4.9 out of 5 stars and 145 reviews
4.9
(145)Best of Weddings (8x).125 East King Street, Lancaster, PA
201-250 guest capacity
This venue can host up to 250 guests
About this vendor
Take your Wedding to the next level!
Excelsior is an eclectic event space inspired by Downtown Lancaster's vintage charm. Unlike anything you may have seen, this multifaceted property combines elegant classical architectural features blended with modern design throughout various connecting spaces. Refreshing outdoor areas and enchanting brewer’s catacombs enhance the overall experience creating a one-of-a-kind venue for any event in any season. This national historic landmark is a property complex of several buildings designed for hosting "one wedding per day" for NO LESS than 125 guests and up to a MAXIMUM seated dinner for 275 guests. Our Indoor/Outdoor spaces invite you to stage your event throughout the property spaces from Ceremony to Cocktail Hour to Dinner and into the Reception Party. Excelsior's exclusive on-site catering services, cuisine and amenities are part of the ALL INCLUSIVE bundled RATE per person. The SPACIOUS Bridal Chamber is perfect for large bridal parties to prepare with H&MU, relax and enjoy custom brunches made fresh on site. Take the VIRTUAL TOUR of Excelsior: https://walkinto.in/tour/ZkSFhLl4T-ZyxBY
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
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Ceremony:
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Bar services:
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Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices.
Amenities + details
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Guest Capacity
- Up to 250
Settings
- Historic Venue
Venue Service Offerings
- Destination Weddings
- Food & Catering
- Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
4.9
out of 5.0145 reviews
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We were completely thrilled with our experience at Excelsior. From the very first meeting, Kelly, John and their team were welcoming and answered every single question we had. It was easy for us to choose Excelsior due to the unique venue structure and the overwhelmingly positive reviews that we heard. We toured about 20 different wedding venues and nothing compared to the unique features of Excelsior. The Dantinne's did an amazing job renovating the space while still maintaining the historic charm and the decades of stories that go along with it. They also crafted the space to be ecologically sound.
We waited 2 years from the time we decided to get married at Excelsior to our wedding date, but it was well worth the wait! The entire team was quick to respond during this time period and helped us craft and create the perfect wedding. Kaitlyn, John and the culinary team were easy to work with and we were able to make menus unique to us. Having the group tasting was also an incredible way to taste so much of their food so we knew exactly what we wanted. It was also a great event for the parents to attend and feel involved in the wedding planning process. Everyone at the wedding complimented how delicious the food tasted! Excelsior took allergies and food safety concerns extremely seriously. I had several gluten free/ vegan guests (due to allergies, not choice) and some random allergies like onions and they were able to accommodate them with no issues.
Everything on the wedding day went smoothly with no hiccups. Excelsior's staff and our wedding coordinator Cindy Ray/ Planned Perfection worked so well together and kept the night flowing and on time. My Bridesmaids and I got ready in the bridal suite which was well worth getting in early. It was such a stress free way of getting ready and the bridal suite really has everything you need including coffee and a bluetooth radio.
Excelsior did have a specific vendor list which was concerning at first, but after our wedding we completely understand why they do this. They have vetted hundreds of vendors and have done the hard work for you. All of our vendor choices were professional and did an outstanding job. They also know how to respect this historic building, which is critically important when you are installing/ removing decorations and heavy equipment. In retrospect, I am thankful that the vendor list was narrowed down for us.
I would undoubtedly recommend Excelsior over and over again. It was an absolutely incredible day and they made the wedding process as stress free as possible. Months later we are still hearing from our guests that it's the best wedding they have ever been to!
5 stars just doesn't feel like enough. Excelsior was the second venue that we toured when looking for a spot for our wedding day and it made the decision SO easy. Once I left this spot, I knew I could not picture my wedding day anywhere else. This space is an absolute dream - from the elegant entrance, the gorgeous outdoor ceremony space, the cocktail hour catacombs, the lovely bride suite... every element is so thoughtful and charming.
We had the pleasure of getting to know John, Kelly, and Kaitlyn through the planning process. No detail is forgotten with this team - they are willing to go the extra mile to make your day special/unique to you! Any vision you have this team will exceed it.
The food!!! Our guest could not (still haven't) stop talking about delicious the food was - the hors d'oeuvres, smoker station, and entrees were truly next level.
The day of our wedding was seamless thank to this outstanding team. We will truly never forget our wedding day at Excelsior and couldn't have dreamed of a better spot.
Response from the Vendor on 07/08/2024
Alaina you and Ryan are so dear! Thank you for such a beautiful review. We were so happy for you on your Wedding Day at Excelsior 6.22.24! Thanks for the 5-Star post and details of your event. Have a wonderful married life together and please s...
top in for a visit anytime you are Downtown Lancaster :)
The passion that Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn have for this industry is palpable from the first time you meet them. If you go with Excelsior for your wedding, you will be treated to a first class, all inclusive, personal experience. These people are logistic pros at events, have good taste to go with it, and take the time to know you as a couple. The team at Excelsior works seamlessly with vendors in the area and will truly put on an amazing experience for both you and your guests. While you can absolutely up-level your wedding here and make it extravagant, we appreciated that we never felt sales pressure to add-on to our initial contract. We felt the natural decor of the space was plenty for us. Did we mention the food is mouth-watering?
We feel so blessed to have celebrated our marriage at Excelsior. It really was the best day of our lives and we have your team to thank for that. THANK YOU!
Any questions?
I cannot speak highly enough about the amazing venue. It was absolutely beautiful and we received so many compliments on it. The staff was amazing to work with and very attentive throughout the planning process and throughout our wedding day. The food was DELICIOUS. They even learned one of our family recipes to serve. We are so grateful to have found Excelsior for our wedding day and would recommend to anyone looking for an incredible venue!
When we were looking for a wedding venue, we were recommended to look at Excelsior. Living 4 hours away, it's not a place that was originally on our radar. However, after our tour with John, we fell in love with the venue. One word that kept coming back to us was "intimate" and how that was the perfect venue for us.
