here are wedding venues that feel grand, and there are wedding venues that feel fun. The Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall is one of the rare places in Philadelphia that manages to be both at the same time, and it was the perfect fit for Julie and Calen.
Memorial Hall sits in West Fairmount Park, and its story goes back to the very beginning of Philadelphia’s modern identity. The building was constructed as the art gallery for the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, the first World’s Fair ever held in the United States. Over the following century and a half it lived many lives, serving as a museum and an art school before falling quiet for years. In 2008 the Please Touch Museum moved in and gave this National Historic Landmark a second act, filling its marble halls with exhibits that invite children to touch, climb, steer, and imagine. The building marks its 150th anniversary this year, and walking through it still feels like stepping into something bigger than any one day.
Then there’s the other side of it. Under that soaring Beaux Arts architecture you’ll find a 40 foot Statue of Liberty torch built entirely from toys by Philadelphia artist Leo Sewell, a SEPTA bus kids can pretend to drive, a Rocket Room, and a fully restored 1908 Dentzel carousel in its own glass pavilion. It’s history and playfulness living under one roof.
Julie calls herself a kid at heart, and Calen brings a warm, steady energy that fills a room without trying. Together they had a day full of laughter from start to finish. They got ready and shared their first look at The Logan Hotel in Logan Square, then we made our way out to the Please Touch Museum for the rest of the celebration, with plenty of stops at the exhibits that make this place so special. Their day was planned beautifully by Andree Collective, and Julie’s hair and makeup were done by MU8 Bridal Beauty.
This venue is for couples who don’t want to choose between elegance and personality. If you love the idea of a historic, marble floored hall with sweeping ceilings, but you also want your guests to leave talking about the time they took photos on a SEPTA bus, this is your place.
It works especially well for couples who are playful by nature, who love Philadelphia and want their wedding to feel rooted in it, and who want a single location that can carry the whole evening from cocktail hour to the last dance. It’s also a strong choice for larger guest lists, since the main hall can accommodate a seated reception of up to around 450 guests. If you’re still figuring out your headcount, our guest list calculator is a helpful place to start before you tour.
And it’s a natural fit for couples who care about food. Catering at Memorial Hall is handled exclusively by the in house team at Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, formerly known as Brûlée Catering, so the kitchen knows every corner of this building and how to run an evening here smoothly. Their team, led on site by Jenny Moyer, took wonderful care of Julie, Calen, and every one of their guests.
Many couples who marry at the Please Touch Museum choose to get ready in Center City, and Julie and Calen’s choice of The Logan Hotel is one of the best options in the city for a first look. The Logan sits right on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, directly across from Logan Circle and the Swann Memorial Fountain, Alexander Stirling Calder’s Art Deco centerpiece from 1924. Within a short walk you have the tree lined Parkway, the Rodin Museum, and the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which gives a first look a true sense of place while keeping travel time minimal.
Inside the hotel, quieter corners and hallways give couples a private moment away from the bustle, which is often exactly what a first look needs. Julie and Calen’s first look was full of the same warmth and laughter that carried through the rest of their day, and having it close to where they got ready meant they could linger in the moment instead of rushing to the next one.
For couples who would rather do their first look at the museum itself, the exterior of Memorial Hall offers a stunning setting. Its grand front steps, the larger than life horse statues out front, and the open lawns of the Centennial District all make for a dramatic and beautiful backdrop.
The heart of Memorial Hall is Hamilton Hall, the great rotunda beneath the building’s dome. With marble floors, towering ceilings, and the toy built Statue of Liberty torch rising in the center, it’s one of the most visually striking rooms in Philadelphia. It can hold a seated ceremony or reception for around 450 guests, and it handles a full dance floor with room to spare. Light pours in during the daytime, and in the evening the right lighting design transforms the space into something warm and intimate despite its scale.
Beyond Hamilton Hall, the building offers a range of other spaces that can be woven into the night. The Carousel House holds the restored 1908 Woodside Park Dentzel carousel, a showstopper for cocktail hour or a quiet portrait moment. The South Foyer is home to a Philadelphia neighborhood themed area with a mural, the SEPTA bus, and a city street vendor setup, which makes for a fun spot to gather guests. The Centennial Gallery features a scale model of the entire 1876 Centennial Exhibition, a great conversation piece for history lovers, and the East and West Galleries provide flexible room for larger events.
What makes a wedding here different is how naturally the day can flow between these spaces. Julie and Calen made sure their celebration included the exhibits that made them smile, and some of our favorite images of the day came from moments at the SEPTA bus and in the Rocket Room, two places where their playful side came through completely. Pair that with the quiet grandeur of the historic architecture and you end up with a gallery that feels genuinely like them.
One of the best things about a Please Touch Museum wedding is everything that surrounds it. Memorial Hall sits within the Centennial District of West Fairmount Park, which means some of the city’s most beautiful green spaces are right outside the door.
A short walk down the Avenue of the Republic brings you to the Smith Memorial Arch, a monumental Civil War memorial with sweeping curved colonnades that make a striking frame for portraits. Nearby, the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden offers a peaceful, completely different texture, with a koi pond and traditional architecture that changes beautifully with the seasons. The Fairmount Park Horticulture Center grounds provide trees, open lawns, and soft natural light, and Belmont Plateau offers one of the best skyline views in the city for couples who want the Philadelphia silhouette behind them.
