The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a historic wedding venue located in the heart of center city Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the nation’s first art museum and school of fine arts. With a convenient location, gorgeous architecture, and top-notch event services, this museum venue is a fabulous location for an elegant event experience.
Facilities and Capacity
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts offers a totally unique wedding experience, where you and your guests can celebrate within the art galleries.
The Historic Landmark Building is a gothic Victorian architectural gem, complete with a grand staircase, columns, and skylights all over the ceiling from 1876. It's perfect for full weddings up to 150 or wedding ceremonies up to 275+.
The Hamilton Building is a turn of the century car show room turned modern gallery space, ideal for groups up to 250+, that features modern galleries with a bright, airy, and fun feel.
PAFA is a show-stopping venue for luxury weddings, but also engagement parties and rehearsal dinners, too.
Services Offered
When having your wedding at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, you will receive only the most professional and attentive service from start to finish. The museum’s in-house catering services can provide exquisite meals for you and your guests. The catering team offers amazing hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert, and bar options that will add those amazing touches to your wedding experience.
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We loved many things about PAFA, but most especially how welcoming and accomodating their staff is. When I first met with Kate Young, when we were first looking at venues, she made me feel immediately at ease, and very quickly suggested ways to make our wedding at PAFA special for us. Not only is it a beautiful museum, but there are two of them! Since our wedding was the only event that evening, we were able to take photographs in the historic landmark building, while our reception occured in the Hamilton building. Kate and Marissa worked tirelessly with use to coordinate with our vendors and make sure everything went off without a hitch- which it did! And you cannot beat the location on Broad Street- we were even able to sneak out to catch a photograph in the snow during the reception!
Sent on 04/15/2020
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's reply:
Thank you so much, Katie! It was SUCH a pleasure to work with you and your family : ) Wishing you and A the very best!
Cathy Zurbach
· Married on 02/29/2020
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Elegant Wedding Venue
PAFA is a beautiful and elegant venue for a wedding and the staff is top notch! We loved the Hamilton Building with its contemporary elegance and lots of special space for our guests to enjoy. Everyone loved the huge cocktail area with a view of City Hall and Broad Street ( the bride and groom rushed out during the reception when it started to snow to get their picture taken with City Hall in the background with snow flakes ) and then being able to eat a spectacular meal provided by 12th Street Catering in an art gallery with a 12 piece band playing was something our guests raved about. The space is expansive, interesting, and has the elegance befitting a wedding. From our perspective , the amazing staff was just as important to us as the wonderful venue space. PAFA's expert staff Marissa Peduto and Kate Young had everything under control from the beginning to the end of the process, they were an amazing team that took all the worry out of the process. Also, a special shout out to the security guards who were polite , helpful, and a pleasure to work with and to Harry Pierson who expertly led the 12th Street Catering team . Kate, Marissa, and Harry worked together seamlessly. The evening was perfect with this team making it all happen!!
Sent on 03/04/2020
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's reply:
Cathy, thank you so much for your glowing review! I'm so happy we got to work with you and your family!
Janet
· Married on 11/03/2019
5.0
Quality of service:
5.0
Responsiveness:
5.0
Value:
5.0
Flexibility:
5.0
Professionalism:
5.0
Perfect wedding venue
PAFA is exquisite. The level of class and elegance provided the perfect ambiance for our wedding. PAFA at night, is a romantic and magical place. Kate and Lauren (from Constellation Catering) are excellent. They went above and beyond. They were so kind and attentive in every way to insure we had the perfect wedding. The preplanning was meticulous and everything was executed smoothly throughout the wedding. Absolutely amazing venue and stellar people to work with for our most memorable night!