John, Kelly and Kaitlyn made the whole process really easy for us. They have an approved list of vendors to work with. This limits the amount research we had to do, and also gave us comfort in knowing we were working with vendors who would do a fantastic job. There is a quarterly tasting where many different couples come to taste the food - it was a great time and the food was delicious! It was well-planned out so we could be in a wedding-esque setting with 150 guests, which was our number, as well.
Kaitlyn did an amazing job keeping everything organized and on time, which made everything leading up to our day less stressful.
On our big day, we got lucky with low 80s and sunny in late October, so that let us have our cocktail hour outside (we had planned everything inside) and the guests loved it. We had a perfect day and can't thank the staff enough. We've had countless family and guests tell us how special of a wedding that was, with many people saying it was their favorite every (I agree for what it's worth).
Thank you to the whole Excelsior and Signature Catering teams for making our wedding day everything we could've ever wanted.
EXCELLENT! My husband and I had the wedding of our dreams at Excelsior, which completely exceeded our expectations! Excelsior made the hectic process of planning a wedding so much easier. From their preferred vendor list (who are very experienced with the venue) to the all-inclusive approach to food/venue, the big tasks and coordination were taken care of between Excelsior staff. The food, staffing, linens, dishes, endless decorations, etc. are all included in their per-person rate. They have so many decorations that we barely bought anything.
Our guests raved about the in-house catering and quality of their food and awesome portion sizes. Owners John and Kelly were always so easy to get ahold of to answer questions. Katelyn, who is in charge of catering, was absolutely prenominal! She loves thinking outside the box and make every menu unique! (Even making foods off the normal menu at our request) We couldn't be happier with our Excelsior experience. Now I'm dying to be invited to an Excelsior wedding to see everything from the guests' point of view!
The venue, the staff, the food, everything about Excelsior was excellent! Our wedding was everything we hoped for and more because of this beautiful venue. Not only did we love it, but all of our guests were raving about it! This was the best decision we made, and all of the vendors they recommended were also fantastic.
From the moment my husband and I stepped foot onto the Excelsior property, we knew it was the venue we must get married at. The industrial chic design was exactly what we were looking for. We wanted a unique venue that would creat an unforgettable experience for our guests. Our guests have not stopped commenting on how beautiful the venue was and how they enjoyed exploring the new spaces throughout the day. Aside from the beautiful design, John, Kelly, and Kaitlyn were a dream to work with!! They are a well oiled machine and were so easy to work with. They provided us with suggestions, were flexible, and very responsive. Our wedding was everything we hoped for and more and we owe it to Excelsior and their team.
My husband and I got married at Excelsior on 11/25/23 and our wedding day was nothing short of exceptional. As a wedding vendor by profession, my venue search was a little different than most due to being around weddings all the time. As someone who has photographed HUNDREDS of venues for a living, it's no coincidence that I chose Excelsior to host my own.
From the first couple minutes of the tour, the owners Kelly and John really make you feel like family. We fell in love with how intentionally designed the property was, the many different beautiful spaces, and we were absolutely taken with the Oyster House. We rented the property and the bridal party + significant others were all able to stay.
Excelsior's vendor list is top tier, and all vendors that I would've hand picked myself anyway: Kaci from Simple Soiree, Kate from Forte Florals, DJ Mast Productions, Shumaker PDT; all were on an exclusive list and for good reason.
Our wedding day was magical, Excelsior made everything seamless. The catering was incredible, and our guests raved about the Osso Bucca and the Sweet Potato Gnocchi. I'd recommend Excelsior to anyone and everyone. It's the perfect venue for any time of year. It was 40 degrees and I knew that any weather circumstance would still result in a perfect wedding. Thank you Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn for the incredible experience, we are forever grateful!
Everything was beautiful. The staff was great to work with. Kept everything as stress free as possible during their special day. Would recommend this wedding venue to others.
Excelsior surpassed every dream we had for our special day!
Their staff were extremely caring, responsive and on top of all the details from start to finish. The venue is stunning and has multiple indoor and outdoor areas to choose from to make your day perfect.
The food was fantastic, and they cater to any requests and dietary restrictions you might have.
If you're looking for perfection, then I would highly recommend booking Excelsior for your wedding or any other event!
Excelsior was a dream wedding venue! From our initial tour through our wedding day about two years later, everything was perfect. Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn were so kind and easy to work with. They are very organized and communicative. The venue has gorgeous indoor and outdoor spaces and we were overjoyed with how our wedding day turned out despite it pouring down rain all of the day-of. Would highly recommend to anyone searching for a venue!
We got married at Excelsior in May and everything was perfect! From the initial planning meetings, to the execution of the day, we have no complaints. Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn were amazing to work with, the food was delicious, and the beauty of the venue is just unmatched. From when we first visited, we knew we HAD to get married here! We received so many compliments from guests, and had the most perfect, seamless wedding. Highly recommend! Thanks Excelsior!
Excelsior is THE wedding reception location. We cannot recommend them enough. They were the best team to work with. Every part of the wedding planning process was so seamless with them. After our wedding, our guests said that was the best spot they’ve ever been to for a wedding. They also thought the food was delicious. The Excelsior team goes above and beyond and makes the bride and groom feel so loved. The catering team made a Caesar salad specifically for my husband. It was so sweet! The venue is very clean and beautiful. Kelly and John are so thoughtful. You can’t go wrong with Excelsior!
Our wedding at Excelsior was magical. Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn are wonderful to work with and have everything down to a science, which means every part of the day runs smoothly! The unique combination of indoor and outdoor spaces can’t be found anywhere else, and our guests loved the venue as well. Our wedding was everything we hoped it would be, thanks to Excelsior!
Excelsior was everything we’d hoped for! The staff, the food/drinks, and the venue itself helped make our day everything we dreamed it would be. The space is stunning and everyone is so helpful and accommodating. Our guests are still talking about how great the wedding was and we didn’t have to worry about a thing on our big day. 10/10 recommend this venue!
Highly recommend! The venue was beautiful and food was delicious. Our guests repeatedly came up to us to say how much they loved the venue and it was the best food they’ve ever had at a wedding. Additionally, the Excelsior team is so friendly and easy to work with. They ensured everything was perfect on our wedding day.