If your day starts in Center City like Julie and Calen’s did, the area around The Logan Hotel adds even more variety. Logan Circle and the Swann Memorial Fountain, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Rodin Museum gardens, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art are all within a few minutes of each other. These same spots work wonderfully for engagement sessions, especially for couples who want their engagement photos and wedding photos to feel connected to the same part of the city. You can see more of the places we love to photograph on our venues page.
1. Decide early which exhibits matter to you. The Please Touch Museum is a working children’s museum, and part of the joy of a wedding here is getting to play in it. If you have your heart set on photos at the SEPTA bus, the Rocket Room, or the carousel, talk with the events team and your planner early so access is part of the plan from the start.
2. Build travel time into your timeline. Many couples get ready in Center City and travel out to Fairmount Park. It’s a short drive, but on a wedding day every few minutes counts. Give yourself a comfortable buffer, and if you’re planning portraits at stops along the way, map those out in advance. Our wedding photography coverage calculator can help you see how many hours you’ll need to capture getting ready, travel, and the full celebration without feeling rushed.
3. Design for the scale of Hamilton Hall. A room this grand needs a plan for how it will feel once the sun goes down. Lighting, centerpiece height, and floor plan all matter more here than in a smaller ballroom. This is where an experienced planner like Andree Collective makes a real difference, helping a huge historic space feel personal and warm.
4. Lean on the in house team. Because Rhubarb Hospitality Collection is the exclusive caterer, they know the building’s rhythms, load ins, and timing better than anyone. Bring them your questions about menu, dietary needs, and flow early in the process. Their familiarity with Memorial Hall takes a lot of guesswork off your plate.
5. Step outside for at least a few portraits. It’s easy to stay inside a building this beautiful all day, but the Centennial District of Fairmount Park is one of the most underrated portrait settings in Philadelphia. Even ten minutes on the front steps or the surrounding lawns during good light gives your gallery an entirely different feel. If you’re balancing these decisions against your overall spending, our wedding budget tool can help you see where photography time fits.
Inside Memorial Hall, the light is at its most beautiful when daylight is still coming through the building’s tall windows, which makes late afternoon a wonderful time for portraits in the rotunda before evening lighting takes over. Once the reception begins, the space becomes about warmth, candlelight, and energy, and that’s when the celebration photographs come alive.
Outside, the hour before sunset is the time to aim for. The soft, low light across the lawns and stonework of the Centennial District is about as flattering as it gets, and it’s worth planning a short break from cocktail hour or the reception to step out for it.
When it comes to the time of year, every season brings something different. Spring in Fairmount Park means fresh green leaves and blooming trees, especially around Shofuso’s gardens. Summer gives you long evenings and later sunsets, though Philadelphia humidity is real, so having indoor portrait options built into the plan is a smart move. Fall is a favorite, with foliage across the park typically peaking in late October into early November and a warm, golden quality to the light. Winter weddings here are cozy and dramatic, and because the celebration lives indoors, weather never threatens the day. Just keep in mind that sunset arrives early in December and January, so outdoor portraits are best planned for earlier in the afternoon.
How many guests can the Please Touch Museum accommodate for a wedding?
Hamilton Hall can host a seated ceremony or reception for up to around 450 guests, with standing capacity of about 650 for cocktail style gatherings. The museum also offers smaller spaces like the Carousel House and the Centennial Gallery for more intimate portions of the evening.
Who caters weddings at the Please Touch Museum?
Catering is handled exclusively by Rhubarb Hospitality Collection, the team formerly known as Brûlée Catering. Their on site team, led by Jenny Moyer, manages food and beverage for events at Memorial Hall.
Can we take photos in the museum’s exhibits?
Yes, and it’s one of the best parts of getting married here. Julie and Calen included the SEPTA bus and the Rocket Room in their portraits. Coordinate with the events team ahead of time about which exhibits will be available on your day.
What happens if it rains?
Weddings at the Please Touch Museum take place indoors, so your ceremony and reception are protected from the weather no matter what. Rain may limit outdoor portraits in the park, but the interior offers more than enough variety to make up for it.
Is the Please Touch Museum accessible for guests with mobility needs?
Memorial Hall is wheelchair accessible, which makes it a comfortable option for multigenerational guest lists.
Where should we get ready before a Please Touch Museum wedding?
Many couples choose a Center City hotel. The Logan Hotel, where Julie and Calen got ready, is a wonderful option because it sits directly on Logan Circle, giving you beautiful first look and portrait locations steps from the door before a short drive out to Fairmount Park.
Is there parking at the Please Touch Museum?
Yes, the museum has its own parking lot on site, which makes arrivals simpler for guests driving in.
Julie and Calen’s wedding was a reminder of how good a day can feel when it truly reflects the people at the center of it. Laughter, history, a little bit of play, and a whole lot of love, all under one beautiful roof.
If you’re planning a wedding at the Please Touch Museum or anywhere in Philadelphia, we would love to hear about it. Reach out to Days Away Creative and tell us about the two of you, what makes you laugh, and what you hope your day will feel like. We’ll take it from there.
Wedding Team
Venue: Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall
Catering: Rhubarb Hospitality Collection
Planning: Andree Collective
Hair and Makeup: MU8 Bridal Beauty
Getting Ready: The Logan Hotel
Photography: Days Away Creative
