American Swedish Historical Museum Reviews

This Museum is the "go-to" spot for your wedding. It is truly magical. So many different areas that are honestly so cool and perfect for photos, dancing, etc. I absolutely love working with Bonnie as she is super responsive, so kind and she actually listens to you and is present when she is with you, even though I am sure she has a million other things to do. I am so so happy I chose this venue as my wedding location!!

If you are looking for a team dedicated to making your wedding day special, look no further. We are getting married in a couple months and our experience has been amazing so far. We toured this venue and knew right away that it was going to be the place we would get married. It is so charming and unique. We cannot wait!

This is the perfect place. Inside is full of gorgous painting / architecture. The outside is just as beautiful! cant wait for wedding day!

I had the pleasure of choosing the American Swedish Historical Museum as our wedding venue, and I couldn't have been happier with our decision. The combination of historical charm and elegant ambiance along with the beautiful park grounds provides the perfect backdrop for our special day. If you're looking for a distinctive and memorable wedding venue, the American Swedish Historical Museum is an excellent choice.

Our experience with ASHM has been fantastic so far. The space is gorgeous, the staff care, and as a bride, the process has been super easy so far. I feel like they take a lot of the stress off you plate by having a venue that doesn't need much decor, and great staff to help you plan. It has felt like an all-inclusive experience while still having the freedom to choose what we want/don't want.

Mandy Lightcap was amazing - we can't sing her praises enough.
She helped us to pull together a wedding in 4 months, assured us along the way that it could be done and worked with us to create a memorable day. Day of coordination - she (and Nicole!!) and the entire team at JAM were PHENOMENAL in making all of our guests feel comfortable and well cared for. THANK YOU!

We had our wedding in May at the American Swedish Historical Museum in FDR Park, Philly and JAM truly delivered the best experience we could’ve ever asked for. If we could do it again, I would choose them a 1000x over. When you hear of a catering company, food immediately comes to mind but JAM does so much more, going above and beyond to give the couple, family, and guests the best experience. Leading up to the event, I felt comfortable and at-ease because my coordinator (Mandy Lightcap) was consistent with communication, answered every question I had, and reassured me every step of the way that everything was running smoothly and we were right on track. Mandy had also set me up with an assistant coordinator (Dorothy) just in case I needed her as well! I never felt left in the dark during the entire process. Setting up was a breeze thanks to Frank (the venue manager), and we felt confident leaving our belongings with him and arranging to pick them up afterwards with him in charge. EThe day of the event, I had figured out there was a tornado warning leading up to our ceremony time (which means moving the ceremony/cocktail hour inside) and honestly, without Mandy I think I would’ve had an absolute breakdown. She made every effort to keep me calm and recognized when I was overwhelmed that she needed to ask someone to make the final decisions regarding the plans for the day. Ultimately we decided to go for the outdoor ceremony, and JAM had been one step ahead putting chairs inside just in case we needed to shift mid-ceremony. The food during cocktail hour was absolutely delicious and I really think it could’ve been a meal in itself. It set the bar high for dinner, and boy did that deliver! Our entrees (steak/salmon/black bean cake) were some of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten, not even taking into account it was served at a wedding. It really felt like a dinner at a fine dining restaurant, not something served in mass amounts, every bite was flavorful and the portions were even larger than I had pictured. The guests still rave about the food to us, and the cake as well! The chef absolutely knocked it out of the park. At the end of the night, JAM was kind enough to recognize how the weather had affected our timeline and graciously agreed to give us an extra ½ hr of service, free of charge!!!! The cherry on top of the entire night was the staff, going beyond just our coordinator and chef, but the servers and bartenders as well. Not only was their set-up and service top-notch but fun as well!!! We even had a few of them join us on the dance floor at the end of the night and our guest experience would not have been the same without it!!! It is one of the first things our guests mention when they talk about our wedding. Everyone had the best time with them on the dance floor and it really just added to the excitement. It was the most PERFECT day and I honestly have to say JAM is to thank for that, I highly recommend them to everyone who wants more than a venue, they truly deliver the greatest overall experience for everyone involved.