Excelsior is the best place to get married hands down. The venue is so unique and all of our guests loved being able to experience different rooms and spaces throughout the wedding day. The history of the building creates an eclectic style, mixing together industrial, traditional, and modern touches making it a very flexible venue for your decor. Plus, this venue has stunning options both inside and outside, so no matter the weather, your wedding day vision will not fall apart.
The food is actually amazing... I know people will raise an eyebrow, but we had so many people come up to us and rave about the food. Their menu offers a lot of options and the best, most personable part, is if you really want to include a family recipe or dish, they will (and seemed to welcome the ideas).
To top it off, you will not find a venue with staff that cares more than the team at Excelsior. Kelly, Jon, and Kaitlyn really put in the time to get to know each and every couple, and genuinely care about making your wedding day the best. They're very hands-on and welcome your creative (and even crazy) ideas.
The only downside I will say, is the fact that the venue has to close up at 10pm. This isn't something they can control, so it's more of a complaint about Lancaster haha. You do have some tight windows and will have to make some sacrifices in your timeline but that's pretty much true with any venue. People weren't ready to stop dancing and drinking so it would've been great to have one more hour. Even though we had an after party, the venue was more fun and intimate than going to a bar with a bunch of strangers.
We could not have asked for a better venue. The staff was so accommodating and helpful throughout the entire wedding planning process. They were well organized and always quick to respond with any questions that we had. The fact the the building is unique and absolutely beautiful is just the icing on the cake!
The guests fell in love with the venue just as much as we did! every inch is photo perfect
We knew Excelsior was THE place for our daughter and son-in-law's wedding from the moment we passed through the gates. It's a spectacular blend of historic, industrial and greenery. Every space is like stepping into a new experience yet somehow feels perfectly connected. It wowed our gets just as it did us.
Beyond its picturesque design, it’s the amazing food and service level that separate the Excelsior from all other venue options in the tri-state area. The whole team was a joy to work with but Kaitlyn was absolutely wonderful (she even had her chef's make one of our family recipes to be served during cocktail hour). It was also such a pleasant surprise to not be nickeled-and-dimed for things like table linens, accommodations for guests with food allergies or last minute layout changes.
Thank you all for your attention to detail!
Our wedding day was a dream in this stunning and spacious venue! Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn made sure every detail was perfect, and they had every single thing covered on our special day. The bridal suite has no comparison. We received so many compliments on the delicious food and unique spaces. We could not have asked for anything more!
Absolutely perfect. We had the exact wedding we envisioned, and everyone was raving about all the food. Kaitlyn, the catering manager, was a delight to work with and was so accomodating with all our requests. We could not have asked for a better day!
We could not have been happier with our choice of Excelsior for our wedding day. From the booking and planning process to the big day, working with Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn was always such a positive and perfect experience. They were accommodating to everything we asked for, and everything about our day was personalized to exactly how we imagined it. Excelsior is a stunning venue, and we cannot thank everyone there enough for making our wedding day so special!
Excelsior is truly a one-of-a-kind venue and we could not be happier that we chose them as our venue!
From initial contact - it is clear that Excelsior is unique. Upon inquiry they offered a packet of incredibly thorough and transparent information about their packages and what is offered. We loved that they offer an almost all inclusive package that meant a lot less work, planning and ultimately money for us! We also loved that their packages include all of the venue spaces to do with as you please! We were so excited to utilize all of Excelsior's incredibly beautiful and unique spaces for each part of our wedding and our guests loved transitioning throughout the venue and getting to experience all Excelsior has to offer.
Excelsior does have a preferred vendor list and some vendors must be chosen off of it (wedding coordinator, florist and DJs). Although this might be a turn off to some for me it made finding vendors much easier and Excelsior's preferred vendor list truly only has the best of the best! The result - Excelsior runs like a well-oiled machine. Virtually all of the vendors we used had worked at Excelsior before and with the other vendors as well. It made for a completely stress free and seamless day!
Perhaps the best thing Excelsior has to offer though is its team. You can really tell that Kelly, Kaitlyn and John are doing what they love and are dedicated to making sure their couples have an experience unique to themselves! It felt like there was very little they couldn't customize if we wanted and they were constantly offering ideas to help make our wedding day really ours! Correspondence was always prompt to answer any questions and concerns.
As for the food- Excelsior's in-house catering did an awesome job for our pre-wedding brunch, cocktail hour and reception. Our guests raved about the food and although most of our menu choices were from a list of dishes they already offered, we also loved that we were able to customize a few hors d'oeuvres.
My in-laws also rented Excelsior's newly renovated guest house The Oyster House and it was a great experience. It was super convenient and an awesome location for the groom and groomsmen to get ready the day of.
Kelly, Kaitlyn, John and the rest of the Excelsior team - thank you for making our wedding day dreams come true! We cannot recommend Excelsior enough!
We found Excelsior in May of 2019 and had initially planned to get married in June 2021, opting for a nearly 2 year engagement because we loved Excelsior so much, and they were booked solid for 2020. With the uncertainty of the pandemic still in early 2021, we chose to post-pone our wedding another year. Excelsior was so kind and accommodating about this.
o We have been trying to put into words how amazing our experience working with Excelsior was and there just aren’t any that capture it. Our wedding day was even better than we imagined it could be. We had countless people tell us that it was not only the best wedding they'd ever been to, but the most beautiful venue as well. The food was incredible, and the execution for the entire event was seamless. Given the choice, we’d get married at Excelsior 20 times over.
I can not say enough good things about Excelsior. Everyone is SO nice and welcoming. They are accommodating and quick to respond. The venue itself is the prettiest building I have ever been in. The service is the best I have seen anywhere and my wedding was genuinely the best one I have ever seen and so many people commented on this. Literally no-one lifted a finger the day-of because of how seamlessly they did everything. They are the best in the industry and ensure dream weddings. I am literally obsessed with excelsior and wish I could live that day over and over again because of how awesome of a venue and staff there is. The vendors they let you chose from are the BEST in the industry. This is the top central PA venue, you won't regret it for even one minute
What a magical place for a Wedding! The venue is gorgeous - each space totally unique. The owners and staff are exceptional. The passion they have for their business is truly evident. They helped us every step of the way. The catering team is onsite, and their food is incredible. The service was fantastic. Our Wedding guests were totally impressed with Excelsior. We can't recommend it enough!
