Wilmington is an easy drive from New York City. Two hours, maybe a little more depending on traffic, straight down I-95. No bridges to worry about, no tunnels. You arrive and the pace of the city is noticeably different from New York in a way that takes about ten minutes to settle into. Quieter. More spacious. Genuinely peaceful.
I have been photographing weddings in Delaware for years and I keep coming back for the same reason: Hotel du Pont is one of my favorite venues anywhere on the East Coast, and the portrait locations surrounding Wilmington are extraordinary.
Hotel du Pont
The Hotel du Pont opened in 1913 and has been one of the great American grand hotels ever since. The Gold Ballroom is exactly what it sounds like: ornate, formal, and genuinely beautiful in a way that photographs with real weight. The ceilings, the chandeliers, the architectural detail throughout the building: this is a venue that was built to impress and has been impressing people for over a century.
What I love most about it as a photographer are the smaller details. The staircase. The doors. The light in the hotel rooms, which are spacious and comfortable and have the kind of window light that makes getting-ready coverage a genuine pleasure rather than a logistical challenge. When the light is right in those rooms it is extraordinary.
One of the things that makes Hotel du Pont weddings particularly interesting is that many couples choose to leave the property for portraits. The hotel is surrounded by some of the most beautiful portrait locations in the mid-Atlantic, and couples who take advantage of that come back with a gallery that shows two completely different visual worlds in the same day.
Portrait Locations
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, just across the Delaware border, is one of the great horticultural estates in the country. The conservatories, the fountains, the formal gardens, the meadows: it is an extraordinary portrait location in every season. I have photographed couples at Longwood many times and written a guide to it separately. The combination of Hotel du Pont for the wedding and Longwood for portraits is one of the best pairings in the region.
Winterthur
The Winterthur estate in Winterthur, Delaware, was the home of Henry Francis du Pont and is now one of the premier museums of American decorative arts. The grounds are extraordinary: rolling hills, naturalistic gardens, and a landscape that was designed by someone with an exceptional eye. The Enchanted Woods on the property is particularly beautiful. I have photographed engagement sessions at Winterthur and the images have a quality that is hard to find elsewhere.
Why Delaware Works
The ease of it, mostly. Wilmington is close enough to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington that guests can travel from multiple directions without difficulty. The pace of the city is genuinely relaxed in a way that wedding days in larger cities are often not. And Hotel du Pont provides a level of service and a quality of setting that very few venues in the region can match.
For couples who want a grand, elegant, historically significant venue without the logistics of a New York City wedding, Wilmington and Hotel du Pont make a compelling case.
Frequently Asked Questions: Delaware Wedding Photography
Do you photograph weddings in Delaware?
Yes. Hotel du Pont is one of my favorite venues anywhere on the East Coast and I have photographed there multiple times. I am also familiar with Longwood Gardens and Winterthur as portrait locations.
What is the best wedding venue in Delaware?
Hotel du Pont in Wilmington is the obvious answer for couples who want a grand, historic, formally elegant venue. The Gold Ballroom, the architectural details throughout the building, and the quality of the hotel rooms make it one of the most complete wedding venues in the mid-Atlantic.
How far is Delaware from New York City?
About two hours by car from Manhattan, straight down I-95. One of the easier drives in the region with no bridges or tunnels to navigate. Amtrak also connects New York Penn Station to Wilmington directly in about an hour and a half.
What are good portrait locations near Hotel du Pont?
Longwood Gardens in nearby Kennett Square, Pennsylvania is extraordinary in every season. Winterthur estate in Delaware has beautiful naturalistic grounds. Both reward couples willing to make the short drive from the hotel.
Do you travel to Delaware for weddings?
Yes. If you are planning a Delaware wedding and want to talk about photography, reach out here.
Easy drive, beautiful hotel, extraordinary portrait locations nearby. Delaware is quieter than New York. Sometimes that is exactly what a wedding day needs.
