Arch Street Meeting House is a historic wedding venue located in Old City Philadelphia. The land on which Arch Street Meeting House stands was officially deeded to the Quakers in 1701 and used as a burial ground until 1872. The building was constructed in stages from 1803-1811 when need arose of a larger Meeting House in Philadelphia. The site is still an active place of worship in addition to being used as an educational museum space, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2011. It is frequently rented for conferences, weddings, dinners, and graduations. The building sits on just shy of 2 acres, and our grounds include both grassy & brick spaces and lots of mature trees. The entire site exudes an overall historic charm.

We are proud to welcome all ceremony types of any faith or denomination.

Facilities and Capacity

Arch Street Meeting House has a selection of rooms available for hosting your event:

• The Historic West Room was constructed in 1811 and is preserved to its general appearance from that time, including lots of natural light and untreated floors. The room is equipped with a built-in sound system and a piano, as well as historic worship benches, some of which pre-date the construction of the space. The room is recommended for events with over 100 guests, although the space can easily accommodate 600. Note that the benches are fixed and no food or drink is permitted in this space.
• The Monthly Meeting Room is the most modern space at Arch Street, constructed in 1968. It does contain many of the same historic worship benches, some of which can be rearranged to create a different flow. We recommend using this room for ceremonies that have less than 100 guests in attendance. Traditionally, this space is used by the bridal/wedding party as a staging area before beginning a ceremony in the West Room, and is automatically included with such a rental.
• The East Room was is the oldest portion of the building, first used in April 1805. The space currently houses our educational museum displays around the room's perimeter. The catering kitchen is accessible from here, and we therefore permit food and drink in this space. The room can accommodate a seated dinner for up to 200 guests, or up to 300 for a more relaxed style depending on your floor plan. Music and dancing welcome!
• The Reception Room is an interior space which holds up to 100 guests that is located off of the Monthly Meeting Room. It is ideal for intimate cocktail hours and small receptions, and can be decorated in a variety of ways.
• Our historic grounds are ideal for cocktail hours or smaller outdoor ceremonies, and can be rented exclusively for your special day. Ample canopy is provided by our large trees, and the exterior brick wall ensures that you have privacy from the hustle & bustle of Old City.

The entire site is accessible for those with mobility concerns, which includes two accessibility ramps into the building and an elevator that provides access to the large basement restrooms.

Services Offered

Arch Street Meeting House permits food and alcohol to be consumed on the property with advanced notice. You are welcome to provide your own refreshments, select from our Recommended Vendors list, or include a particular vendor that you have a connection with - we are flexible! We do not have a required caterer, allowing you to select the services that best fit your indivdual needs. Couples hosting their wedding at Arch Street Meeting House are welcome to use our complimentary wifi, Quaker wedding bench & certificate table, and our portable audiovisual equipment which includes a projector, screens, speakers, and microphones. For those couples who are having their reception at Arch Street, rental of the site includes tables and chairs for up to 200 guests. Use of our catering kitchen and parking lot is included.