Excelsior is such a unique and special place! The food, various spaces, staff and owners are all AMAZING! They truly make your wedding day stress free and unforgettable! Our guests raved about this place. We can't recommend it enough!!! Don't walk, RUN to book Excelsior!
I can't say enough good things about Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn and Excelsior in general. Our wedding was originally planned for June 2020, but obviously that didn't happen! Kelly was happy to work with us to reschedule our date - which we actually had to do twice - and we finally had our wedding reception/anniversary party in June 2022. It was everything we were hoping for and more. The food was excellent, and the decor was spectacular. I'm so happy that we went with Excelsior for our event, as I really feel that everyone there went above and beyond to help us create the wedding (reception) of our dreams!
Kelly & John were so sweet and amazing to work with. The venue itself is BREATHTAKING - it really makes you say WOW. The food is amazing, the tasting and just the overall aesthetic was perfect for us. I cannot say enough good things about this venue and would definitely recommend to anyone. Please check it out!!!
The venue was amazing and all of the staff was extremely organized and went above and beyond. Everything was great!
Excelsior is the most perfect venue we could have ever hoped to find for our wedding day. We had scoped out many venues to tour in the Maryland and Pennsylvania areas for our wedding day, and fell in love with Excelsior just from their photos and reviews alone. The owners, Kelly and John, took us through the entire venue on our tour and we connected with them and the space right away. The fact that their staff, tables and chairs, and catering were all included in the venue price was perfect. We brought our parents with us to their tasting event which was so unique - their team put on a full event for many couples so we could get a close idea of what our guests would experience on our wedding day. Every single thing we tasted was delicious - and all our friends and family raved about the quality on our wedding day. We even had their team put together a dessert table for us - it all went so well that there were no leftovers! Kaitlyn was an amazing point of contact for all things Excelsior and Signature Catering - and worked flawlessly with our day of coordinator as well. Excelsior also has a connection with Red Rose Beverage Solutions who we utilized to procure and return most of our spirits for the day. All in all we could not recommend this venue and their team more! We would book with Excelsior over and over again, we truly had our dream wedding and could not be more thankful! The quality you get at Excelsior is worth every single penny spent.
Excelsior and their team are absolutely AMAZING! This beautiful wedding venue has everything to offer: including an inside or outside ceremony option in case of bad weather, breathtaking catacombs, and fun spaces for everyone to enjoy. John, Kelly and Kaitlyn are so accommodating and really make the wedding process easy and seamless!
Excelsior is the best! For anyone looking for a unique and beautiful venue with tons of character and history, look no further. They are very well run and easy to work with. All of their staff is great and the food is incredible. Well done! Thanks again.
I really can’t say enough nice things about Excelsior and our entire experience with planning and hosting our wedding there. We had to reschedule our wedding due to COVID, and John, Kelly and Kaitlyn could not have been more supportive or accommodating. Kaitlyn helped us through every decision along the way, and was so responsive, kind and knowledgeable. The venue is absolutely beautiful! Our guests could not stop commenting on how unique and gorgeous every space is at the venue. All of the food was delicious. The day ran so smoothly thanks to the attention to detail and support of the team at Excelsior. It was an amazing day we will never forget. I’m so thankful to Kaitlyn, Kelly and John and so happy we decided to have our wedding at Excelsior!
We hosted our daughter's wedding at Excelsior. I cannot say enough about the entire experience. From first meeting Kelly and John went out of their way to make our couple's vision for their wedding a reality. They lovingly restored the venue. Their attention to detail carries into everything they do and the pride they have in their facility is contagious! The physical space speaks for itself, breathtaking. But the real gems of the venue are Kelly, John, and their staff. Our son-in-law wanted a particular food station they had not done before (peking duck). They not only made it happen but made it a centerpiece of the cocktail hour. The attention to detail shows throughout every inch of the venue. The food, the restoration, the staff, everything is top notch. On the day of our event we did not have to worry about a thing, every detail was taken care of so all we had to do was enjoy a truly memorable day. Five stars are not quite enough!!
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. Yesterday was spectacular. The venue was so impressive, your team made the day flow perfectly, and I think my friends and family will be talking about that ribeye “ the butter steak” and the horseradish sauce & cheesesteak eggs rolls for the rest of my life. All my guest were so blown away and you made our wildest dreams truly come true.
You all hold a special place in our hearts and look out for like a 5 star raving review on the knot from me.
Forever yours,
DRULIA
My husband and I truly cannot thank the Excelsior team enough for bringing our dream day to life on August 27, 2021. We booked our wedding all the way back in November of 2018 and over nearly 3 years, a pandemic and a postponement, Kelly, John and Kaitlyn supported us the whole way through. They were fantastic to work with from start to finish. Excelsior is simply a dream, and our wedding day was nothing short of magical. This venue is not cookie cutter – it’s unique, historical, filled character and glamour! Our guests were blown away by the multi-level property. From the Empire Room for our ceremony & dinner, to the Terrace and Catacombs for cocktail hour, to the Grande Salon for dancing, our guests raved about how they have never experienced a wedding like ours before. One thing that we loved the most about Excelsior is that they are open to create new ideas, concepts, recipes, and designs! Excelsior takes the time to get to know their couples and craft a custom experience for them and their guests. My husband and I are so happy we chose Excelsior for our most special celebration. There is truly no other place we could have imagined for our wedding!
Signature Catering on King – The number one thing we heard from our guests following cocktail hour and dinner was that it was the “BEST wedding food they have ever had!”. Kaitlyn, who heads Excelsior’s in-house catering, was the most amazing individual to work with on our event logistics and catering. She was so thorough with each and every little detail! From planning out our floor plan, to dinner pairings, to custom cocktail recipes and hors d’oeuvres, not one detail is left undiscussed or unplanned. Along with the expert planning, Excelsior’s in-house catering offers some truly spectacular catering options. The Seafood Bar, which I absolutely recommend, blew away our guests with it’s presentation and variety during cocktail hour! When my husband and I told Kaitlyn that we loved to order charcuterie at restaurants, she shared that she could make custom ‘table toppers’ of meats and cheeses. For our signature cocktails, my husband and I suggested custom recipes and the catering team nailed the execution. When you choose Excelsior, you are also choosing Signature Catering on King and we could not be happier to work with Kaitlyn and her amazing team!