My husband and I recently had our wedding at the American Swedish Historical Museum in FDR Park in Philadelphia. Being from Philly, I had been in the park many times without knowing about the museum. We stumbled upon the venue online and immediately fell in love with the location, the architecture of the building, and the history of the museum along with their indoor displays. The museum is beautiful and can be used for the ceremony indoors or outdoors. They host cocktail hour inside and outside as well so that guests may tour the various displays. The reception is held outdoors in a beautiful covered (clear top paneled) tent where the sides of the tent can remain open or closed. String lights hang from side to side which is beautiful when lit up alongside the museum at night. The venue offers many places for pictures as well as a lake boathouse and rotunda within walking distance in the park.
The staff at the venue is incredibly friendly - those who work in the museum and those directly related to helping set up and coordinating the entire day. We had such an easy process for drop off and pick up on separate days from our actual ceremony/reception - it made the entire day and night so easy and more relaxing than having to worry about how to get our stuff to and from the venue.
We will continue to be supporters of the museum and it will forever hold a special place in our hearts!

The American Swedish Historical Museum is a hidden gem in South Philly. Nestled in FDR park, we had a sentimental attachment to the location because we regularly walk our dogs there and luckily ASHM is a dog friendly venue so our flower girl and ring bearer could be included. The location itself is a beautiful backdrop, but Jeffery A. Miller Catering also did a great job making everything look and ran smoothly the day of. Shoshanna our coordinator through JAM, was responsive and genuinely cared about making sure we were happy with everything. We didn’t want a traditional wedding cake and they worked with us to create a strawberry shortcake and signature cocktails that fit right in with our fruit themed wedding. The food and staff were amazing the day of and we couldn’t be happier with our choice in venue and caterer.

I want to add after reading a few other reviews that we were originally supposed to get married in May of 2020 and had to reschedule multiple times obviously due to COVID, JAM made the experience as seamless as possible while we all worked through a situation that none of us could have ever imagined. I felt that there was always open and honest communication from them and they did what they could to make our day happen the way we wanted while protecting their employees and business at the same time.

THIS IS VENUE WILL ABSOLUTELY KNOCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! ENTHUSIASTICALLY RECOMMEND YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE YOUR WEDDING AT THE AMERICAN SWEDISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND WITH JAM CATERING! 10/10 stars!

The American Swedish Historical Museum was absolutely stunning for our wedding in July. Frank Sanders, Mandy Lightcap, and the entire ASHM team ensured that everything goes off without a hitch. Working with the ASHM staff for our wedding in July was nothing short of amazing. Their entire team is professional, highly competent, and accommodating.

Mandy Lightcap and Frank Sanders were ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. Before the big day, Mandy sat down with us to discuss every detail; she will really take the time to get to know you as a couple and what your personal vision is. Frank was kind enough to let us into the museum after hours because that was the only time that our families could see the venue due to living across the country. Not only is the event planning team incredibly talented, personable, and did a fantastic job on the day of our wedding, but they were amazing at coordinating all of the fine details. Mandy was extremely responsive via phone call and email and answered all of our questions regarding what we wanted, food options, the contract, schedule, and last-minute changes on the day-of. She was easy to work with and very accommodating. She took the time to speak to us late at night because of the time difference and came in during her off hours and on the weekend to show us the venue, discuss the ever-changing plan, and even offered us a military clause in our contract due to an upcoming deployment.

On the actual day of our wedding, Mandy, Frank, and the rest of the team was timely and professional. Throughout the wedding, they continued to cater to us and ensured that every detail at the museum was perfectly crafted. Our guests could not say enough great things about the beautiful venue and our photographs turned out absolutely stunning! So, needless to say, the décor and detail in every aspect of the event turned out unbelievably perfect. It made it a day that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Overall, we could not have been more pleased with the outcome of our big day! I would enthusiastically recommend Mandy Lightcap, Frank Sanders, and the American Swedish Historical Museum for your wedding. Book them now!

The staff at the American Swedish Historical Museum went above and beyond for our May 2019 wedding! So accommodating with start times, special requests for vendor deliveries and drop offs not to mention such pleasant staff! Frank was amazing with our requests and so easy to work with! The venue is so beautiful and well maintained! Our guests cannot stop talking about it! Thank you American Swedish Historical Museum for making our day breathtaking and effortless!

Molly and Dan

We chose the American Swedish Museum for our September 2019 wedding. The venue, food and service was incredible and we could not have been happier with the event. Mandy made the planning process easy and was responsive and accommodating.
We hosted the ceremony inside and loved the town hall feel of being surrounded by friends and family. The cocktail hour and reception in the tent felt very elegant. So many of our guests commented on the beautiful venue, great staff and delicious food.
We absolutely recommend ASHM!

