American Swedish Historical Museum

on everything they promise. Dorothy and Bonnie, our coordinators and initial contacts were kind and helpful at every turn. Wish we could do it again, and we would do it all the same!

rsatility of the garden, tent, and museum all in one venue provides guests with a unique experience. It is generally affordable, as far as city weddings go. Additionally, the planning team has been phenomenal. They really have it down to a science at JAM Catering. My fiance and I very happy with our choice and recommend ASHM!

variety of spaces for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception both indoors and outdoors. There is also great history and exhibits that we are excited for out guests to see as well. Not only that, but access to the nearby park allows even more great photo taking locations beyond the already gorgeous options at the museum. Not only is the space beautiful, but the staff has been so helpful. They have always been willing to show us (and our family members) around the space whenever we needed/wanted to. Bonnie has been integral to our early planning process and helped minimize our stress exponentially.

h Bonnie - she’s incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the museum and what JAM has to offer. Our Event Designer, Dorothy has been an absoulte pleasure to work with - she's extremely attentive, organized, and has made each step of the planning process stress-free. We can't wait for our big day!

till elegant and well-managed, and I found that so quickly with JAM and ASHM. The space is beautiful, historic, and unique, not to mention conveniently located for Philadelphians! I also really value the venue's commitment to preserving the building as a piece of Pennsylvania history and JAM's dedication to sustainability and ethical practices in an industry that often feels so wasteful. Overall, I couldn't recommend them more!

than your typical wedding food in my opinion. The venue offers indoor/outdoor vibes tucked away in FDR park with a tent during the spring and fall months!

to the museum during cocktail hour is a great plus. Communication with the planners has been easy as well.

en amazing. The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous and so unique. The inside space for the ceremony is equally as beautiful as the outside so that was a big selling point for us as well. We cannot wait to get married here!!

tting, but the JAM staff was incredible. The whole day ran so smoothly, as well as the whole planning process leading up to the big day. Huge props to our Event Designer, Dorothy, who was incredibly organized and just a wonderful person to work with. We could not recommend this JAM venue more!

and elegant ambiance along with the beautiful park grounds provides the perfect backdrop for our special day. If you're looking for a distinctive and memorable wedding venue, the American Swedish Historical Museum is an excellent choice.

ience. They are responsive, kind, and answer all of our million questions. They get us more and more excited for our big day. Cannot recommend this venue enough.

picture of a well planned and beautiful wedding. We loved the idea of being able to have an outdoor wedding with the architectural details as a back drop, or an indoor ceremony on the grand staircase in the case of inclement weather. We knew right away that we would be in good hands with Mandy, the JAM Catering staff, and ASHM staff, so we booked one of the last available dates in 2022. The planning process was well structured, making what could be a frustrating process, a fun and exciting experience. There is a consistency in the reviews of this wedding venue which ring true…. Mandy is hands down an amazing wedding planner, the venue is unique and beautiful, and JAM catering makes delicious food. On the day of our wedding, September 9th, we walked into a transformed setting that was beautifully laid out by Mandy, the JAM staff, and David with Buttercup (florals). Behind the scenes, the staff at AMSH were so helpful and organized, in particular, Frank! ASHM offers a unique experience, backed by years of experience, in a location that is easy to get to from philadelphia and surrounding suburbs without the hassle of driving through the city. We highly recommend this venue and caterer for all future events!

was very helpful in answering all of our questions. Dorothy was our planner, and I cannot say enough good things about her! She was responsive, helpful, kind, and considerate. She truly wanted us to have the best wedding day, and she made it happen! I also cannot say enough good things about the venue itself, the food, the helpful staff, and the coordination of everything in a cohesive and organized fashion. Frank, the museum's facilities manager, was also so helpful and easy to work with. I literally cannot think of one thing I would critique - it exceeded my expectations by a long shot. I honestly wish I could do it all over again, and I wouldn't change a thing!! If you want a timeless, beautiful wedding with and expert staff and delicious food, you've come to the right place! Oh, by the way... our wedding happened to be the same night as the 8:20pm EAGLES VS COWBOYS game. You would think, being only a mile from the stadium, that it would negatively impact our wedding. Nope. It was one of the best parts! So goes to show that even a hurdle like the first night game in over a decade can't mess up the professionalism of this team. I am absolutely over the moon for JAM and ASHM!!!! Thank you to everyone who helped make our wedding the best ever!!!

h us to create a memorable day. Day of coordination - she (and Nicole!!) and the entire team at JAM were PHENOMENAL in making all of our guests feel comfortable and well cared for. THANK YOU!

