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Weddings

About

Located on the Philadelphia Main Line, Merion Tribute House is a historic mansion wedding venue. This English country manor is a magnificent space, featuring a vintage ballroom, enchanting balcony and stained glass windows. Between the historic architectural details and eight acres of manicured grounds, the unique wedding venue exudes classic elegance.

Facilities and Capacity

An outdoor ceremony can be hosted on the front lawn of the Merion Tribute House. Indoor ceremonies can be accommodated in the ballroom or Legion Room, a more intimate option. For cocktail hour, guests can mingle on the outdoor Terrace or in the Legion Room, Lounge and Memorial Hall in the House. Grand oak doors reveal the ballroom, an open floor space with high ceilings, slate and hardwood floors, a fireplace and a balcony. Couples are welcome to host up to 180 guests.

Services Offered

Merion Tribute House has a variety of professional services. Their accommodating team offers the following:

  • Event rentals
  • Event planning
  • Preferred caterer list
  • Chairs and tables
  • Dance floor
  • Altar and arches

Cuisine

John Serock Catering is the venue's exclusive caterer and all couples are required to work with them for the food and beverage service.

Other Facilities

Your wedding party can get ready and relax in the on-site bridal suite. Guests may also use on-site parking and wheelchair accessible facilities.

Other Services

Merion Tribute House is able to host your engagement party, bridal shower, ceremony and reception. They can also provide additional event hours, coat room attendant and use of both fireplaces.

History

In 1891, Elridge Johnson offered to build a “Tribute House” on his property. This facility’s purpose was to honor the 81 Merion men who were in the armed services during World War I. Architects designed the space with Gothic patterns, local stone, ornamental iron work and stained glass windows. The venue has been part of the wedding industry for 85 years.

Location

The historic wedding venue is 23 minutes from downtown Philadelphia, 30 minutes from Philadelphia International Airport and 18 minutes from University of Pennsylvania. Nearby attractions include Bala and Merion Golf Courses, The Mann Center, Please Touch Museum, Fairmount Park and Philadelphia Zoo.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

4,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

3,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$500

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$500

Which of the following are included in the starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
Parking
Tables

What is the minimum number of guests required to book your venue?

75

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4 rooms for events

Describe your venue:

Ballroom
Historic Building
Mansion

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Get Ready Rooms
Wifi

What event items are available?

Altar/Arch
Chairs
Dance Floor
Furniture
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
September
October

What months are included in your off-peak season?

January
February
March
December

Reviews of Merion Tribute House

C
Dalton Sent on 05/17/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Spring Wedding 4/20/24

We got married at the Merion Tribute House on April 20, 2024. It was a perfect day and everything went so smoothly. We originally toured and booked the venue with the previous event coordinator who was wonderful, but they transitioned to a new event coordinator, Celine, and she picked up everything seamlessly. We had 105 guests and it was the perfect size for everyone to enjoy the outdoor spaces for the ceremony and cocktail hour on the patio, and inside the ballroom for the reception. The stage and acoustics are perfectly set up for a live band, which was a huge hit. Everything is handicap accessible, including the option to make the first floor bathroom gender-neutral. It's in a private and serene little neighborhood with plenty of parking, but it's close enough to the city to make it easy for guests to call Ubers or Lyfts. We loved our experience and we would recommend MTH to anyone getting married in the Philly area!

Photo by The Willinghams Photography
Maggie
Maggie Sent on 11/16/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful venue and helpful team

This venue was perfect for our November wedding. It was the first and only venue we looked at. The venue manager, Colette, is a total pro and super responsive and easy to work with throughout the planning process. It is a beautiful building and grounds. We held our ceremony outdoors and the reception indoors, but were comforted by the fact that we could decide to move the ceremony inside too, depending on weather. In addition to the beautiful ballroom, the surrounding sitting room and patio offered several spaces for quieter conversations. The venue staff had fires in the sitting area fireplaces which made it very cozy inside. Our families had a wonderful time.
karol
Karol Sent on 09/05/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Gorgeous and safe atmosphere

My fiance and i did not select a venue yet for our wedding, however we did tour this location. This location is in our top 5 for a few reasons. 1. The small detail is impressive and if you have military background in your family, this is a MUST see. 2. The woman who gave us the tour was so welcoming and really knew knowledge about the grounds. If you are apart of the LGTBQ + alphabet community like my fiance and i, this is a must see. It's safe, welcoming, and overall beautiful.
K
Kristen Sent on 08/11/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing Venue!

The Merion Tribute House is an absolutely gorgeous venue that we loved from the very first time we visited. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, accommodating, and communicative. We are so glad that we chose this venue for our wedding, everything turned out wonderful!
Erica
Erica Sent on 06/17/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Highly recommend!

Merion Tribute House was the perfect place to have our Philly based Game of Thrones/Harry Potter themed wedding. The price was great for how close to the city it is and the venue is stunning. Colette worked with us from the start of the pandemic until the wedding date and was flexible with our situation.
Ashley
Ashley Sent on 11/23/2021
5 out of 5 rating

A Fairytale Castle in the suburbs!!

