia City Hall — Branon & Celeste at Philadelphia City Hall

At a glance

Venues I shoot often: The Union Trust, Cescaphe Ballroom at the Ben and The Vie by Cescaphe.
Favorite portrait spots: the Rodin Museum, City Hall, Broad Street and Old City.
Engagement sessions: Rittenhouse Square, Elfreth’s Alley, LOVE Park, Race Street Pier and the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Travel: no travel fee for Philadelphia weddings.
Collections: start at $5,200, custom tailored to each couple.

Philadelphia wedding venues I love

I’ve photographed weddings in a lot of different Philly venues over the years, but these are the ones I keep coming back to, each with a real wedding you can look through.

The Union Trust

The Union Trust on Chestnut Street is one of the most dramatic rooms in the city, with a ceremony right in the grand hall and a candlelit staircase that’s just about made for portraits. Gianna & Simon did their first look at the Rodin Museum and came back for a ceremony under a white floral chuppah and a reception that never slowed down.

Gianna and Simon's first kiss under a white floral chuppah at the Union Trust — Under the chuppah

Cescaphe Ballroom at the Ben

The Ballroom at the Ben is gold and cream from top to bottom, with a grand staircase I always find a reason to use. Chris & Danielle had their ceremony and reception there, after a first look by the reflecting pool at the Rodin Museum.

Chris and Danielle nose to nose at dusk high above Philadelphia on their wedding day — Chris & Danielle at dusk

The gold and cream ballroom set for the reception at Cescaphe Ballroom at the Ben in Philadelphia — The ballroom

The Vie by Cescaphe

The Vie is all about the party… a checkered dance floor, candlelit tables and a big floral wall. Branon & Celeste got married at Saint Monica in South Philly first, we did portraits at City Hall on the way, and then they spent the rest of the night on that dance floor. Amanda & Gino did almost the same day, Saint Monica and then The Vie, with confetti during their grand entrance and a saxophone player joining their first dance.

Branon and Celeste on a black velvet chaise in front of a colorful floral mosaic at The Vie by Cescaphe in Philadelphia — The floral wall

Getting married in a Philadelphia church

A lot of Philly couples still get married in the church they grew up in, and some of those churches are just stunning. Saint Monica in South Philly was one of them, with tall arches and stained glass, and I love how a church ceremony gives the day a slower, quieter start before everything picks up. Branon & Celeste’s wedding and Amanda & Gino’s wedding are both a good look at how a church ceremony, city portraits and a reception at a different venue all fit into one day.

The ornate painted interior of Saint Monica Roman Catholic Church in South Philadelphia before the ceremony — Saint Monica, South Philadelphia

Branon and Celeste standing hand in hand in the aisle of Saint Monica Roman Catholic Church in South Philadelphia after their ceremony — Just married

My favorite places for wedding portraits in Philadelphia

The Rodin Museum

The Rodin Museum on the Parkway is one of my favorite spots in the whole city. You get the iron gates, the stone steps, the gardens and the reflecting pool, all within a short walk, and it works for first looks just as well as it does for portraits. Both Gianna & Simon and Chris & Danielle started their day there.

Bride and groom kissing on the stone steps between the columns at the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, her lace train spread down the steps — The museum steps

Philadelphia City Hall

City Hall is basically one giant portrait backdrop, with stone arches, doorways, staircases and courtyards in every direction. It’s right in the middle of Center City too, so it’s easy to fit in between the ceremony and the reception. Branon & Celeste and their wedding party took over a good part of it.

Bride and groom walking hand in hand down the middle of Broad Street with Philadelphia City Hall behind them — Walking toward City Hall

Old City

Old City is where Philadelphia feels the oldest… cobblestone streets, brick row homes and historic buildings like the Merchants’ Exchange and the First Bank of the United States, with their big stone columns and iron gates. Amanda & Gino did their portraits at the First Bank, and her cathedral veil and those columns were just about made for each other. It’s a short ride from most Center City venues, and there’s a different backdrop around just about every corner, which is why I love it for portraits as much as I do for engagement sessions. And in the fall, when the trees along those little side streets turn orange and gold, it’s just about perfect.

Black and white photo of a bride and groom walking past a vintage white car on Dock Street in Old City Philadelphia — Dock Street

Bride and groom kissing on a tree-lined Old City street in Philadelphia, with fall leaves on the ground and string lights wrapped around the trees — A tree-lined side street

Bride and groom nose to nose on the stone steps of a grand arched doorway in Old City Philadelphia, her lace train spread down the steps — A stone archway

Bride and groom nose to nose beside an ivy-covered wall with orange fall leaves behind them in Old City Philadelphia — Fall in Old City

A quick note on permits: some spots in the city, like City Hall and the Rodin Museum, may require a photography permit. Getting the permit is up to you, but I’m always happy to help you figure out what you need and who to ask.

