GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

Industrial Past Meets Modern Sensibilities

Holds ceremonies and receptions

5.0

Verified reviews from real couples

Beautiful vendor, friendliest team, made sure everything was easy and they were always on top of communication. The venue felt so unique and the price was also amazing. 10/10 would have the wedding here again

Johnna G.

5.0

My partner and I can’t express enough how much we absolutely loved having Goggleworks as our wedding venue! We met during college in our art program, so being able to have our wedding day in an arts building surrounded by beautiful artwork was so special. Goggleworks was one of the first places I happened upon while browsing venues in the area and I knew it was the one right away. Margaret was an absolute dream to work with and took all of the stress out of wedding planning - she was always quick to answer any questions we had and was consistently so helpful and kind up to the day. The space at Goggleworks is so very exceptional and unique (we chose room 238 for our full event - the market lights and exposed brick are positively dreamy!), the perfect size for our smaller wedding (we had around 50 guests attend), and very affordable! We were also able to set up the day before which was perfect. Our guests absolutely loved the venue and could not stop raving about it - we loved that everyone was able to walk around the center in between our ceremony and reception to view the art exhibits. One attendee said it was the first time they’d purchased a souvenir at a wedding (referring to the gift shop!) This is truly a hidden beautiful gem of a venue - we wish we could do it all over again and I would give 1000 stars review if I could! We also appreciate as a queer couple that this venue was 100% LGBTQ+ friendly and we were so comfortable and grateful. We truly cannot recommend Goggleworks enough and especially the absolute rockstar that is Margaret! Thank you for making our day the most perfect it could be!!

Michelle F.

5.0

Margaret Pendleton

EVENTS DIRECTOR

Typically responds within 24h

AWARD WINNER

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

We’ve been hosting weddings since opening in 2005 and we love to see a couple’s dream come to life in our spaces. From a dreamy ceremony, to an unforgettable reception, we have a combination of studios and galleries to suit the day you’ve been envisioning. We can’t wait to work with you! GoggleWorks has a list of preferred caterers from food and beverage to day-of planning to ensure that your day is exactly as you’d always dreamed of. For pricing and availability, please contact our Events Rental Director at mpendleton@goggleworks.org.

21+ years in business

Speaks English, Spanish

Small team (2-10 members)

Amenities + details

Amenities

Ceremony Area

Dressing Room

Handicap Accessible

Indoor Event Space

Reception Area

Ceremony Types

Civil Union

Commitment Ceremony

Elopement

Interfaith Ceremony

Non-Religious Ceremony

Religious Ceremony

Second Wedding

Vow Renewal Ceremony

Settings

Historic Venue

Loft

Museum

Venue Service Offerings

Planning

Se Habla Español

Awards and Affiliations

2013 'Best of Weddings'

Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding

Meet the team

Margaret Pendleton

Events Director

Margaret Pendleton has enjoyed working at GoggleWorks for the past 13 years. She's been the Events Rental Director since 2008 and loves working with couples to help ensure they have an amazing wedding. She is from Reading, PA originally and received her B.F.A. in painting from Savannah College of Art and Design, in 2003. Besides working at an art center, she enjoys spending time seeing live music, traveling, spending time with family and friends, baking, and writing. In June 2017, she married her husband in a dreamy wedding on their property.

5.0

out of 5.0

33 reviews

Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

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Johnna G

11/20/2024

Beautiful vendor, friendliest team, made sure everything was easy and they were always on top of communication. The venue felt so unique and the price was also amazing. 10/10 would...

have the wedding here again

Michelle F

1/27/2024

My partner and I can’t express enough how much we absolutely loved having Goggleworks as our wedding venue! We met during college in our art program, so being able to have our wedd...

ing day in an arts building surrounded by beautiful artwork was so special. Goggleworks was one of the first places I happened upon while browsing venues in the area and I knew it was the one right away. Margaret was an absolute dream to work with and took all of the stress out of wedding planning - she was always quick to answer any questions we had and was consistently so helpful and kind up to the day. The space at Goggleworks is so very exceptional and unique (we chose room 238 for our full event - the market lights and exposed brick are positively dreamy!), the perfect size for our smaller wedding (we had around 50 guests attend), and very affordable! We were also able to set up the day before which was perfect. Our guests absolutely loved the venue and could not stop raving about it - we loved that everyone was able to walk around the center in between our ceremony and reception to view the art exhibits. One attendee said it was the first time they’d purchased a souvenir at a wedding (referring to the gift shop!) This is truly a hidden beautiful gem of a venue - we wish we could do it all over again and I would give 1000 stars review if I could! We also appreciate as a queer couple that this venue was 100% LGBTQ+ friendly and we were so comfortable and grateful. We truly cannot recommend Goggleworks enough and especially the absolute rockstar that is Margaret! Thank you for making our day the most perfect it could be!!