I cannot begin to express how grateful I am for Jeffrey Miller Catering. My husband and I visited two of their venues as potential venues for our wedding and ultimately landed on The American Swedish Historic Museum. I loved the unique charm the museum had and Mandy and Shoshanna were so lovely to work with. No one ever missed a beat! From prompt email replies to many last minute changes the week of the wedding, everything was done quickly and gracefully. The wedding day and night were more than we could ever imagined. While running on adrenaline and the energy of the room, I managed to try appetizers, my meal, and all the desserts. Everything was DELICIOUS. All my guests are talking about how amazing the food was. Every item I brought was placed exactly how I imagined. The staff was ON IT the entire night. They didn't miss a thing. Food was passed out quickly and the captain and servers were constantly ensuring all guests had everything they needed. The museum itself is STUNNING. While the wedding day is a crazy whirlwind that goes by in the blink of an eye, I truly tried to take some time to look around and take it all in, but I would need weeks to take in all the beauty of this museum. Desserts and photo booth were set up in different galleries which allowed guests to explore and they loved it. Dancing in the great hall under the painted ceiling was so special and fun. All our vendors were accommodated and mentioned JAM and Shoshanna being so easy to work with. The pictures from this venue, both indoor and outdoor are so captivating! If there are anymore synonyms for the words wonderful, amazing, and fantastic, just insert them here, because I am so grateful for JAM and the perfect wedding day they helped give my husband and I!

We had our July 2019 wedding at the amazing ASHM. The venue is so unique with it's multiple different spaces all in very close proximity. We were predicting heat, and opted to have our ceremony in the beautiful inside of the museum. The cocktail hour took place both inside the museum as well as on the lawn, and the reception inside the large tent right out front. The venue as well as the surrounding park has countless opportunities for photos.
The museum is easily accessible, which was great for our out of town guests to be able to attend without having to rent a car. The museum staying open throughout the night was not only a source of entertainment, but also a great way to cool down on a hot July evening. Nothing worse than working up a sweat on the dance floor and having no AC in sight.
One very slight con to add to all the pros, FDR park is a public park and during our event, there was a party going on near the lake with loud music playing. We were able to hear the music throughout cocktail hour and the portions of the reception that the band was not playing (speeches etc.) although it was not overpowering, and easily covered up by the band playing. This did not dampen the mood at all, however, just something to keep in mind if you are looking for a very secluded venue, this may not feel as private as you may like.
We would completely recommend the American Swedish Historical Museum!

Our wedding at American Swedish Historical Museum is coming up later this year and we met with Mandy, the venue coordinator recently to go over the menu. We really enjoyed sitting down with her and going over the countless options and combinations that Jeffrey A. Miller Catering has to offer. Mandy and the JAM team allow for a complete customization of the menu allowing it to reflect our own personalities. We are looking forward to our next planning meeting with the venue!

I am so glad we picked this venue for our wedding. A few thoughts:
• There is also an option to do a ceremony on the lawn, but we chose to do it instead in the main room inside. It was beautiful, visually interesting, and unique while not being overly formal. It was almost a town hall vibe, with some guests seated and looking slightly upwards, and others standing on the second floor gallery and looking slightly downwards. It’s not for everyone, but I loved it.
• The venue photographs really well, with a lot of dramatic backdrops, particularly the gazebo area in FDR Park as well as the lighted tent that they set up on the front lawn for our reception. All beautiful.
• It rained during our wedding, and the rain plan worked shockingly smoothly and did not detract from the reception at all.
• It was a great value relative to other places we looked, with no sneaky upcharges, and we felt we were treated fairly and honestly throughout the whole process.
• They have a great team, highlighted in particular by Mandy (the venue/catering coordinator), who was always responsive, professional, and friendly. The whole time, it felt like we just happened to have a close friend who happened to know a lot about weddings.
• The museum has an exclusive contract with JAM Catering—who Mandy works for. At first I thought that that would be annoying, but it actually worked out really seamlessly. Mandy acted as our point of contact for catering, but also basically as a wedding planner when it came to day-of logistics. Everything was so easy with her and the team, and they really nailed it.

All I can say, is that everything exceeded our expectations. I could not have asked for a better day and venue. Everyone is still telling me how it was the best wedding they have ever attended!! Ahhh makes all the work worth it.