Excelsior is beautiful with numerous spaces that are amazing and provide a great wedding experience! On top of the venue itself already being amazing, Kaitlyn, Kelly, and John work diligently to think through all of the details both big and small and provide amazing service. The food was all amazing and we were able to really personalize the day to be special for us and our guests including our specialty cocktails, signage, etc. They are very flexible which was a major draw for us. The team is also super responsive as we had questions and were ironing out the details leading up to our big day. We cannot recommend Excelsior highly enough! The venue is amazing and the team/staff got the extra mile to make it so special for you and your guests.
My husband and I had planned to visit a handful of venues and Excelsior was the first we made an appointment with to tour. We didn’t even make it to the car before canceling all of the other tours with the other venues. It was immediately clear to us that this venue was the one we would be having our wedding.
The space itself is jaw droppingly gorgeous. My husband and I are avid gardeners/plant enthusiasts and it was originally the living wall photos that caught our eye online. Upon our arrival we saw the lush ivy covered wall out front and the plant filled courtyard. We were hooked before we even stepped inside. Each room we saw was more unique than the last. And that was the one thing we loved the most. We are a very eclectic couple and this place almost felt like it was our personalities coming to life in building form.
We were to be one of their first weddings to happen there in the 2020 season, but had to postpone due to the covid shut down. And we then had to postpone 2 more times because I am Immunocompromised and could not take the risk of being around that many people in the era of a pandemic. The entire team was more than understanding and went above and beyond to accommodate to us and were so incredibly kind and considerate towards us the entire time. Which after hearing some horror stories from my friend’s venues through this covid mess, I couldn’t have been more grateful for choosing Excelsior as our wedding venue.
Throughout the entire planning process, the owners and their team became more like our friends. They loved our ideas and even catered to some of the more unique of our requests. Their staff works like a well oiled machine! From the time the day began, until the last guest had left, they were right on time. They were all incredibly friendly and kind hearted and treated my husband and I like royalty for the entire day. I did not have to lift a finger or worry about anything from the moment I arrived which is event brides true dream.
The food was amazing from the morning pastries, to the lunch in the bridal chamber all the way to the main course dinner and late night pretzel station. Everything was DELICIOUS.
I could not recommend Excelsior and their staff more! If you want your day to be a dream come true, look bo farther!
If you are looking for a venue in Lancaster, PA, you will not find a better option than Excelsior. This was the first venue we visited and on our way out, looked at each other to say, 'I love it'. The team at Excelsior provided everything we were looking for in our wedding venue - An incredible ownership team, excellent in-house catering and an unforgettable backdrop that highlights everything Lancaster city has to offer. With a few bumps in the road due to COVID, Excelsior still went above and beyond our expectations to deliver an intimate ceremony and the best party we've ever thrown in our reception.
We had the most perfect wedding day and it was all thanks to Excelsior. From the day we toured Excelsior as a potential wedding venue, we were in love. The venue is such a unique space and it really allows for you to make it your own unique style. Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn have been extremely put together and organized from day one. We were originally supposed to get married in August 2020 and had to reschedule because of COVID. The Excelsior team was so flexible and understanding and truly wanted us to have the day of our dreams which made it so much easier to postpone. The day of was stress free, they handled everything with such poise and just let us enjoy our wedding day. All of our guests could not stop commenting on how cool the venue was and how great the food was. Some even said it was the best wedding they had every been to! I wouldn't look any further if you are trying to decide on a venue. Excelsior will always have a spot in our hearts :)
Weeks after our wedding family members and friends are still talking about how amazing our venue was. Excelsior isn't one of those venues that you need to fill with random wedding decorations. It is absolutely beautiful in itself; a little history with a modern twist. Not only is the venue stunning but the owners, John & Kelly, and Kaitlyn, their Director of Catering, were AMAZING to work with. They made the entire process so easy for us and really made us feel like family. I highly recommend couples searching for venues to check out Excelsior!
I cannot say enough amazing things about Excelsior! From the minute I walked into the venue to tour it and met the Excelsior team, I knew I would have my wedding there. The team there is so welcoming and truly excited for you as a couple for your upcoming wedding. They genuinely care about you and want you to have the best experience possible, uniquely for you. They are so flexible and willing to make happen whatever you envision! My husband and I had to postpone our wedding due to COVID, and they were so flexible and patient with us. We ended up doing a few "nontraditional" elements due to restrictions, but the team embraced these changes and were so happy to work with us to help maintain our visions so that we could have our dream wedding. I would recommend Excelsior to anyone looking for a venue. You will be in great hands with he team and so lucky to have such wonderful people to work with! My guests were blown away by how amazing the space is. It really is the perfect space to have a wedding!
I cannot put into words how amazing the Excelsior team is! Not only is the space absolutely stunning, everything and everyone that comes along with Excelsior is what makes the experience even more special. The space and accommodations are truly incredible. There are so many options, locations, and details that allow you to make your space represent you as a couple! The space is connivence and you have EVERYTHING you need all in one place. I loved the fact that we could make our day look completely different. The bridal suite and the accommodations for the groomsman allowed us to relax and prepare.
The Excelsior team and Signature Catering is nothing short of amazing. They make every one of your wedding visions come to life. They are so knowledgeable, prompt, and truly know every in and out to make sure that your day is perfect. I trusted their team 1000%. They were amazing throughout the planning process! Every step of the way they were there and willing to go above and beyond! They are invested in not only the weddings but each individual couple. Talking with Kaitlyn, John, and Kelly was like talking with life-long friends. The wedding industry was full of uncertainty this year, but working with Excelsior was such a saving grace. They were open, honest, and proactive when working with their couples. They were there through the ups and downs and handled every situation with flexibility and grace. I could not have asked for anything more. Excelsior truly became a family.
