Best Spots in Philly to Take Wedding Pictures
A guide to photography locations in Philadelphia for your Wedding Day
Philadelphia, PA
So you’re getting married in Philadelphia and have no idea where to start when it comes to deciding on locations or how to get there. Or, quite possibly even worse, this is the first time you’re learning about photography permits. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if this is the first time you’re learning this, but 90% of the “manicured” spaces in Philadelphia require a permit. And just what do I mean by Manicured? Put in the splits terms for the most generalized thinking ever, if there is a flower planted - not a weed - something that was planted anywhere on the ground near you… there is a solid chance you’ll need a permit. Bonus points for the ground being anything aside from concrete. Of course there are exceptions to everything but here’s what you should know if you want to err on the side of caution for a smooth wedding day in Philadelphia.
First and foremost - Don’t book any permits until you have a timeline from your photographer or planner. Some of these locations are dog eat dog but it’s useless to have a permit until you know the appropriate time to get it for.
What does your photographer need to help map out your day?
In a short list: 1. Your ceremony start time; 2. What time your venue requires you to be back to the venue; 3. How you are planning to travel around the city; 4. Where you are getting ready in the morning; and (this last one might just be for me) 5. Your family formal shot list if you are planning on taking them around the city and not at your venue. Of course every photographer is different so some might require more information but for me personally I need these general ideas of time to know when you’ll want to try to get a permit.
Which Locations in Philadelphia Require a Photo Permit?
I want to try to break this down a little bit further before we dive into the locations. Some spots are managed by the National Park Services, some managed by the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and others privately managed.
For ease, let’s start with the locations managed by the National Park Services. For my Old City Couples, this section is for you.
The Magnolia Garden
The Rose Garden
The 18th Century Garden
Benjamin Rush Garden
South Steps and Lawn of Second Bank
Front Steps of First Bank
Dock Creek
Washington Square
The Merchant Exchange Building
To acquire a permit for these locations, download the form, and mail it in with check or money order to Special Park Use Office - 143 S. 3rd St. Philadelphia PA 19106. There is a $25.00 flat fee to process your permit application. The permit fees are dependent on the number of people you plan to bring along to each location and range from $50.00 to $250.00 per half hour. For more information on National Park Services locations, follow this link to their page.
Onto option number two in the heavy hitters of Philadelphia Photo Permits - Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. These locations include:
Fairmount Waterworks Eagle Pavilion (Gazebo on the water)
FDR Park Boathouse
The Azalea Garden
Permits for these locations vary by location versus the amount of people and range from $50.00 - $150.00 per hour. To obtain a permit for these locations fill out their form and mail to Special Events Office, Winter Street Building, 2130 Winter Street - rear entrance, Philadelphia PA 19103. You can also return the form and pay in person at Winter Street Building, 233 N. 22nd. Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 Monday through Friday from 9am until 3pm. Again, no applications will be processed with out payment. Find more here.
Now that the two biggest permit location holders are accounted for, let’s talk about the privately owned locations.
Before you start diving into the different Museums in the area, Barnes doesn’t allow Wedding Pictures to be taken at their location until the wedding is happening there.
Rodin is a beautiful option for those wanting a garden feel amid the city and has quite possibly the simplest permit process. Follow this link to their permitted options for Wedding Photography. My absolute favorite things about Rodin besides the location itself is that you can see what they have available prior to even reaching out. Permits are $100.00 per hour and only sold one per hour. The tougher thing to navigate with Rodin is time as their personal museum event schedule comes first and weddings come second (which I’m not mad about at all - just something to keep in mind).
The Philadelphia Museum of Art doesn’t allow Wedding Photography from the top of the “Rocky Stairs" to the entrance of the building. Everything below that top deck is managed by the City of Philadelphia. A little birdie once told me this area is basically fair game so should fall until the locations that are free in a morally gray way. The area between the back of the Art Museum and Waterworks also falls into this morally gray area of acceptance. If you are wanting to photography inside the museum, permits are discussed via email at specialevents@philamuseum.org and they would cost about what you think they might. There are also limitations on which works of art can be photographed around but the staircase almost makes it all worth it.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is still a mystery to me. Having not been there personally I can’t be positive on the rules but from my understanding they function in a similar fashion as Barnes. Unless your wedding is taking place at PAFA, I would cross it off your list.
With all of the above locations there is still a huge part of Philadelphia that hasn’t been discussed! The Squares and Parks! When you scour the internet for these answers you will find similar to what I have found in the past. All of these locations require a permit. HOWEVER, when you follow links for these locations you are brought back to the same permit application for Philly Parks and Rec. This permit doesn’t hold the option for any location outside of the 3 mentioned above. So what’s a girl to do?
Free Locations for Wedding Photography
Free is not a word that is tossed around too often when talking about a wedding or really anything in Philadelphia. Nonetheless, there are one well known areas that are without a doubt free! City Hall is first on that list.
Everything around City Hall including that iconic shot with the massively known architecture is free! Well almost - Everything on the outer edge of the building is free. Dilworth Park and inside the walls of City hall are in fact a permitted location. The areas around the building but so much versatility that I have never needed the areas that require permits but if you wanted to explore them, reach out to 215 440 5547.
Race Street Pier also announced that they will no longer be requiring a permit for Wedding Photography on the pier. This is not to be confused with Cherry Street Pier which very much just doesn’t like the idea of commercial photography at all.