the city), and unique magic. One of the things that was most important to us when booking a venue was that we had to love our Plan B as much as our Plan A and this venues absolutely offers it - you'll never be worried about the weather. Furthermore the entire JAM team is amazing - even when things didn't start off as expected, they made sure we end up 100% happy with every single detail along the way. If you're lucky enough to work with Veronica, Mandy, Frank and Kwame, rest assured that no detail will go unseen. Additionally every server, bartender, and chef, was a class act and they made our wedding so incredibly special and flawless. We loved this venue and the entire JAM team.

ain, I would choose them a 1000x over. When you hear of a catering company, food immediately comes to mind but JAM does so much more, going above and beyond to give the couple, family, and guests the best experience. Leading up to the event, I felt comfortable and at-ease because my coordinator (Mandy Lightcap) was consistent with communication, answered every question I had, and reassured me every step of the way that everything was running smoothly and we were right on track. Mandy had also set me up with an assistant coordinator (Dorothy) just in case I needed her as well! I never felt left in the dark during the entire process. Setting up was a breeze thanks to Frank (the venue manager), and we felt confident leaving our belongings with him and arranging to pick them up afterwards with him in charge. EThe day of the event, I had figured out there was a tornado warning leading up to our ceremony time (which means moving the ceremony/cocktail hour inside) and honestly, without Mandy I think I would’ve had an absolute breakdown. She made every effort to keep me calm and recognized when I was overwhelmed that she needed to ask someone to make the final decisions regarding the plans for the day. Ultimately we decided to go for the outdoor ceremony, and JAM had been one step ahead putting chairs inside just in case we needed to shift mid-ceremony. The food during cocktail hour was absolutely delicious and I really think it could’ve been a meal in itself. It set the bar high for dinner, and boy did that deliver! Our entrees (steak/salmon/black bean cake) were some of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten, not even taking into account it was served at a wedding. It really felt like a dinner at a fine dining restaurant, not something served in mass amounts, every bite was flavorful and the portions were even larger than I had pictured. The guests still rave about the food to us, and the cake as well! The chef absolutely knocked it out of the park. At the end of the night, JAM was kind enough to recognize how the weather had affected our timeline and graciously agreed to give us an extra ½ hr of service, free of charge!!!! The cherry on top of the entire night was the staff, going beyond just our coordinator and chef, but the servers and bartenders as well. Not only was their set-up and service top-notch but fun as well!!! We even had a few of them join us on the dance floor at the end of the night and our guest experience would not have been the same without it!!! It is one of the first things our guests mention when they talk about our wedding. Everyone had the best time with them on the dance floor and it really just added to the excitement. It was the most PERFECT day and I honestly have to say JAM is to thank for that, I highly recommend them to everyone who wants more than a venue, they truly deliver the greatest overall experience for everyone involved.

our lives! Helene & Frank were incredible and made the entire day operate seamlessly. Our guests also could not stop complimenting how pleasant the staff were during our entire wedding. ASHM is a hidden gem in Philadelphia. Do not sleep on this wedding venue!!

were so attentive to our guests. BYOB venue with a convenient drop-off prior to the event. Would certainly recommend this venue.

). One of the best moments was having our first dance inside the rotunda and looking up to see all of our friends on the balcony. It was so breathtaking and exactly what I was hoping for. My friends enjoyed looking around the museum and got some great photo ops. We are local to the park and never even knew this gem of a place existed despite being in FDR tons of times. Frank the facility manager is super nice and JAM catering is great (I reviewed them separately) but will state one more time how freaking awesome our event coordinator Mandy Lightcap was. We chose this space because we loved the outside and inside and felt that even though we wanted an outdoor wedding we would not be disappointed if we had to move indoors for any reason. The tent was beautiful in the evening with the lights and wreath. I would chose this place a million times again and rental was super affordable compared to many other local venues.

