Portico - Awbury Arboretum

•Ratings include Zola and Google reviews

All-inclusive venue

The venue takes care of it all - food and beverage, rentals, the works!

Full wedding (ceremony and reception) pricing

Starting at $17,000 for off-peak dates, and $24,000 for peak dates

Guest capacity

Up to 160 seated guests

About this venue

Portico is a storybook wedding venue set within Awbury Arboretum in the historic Germantown neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia. The 55-acre arboretum is a green oasis in the city, with the Francis Cope House as its centerpiece. The Quaker stone mansion has floor-to-ceiling windows and a wraparound porch overlooking specimen trees, woods and meadows. Portico accommodates up to 160 guests, with dinner on a flagstone patio beneath a white tent surrounded by landscaped gardens and dancing in the Francis Cope House. Weddings at Portico are catered by Peachtree Weddings. Menus are seasonal and customizable, with food prepared largely from scratch in our own kitchen. Our full-service planning team also assists with timelines, floor plans, rentals and equipment, ceremony rehearsals and other details leading up to the wedding day.

Seated guest capacity

80-160

Venue type

Historic Estates, Mansions
Parks, Gardens

Venue setting

Covered Outdoor
Indoor
Outdoor

1 Awbury Rd, Philadelphia, PA 19138

Our event spaces

Francis Cope House

A historic house made for gathering.

Tall ceilings, natural light and floor-to-ceiling windows give the Cope House an open, gracious character. Multiple doors connect the interior to the adjoining patio, while dancing takes place inside the house.

Guest capacity

30-160 Seated

30-160 Standing

Ideal for

Wedding ceremony, Wedding reception, Cocktail hour

Guests often feel this space is

“Surprised and delighted”

Included in this room:

Covered patio and large white reception tent with market lighting and slate flooring.

Grounds

Meadows, gardens and mature trees at Awbury Arboretum.

Portico is surrounded by the meadows, gardens, and mature trees of Awbury Arboretum, including restored wildflower meadows, specialized gardens, and over 140 species of specimen trees. The grounds offer room to explore, with varied backdrops for portraits and outdoor gatherings.

Guest capacity

Up to 160 Seated

Up to 160 Standing

Ceremony

Flexible ceremony settings across the Awbury Arboretum grounds.

Ceremonies may take place in the grove of trees behind the Cope House, in the meadow in front, or by the portico and adjoining gardens. Each option offers a distinct connection to Awbury Arboretum's historic landscape.

Guest capacity

Up to 160 Seated

Up to 160 Standing

Wedding Suites

Two private suites, each with its own character.

The larger upstairs suite spans two rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and generous space for getting ready. A second suite, tucked into a separate area, pairs stone walls with natural light and privacy.

Guest capacity

Up to 160 Seated

Up to 160 Standing

Tent

A garden reception beside Francis Cope House.

Located behind the Cope House and surrounded by gardens, the tent offers an airy setting for dinner and toasts. Dancing takes place inside the house, creating a natural progression through the evening.

Guest capacity

Up to 160 Seated

Up to 160 Standing

Porch

A covered, wraparound gathering space overlooking the gardens.

The broad covered porch connects Cope House to the surrounding gardens, providing a sheltered open-air setting for cocktails and conversation. Its distinctive arches frame views of the grounds and make it one of Portico’s most recognizable spaces

Guest capacity

Up to 160 Seated

Up to 160 Standing

Parlor Rooms

Connected indoor rooms for cocktails and dancing, with floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the porch for seamless indoor-outdoor space.

The parlor and foyer spaces provide a comfortable indoor setting for cocktail hour and become the center of the celebration for dancing. Opening directly onto the porch and gardens, the rooms allow guests to move easily between indoors and out throughout the event.

Guest capacity

Up to 160 Seated

Up to 160 Standing