Philadelphia engagement sessions

Philly is a great city for an engagement session, especially if you love brick, cobblestone and a little bit of history. Steve & Maria did theirs around Rittenhouse Square, with brownstone steps and quiet side streets, and Rachel & Duane did theirs on Elfreth’s Alley in Old City right around Christmas, Santa hats and all (their idea, not mine). I wrote more about both in my engagement session locations guide.

Steve and Maria standing on the steps of a historic brownstone with arched wooden doors in Philadelphia — Rittenhouse Square

Engaged couple arm in arm in warm evening light on the cobblestones of Elfreth’s Alley in Old City Philadelphia, flower boxes beside them — Elfreth’s Alley, Old City

There’s a lot more to work with, too. LOVE Park is a classic for a reason, Race Street Pier on the Delaware River puts you right under the Ben Franklin Bridge with some great evening light, the walkway up on the bridge has one of the best views of the skyline, and a coffee shop or a little restaurant, like Time on Sansom Street, makes for a relaxed start before we head outside… and to be honest, it’s usually where couples loosen up the most.

Engaged couple standing under the LOVE sculpture in LOVE Park in Center City Philadelphia — LOVE Park

Engaged couple sitting together against an old brick wall on a leaf-covered sidewalk during their Philadelphia engagement session — Old brick walls

Engaged couple smiling by the railing at Race Street Pier on the Delaware River, under the Ben Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia — Race Street Pier, under the Ben Franklin Bridge

Engaged couple embracing on the Ben Franklin Bridge walkway with the Philadelphia skyline behind them in the evening haze — The skyline from the Ben Franklin Bridge walkway

Engaged couple holding lattes at a marble cafe table during their Philadelphia engagement session, her engagement ring on display — A coffee date

Engaged couple nose to nose inside Time restaurant on Sansom Street in Philadelphia, framed by glowing lights — Time, Sansom Street

What I’ve learned photographing Philly weddings

Give yourself extra time to get around. Center City traffic on a Saturday is no joke, so I always build in more time between the church, portraits and the venue than it looks like you’ll need.
Plan how the wedding party gets around. A trolley or a shuttle keeps everyone together and on schedule, and it usually ends up being one of the more fun parts of the day.
Pick portrait spots close to your venue. Two great spots ten minutes apart beat five spots across the city every time.
Expect the light to go early. The tall buildings block the sun before it actually sets, so golden hour in the city comes a little earlier than you’d think.
Have a rain plan for portraits too. Not just the ceremony. Covered archways and grand lobbies can save the day.

Frequently asked questions

Do you photograph weddings in Philadelphia?

Yes. Philadelphia is just over the bridge from my studio in South Jersey, and I’ve been photographing weddings in the city for more than 10 years, at venues like The Union Trust, Cescaphe Ballroom at the Ben and The Vie by Cescaphe.

Is there a travel fee for Philadelphia weddings?

No. There is no travel fee within an hour of Waterford Works, NJ, which includes Philadelphia. Venues farther away have a $200 travel fee.

How much does a Philadelphia wedding photographer cost?

At Twisted Oaks Studio, wedding collections start at $5,200, and every collection is custom tailored to the couple.

Where are the best places for wedding photos in Philadelphia?

A few of my favorites are the Rodin Museum on the Parkway, Philadelphia City Hall, Rittenhouse Square and the side streets of Old City like Elfreth’s Alley. I always try to pick spots close to your ceremony and reception so you spend more time on photos and less time in traffic.

Do I need a permit for wedding photos in Philadelphia?

Some locations, like Philadelphia City Hall and the Rodin Museum, may require a photography permit. Couples are responsible for getting any permits, but I’m always happy to help you figure out what you need and who to contact.

Do you photograph weddings in other parts of Pennsylvania?

Yes. Besides Philadelphia, I photograph weddings across Pennsylvania, from Lancaster County farmland to Bucks County estates.

Looking for more? See all of my wedding stories, or read my guide on how to choose a wedding photographer in South Jersey & Philadelphia.

Planning a Philly wedding? Tell me about it. I’d love to hear where you’re getting married.
— Jay Cassario, Twisted Oaks Studio