2022 Rental Rates
Maximum guest count at either house: 100 guests
Monday through Thursday
$1,400 for 4-hour rental
Additional Hours: $500 Per Hour
*This rate is not available for corporate events, wedding ceremonies or receptions*
Monday through Thursday Wedding Rate
$2,500 for 4-hour rental
Additional Hours: $500 Per Hour
Friday
$2,500 for 4-hour rental
Additional Hours: $500 Per Hour
Saturday
$3,000 for 4-hour rental
Additional Hours: $500 Per Hour
Sunday
$2,500 for 4-hour rental
Additional Hours: $500 Per Hour
Note: The rental rates listed above are for events up to four hours. The rates are the same whether the houses are used for a ceremony, reception or both. We do require a 5th hour if you plan to have both a wedding ceremony and reception on site.
Overview of costs associated with renting our
historic house museums & gardens:
1. Refundable Security Deposit to formally book your date
2. Site Rental Fee (listed above)
3. Tent reservation (if your party is over forty (40) people in size
4. Catering Costs**
5. Host Liability Insurance ($25-$200 depending on provider)
** We ask that you select from our Preferred Caterer List. Please note that an up-charge may be assessed for outside catering.
Please see information below about tenting information and requirements for the gardens. Tenting Price Estimates can be viewed by clicking the links in the section below.
Important Rental Information
Security Deposit:
To formally reserve the house for an even we require a signed contract and a $1,000 refundable security deposit. The security deposit is separate from your rental fee based on the rates listed above. The deposit will be refunded approximately 30 days after your event assuming no damage to the house, grounds, or museum artifacts have occurred. If you pay the security deposit and cancel your event, the deposit will be returned to you only if the date is re-booked by another client. If the date is not re-booked you will not be reimbursed.
House Capacities
Fully indoor events:
Both Powel House and Hill-Physick House may be used for ceremonies, seated luncheons, or dinners of up to forty (40) people inside, or for cocktail receptions of up to seventy-five (75) people inside. There are no exceptions for these numbers.
Indoor/outdoor events:
The gardens combined with the interior spaces can hold a maximum of (100) people for ceremonies and cocktail parties. For a ceremony followed by a seated reception we recommend guest counts of 75 or fewer. Prices do not include tenting fees. If your guest list exceeds our indoor capacity, a tent must be reserved from PhilaLandmarks’ exclusive vendor, Ocean Tents, at the time of booking the venue. There is a fee associated with reserving the tent. Please note: You do not have to use the tent if the weather cooperates on the day of your event. Ocean Tents will let you decide whether or not you want the tent put up a few days before your event. Please note the tent reservation fee is non-refundable. We think of this cost as rain insurance for your special event.
Exclusive Tent Company: Ocean Tents
Ocean Tents Contact information:
Taylor Chiappetta
609.914.0600
Ocean Tents can also rent tables, chairs, linens, lighting, etc. if you are just renting the houses for a wedding ceremony. If you are hosting a reception on site your full-service caterer will get you these items.
Click HERE for Tenting Estimates for Powel House
Click HERE for Tenting Estimates for Hill-Physick House
Some Important Notes About Our Houses:
Alcohol
Both of our historic houses are BYOB! This is a great feature as you can fully customize your bar and you pay fewer price markups. Many distributors let your return unopened bottles or cases of alcohol. We allow you to drop off alcohol yourself a day or two before your event or have it delivered to our houses straight from a distributor. All drop offs and pickups must be coordinated directly with the house manager of the mansion you are renting. Appointments are always required.
Red Wine Policy:
Red wine can be stocked and served at an outdoor bar or poured by approved catering staff at an indoor seated dinner. Red wine cannot be stocked at an indoor bar.
Music Policy: Acoustic bands and docking stations are permitted. We do not allow amplified bands or DJs. If your acoustic band arrives with speakers/amplifiers they will not be permitted to use them.
Event Timing: All events must end by 9:00pm.
Smoking: Smoking is not permitted in the houses, gardens, or in front of the residential properties surrounding the venues
Additional House Rules:
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Alcohol service must end 30 minutes prior to contracted end time of the event.
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There is no dancing allowed inside of the houses, however, dancing in the garden spaces is permitted.
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No candles or open flames of any kind are allowed inside the house museums. Floral companies as well as craft stores now have wide selections of LED / flameless candles! They’re just as beautiful and romantic.
Personal Liability Insurance
We require each host provides Commercial General Liability coverage. You must secure and provide PhilaLandmarks proof of general liability insurance including host liquor liability by providing a certificate of insurance naming “Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks, Inc.” as Additional Insured for General Liability. PhilaLandmarks should receive the certificate at least 30 days prior to the event. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about this requirement.
The required Special Event insurance can be obtained at by navigating to the following link: https://www.phly.com/products/SpecialEvents.aspx?utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=link&utm_term=special%20events&utm_campaign=featured
Parking
Hill-Physick House: There are two parking garages located at 2nd and Lombard Streets.
Powel House: The closest is located on 2nd Street between Chestnut and Walnut.