0 stars! The American Swedish Historical Museum was absolutely stunning for our wedding in July. Frank Sanders, Mandy Lightcap, and the entire ASHM team ensured that everything goes off without a hitch. Working with the ASHM staff for our wedding in July was nothing short of amazing. Their entire team is professional, highly competent, and accommodating. Mandy Lightcap and Frank Sanders were ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. Before the big day, Mandy sat down with us to discuss every detail; she will really take the time to get to know you as a couple and what your personal vision is. Frank was kind enough to let us into the museum after hours because that was the only time that our families could see the venue due to living across the country. Not only is the event planning team incredibly talented, personable, and did a fantastic job on the day of our wedding, but they were amazing at coordinating all of the fine details. Mandy was extremely responsive via phone call and email and answered all of our questions regarding what we wanted, food options, the contract, schedule, and last-minute changes on the day-of. She was easy to work with and very accommodating. She took the time to speak to us late at night because of the time difference and came in during her off hours and on the weekend to show us the venue, discuss the ever-changing plan, and even offered us a military clause in our contract due to an upcoming deployment. On the actual day of our wedding, Mandy, Frank, and the rest of the team was timely and professional. Throughout the wedding, they continued to cater to us and ensured that every detail at the museum was perfectly crafted. Our guests could not say enough great things about the beautiful venue and our photographs turned out absolutely stunning! So, needless to say, the décor and detail in every aspect of the event turned out unbelievably perfect. It made it a day that we will cherish for the rest of our lives. Overall, we could not have been more pleased with the outcome of our big day! I would enthusiastically recommend Mandy Lightcap, Frank Sanders, and the American Swedish Historical Museum for your wedding. Book them now!

e and luckily ASHM is a dog friendly venue so our flower girl and ring bearer could be included. The location itself is a beautiful backdrop, but Jeffery A. Miller Catering also did a great job making everything look and ran smoothly the day of. Shoshanna our coordinator through JAM, was responsive and genuinely cared about making sure we were happy with everything. We didn’t want a traditional wedding cake and they worked with us to create a strawberry shortcake and signature cocktails that fit right in with our fruit themed wedding. The food and staff were amazing the day of and we couldn’t be happier with our choice in venue and caterer. I want to add after reading a few other reviews that we were originally supposed to get married in May of 2020 and had to reschedule multiple times obviously due to COVID, JAM made the experience as seamless as possible while we all worked through a situation that none of us could have ever imagined. I felt that there was always open and honest communication from them and they did what they could to make our day happen the way we wanted while protecting their employees and business at the same time.

g about the museum. We stumbled upon the venue online and immediately fell in love with the location, the architecture of the building, and the history of the museum along with their indoor displays. The museum is beautiful and can be used for the ceremony indoors or outdoors. They host cocktail hour inside and outside as well so that guests may tour the various displays. The reception is held outdoors in a beautiful covered (clear top paneled) tent where the sides of the tent can remain open or closed. String lights hang from side to side which is beautiful when lit up alongside the museum at night. The venue offers many places for pictures as well as a lake boathouse and rotunda within walking distance in the park. The staff at the venue is incredibly friendly - those who work in the museum and those directly related to helping set up and coordinating the entire day. We had such an easy process for drop off and pick up on separate days from our actual ceremony/reception - it made the entire day and night so easy and more relaxing than having to worry about how to get our stuff to and from the venue. We will continue to be supporters of the museum and it will forever hold a special place in our hearts!

re the day went smoothly. The food and drinks were awesome and everyone was raving about how much fun they had. Id def recommend them to everyone!

he American Swedish Historic Museum. I loved the unique charm the museum had and Mandy and Shoshanna were so lovely to work with. No one ever missed a beat! From prompt email replies to many last minute changes the week of the wedding, everything was done quickly and gracefully. The wedding day and night were more than we could ever imagined. While running on adrenaline and the energy of the room, I managed to try appetizers, my meal, and all the desserts. Everything was DELICIOUS. All my guests are talking about how amazing the food was. Every item I brought was placed exactly how I imagined. The staff was ON IT the entire night. They didn't miss a thing. Food was passed out quickly and the captain and servers were constantly ensuring all guests had everything they needed. The museum itself is STUNNING. While the wedding day is a crazy whirlwind that goes by in the blink of an eye, I truly tried to take some time to look around and take it all in, but I would need weeks to take in all the beauty of this museum. Desserts and photo booth were set up in different galleries which allowed guests to explore and they loved it. Dancing in the great hall under the painted ceiling was so special and fun. All our vendors were accommodated and mentioned JAM and Shoshanna being so easy to work with. The pictures from this venue, both indoor and outdoor are so captivating! If there are anymore synonyms for the words wonderful, amazing, and fantastic, just insert them here, because I am so grateful for JAM and the perfect wedding day they helped give my husband and I!

