With these five venues, you and your partner are sure to find something to compliment your taste buds.
Elevated plates and toast-worthy spirit tastings turn fall wedding receptions into grand culinary experiences.
Choosing your location isn’t easy. As the backdrop to your entire day, the venue you choose also determines the food, the décor and the overall vibe of your wedding. But here in Philly, local sites have stepped up their game, offering brides and grooms a bounty of options to please any taste. This fall, venues are focused on food. At Rittenhouse’s
Sofitel Philadelphia (120 S. 17th St., 215.569.8300, sofitel-philadelphia.com) Executive Chef Edward Hancock has joined the mix, creating new menus full of seasonal veggies and herbs, plus honey straight from the hotel’s rooftop-garden beehives. But beyond the palatability, the Sofitel has turned charitable—2017 brides can now rest easy knowing that $1 for every plate served at their wedding is going toward Broad Street Ministries to provide service to homeless and at-risk locals. After a multimillion- dollar renovation last spring,
The Hyatt at The Bellevue (200 S. Broad St., 215.893.1234, philadelphia be ll evue. hyatt.com) now offers guests updated rooms packed with Philly pride (artwork from local painters and photographers span the walls), plus a more recent update to the gorgeous Grand Ballroom dance floor and stage. The hotel’s chefs are drawing menu inspiration from what’s cooking at XIX ( Nineteen), the Hyatt’s lofty fine- dining destination on the top floor. Guests can now sample house favorites like lobster- stuffed chicken and roasted center cut filet.
And while Cescaphe (215.238.5750, cescaphe.com) venues have always been known for their fare, this fall, they’re focusing on the liquor. “Brides and grooms are spending a lot of time finding new ways to make their cocktail hours more interactive for their guests,” says Joe Volpe, founder and CEO of Cescaphe Event Group, whose stable of locations includes Tendenza, Vie, Water Works, Atrium at Curtis Center, Down Town Club and Cescaphe Ballroom. “One upgrade we love is adding a special tasting station to your event— we work with local sommeliers, brew masters and whiskey experts to add a fun, but educational, way for guests to enjoy fine wines, craft beers and whiskies that they may have never tried before.” But before the food is served, the first impression is dependent on the locale. Acting as the backdrop to a majority of the day- of photos, couples tying the knot at The Sofitel can look forward to pictures in front of the famous lobby artwork and the library wall in Libertè Lounge, while The Bellevue gives photos a hint of elegance with their dramatic staircase. “It’s breathtaking every time we see a bride greeting family and friends at the base of the marble and hand-worked iron elliptical staircase,” says Pina Purpero, general manager of The Bellevue. Whether you want your wedding to be a day of classic sophistication or tailored fun, Philly venues have more options than ever for hosting a chic city wedding. Now get started on picking those menus.