About this vendor
Walking into this historic building awes guests with the detailed architecture and high ceilings of the grand Main Lobby while the Skyline Room and Terrace captivate more than just your average bibliophile with a panoramic rooftop view serving as a breathtaking ceremony or reception backdrop.
Amenities + details
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Wireless Internet
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Settings
- Ballroom
- Historic Venue
- Museum
- Rooftop
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Food & Catering
- Planning
- Service Staff
Reviews
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5
out of 5.07 reviews
I had no idea this beautiful building was even a wedding venue option - it's INCREDIBLE! The library partners exclusively with Brulee Catering and the site coordinator is Alysha. ...
She is FANTASTIC! I didn't need a wedding planner because Alysha and Brulee met all of my needs. Alysha has a carefully cultivated list of preferred vendors that were the most reliable, responsive, accommodating, and talented vendors I could have hoped for. Any advice Alysha gives you, follow it, she is a BOSS! You have access to 3 different areas of the library for your wedding. Our ceremony was in the lobby facing the art deco glass doors which allowed me to have a grand entrance down the stairs. Cocktail hour is at the top landing up the stairs right in front of the entrance to the stacks. It's stunning. Then we had dinner and dancing on the astounding roof top terrace. The views are breathtaking - Philly has never looked better. Brulee's catering was second-to-none. I cannot tell you all of the compliments I received on the quality of the food and the service. This venue is a dream come true - I highly recommend it!
Alysha and team were amazing to work with at the Free Library. They were so attentive and answered all my questions/concerns. As an event planner, I have high expectations and they...
were all met at the library. We had the most amazing views, amazing food, and even better details. It was such a unique place in Philly to get married. I highly recommend! You won’t regret it.
The view from the Free Library's rooftop is unmatched. From the ground floor to the roof, you just can't beat this venue. Alysha was very helpful especially when we had a few diff...
icult circumstances come up. We also heard great things from our guests about the food and the service staff was wonderful too.
The Free Library was the most magical venue that perfectly aligned with what we envisioned our wedding to be. Our ceremony was in the main hall on the first floor, cocktail hour on...
the mezzanine, and the reception on the rooftop terrace/Skyline room. The price is well worth what you get! The innate beauty of the building in all 3 locations, particularly in the main hall and mezzanine, makes it so that there really is not much need for extra decorations. The only qualm we had was we were hoping to move up our ceremony start time by an hour, but it was pretty inflexible, even though the Library has been closed on the weekends since March 2020. Other than that, we would highly highly recommend getting married at the Free Library before it gets too popular!!
Our wedding was so beautiful and special. Allison from Brulee catering made sure everything went smoothly and bent over backwards to make our day perfect. My only complaint is that...
one piece of decor was misplaced prior to the wedding at Brulee's warehouse and did not make it to the wedding which was disappointing because I worked really hard on something that nobody was able to see. my advice would be to choose someone to make sure all of your decor has arrived to the venue and is exactly where you want it to be. Other than that our day was flawless and I would recommend the library and brulee to anyone! The food was alsoo FANTASTIC! So many of my guests complimented the food and talked about how hot and delicious it was. Honestly 10 stars!
The word 'perfection' doesn't explain how I feel about my wedding at the Free Library on the Parkway.
The space is absolutely stunning. There is no better outdoor location with th...
e view that the Library offers in Philadelphia (we looked). The architectural beauty of this building itself made the option to stay inside just as breathtaking.
Elisabeth and the staff at Brulee did an incredible job of tending to every small detail on the day of the wedding and while planning - which made the planning process much less painful than I anticipated. The service at the event was impeccable. We did not have to worry about a thing the whole day.
The food that Brulee served was delicious and so fresh since it was cooked in the gorgeous commercial grade kitchen on site at the Library.
Overall it was a PERFECT day and I could not have asked for anything better.
(Our ceremony was held in the lobby, with cocktail hour on the second floor landing, and the reception was held on the rooftop on a miraculously non-humid day in June)
My daughter's wedding at the Free Library was absolutely amazing. She and her husband have friends from San Francisco and New England, and she wanted a venue that would show off Ph...
illy as the beautiful and hip city it has become. The Free Library fit her requirements perfectly -- I cannot imagine a more beautiful city venue for a wedding. The ground floor foyer was a stunning and traditional location for the wedding ceremony, and the balcony was perfect for the cocktail party. But the piece de resistance was the reception under the tent on the 4th Floor terrace. Our guests were blown away by the beauty of the terrace and the amazing cityscapes of Philadelphia. Everything was picture perfect. I also cannot say enough about the amazing food provided by Brûlée catering. My guests could not stop raving about how delicious the dinner was (perhaps not always the case at large weddings,). The staff at Brulee was accommodating and easy to work with and totally committed to making this a night to remember. I cannot think of a single flaw for the entire evening! You will not regret selecting The Free library for a wedding venue.
Contact
1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA
Free Library on the Parkway