Are you looking for a Philadelphia wedding venue with historic charm? Cross Gables Estate is a beautiful venue with everything you need to have your entire wedding day in one place. I photographed a thoughtful wedding here on 35mm film and digital. The photos mix timelessness and vibrance for a gallery that feels true to the day.
In this blog post, I’ll explore
- Cross Gables Estate: A Historic Wedding Venue
- Cross Gables Estate FAQs
- Film Wedding Photography
- Booking Your Philadelphia Wedding Photography
Cross Gables Estate: A Historic Wedding Venue
Cross Gables Estate is a great Philadelphia wedding venue because it has all of the best of an indoor and outdoor wedding venue. The nineteenth-century house is simple but elegant with beautiful landscaping all around.
Thanks to the ample indoor and outdoor options, you can host your wedding here any time of year. You’ll have access to these spaces for your wedding:
The Front Lawn
If the weather permits, you can have a lush (and shady!) outdoor ceremony under the big tree on the front lawn. A wedding arch or floral installation makes the space feel especially magical.
The Terrace
Enjoy cocktail hour on the Terrace. Pale stones pave the area with manicured shrubs and lawns all around. Lights hang across the Terrace, adding some cozy charm.
The Colfelt Mansion
The historic mansion has room for getting ready on the second floor and hosting your reception in the cellar, which is adjacent to the Terrace. It creates a seamless flow from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception.
This venue was originally built around the 1840s. It has the storybook charm from a home built at this time. The front porch is especially inviting. It’s an ideal spot for a first look or quiet moment with your partner in the midst of the wedding day bustle.
Cross Gables Estate FAQs
Are you considering getting married at this amazing venue? Here are some FAQs to help you plan your celebration.
How much does it cost to get married at Cross Gables Estate?
Full weddings with over 65 guests start at $12,000. This package includes:
- 6-hour property rental
- One hour for rehearsal
- A suite and lounge
- Ceremony and reception chairs
- Tables
- Tent (if necessary)
- Parking attendant
Micro weddings with up to 65 guests start at $6,500. This package includes:
- 6-hour property rental
- One hour for rehearsal
- A suite and lounge
- Ceremony and reception chairs
- Tables
- Parking attendant
What’s the capacity at Cross Gables Estate?
The maximum capacity at this venue is 300. For a wedding this large, you’ll need to use the venue’s tent.
Does Cross Gables Estate have getting ready suites?
The venue has a getting ready suite and an additional lounge. Both are included in the Weddings and Micro Weddings packages.
What amenities does Cross Gables Estate offer?
This wedding venue offers basics, including tables, chairs, and a customizable ceremony backdrop.
The venue doesn’t offer catering or much decor beyond the basics. They often work with Perfect Setting Catering.
Is Cross Gables Estate accessible?
Call ahead to make sure the venue can accommodate your specific needs. They don’t list any wheelchair accessible entrances or ADA parking spots on their website. Additionally, the venue has a lot of stairs to the porch, terrace, suites, and other spaces.
Where is Cross Gables Estate?
Cross Gables Estate is located in Exton, PA. It’s about an hour northwest of Center City Philadelphia. Locals can make the drive pretty easily. If anyone wants to stay closer to the venue, though, there are lots of hotels in the area.
Would you like to explore more Philadelphia wedding venues? Check out this blog post to compare 21 amazing Philadelphia wedding venues along with costs.
Film Wedding Photography
For this fall wedding, I included 35mm film photography alongside the digital photos. I love film wedding photography. Before I even thought about becoming a wedding photographer, I fell in love with film in my high school’s darkroom. It’s got a tangible quality that film doesn’t quite capture.
Film is an integral part of my style – so much so that I even edit my digital photos to have a film-like quality. The colors are beautiful. If you want wedding photos that are true to tone and as vibrant as your day, film is a great place to start.
A historic wedding venue like Cross Gables Estate translates beautifully in film photos. It really gives you the sense of preserving a slice of time with the generations layered on top of each other. Film is a great medium for candids and portraits, but I also love it for preserving the details of a venue and wedding day.
Booking Your Philadelphia Wedding Photography
Are you interested in having me photograph your wedding? I’m Theo, a Philadelphia wedding photographer serving Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and beyond. My work is inspired by retro wedding images and the belief that marginalized love deserves to be affirmed and archived. As a wedding photographer, my goal is to preserve your love exactly as it is for lifetimes to come.
