Longwood Gardens has been one of my favorite places to photograph for years. The Conservatory, the fountains, the formal gardens, the meadows: I have shot engagement sessions here and come away every time with images that look unlike anything I can get anywhere else. The grounds have a quality that is hard to articulate — something about the scale and the intentionality of the planting and the way the light moves through glass and water and bloom.
As of late 2024, following a 250 million dollar expansion and renovation, Longwood Gardens now hosts wedding receptions. This is significant. It is one of the most beautiful properties in the mid-Atlantic and the demand from couples has been building since the announcement. Here is what you need to know.
The Spaces
The Fountain Room
The new Fountain Room is the centerpiece of the expanded event spaces. Large arched windows overlook the iconic Main Fountain Garden, and the room was designed with meticulous attention to detail: bespoke furniture crafted from reclaimed Longwood trees, architectural elements that echo the design of the gardens outside. It seats up to 200 guests for a meal with cocktail reception or up to 400 for a reception-style event. The views of the Main Fountain Garden from this room are extraordinary.
The Conservatory
The historic Conservatory, a soaring glass structure that has thrilled visitors since 1921, is available for larger events. It seats up to 400 guests for a seated meal and accommodates up to 1,000 reception-style. Being inside the Conservatory for an event, surrounded by ever-changing displays of horticulture under that magnificent glass ceiling, is an experience that almost no other venue in the region can replicate. The Conservatory is available Wednesdays through Mondays.
What You Need to Know Before Booking
Longwood hosts wedding receptions only. Ceremonies are not permitted on site. This means couples need to plan their ceremony elsewhere and come to Longwood for the reception, or hold a ceremony privately before arriving. It is worth planning for intentionally rather than treating as a limitation.
Receptions begin at 4pm or later and require a minimum of 100 guests. A full-service wedding planner is required — day-of coordinators are not permitted. In-house catering through Restaurant Associates is required; outside caterers are not allowed. Outside vendors for everything else, including photography and florals, are permitted with prior approval.
One extraordinary option: a private Illuminated Fountain Performance can be arranged for your event, with the famous Main Fountain Garden performing exclusively for your guests. If you have ever seen the Longwood fountain show, you understand why this is worth asking about.
The Grounds as a Photography Location
I have been shooting on these grounds for years before weddings were even an option here. What I know about Longwood as a photography location:
The Conservatory light is extraordinary. The glass filters and diffuses everything, and the combination of green and bloom and that particular quality of light through glass produces portraits with a warmth that is hard to manufacture anywhere else. The Italian Water Garden, the Flower Garden Walk, the Meadow Garden, the Peirce’s Woods: every section of the property has a distinct visual character.
The fountains change the light around them. When the Main Fountain Garden is running, the water catches and reflects light in a way that affects everything in the vicinity. Timing your portraits around fountain show schedules is worth discussing with your photographer in advance.
Practical Details
Longwood Gardens is located at 1001 Longwood Road in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, about 30 miles from Philadelphia International Airport and easily accessible via I-95. It sits just across the Delaware border from Wilmington, making it a natural complement to a hotel block at Hotel du Pont or other Wilmington properties.
All events conclude by 11pm. Outdoor amplified sound ends at 10pm. Parking is included in the facility rental.
Frequently Asked Questions: Longwood Gardens Weddings
Can you have a wedding at Longwood Gardens?
Yes, as of late 2024 following a major expansion. Longwood Gardens hosts wedding receptions in the new Fountain Room and the historic Conservatory. Ceremonies are not permitted on site. A full-service wedding planner is required, and in-house catering is required.
How many guests can attend a Longwood Gardens wedding reception?
The Fountain Room accommodates up to 200 guests for a seated meal with cocktail reception or up to 400 reception-style. The Conservatory accommodates up to 400 seated or up to 1,000 reception-style for larger events.
Can you have your wedding ceremony at Longwood Gardens?
No. Longwood Gardens hosts receptions and social celebrations but does not permit wedding or religious ceremonies on the property. Couples typically hold their ceremony at a nearby church, courthouse, or private location before arriving at Longwood for the reception.
Is a wedding planner required for a Longwood Gardens wedding?
Yes. A full-service wedding planner is required. Day-of coordinators are not permitted. Longwood can recommend trusted planners if you do not already have one.
Do you photograph weddings and engagement sessions at Longwood Gardens?
Yes. I have photographed engagement sessions at Longwood Gardens and know the property well. As Longwood begins hosting wedding receptions, I am actively building experience there as a wedding photography location. If you are planning a Longwood Gardens wedding reception, I would love to hear about it.
What is near Longwood Gardens for a wedding ceremony?
Longwood is in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, close to the Delaware border. Nearby options for ceremonies include historic churches throughout Chester County, outdoor locations on private properties, and venues in Wilmington, Delaware, about 15 minutes away. Hotel du Pont in Wilmington is one of my favorite venues in the region and pairs beautifully with a Longwood reception.
Longwood Gardens is one of the most beautiful properties I have ever photographed on. If you are planning a wedding reception there, reach out here.