Any questions?

Holly H

9/27/2023

Margaret, Polly, and the rest of the GoggleWorks staff were an absolute joy to work with!! Our wedding reception was in Studio 238 and was such a cool space to party in. All our gu...

ests loved that it was also an Arts Center. If you want a unique space that has a more industrial vibe to hold your reception, this is the place to do it at!

Rebecca C

11/16/2022

The Goggleworks was the perfect venue for us. The industrial space with gorgeous art installations throughout made for a stunning backdrop for our photos. Margaret was very helpful...

and communicative, and a lovely joyful person to work with while setting up our space the day before. Their list of preferred vendors was very helpful and it was a comfort too, knowing that most of our vendors had worked there before, and Margaret even contacted them personally to answer any of their questions. The rooms we got ready in were spacious and clean, and also had that great brick for our photos, and the Ceremony and Reception rooms were perfect. They even gave us some recommended reception layouts which were very helpful. All in all, I'd recommend this venue to anyone, and I may also go back for some of their art classes as well 😊

Ki S

11/02/2022

I had my wedding a little over two months ago and was absolutely astonished by how great GoggleWorks was. From the minute I got into contact with them Margaret responded in 20 minu...

tes or less via email during regular operating hours. She was kind, patient, and helpful throughout the whole process. Last minute I had to get new bartenders and she was first in line to recommend people just a week before the wedding. I found out about this venue because I tried glassblowing here years ago, but they also have ring making classes if you so choose to create your heirloom for the special day. No one was pushy about making me spend extra money for add ons and I cannot express enough how helpful Tess was as the Day of Coordinator. They were kind, professional, and so sweet even when guests were drunk and rowdy. It felt like they were a part of the wedding! I opted to get the day before to decorate so I had the venue from 9am Friday to 4pm Sunday. We had a lovely brunch the day after and my dog got to be a part of the ceremony. My only regret with this venue is not writing them a stellar review earlier. If you have any hesitations I highly recommend punching them to the ground and choose GoggleWorks! (PLUS the lighting was absolutely PERFECT and there were a lot of scenic places to take photographs)

Andrew M

7/06/2022

I cannot say enough about how WONDERFUL it was to have our wedding at GoggleWorks!! The space is so beautiful (if you're looking for industrial chic, look no further - exposed bric...

k, natural light everywhere, and art galleries as a bonus!) and everyone there is fantastic. We could not have found a better spot for our big day. While everything about GoggleWorks is wonderful, the thing that makes it truly special, is the events director, Margaret. She is the most attentive, enthusiastic, and organized person I've ever met. She TRULY cared about us and our wedding and went out of her way time and time again (over the course of 4 years due to the pandemic!) to make our day amazing. She made sure that everything was perfect, beyond our wildest dreams. Do yourself a favor and book this venue!! I promise you will not regret it!!

Rebecca W

3/21/2022

The GoggleWorks was wonderful!! The planning team was really amazing and were with us every step of the way. They reached out with items to consider before I sometimes thought of t...

hem and they quickly answered all of our questions, even if it was on the weekend, months before our reception. The building is also amazing and so many of our guests too really cool photos with the various forms of art displayed in the building as well as just by the old windows and brick walls in the room we picked for our reception. I highly recommend them as a great reception venue.

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 03/23/2022

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave GoggleWorks a review- we truly appreciate the ...

time you took to do that! You were fabulous to work with and we wish you all the best!

Allison S

11/30/2021

Everyone at GoggleWorks was amazing to work with and the spaces are beyond beautiful and give you so much room to really make the day your own. Everyone that helped us was so great...

and while not a coordinator or planner really helped our whole weekend run smoothly!

