All wedding photographers have favorite venues : it’s just a fact. Some might love a space because of the sweeping lawns. Some might be drawn to a particular venue’s swirling spiral staircase. Some might love how the light plays across a patio at cocktail hour. Me? I’m most drawn to light, to the dramatic juxtaposition of shadow and highlight, to warmth, kindness, and more than a healthy sense of drama.
Front and Palmer is one of those venues. Cozy, intimate, theatrical, unique – it is all of those things and so much more.
This whole winter wedding was pure Philadelphia through and through. From their preparations at the iconic Hotel Monaco to the classic grandeur of Christ Church, nighttime portraits across from my favorite pizza place in the crisp cold winter air to the most charming of receptions, the whole day was Samantha and Eric through and through : just wonderful.
Here are a few of my favorite images from their wedding:
Front and Palmer Philadelphia Wedding Photographer
Front and Palmer at 1750 North Front Street in Fishtown is a former pickle factory and barrel factory combined into a single loft event space with 35-foot ceilings, exposed brick, original wood floors, art chandeliers, Edison bulbs, and steel rafters overhead. Named one of America’s top 45 wedding venues by Brides. Exclusively catered by Feast Your Eyes. I photographed a winter wedding here and the dramatic quality of that space in December, with the warm industrial light against the brick and the crisp Fishtown air outside, is exactly why it is one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia.
About the Venue
1750 North Front Street in Fishtown, Philadelphia. A combination of two historic factory buildings — one originally a pickle factory, the other a barrel factory — merged into a single event space. Events on the second floor. First floor houses the on-site kitchen. Exclusively catered by Feast Your Eyes Catering. Saturday facility fee $4,800. Saturday evening receptions starting around $150 per person. Valet parking available. On-site lot accommodates 35 to 40 cars. One block from the Berks Street stop on the Market-Frankford El.
The Space
35-foot ceilings with steel rafters that criss-cross overhead, providing attachment points for custom lighting including fairy lights, lanterns, and chandeliers. Exposed brick throughout. Original wood floors. Art chandeliers and Edison bulbs as permanent fixtures. An adjacent lounge area for cocktail hour separate from the main loft.
220 to 250 seated with dance floor. 325-plus for cocktail receptions. The open floor plan accommodates both ceremony and reception in the same space, with a seamless flip between the two. Farmhouse tables and ghost chairs are common at this venue and the industrial bones pair well with almost any aesthetic.
Photography at Front and Palmer
The 35-foot ceilings with the steel rafters and whatever lighting is hanging from them for reception coverage. The exposed brick walls for portraits and ceremony coverage. The Edison bulbs and art chandeliers casting warm industrial light. The adjacent lounge during cocktail hour. And outside, the Fishtown neighborhood itself, with its colorful street art, historic buildings, and the particular quality of Philadelphia light in every season. Winter here is especially good — the warm glow of the space against the cold outside creates something theatrical.
Frequently Asked Questions: Front and Palmer Weddings
Where is Front and Palmer located?
1750 North Front Street in Fishtown, Philadelphia. One block from the Berks Street stop on the Market-Frankford El.
What is Front and Palmer?
A former pickle and barrel factory converted into a loft wedding venue in Fishtown, Philadelphia. 35-foot ceilings, exposed brick, original wood floors, art chandeliers. 220 to 250 seated with dance floor, 325-plus cocktail style. Exclusively catered by Feast Your Eyes. Saturday facility fee $4,800, receptions starting around $150 per person. On-site parking and valet available.
What makes Front and Palmer distinctive?
The industrial character is genuine, not designed to look industrial. These are real factory bones from real factory buildings. The 35-foot ceilings with steel rafters give lighting designers enormous flexibility. And Feast Your Eyes Catering is one of the best caterers in Philadelphia — the food program here is serious. For couples who want something that is definitively not a hotel ballroom, Front and Palmer is one of the strongest options in the city.
Is catering exclusive at Front and Palmer?
Yes. All catering is exclusively provided by Feast Your Eyes Catering. Outside catering is not permitted.
Do you photograph weddings at Front and Palmer?
Yes. If your wedding is here, I would love to hear about it.