Beautiful, unique venue. Our guests loved it and we had the most amazing time.

A week after our wedding and we are still BLOWN AWAY(!!!) by the beauty, preparation, and warmth that filled our ceremony and reception in the American Swedish Historical Museum. The wedding truly was the day/evening of our dreams, and we could not be any happier or more amazed with how everything turned out - from a space perspective, layout, planning, and execution. Aesthetically, we could not have imagined a more beautiful affair and we were both amazed at how stunning and spacious everything was for the 200 guests that we accommodated. Even leaving the reception we saw the display of drink tables and appetizer tables and they were so stunning that we just stood in awe and disbelief.

Our wedding truly was the night of our dreams. Thank you SO MUCH to the entire museum staff that helped make our evening possible.

In addition to the beauty and grandeur of the venue, we've heard from many guests how fantastic the food was, and JAM catering deserves a huge shout out for their menu selection and meal preparation. We really are just so thankful, appreciative, and amazed at how everything turned out.

We had our wedding in May 5, 2018 at American Swedish Historical Museum The venue itself was exactly what we were looking for in terms of atmosphere, scenery and overall experience. The staff specially Mandy worked well with us on our budget and found prices/packages that fit. She was excellent and very responsible. We couldn’t ask for more beautiful day! Every thing was excellent and she did a great job! My husband and I agreed that choosing ASHM was the best decision we’ve had and Mandy is the best!

We got married at the ASHM in late September, and it was just perfect. Mandy Lightcap, who is the coordinator at the museum with Jeffrey Miller Catering (the exclusive caterer for this venue), is a huge reason why the day was so lovely. Mandy is the ultimate hospitality professional - she is kind, funny, knowledgeable and creative. And when you're planning an event like this for over a year, it is so important that you get along with and sincerely enjoy the person you work with. Mandy made sure my mom, who has Celiac disease, was able to eat everything at the wedding reception. The passed hors d'oeuvres, the stationary hors d'oeuvres, the entrees, the cake....everything was so perfectly accommodated to our needs and wants, thanks to Mandy. I cannot recommend Mandy Lightcap and Jeffrey Miller Catering enough. The Museum itself is stunning and unique. You have both beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy. We loved the grand stair case and the glowing tent, surrounded by trees in FDR Park. We received so many compliments from guests about the entire reception - from the venue, to the food, to the service. What a perfect venue, and what a fantastic coordinator!

After setting our eyes on the architectural details of the American Swedish Historical Museum, in the serene setting of FDR park, we met with Mandy (December 2021) who painted the picture of a well planned and beautiful wedding. We loved the idea of being able to have an outdoor wedding with the architectural details as a back drop, or an indoor ceremony on the grand staircase in the case of inclement weather. We knew right away that we would be in good hands with Mandy, the JAM Catering staff, and ASHM staff, so we booked one of the last available dates in 2022. The planning process was well structured, making what could be a frustrating process, a fun and exciting experience.

There is a consistency in the reviews of this wedding venue which ring true…. Mandy is hands down an amazing wedding planner, the venue is unique and beautiful, and JAM catering makes delicious food.

On the day of our wedding, September 9th, we walked into a transformed setting that was beautifully laid out by Mandy, the JAM staff, and David with Buttercup (florals). Behind the scenes, the staff at AMSH were so helpful and organized, in particular, Frank!

ASHM offers a unique experience, backed by years of experience, in a location that is easy to get to from philadelphia and surrounding suburbs without the hassle of driving through the city. We highly recommend this venue and caterer!

We had our wedding here in late September and it was perfect. The whole day was flawless and the space is so warm and unique. Our guests loved it and thought it was an amazing time.

I cannot recommend the ASHM enough! This venue is incredibly beautiful, easy to get to, can accommodate large weddings (up to 200 I think), has FREE parking, and so many other positives. One of the biggest positives is Mandy Lightcap, the venue coordinator for JAM Catering (the exclusive caterer who handles most of the event planning stuff). She was a delight to work with - so fun and nice and on top of her game. I knew from our first visit that this was the place, and our wedding could not have been more picturesque in their tent overlooking FDR Park's boathouse. Just go see it and you will be sold!

Working with Mandy Lightcap and Jeffrey Miller Catering at the ASHM was an incredible experience! Our family and friends loved our wedding and so did we!
Jason and Bill