Helen G

11/29/2020

Booking the GoggleWorks as our venue was the best choice we made for our wedding! We booked in 2019 for our November 2020 date. We loved the raw beauty of the space and were so exc...

ited it fit into our budget. From the beginning, Margaret was amazing to work with - responsive, patient, and genuinely excited for us! We found most of our vendors from her preferred vendors list, and they were all wonderful to work with. When 2020 changed our plans, Margaret was with us every step of the way, and was extremely patient with all our questions and ideas. We were able to postpone our reception to 2021 while still holding a 20-person wedding ceremony there on our original date. Margaret coordinated our vendors and helped us maintain the safety standards in place for our day. We are so grateful to Margaret and the GoggleWorks, and we can't wait to work with them again for our reception. If you are looking for a unique venue with a team that will truly be on your side, I highly recommend the GoggleWorks!

Kim and Andrew Y

9/30/2018

Our experience with Margaret and her team was wonderful, and would we highly recommend GoggleWorks. Margaret is professional and friendly, and we felt completely confident that our...

wedding would go on without a hitch--and it did! We planned our wedding from out-of-state, which should have been a lot harder than it was, as Margaret met with our caterer to tour the venue and responded to our emails in a timely manner. Additionally, to any couple interested in celebrating surrounded by beautiful art and historic architecture, GoggleWorks is your place! We received so many compliments from guests on our choice of venue, and the exposed brick and diverse array of artwork made for absolutely stunning photos. Decorating the spaces was also pretty straightforward, since the rooms alone were so beautiful that we didn't have to add much. So much charm, warmth, and beauty! Please consider celebrating your special day with GoggleWorks--you will love every moment!

Megan F

7/02/2018

I had my wedding here a year ago, and friends and family still tell us how much they LOVED the venue! Margaret was wonderful to work with and the entire Goggleworks staff was so a...

ccommodating that day! We had an amazing time! Bonus is they let you use your own choice of vendors which is often times hard to find for a venue!

natalie m

2/21/2018

I had my ceremony in reception in studio 238 and it could not have been more perfect. Margaret, the event coordinator, was always available to answer questions, suggest local vendo...

rs, and was so helpful in greeting guests the day of the wedding. She was organized, efficient, and has seen it all so no problem can stress her out. The room itself is gorgeous, with market lights and exposed brick and an attached kitchen. The room is really a blank canvas that you can turn into whatever you want. The day before setup that you can choose to make use of turned out to be perfect for us as we had almost nothing to setup the day of. We got so many compliments on the venue and guests enjoyed walking around the gallery before dinner. There's also private parking, a plus in Reading! Overall our day was magical and I can't believe a room that beautiful was in our budget. I wish I could do it all over again!

Laura K

1/24/2018

Cannot say enough about our wedding experience at GoggleWorks!! We had our reception in studio 238. The space itself is beautiful (loved the hardword floors, exposed brick and ceil...

ing and overall industrial feel), affordable (!!) and so unique. We loved that it was a total blank slate and we could completely make the space and wedding our own by bringing in all of our own vendors and decor. It was difficult to adequately explain our non-traditional venue to guests prior to the wedding and could tell many didn't "get" it, but we got so so many compliments after our guests experienced it all. Beyond the venue, the GoggleWorks staff was incredible. Working with Margaret (the events director) was an amazing experience. She was so sweet, responsive and patient (answering every small question we had!) throughout the entire planning process. And on set-up day, she was a huge help; she was readily available all day, checked in on us and made sure we had everything we needed (she even saved the day when she found my lost keys!). Jennie was on-site with us on our wedding day and was an invaluable resource for us. From the start of our reception through clean up, she worked with all of our vendors to ensure everything ran smoothly and we didn't need to think or worry about anything. Highly recommend!!!

Julie S

1/10/2018

By the time our wedding day rolled around, I felt like I'd always known Margaret and the crew at Goggleworks. They were so fun and accommodating, even allowing us to have our cerem...

ony right in the hot shop after we made a pair of matching hand-blown glasses with the amazing hot shop manager, Scott. Our guests loved the unique space and we loved the ease of hosting a wedding there. The store is also wonderful and was the perfect place to buy thank-you gifts for our peeps.

Caitlin M

11/13/2017

Our wedding was 10/27/2017 - we used Studio 420 for our ceremony and Studio 238 for our reception and every bit of it was beautiful. Such a cool space - I got so many compliments. ...

There are lots of beautiful places to get married in PA but none will have Margaret and Jennie. They made the process so so easy and wonderful. Helpful and professional. Highly recommend!!!