one who came to celebrate!) The venue is GORGEOUS and so versatile: indoor and outdoor space, incredible tent with lights, climate control, and the most beautiful ceremony space imaginable. I will never forget walking up the steps with my soon-to-be husband and looking out to see all of our friends and family surrounding us from the balconies and from below. JAM catering made the planning flawless and stress free. We filled out some preferences, went to a tasting, and voila, wedding. I had worried the BYOB concept would be difficult, but even that was a no-brainer: JAM connected us to a liquor distributor and told us exactly what to buy, and the distributor dropped it off, the bartenders served it, and then they bought back everything we didn't use. I basically didn't have to lift a finger to plan anything (and probably saved a ton of money) and we had a beautiful black-tie wedding that was way beyond my, and my family's, expectations. BOOK THIS PLACE. You will have the most incredible memories. JAM even provides a coordinator (ours was Mandy, amazing person, we loved her) who runs the entire day. She will work with the museum, staff, your florist, musicians and DJ, so that everything comes together perfectly. I cannot possibly say enough good things about this venue. The pictures speak for themselves! Check out our pictures here. The smiling tells it all: http://www.photographyanthology.com/blog/2018/10/16/elise-bradford-classic-joy-filled-wedding-american-swedish-historical-museum-philadelphia-pa We booked the Rennaisance hotel on Chestnut street for the wedding weekend, and took photos in the national historic park right across the street. The rennaisance was phenomenal and I would recommend staying there just as highly.

It was beautiful, visually interesting, and unique while not being overly formal. It was almost a town hall vibe, with some guests seated and looking slightly upwards, and others standing on the second floor gallery and looking slightly downwards. It’s not for everyone, but I loved it. • The venue photographs really well, with a lot of dramatic backdrops, particularly the gazebo area in FDR Park as well as the lighted tent that they set up on the front lawn for our reception. All beautiful. • It rained during our wedding, and the rain plan worked shockingly smoothly and did not detract from the reception at all. • It was a great value relative to other places we looked, with no sneaky upcharges, and we felt we were treated fairly and honestly throughout the whole process. • They have a great team, highlighted in particular by Mandy (the venue/catering coordinator), who was always responsive, professional, and friendly. The whole time, it felt like we just happened to have a close friend who happened to know a lot about weddings. • The museum has an exclusive contract with JAM Catering—who Mandy works for. At first I thought that that would be annoying, but it actually worked out really seamlessly. Mandy acted as our point of contact for catering, but also basically as a wedding planner when it came to day-of logistics. Everything was so easy with her and the team, and they really nailed it.

ve been nicer! Mandy is so patient, kind, and truly listened to everything we said as to not miss a single detail for our day. She was running around keeping everyone on schedule! Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts! You guys are the BEST!

. The staff specially Mandy worked well with us on our budget and found prices/packages that fit. She was excellent and very responsible. We couldn’t ask for more beautiful day! Every thing was excellent and she did a great job! My husband and I agreed that choosing ASHM was the best decision we’ve had and Mandy is the best!

The wedding truly was the day/evening of our dreams, and we could not be any happier or more amazed with how everything turned out - from a space perspective, layout, planning, and execution. Aesthetically, we could not have imagined a more beautiful affair and we were both amazed at how stunning and spacious everything was for the 200 guests that we accommodated. Even leaving the reception we saw the display of drink tables and appetizer tables and they were so stunning that we just stood in awe and disbelief. Our wedding truly was the night of our dreams. Thank you SO MUCH to the entire museum staff that helped make our evening possible. In addition to the beauty and grandeur of the venue, we've heard from many guests how fantastic the food was, and JAM catering deserves a huge shout out for their menu selection and meal preparation. We really are just so thankful, appreciative, and amazed at how everything turned out.

side to the beautiful lighted tent for dancing overlooking scenic FDR park, this venue is magical! Even more magical is the venue coordinator, Mandy!! Mandy is truly a pleasure to work with-she is professional, incredibly knowledgeable and will go above and beyond to make your wedding day uniquely yours. My husband and I are vegan and wanted to offer plant based options at our wedding. Mandy made that happen easily and was always willing to look into any and all substitutions we requested. The food was some of the best we have ever had and our guests have raved to us about how delicious their meals were! The venue has the best of all worlds, beautiful outdoor space, a large tent with gorgeous lighting (that very comfortably seated our 200 guests), a stunning grand staircase and a beautiful museum all inside one of Philadelphia's most scenic parks. JAM catering are leaders in the business in Philadelphia-we could not have had a more joyous, fun and magical night!

tter. She took care of everything that she could reasonably accommodate and was a pleasure to work with throughout the process. I'd recommend JAM to anyone that values your wedding day being a special event.