The Merion Tribute House was the perfect location. It made the whole event feel like a fairytale. Colette was a pleasure to work with
Jacqueline
Jacqueline Sent on 10/17/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Very Pleased

We had a wonderful experience using Merion Tribute House for our wedding reception. Colette Speakman, the manager, was great to work with. She responded quickly and thoroughly to my calls and emails. The venue is beautiful and unique. We got so many compliments.
Carolyn
Carolyn Sent on 10/01/2019
5 out of 5 rating

The most modest castle

My husband and I found Merion Tribute House amidst a variety of reception venues and immediately fell in love. As soon as we drove into the venue location, I was in awe of the natural beauty of the landscape and the building. The amount of history this place has is unreal and it makes for great stories to share with loved ones. From day one, Colette Speakman made us feel welcome, relaxed, and informed about all things wedding-related, not just about the venue. We were given a thorough tour of MTH, including the bridal and groom suites, the “lending shelves” area, and the patio. We were given a handbook of sorts so we could plan our wedding without stress (yes, we planned it ourselves), and it did answer most of our questions if it was not covered in our first on-site meeting.
Colette used mostly a hands-off approach as we planned our big day, which allowed us to gain clarification when we wanted without feeling hounded by a vendor. She was SUPERB the night of the wedding as she was the point-person for all questions and concerns regarding MTH. I felt confident that if I couldn’t get to her, one of my bridesmaids or groomsmen could speak with her and get immediate assistance. Everything at the Tribute House went off without a hitch. I was even able to go up to the balcony for a few photos AND you and your spouse can sign on the walls going up to the balcony-fun memento to leave your mark.
In terms of payment, the fee is very fair, and you can get a discounted rate for paying in cash ahead of time. Colette responds in a timely manner via email and phone calls and respects your time. For any walk-thoroughs with other vendors, Colette is present and can help answer questions along the way. She was very pleasant to work with and we are thankful for her amazing work at the Merion Tribute House. Thank you so much, Colette!
Katie
Katie Sent on 08/07/2019
5 out of 5 rating

A Magical Experience

Merion Tribute House was the perfect venue for our Harry Potter-themed wedding! We used it for both our ceremony and reception. It's in a neighborhood setting, so you can't actually see the venue from the road, but once you turn into the driveway it really does feel magical - like you're arriving at Hogwarts! Not only was the venue stunning, but they also have an on-site coordinator to help you the day of, which was enormously helpful to us as we were planning from out-of-state, and they have a room filled with supplies other events have left behind that you can borrow from. And, if after all that you still aren't convinced - you get to toss your bouquet from the balcony. I mean, how cool is that? If you're looking for a one of a kind wedding venue in the Philadelphia area, look no further than the Merion Tribute House.
H
Han Sent on 04/19/2019
5 out of 5 rating

Classic and elegant place for wedding ceremony & reception

Merion Tribute House is a gorgeous place to hold classic and elegant wedding ceremony and reception. Our ceremony was out-door in front of Merion Tribute House on second weekend of April. Weather was very nice, perfect warm spring temperature, sunny, fairly green nature in background, hints of yellow flowers here and there, and pink flower trees nearby.

Reception was hold in-door, inside the ballroom which has capacity of around 150 people at max. Intricate interior designs of Merion Tribute House provided guests to look around and enjoyed the views and us to take many great photos inside. They have nice fire place only used over winter. On the hallway, there is second floor balcony where you can toss bouquet.

It was very pleasant to have ceremony and reception at Merion Tribute House. The place has bridal and groom suite individually, where you can have getting ready photos. They give you earlier access to the venue if you want to have first look before the wedding. The place has plenty of open free parking spots for guests, large kitchen area for catering.

People working there, especially Colette and Terri, are very very friendly, kind, and highly professional. They gave many suggestions on where to start planning for wedding, which vendors they have worked with, and what would be good timeline for us. Thanks to them, we were very happy and satisfied with our wedding.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

99
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2014 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2009 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

5 Endorsements
Love on a Shoe String - Peggy Kilkenny Hecksher Wedding Coordinator Love on a Shoe String - Peggy Kilkenny Hecksher Wedding Coordinator Wedding Planners

What an exceptional location for a wedding or any event for that matter. Absolutely beautiful and at the same time Colette and her staff are easy to work with. Highly recommend!

Pictures by Todd Photography Pictures by Todd Photography Wedding Photographers

Unique venue on the Mainline - great for intimate weddings and it's interesting architecture makes for beautiful photos.

Clair Pruett Studios Clair Pruett Studios Wedding Photographers

Always a pleasure to work at and with the Merion Tribute House! On of our favorite locations!

Preferred Vendors
John Serock Catering
5.0 out of 5 rating , 297 reviews
· Wedding Caterers

Map

Merion Tribute House frequently asked questions

Merion Tribute House includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • Parking
  • Tables
The space offered by Merion Tribute House for wedding events is known for:
  • Ballroom
  • Historic Building
  • Mansion
Merion Tribute House offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Merion Tribute House offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
Merion Tribute House offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Wifi
Merion Tribute House offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Altar/Arch
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Furniture
  • Tables
Merion Tribute House is recommended by 98% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 4.9 out of 5 with the following breakdown: 4.9 in quality of service, 4.9 in average response time, 4.9 in flexibility, 4.9 in professionalism and 4.8 in value.

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