Rachael S

8/15/2016

We couldn't have picked a more perfect place for our ceremony and reception. Margaret was very helpful with any questions we had before the wedding and during the wedding. I loved ...

that we were able to come in to set up for our wedding on Friday and that we were able to come in Sunday after the wedding to tear down and clean up.

Kaitlin A

10/29/2015

Both our ceremony and reception were held at the GoggleWorks. It is a beautiful space for a reception.

Becky M

12/07/2014

We had our ceremony and reception at The GoggleWorks in Reading, PA and we can't say enough about how wonderful the facility was!! Margaret Murphy, the events director/coordinator,...

was so incredibly easy to work with and very responsive to my multiple questions leading up to the wedding. The facility itself was such a cool, unique place for a wedding- the guests could walk around the facility and look at the work of the very talented artists that have their studios there. All the guests I spoke with were raving about how great GW was. They also had a great list with lots of vendor options. We were able to find an amazing group of vendors to create the most beautiful day for us. I would highly recommend the GoggleWorks for a wedding or any other important event!!!!

Samantha M

8/12/2014

My husband and I got married at Goggleworks in July. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the place. We were looking for a non traditional (basically not a country club or ba...

nquet hall) space for our wedding. Goggleworks has beautiful, large rooms that are perfect for a ceremony or reception (we elected to do both there). Also, they are VERY reasonably priced for a wedding venue. They also rent out the space for the entire weekend, so we set up on Friday, had the wedding Saturday, and then cleaned up on Sunday. It doesn't get much better than that. They also allow you to use an outside caterer (big savings right there). Margaret Murphy is absolutely wonderful to work with throughout the wedding process. Our wedding was everything we wanted and more. Thank you Margaret!

Allison W

8/08/2014

We live in Reading and wanted a cool, simple space for a wedding. We wanted to be able to add our own touches. The Goggleworks let our families and our vendors into the spaces we c...

hose the entire day before and after the wedding. We used our own decorations and rentals and personalized it so it was exactly what we wanted. I found the prices very reasonable and they were very accommodating - someone was always there checking on us and helping to clean up. They were very easy to work with, and I felt like our wedding was perfect. I would definitely recommend them!

Anonymous

11/18/2013

I had my wedding at the Goggleworks this past Saturday. Margaret Murphy, the events coordinator, is a joy to work with. From start to finish she made our day amazing! She is effic...

ient, organized, and extremely helpful. She is very responsive and easy to work with. On top of all of it, she is extremely down to earth, which really helped me keep my stress level down. We used the second floor reception hall. It has exposed brick walls and hard wood floors. If you are looking for a modern/industrial/unique/gorgeous reception setting this is the place. Everyone told us how beautiful the room is and how unique it was to have a wedding there. The reception hall gave our guests a comfortable but sophisticated feel. I would recommend Goggleworks to anyone, but especially someone who has a deep appreciation for art and creativity. Further, when renting space from Goggleworks, you get plenty of time to set up and break down. The kitchen is gorgeous, with a huge freezer, fridge, and warming oven. Book goggleworks! They made my day so special!! Also, makes for stunning photos!

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 11/20/2013

Thank you Thuy! It was a joy to work with you and Cory. Your wedding was amazing and you...

both worked so hard to see it come to life. I wish you both all the best in your life together and thank you so much for having your wedding reception at GoggleWorks. My Best- Margaret

Kelly C

10/07/2013

The GoogleWorks and the staff was amazing. If you are looking for a place for your wedding and reception the GoogleWorks is PERFECT!! Our wedding was beautiful Margaret and her st...

aff was amazing and did everything to make our day special we had no worries.

Corrin D

9/10/2013

My wedding was everything I wanted it to be!! The goggleworks staff was super helpful! The day ran so smooth and everything looked great! Only thing I will say is be prepared to...

have to do a little more work then maybe choosing a venue that has everything included. I had to supply my own linens, lights, etc... but overall I wouldn't change a thing!!

Jamie F

8/30/2013

My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and reception at GoggleWorks in Reading. It was such a beautiful and unique venue! It didn't take much decorating to make the studio loo...

k picture perfect. Margaret, the events coordinator, was an absolute joy to work with. She always responded to emails promptly and thoroughly. The venue was reasonably priced, and we were able to choose our own caterer. I would highly recommend GoggleWorks to anyone!

Anonymous

8/17/2013

I worked with Margaret for over a year, ironing out all the details of my wedding (07.20.13). I had questions and she always had the answers. If she didn't, she'd find them. Goggle...

