The couple got ready for their wedding day at a hotel near their venue, The Logan Hotel. It is always helpful to keep things close by on a wedding day. Although they both got ready at the same hotel, they didn’t see each other until they arrived at their wedding venue, The Barnes Foundation, where they had a touching “First Look” moment. A first look is always a thrill, the excitement, the butterflies, and then the deep exhale when that couple sees each other for the first time on their wedding day.
The grounds outside The Barnes Museum are simply lovely. There are trees and greenery and a long intriguing path leading to the entrance of the building. The reflection pool is definitely a highlight and adds a beautiful element for wedding day photos at the Barnes Foundation. The exterior of the building is striking and modern, designed by Todd Nillie Tsien Architects. The natural limestone and thoughtful design are a welcome backdrop for photos.
Every element outside the Barnes Foundation is intensional. The natural and architectural elements seem to flow seamlessly. The main entrance has a water element on either side offering a wonderfully tranquil and contemplative feeling as you enter the building. I love the bride and groom photos using this entry to frame them. Their fall wedding day in Philadelphia was perfectly timed to incorporate the colors of the leaves in their wedding photos. I do understand why fall is one of the most popular times of the year for weddings in Philadelphia!
When I was talking to the couple about what was most important while planning their wedding, here is their reply.
“The most important thing was remembering that at the end of the day, we’re planning a party so it should be fun. With that in mind, our priorities were food, drinks, music, and our guest list! We went to college together so we have tons of overlapping friends and we have done our best to integrate friends from different parts of life with each other and our families! We wanted the vibe to feel like a true reunion and celebration and to spend the whole night dancing and laughing.”
I love that this is the vision they had at the core of their wedding planning, and I have to say that it came to fruition. Their wedding day was elegant and beautiful but, most importantly, genuine and fun!
The couple had a larger wedding party and they were all decked out in elegant formal attire. I love the sophisticated black dresses worn by the bridesmaids and the formal tuxedos for the groomsmen. The bridesmaid’s floral arrangements really popped against their dresses and I love the playful arrangements of the flowers in fall tones.
The reflecting pool was perfect to photograph the large wedding party of bridesmaids and groomsmen. It’s a must-do location if you are taking wedding photos outside the Barnes. The reflection in the water has a painterly feel and shows off this stunning group of friends and family surrounding and supporting this couple on their wedding day.
I adore the wedding ceremony space at The Barnes Foundation. It’s a large covered terrace with a contemporary style. The greenery gives you privacy, and you really feel tucked away as if you are in a secret garden even though you are right in the heart of Philadelphia. Splints and Daisies did an amazing job with the floral arch, which seemed to mirror the modern feel of the space with romance and a bit of whimsy. Their floral arrangements are truly a work of art.
The reception space at the Barnes is just through the doors of the ceremony, making it a seamless flow inside for guests to arrive for cocktail hour. The ambiance and decor were stylish and artful, from the tablescapes and florals to the candles and color scheme. The high ceilings and clean, modern lines make the reception space at The Barnes a standout Philadelphia wedding venue. The combination of style and luxury welcomes guests to an unforgettable evening. The sleek and minimal reception area offers flexibility in creating the reception you envision.
The Bakery House created a lovely minimalist wedding cake for this wedding day. The cascading flowers framed the cake.
I loved this first dance at the Barnes wedding reception. For a moment the whole world seemed to stand still and the couple soaked in this magic moment. After the first dance, it was time for speeches, toasts, and dinner and then the guests warmed up the dancefloor.
For their wedding reception, this couple had live music, The Bachelor Boys Band. They brought a lot of energy to the celebration. A live band can really turn up the energy in the room and it definitely did just that for this Philadelphia Museum wedding reception. To open up the dancefloor the couple and guests danced the hora. The guests got up from their seats and streamed on the dancefloor where the bride and groom were lifted into chairs as well as the parents. This Jewish tradition definitely got everyone out of their chairs and on the dancefloor.
The Barnes Foundation is definitely one of a kind. There are a few features that really set this museum wedding venue apart from other locations in Philadelphia. Here are my favorite things about this venue.
If you haven’t had the pleasure to attend a wedding or event at The Barnes Foundation. I definitely encourage you to visit the art collection. They have wonderful tours there that really give you insight into the collection and stories behind the pieces and artists. It is a must-see if you are visiting from out of town or if you live right here in Philadelphia.
Are you inspired by this chic Philadelphia Museum wedding? This city is one full of unique spaces for weddings for out-of-the-box couples who want their wedding day to be in a non-traditional location. Check out these other museum venues in Philadelphia where you can host your wedding celebration:
Philadelphia Museum Wedding Venues
PAFA Museum Wedding Philadelphia
Museum Wedding Philadelphia Franklin Institute
As a Philadelphia wedding photographer, I love photographing elegant weddings in off-the-beaten-path venues from Museum weddings to restaurant weddings, from rooftop weddings to Philadelphia park weddings. If you are looking for a wedding photographer for your special day I would be happy to chat with you! You can contact me here.
It definitely takes a team for a wedding day! The bride and groom did an amazing job bringing their wedding day vision to fruition. Their planner, Pampas and Poppy, was awesome and the entire vendor team was top-notch. If you are curious about who the vendors were at this incredible Barnes Foundation wedding in Philadelphia, here is the list you are looking for.
Wedding Venue: Barnes Foundation
Wedding Planner: Pampas and Poppy
Caterer: Constellation Culinary Group
Wedding Dress: Kyha Studios
Wedding Dress shop: Kyha Studios
Make-up: MU8 Beauty
Hair: Stephanie O’Kane
Flowers: Splints and Daisies
Rings: Frank Darling
Band: Bachelor Boys
Wedding Cake: The Bakery House
Groom’s attire: Lords Custom Tailor
Rental And Decor: Open Aire Affairs
Signage: Sunshine Letter Co
Stationary: Julia Kay Design