The day of the wedding, Excelsior handled everything. They were so organized, and took all the stress away. Their execution of the event and all the small details were perfect. As the bride and groom we only had to worry about each other which was so refreshing and allowed us to be in the moment. The food and service is next to none. The food was so unique and they are willing to do whatever they can to make your ideas a reality. All the catering team and bartenders were all helpful and personable. Anything we needed they were immediately there ready to go. Everyone could go on and on about how amazing the food, and service was!Excelsior worked so well with all of our vendors which was very important to us. I truly walked away from Excelsior feeling like a family. I cannot say it enough, Excelsior made our wedding day absolutely perfect, and we are so thankful to all their staff and team!
When choosing your venue I am sure are considering the beauty of it, the vibe, the costs, but not so much the owners and coordinators. Let me tell you , if 2020 has taught me one thing, it is that the humans behind the business can have a HUGE impact on you planning process and actual wedding day! My fiancé and I looked at numerous wedding venues across three states before stepping into Excelsior and know immediately that this was IT. The team at Excelsior are far and beyond the most understanding, kind , and fair people I have had the pleasure to work with. Kelly, John, Kaitlyn worked with my fiancé and myself through THREE wedding postponements and never charged us any additional fees or deposits because they insisted on doing the "right thing" and understood our devastation.
When I say devastation I am not saying this lightly. Excelsior is a STUNNING venue with unmatched beauty and service. My fiancé and I are HUGE foodies and the food here is excellent in quality and variety. Their tasting events for couples and family members give you the true idea of what your fantastic wedding day will be like. Choosing Excelsior as a wedding venue and catering company will be one of the best decisions you will make in your wedding planning process.
I booked this venue in January 2020 before the pandemic started and gave a deposit like most venues require. Unfortunately, due to covid we decided to cancel our wedding that was supposed to be this upcoming spring. Kelly, John and Kaitlyn communicated with me the entire time about my worries and concerns and when it came down to canceling, they refunded us our entire intital deposit. I have heard horror stories about couples not recieving their money back for cancelled weddings and they were so gracious and kind to understand our situation and that we didn’t want to compromise our day with many of the covid restrictions. If you are even slightly interested in this venue but cannot take a tour because of covid, trust me when I tell you BOOK IT. They are amazing humans to work with, this venue is absolutely beautiful. It is whimsical, full of natural greenery with an industrial touch! The location is also ideal- super close to restaurants/bars and hotels. I am so sad we cannot tie the knot but I highly recommend you do. You will not be disappointed.
I truly cannot say enough good things about Excelsior and quite frankly a five star review just won’t do this place justice. My sister works in the wedding industry – when she told me to look into this venue, it was the best advice I could have received. I can promise you – you will NOT find a prettier venue in Pennsylvania. So much history comes along with this location and John & Kelly have done a tremendous job with their renovations. It is drop dead gorgeous! Do yourself a favor and schedule a tour so you can see for yourself.
On top of the venue being absolutely stunning, the folks at Excelsior are even better. John, Kelly, and Kaitlyn are extremely professional, communicative, and empathetic. Now, we are one of the unlucky couples that had to navigate a wedding during COVID-19. As venues and vendors all over tried their best to navigate these difficult times in an ever-changing environment, Excelsior was at the top of our top-rated vendor list. They were so quick to offer jumping on a call to put our worries at ease and they remained empathetic throughout those tough times. Many other brides & grooms weren’t so lucky. They truly are such wonderful people and business owners and have created something truly special at Excelsior. I guarantee you will not be disappointed when you pick Excelsior when booking any big event!
You will not find a better venue and experience than getting married at Excelsior!
First, the venue is amazing and really highlights the historical location in Downtown Lancaster, while not skimping on elegance. We were married at the nearby church, but used every part of venue to provide an amazing experience for our guests. Our guests were awestruck by the cocktail hour in the Garden Courtyard combined with the exceptional seafood bar in the beautiful Catacombs. The Empire Room and Ballroom are gorgeous and large enough to accommodate a good size wedding, but not too large where your guests feel disconnected from the action. The owners are constantly enhancing the venue and we are excited to see what they come up with next!
Next, the staff is equally as outstanding as the venue. Kelly John and Kaitlyn made us feel as if we were the only wedding booked at their very busy venue. The team made coordinating a wedding from out of town a breeze, as we live in New York City and could not visit Lancaster frequently. The food (produced in-house) wowed our guests. We loved tasting the wide variety of excellent dishes and innovative hors d'oeuvres. Their team was constantly designing new delicious dishes and were very flexible in designing the menu from our cocktail hour displays to the main courses.
Overall, the venue and staff are truly exceptional. Even six months later our guests are still telling us that we had the best wedding they had ever been to! We highly recommend Excelsior to all of our friends and believe you cannot do wrong by having your dream wedding at Excelsior!
I do not have enough characters in this review to express how perfect this venue is. It was like coming home every time we had a meeting or visited; everyone knows your name and is genuinely excited for your wedding day! John, Kelly and Kaitlyn are a perfect team and make sure that you are taken care of! The venue speaks for itself with how gorgeous it is, but for your wedding day you get the whole venue to yourself. You save so much on decorations because the historical beauty that John and Kelly preserved. Every year John and Kelly make updates so it just keeps getting better! The food (which is included in your package!!!) was incredible! You can pick from a menu that they provide or you can make requests, like an old family recipe or just a special meal you and your spouse enjoy. They make everything so easy and stress free I would do it all over again 1000x and not change one thing! Please if you are reading this and are trying to find a venue, look no further this venue will help your wedding be the one your friends and family talk about for years to come! I found this venue after my sorority sister had her wedding there and I could not stop thinking about it, so my husband and I decided to have our wedding there as well! Thank you John and Kelly for helping us have the wedding of our dreams!
Working with Excelsior was a dream! Their staff is completely dedicated to ensuring you have a seamless planning process from the initial tour leading up to your wedding day. I cannot say enough good things about Kelly, John, and Kaitlyn. Highly recommend this venue for a beautiful wedding experience!
Kelly and John, the owners of Excelsior, will make you feel like yours is the only wedding at their venue. They are so sweet and thoughtful but the venue, is incredible! Cocktail hour, dinner and dancing are all in separate areas in the venue which has an industrial but vintage vibe. You will not regret booking your wedding here. You are in the best hands in the most beautiful wedding venue in town.
