Venue

So after a semi-exhaustive search we chose the Four Seasons in Philadelphia as our venue.

Here were the driving reasons:

1) We were adamant about having a Center City location. Convenient for our in-town guests to get to and our out of town guests really get a taste of Philly by being in the heart of the city.

2) We wanted a hotel so we could have the ceremony and reception at the same place. (Cuts out the whole cost of transportation).

3) Since we are not going the traditional route of having an evening wedding we needed a place that could accommodate a late morning - early afternoon wedding. (Really its a deal for the hotel because they get a twofer in one day. Some hotels were very adamant that since we wanted to do it on a Saturday they could only accommodate day time weddings on Friday or Sunday. Saturday's were reserved for their big weddings in the ball room)

4) We wanted to do a brunch (the best meal of the day), heard raves about their brunch spread and the brunch menu options were spectacular.

5) Their decor is gorgeous and the level of service is beyond compare.

6) In our venue visit the wedding coordinator Lanay was prepared & organized, friendly beyond compare, and seemed genuinely interested in us and our wedding plans. She did not push us to do things we didn't want to and really helped in working with our theme and things we love.

7) The meeting rooms were beautiful and went along with our cozy sophisticated theme.

8) The flow of the hotel was great. Everything on one floor. Which we have to consider for older guests and just for ease of moving from one room to another.

9) The possibility of using the terrace for the cocktail hour.

10) Possibility of great shots right outside the hotel on the Parkway or at Logan Circle.

Even though they were the priciest of all the hotels we looked at the future Mister, who is very strict about the budget, turned to me on the car ride home and said "Let's do the Four Seasons". Which came as a totally big surprise. I had casually thrown out the question "So what do you think? Thoughts, impressions?" Holding my breathe and expecting him to pick the most economical venue. But this time he was the "BUDGET BUSTER". And I was advocating for the cheaper venue. (I know .... me advocate for the cheaper item .... Bizarro World!) Well I guess in all of this nothing will ever be as you expect it.

I will admit there are some cons to the venue we choose but I feel they are minor in the grand scheme of things.

1. We did not get a complimentary room, though other hotels offered. We are only getting a discount on a suite. And this was the case with a couple since we were not doing a night time wedding.
2. We do not get a tasting. We actually had to go to Sunday brunch at the hotel to get a feel of what the quality of food would be like. (So in essence we paid for the tasting).


But needless to say we have the Four Seasons and I love it. YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

(It was secretly the one I wanted anyhoo!)

Here is a link to a picture of our reception room.

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia Meeting - Meeting rooms : Washington Room