i need help! Where to do the ceremony?

Can I ask where your reception venue is? You would probably want to keep both locations as close as possible for ease of transportation. Do you have a preference of indoor/outdoor? You might be able to find a state park for the ceremony. What about the hotel you are staying at? Is there a local winery? I can help you do some research if you want! I am from the Wilmington, DE area so don't know too too much about Philly but can help you look!

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Our reception venue is the Paris Bistro and Jazz Cafe at Chestnut Hill Philadelphia. I'd like to keep both locations relatively close to each other. The ceremony can be either indoor or outdoor. I'm not from Philadelphia, so I don't know which are the state parks. We'll probably be staying at home during the wedding, but the guests will be staying (most likely) at Plymouth Meeting. We're still not sure how to go about this. Thank you so much for your help!

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I have never been to that venue, but it looks great from what I can see online! The food looks amazing!

You could potentially have the ceremony at the hotel where guests are staying. This would allow you to only need to transport guests between two locations (and not 3). Depending on your guest count and the hotel you chose for your room-block, an outdoor space on a hotel patio would work nice or use the hotel ballroom if it rains. If you haven't picked a hotel yet, you might want to pick one with this in mind.

Have you found your photographer yet? Your photographer might have suggestions for parks where they have taken engagement photos. Your photographer should, in general, know a lot of venues and spaces in your area.

I looked at google maps to see what is around that area and there is a ton of potential! I saw the Philadelphia Cricket Club is between Chestnut and Plymouth - that's a great venue!

View Quoted Comment Hmmm okay. I still haven’t chosen the hotel where they’ll be staying at, but our families tend to choose whatever they want so I have a feeling they won’t all stay at the same hotel. But my fiancé and I will try our best to keep them together. On the venue matter, we researched a place called Chestnut Hill Friends Meetinghouse that’s 2 minutes away from the restaurant. We’re going to see this place soon. We still don’t have a photographer in mind for the wedding. Do you have any recommendations for that?

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My photographer is from MD so Philly would be outside her range. Initially, I contacted a lot of vendors through this website and started my search here on Wedding Wire. If you have any facebook friends who have posted engagement photos or wedding photos you liked, that would be a good way to get a referral too. My only advice would be to pick a budget first. I called about 11-15 photographers and half of them I ruled out immediately due to price. Photography was also the one item I totally underestimated the cost of and so I did need to increase my budget. Photography was the most important item for me when planning.

View Quoted Comment I totally understand. I’ll probably end up raising my budget as well, but since our wedding will be a small gathering at a restaurant there won’t be much dancing anyway and it won’t be a long reception either. Maybe they will be able to cut down the price because of the hours. I’ve been checking a few photographers in my area that are reasonably prices, so hopefully I’ll be able to book one of them.

Check out gigmasters.com or thebash.com! You may be able to have some luck finding something on there, if you haven't already.

Check out The philadelphia wedding Chapel on Scott’s lane. They do just ceremonies! http://www.philadelphiaweddingchapel.com/

I am from the Philly suburbs so I am not too familiar with the chestnut hill area, but how about an outdoor ceremony? A park like setting or garden could be beautiful depending on your wedding date. My ceremony is going to be outside. If you can’t find a indoor location that will accommodate you I think that is your best bet!