As soon as we walked into Excelsior to tour it as a potential wedding venue, we knew that was the one; we couldn't have drawn up a more perfect wedding venue and experience. The owners, Kelly and John, are so welcoming and helpful in the entire planning process if you ever have any questions. It is also evident that they care about their venue, take pride in it, and love sharing the history of it. Their catering director, Kaitlyn, works with you to create the wedding of your dreams. She helped put together a customized appetizer (fried pickles with jalapeno aoli) based on our likes, and also brought us leftover camera film that she was no longer using for our DIY photobooth. Their preferred vendors are also all so amazing and make your wedding day as seamless, easy and enjoyable as possible.
The venue speaks for itself, and getting to use it in it's entirety was a great experience for us and our guests. Be prepared to receive countless compliments and "I can't believe how beautiful this place is!!" on your wedding day if you decide to get married here. Even months later, our wedding guests are reaching out telling us how much they have recommended this venue to others, and that it's the most beautiful they've ever seen.
Thank you, all at Excelsior, for making our wedding day unforgettable. Deciding to get married there was the best decision we could have made, and it was a great experience from contract to finish.
There are not enough words to explain how thrilled we are to have chosen Excelsior for our wedding which took place a few weeks ago. The planning with Kelly, John and Kaitlyn was extremely seamless and pleasant, and amounted to a day that was more beautiful than we could've imagined. A few reasons to choose this space, from one bride to another:
1) The space itself is to die for; their maintenance and grooming of the plants and ivy are just gorgeous and the vintage-y yet modern decor throughout really compliments the already industrial/vintage aesthetic of the building.
2) There are no hidden costs; what you see in the contract is exactly what you pay, but also worth noting they truly care about customizing each package to fit the wants and needs of each couple, depending on their budget. You will never feel like you need to sacrifice or be locked into something you're not comfortable with.
3) They are SO helpful when it comes to recommending other vendors if that's something you need (bands, florists, coordinators, etc) as they've worked with tons of them and have a good sense of who compliments the space.
After the wedding, we had so many guests rave about the space and ask us how we found it (given we're from about 1.5 hrs away) and wouldn't be surprised if it inspired some of them to one day wed there too.
So much love to everyone at Excelsior and we hope to visit soon! XOXO.
I cannot express enough how perfect this venue is. It’s truly a hidden gem in the heart of downtown Lancaster. As a bride planning from out of town (we live in Ohio) I was so anxious about the venue and vendor selection process. All my worries went away after our first visit to Excelsior. Kelly and John were so welcoming and helpful giving us all the information we needed about the space and all the amazing options and design possibilities for our big day. My husband and I love history and architecture, so we had a blast getting the historical tour of the building and the story behind all the amazing renovations from John. We made up our minds before we even left that this was the space for us! Their packages were within our price range, and the space was so incredible, we couldn’t believe we would have use of the entire building for our wedding day. Every room in the building is beautiful, so you can’t go wrong with any selection of where you have your ceremony, dinner, dancing, etc. With Excelsior you get multiple gorgeous outdoor spaces and multiple indoor spaces equally as stunning. No matter what weather situation you have on your day it will still be stunning. We worked with Kaitlyn to create our food menu, and the options are endless. They gave us a basic idea of what meals were in our package, but we were able to get creative and customize what we wanted to offer our guests. We were able to do fun cookout themed finger foods for cocktail hour to go along with our wedding being over the July 4th weekend, and added a late-night pretzel bar that our guests absolutely LOVED. When our wedding day arrived, the cozy and elegant bridal suite was the perfect spot to get ready in and calm my nerves before walking down the aisle, and the men loved hanging out down in the catacombs sipping on some drinks prior to the ceremony. The entire day ran so smoothly thanks to the whole Excelsior staff team and our team of vendors who were recommended to us by Excelsior. We still can’t believe we lucked out to find such a perfect venue!
The perfect venue for my daughter’s wedding. Every detail and each choreographed space was thoughtfully planned. The catacombs, the outside cocktail hour, the dining room, the ballroom... each move of the night gave us the intimate feel of hosting guests in your own luxurious modern day castle while we ate and drank and danced the night away. Our guests exemplified our own love for this venue. Wonderful location as well. Thank you John, Kaitlyn, and Kelly. It was far beyond our expectations. Truly a dream to celebrate my daughters marriage at Excelsior.
We had a wonderful experience at Excelsior. At our first meeting with Kelly and Kaitlyn, we felt as though we were in the hands of professional people who knew how to deliver an exceptional wedding and reception experience. We were not disappointed. Kaitlyn was on top of every detail and very easy to work with when it came to helping us create what we wanted. The venue itself is unique and beautiful. It is a blank canvas on which you can create your own picture. Our guests, many of whom were from New York and Philadelphia, loved Excelsior. So many of them couldn't say enough good things about this venue. My daughter's wedding there was wonderful.
We got married at Excelsior this past September, and we couldn’t have asked for a better venue! It’s conveniently located in Lancaster City, in walking distance to nearby hotels, and bars for any after party you might have. Our guests raved about all aspects of the night, including the food, service, and overall uniqueness of the venue. We loved that we were able to have the entire building devoted to us on our wedding day, including access to the terrace, catacombs, and indoor space. Kelly even adds her artistic flair to every wedding at Excelsior, incorporating signature drink signs, elevator drawings, and other descriptions. Everything was beautiful and we honestly wouldn’t have changed a thing!
Excelsior was the absolute perfect venue for our wedding!! We loved it so much, we signed the contract to hold our date without even stepping foot in Excelsior (after viewing their site online) and we were NOT disappointed when we finally did our first walk through. Kaitlyn, Hannah, Kelly & John were welcoming and available throughout our planning process and our day of was just a dream come true! I can’t say enough great things about Excelsior! We only wish we could go back to our wedding day everyday! Thank you Excelsior!!
I am beyond grateful Kelly and John allowed us to have our wedding at this breathtaking venue. Their team blew us away with their professionalism and eagerness to please. Our guests are still contacting us about the beautiful venue and constantly referring it as “wedding goals”. Many people were jealous they did not find Excelsior for their own wedding! I also heard multiple times that “this was the most beautiful and unique wedding they have ever been to”.