Works Center for the Arts is a very unique location for a wedding. I loved it the moment I saw it online and it's even better in person! Our guests raved about the venue and still talk about the wedding. You have the liberty to transform it into your vision and that is exactly what I did, along with Margaret guiding me in terms of policies and in answering any questions I had. Look at it as a blank canvas! We made it into something that represented us as a couple. You can do the same! We had our ceremony and reception at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. The service was great. The quality was great. The value was great. It met our expectations and beyond! I would recommend this venue to everyone! You won't be disappointed!

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 08/19/2013

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience with us! It always makes my d...

ay to hear that people had happy wedding days here. I wish you all the best and thanks for supporting GoggleWorks! Sincerely, Margaret

Maritza G

7/02/2013

Absolutely amazing venue!! The hardwood floors and brick walls made the pictures look so beautiful. And the staff went above and beyond to make our day special. Will use again f...

or future events.

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 07/03/2013

Thanks so much for your kind words and for your support of GoggleWorks! I am so glad to h...

ear that your reception was special. Best Wishes! -Margaret

Tamra S

1/23/2013

This was a great place to work with when planning for my wedding. Margaret is a great event coordinator and was always there to help. They let you have the space for the entire we...

ekend. One day prior to set up, one day after to clean up. You have to coordinate all of your other vendors, but they work closely with Boscov's and they were also great to work with. I loved it and they made my wedding day stress-free and absolutely beautiful.

Jesse S

10/18/2012

We had our reception at goggle works a few weeks ago, and I couldn't have been happier! Their staff was so helpful and accommodating, they let me have the freedom to bring in my ow...

n vendors, make my own decorations, and even come in a day early to get situated! Their coordinator margaret was a HUGE help with planning our wedding and answered any and all questions I had! I really recommend goggle works if you want a really unique and customizable wedding!

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 01/24/2013

"Wedding of awesomeness," I love that! Your wedding was truly awesome! Thanks so much f...

or taking the time to review GoggleWorks, we certainly appreciate it and we are so happy you had such a great experience with us. Wishing you wonderful days ahead! -Margaret

Meleka A

10/02/2012

This place was amazing and the staff was great! beautiful place

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 01/24/2013

Thanks so much for your comments, it makes the staff very happy to hear this and we apprec...

iate your support! All the best! -Margaret

Aileen L

5/24/2012

GoggleWorks was the perfect location for my wedding. It has so much charm and is absolutely beautiful. The staff was wonderful. I was able to get my decorator in the room days b...

efore the wedding and I had the location to myself to decorate and store all the rentals and alcohol. Margaret was great to work with, she's friendly and accommodating. I truly enjoyed everything about GoggleWorks and would recommend this location to everyone!

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 01/24/2013

I am thrilled to hear about your experience with us and I absolutely appreciate the kind w...

ords. Thank you so much for choosing to host your wedding at GoggleWorks and I wish you all the best! -Margaret

Emily C

1/16/2012

This was an amazing alternative space for our December wedding! My new-husband and I loved the industrial feel...yet when it came time for our wedding, the space transferred into a...

romantic venue. The staff were great to work with - very informative and flexible. I would recommend this venue to anyone who wants an outside-of-the-box wedding!

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 01/24/2013

Thank you so much for this review, we do certainly appreciate it! I am so glad that you w...

ere happy with the venue and your experience. It means so much to be able to provide brides and people such a unique venue and it is always so fun to see what people do with our space. Wishing you happiness! -Margaret

Amanda H

11/09/2011

We got married in October at Goggleworks. We had both our ceremony and reception at Goggleworks. They were great! It was wonderful to have the art galleries for our guests to wa...

lk through between the wedding and reception. The facilities director, Margaret, was great. I sent her tons of emails with requests and she always replied promptly and gave us everything we wanted and needed! Prices were reasonable and staff was very helpful and wanted to give us the best wedding they could!

tahnya h

11/01/2011

I held my ceremony and reception at the goggleworks and everything was perfect. The event manager margaret was amazing and very helpful through the entire process.

Response from GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on 01/24/2013

Thanks so much for your review, it means a lot to hear this! We were so pleased that you ...

hosted your wedding at GoggleWorks. Wishing you all the best! -Margaret

Service area & Contact info

201 Washington Street, Reading, PA

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(610) 374-4600 ext. 115

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GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

Margaret Pendleton

Events Director

Typically responds within 24h

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