Mandy were incredible!!! From start to finish, even during my bride freak outs, Mandy and team were there helping to make everything perfect. It was truly a magical night. The food was incredible and the service was outstanding!!! I can't thank Mandy and JAM enough for everything. If you thinking about a JAM wedding, I would say don't hesitate!! You will have a day as magical as mine! If I could give 10 stars I would!!

king with Mandy was so easy and so fun. Mandy promptly answered my (and my mom's) many questions, thought of creative solutions to any concerns we had, and bent over backwards to make sure every whim was accommodated. Not only is she superb at her job, but she is also incredibly kind, helpful and knowledgeable. We had a fantastic time planning with her. My mom has Celiac disease and Mandy was incredible about making sure she could eat everything at the reception. She went above and beyond by doing things like purchasing gluten free crackers to include with our stationary appetizer table, and including little cards indicating which passed hors d'oeuvres were gluten free. Mandy is one of the biggest reason I would recommend that someone get married at ASHM. She is a gem and I can't imagine planning/executing such a lovely reception without her. The Museum itself is gorgeous and is such a unique venue. It has both beautiful indoor (that grand staircase!) and outdoor (a light strung tent and big trees) spaces, so you're covered in terms of weather. I'm clearly biased, but I think it's a such a fun, gorgeous space for a celebration.

onsummate professional; easy to work with, responsive, communicative, organized, and she really cares about making your day special! We offer our highest possible recommendation!!

er, Jeffrey A. Miller Catering, was an absolute pleasure to work with for the 1+ year that we were planning our wedding! She was always responsive, easygoing, and helpful. The Museum itself is stunning! Our guests were totally in love with the Museum and FDR Park. They loved exploring the Museum during the cocktail hour and dancing under the stars outside during the reception. We couldn't have asked for a better venue! Plus, Jeffrey A. Miller Catering, is fantastic! The food was amazing and the cake was stunning!

has a semi-permanent tent installed, so you don't have to worry about the weather,and have an exclusive catering contract with Jeffrey Miller Catering, who makes the most incredible food. My guests were all raving about it after the wedding! The lighting and decor are perfect for a romantic feel. The inside of the museum is great for cocktail hour, and has been recently renovated. If you are looking for an urban, outdoor setting it doesn't get any better than this (trust me I looked everywhere!)!

ven in that freezing rain and sleet, the exterior was breathtaking. Mandy cheerfully greeted us at the front entrance and immediately made us forget the weather; she could not have been more helpful and easygoing. She took her time showing us the grounds (despite the aforementioned sleet, what a trooper) and the site of the tent that was going to go up on the front lawn in late August. Mandy answered our thousands of questions with the good humor and patience we came to rely on throughout the entire process of planning our wedding, and it's important to note that that patience and graciousness extended to all of the many people who worked so closely with us to make our wedding a day we will never forget. We danced the night away in the gorgeous tent, and our photographer captured some of my favorite images of the evening after after cocktail hour in the softly lit main hall of the museum; the place was magical at that hour. We felt like royalty, and our guests seemed to be as charmed by the museum as we were. Mandy was there every step of way, helping to make our wedding the best night of my life. I can't say enough about the experience of working with her.

thousands of questions for her. I felt very comfortable and confident working with Mandy and the JAM staff. First – the site is gorgeous. It's a great combination of indoor and outdoor space. The museum itself is stunning, and the grounds surrounding it are green and verdant. A quick walk across the park gave us amazing photos overlooking the pier / lake that runs through FDR park. The lighting in the structure above made for very romantic photos, too! The weather was perfect in early September– about 75 degrees – and the wedding went off without a hitch (no pun intended!). The side lawn was exquisitely decorated for the ceremony, with romantic string lights. Staff quickly turned this area into an amazing space for lawn games a few minutes after the ceremony during cocktail hour, which was held inside. Guests thoroughly enjoyed cocktail hour – they loved the hors d'oeuvres, drinks and the opportunity to waltz through the interesting and unique museum collection. The tent was beautifully transformed into an amazing reception site. The tables were done exactly as I had envisioned them, and the stringed lights gave me the outdoorsy rustic feel I was swooning over in my mind months before the big day. My steak dinner was delicious, as was the salad. Many guests told me they were very fond of their dinners, as well. Perfect day all around! The staff was beyond helpful and Mandy was very easy and fun to work with. I had friends do the flowers and DJing, which wasn't a problem for staff, given that these individuals had only done a few wedding previously. Again, I honestly can't say enough about team JAM. Just writing this review makes me wish I could relieve the day!!

dy, of JAM, was our extremely capable wedding planner and -- although we had to plan the entire event long-distance -- went out of her way to accommodate our schedule, answer every email, and offer expert guidance. The Museum itself is located in FDR Park -- a lovely spot for an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour, photography, etc. In our case, it rained on the day of the wedding, but this posed no problems. Cocktails were served indoors in the Great Hall, and a beautiful outdoor tent held all 130 guests quite comfortably for dinner and dancing. I highly recommend not only the Museum, but Jeffrey Miller as well.