The major selling point to us was how personable the owners were to us. We felt like we were talking with family since day one of meeting with them. They always had the best interest for us and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy and comfortable with our decisions. We hope we know someone else who gets married at Excelsior so we can enjoy it all over again!
Don't let this gem of a venue slip by you! If you are lucky enough to book with them, you will NOT be disappointed!
We honestly could not have picked a better wedding venue for our big day. Everything was run so smoothly, they really know what they are doing. Our guest kept commenting on how amazing all the spaces were as we moved through the building during the evening. Kelly, Kaitlyn and John were always very accommodating and really went above and beyond to make us feel special. As a couple in the architecture industry, this venue stood out to us from others with its modern industrial vibe and its integration with greenery throughout the space while still embracing the architectural history of the space. Considering everything including (tables, chairs, linens, etc) in the wedding price, I thought their prices were more than fair and choosing their venue really helped us stay on budget. It really was the perfect day and perfect venue and I have the staff at Excelsior to thank for that!
Choosing Excelsior as our wedding venue was absolutely the best choice we made during our planning process. The venue itself is absolutely stunning and extremely unique - you won't find another place like it! There are so many interesting spaces within the building and grounds and so many opportunities to make the space feel like your own. It is in a prime location in the heart of downtown Lancaster, so our wedding guests had a very short walk back to their hotel after the festivities.
Kelly and John made the planning process a breeze and made us feel welcome from the first minute we walked in for a tour. They take such pride in their venue and it shows - everything is meticulously taken care of and they are constantly looking for ways to improve their gorgeous Excelsior. Kaitlyn made the menu selection process so much fun and our food was amazing. Truly, the food was on par with something you'd find at a very upscale restaurant and all our guests loved it.
On the day of our wedding, we didn't worry about one single thing. The Excelsior team made our day run flawlessly so that we could focus on having fun. We felt very prepared and informed about exactly what to expect in the days and weeks leading up to our wedding, so all we had to do was show up and get married. As the bride, I was able to spend the day getting pampered in the stunning bridal chamber with my bridesmaids and mom. We had plenty of space to spread out and get ready - it was genuinely relaxing and one of the best parts of getting married at Excelsior. From stepping into the bridal suite until the last minute on the dance floor, we enjoyed every second of our beautiful day.
Our reception was an absolute blast and we got so, so many compliments on our venue. We got married about 5 months ago and our families and friends are still talking about how much they loved it. I could truly go on and on about how much we loved getting married at Excelsior - it was just that great!
Where do we even begin? We got married a couple weeks ago and had the wedding of our dreams. The owners Kelly and John,right from the very beginning were very professional and really went out of there way to make sure we were happy! Each month they would email us and make sure everything was getting completed in preparation for our big day. They truly care about each couple that gets married at the venue and do there very best to make sure everything is perfect.
We also, can't forget the lovely staff that works at Excelsior. Not only do you have a beautiful venue and professional owners but you have the best staff to work with. Kaitlyn (the catering director) was a delight to work with. Communication was very direct and she went above and beyond to make sure everything was set, organized and ready to go. (As an overwhelmed bride, she really eased my mind and made the wedding planning process less stressful). On our wedding day, the food was so delicious, our guests are still talking about how fantastic the food tasted. There in house catering company is certainly an added bonus to the venue. We couldn't of been more pleased and knew we trusted the right place and knew we were in great hands. Thank you for making our wedding day that more special, we are forever grateful!
The Excelsior was the absolute BEST venue for both our ceremony and reception. Since all of our guests were from out of town I wanted to make sure everything was centralized. The venue is close to bars/restaurants, hotels, and everything guests would need within walking distance should they have forgotten to bring anything. My guests couldn't get enough of Excelsior's beauty. There are multiple levels and design elements that my guests were able to explore which I also loved knowing that they weren't sitting in the same room the entire evening. Kelly and John, the owners, are the kindest individuals. They were welcoming, excited for us, and available for all of our questions. I absolutely love that they offer the tasting event for upcoming brides & grooms to come for a mock reception so we could really get a feel for what our day would be like. Kaitlyn, head of catering, is incredible. The food was amazing and she worked with us seamlessly when we asked for substitutions, modifications, etc. I can't say enough great things about not only the venue, but the people behind the scenes at the venue.
The Excelsior is absolutely perfect! When originally searching for a venue, my husband and I were looking for a place that was in walking distance to hotels and bars (so we didn't have to worry about shuttles) and also a place with great indoor photo locations (we have very bad luck with weather and knew it would likely rain on our wedding day)- Excelsior met both of these criteria and more!!!! Also, one of the best parts about Excelsior is that their price per person is all inclusive so you can plan your wedding budget better as opposed to some other venues that have "hidden" fees (sales tax, service charges etc.) The staff at Excelsior is so kind and ensured everything went perfectly as planned! The food was delicious - our guests were raving about the tomato carving station at cocktail hour and how our menu was not your "average boring" wedding meal. We can not say enough great things about the Excelsior and you will not regret booking with them!
We had our wedding on June 29th at Excelsior, and it was a dream come true! To begin with, John and Kelly are awesome. Such a great couple to work with while planning our big day. Kaitlyn was a huge help, even with her wedding day approaching the day before ours! Hannah stood in for Kaitlyn on our actual wedding day, and things couldn’t have gone smoother! Everyone at Excelsior was so wonderful to work with!
As far as the venue itself, there is nothing else like it! I wanted to stay away from the typical ballroom or country club setting, and I knew Excelsior was what I was looking for from the moment I stepped inside. The natural light, high ceilings, beautiful live greenery in the courtyards, catacombs, and overall character and eclectic feel of it made for the perfect reception venue. Our guests could not stop talking about how beautiful everything was!
The food and drinks were delicious, and the wait staff was knowledgeable and served dinner and beverages in a timely fashion. The sound system was awesome and the dance floor was packed all night. Also, our wedding planner, Danielle (Your Sweetest Day Events), made sure everything ran smoothly and on schedule from beginning to end. I honestly could go on forever about what a dream our wedding day was!
I can’t put into words how incredible this venue and the people running it are! My day was an absolute dream because of Excelsior. I can’t recommend this venue enough