Margot and Jesse are a reminder that wedding days can be anything you want them to be. We met at their Philadelphia home for a first look inside on their spiral staircase while the rain lifted. Their cats kept us company for a little while before we took portraits within Independence National Historical Park.
Some of our garden favorites included: Magnolia, 18th Century, Rose, Dock Creek, and Benjamin Rush. Seeing the redesign of the Benjamin Rush Garden, in particular, was a highlight for me. The re-design of the garden had England in mind, with inspiration from the recently installed Bicentennial Bell, which had been in storage since 2013.
Rather than having a ceremony, Margot and Jesse wanted to emphasize photographing candid moments of them walking around together. They were specifically more interested in having cinematic style coverage and less posing. I was so impressed with how they naturally fell into organic poses together without much direction needed at all.
Margot and Jesse wrapped with a self-uniting marriage license signing and toasts at Queen Village’s Ambra, where the dining room can be reserved for intimate private parties. I had the best time dodging puddles and learning more about the couple. Thanks to Margot and Jesse for trusting me to photograph their day.
Applying for photography permits
For marriers who are interested in having wedding photos at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, it’s important to keep in mind many locations require a permit. Request a wedding photo permit by filling out the still photography permit application (link here). Applications may be submitted electronically when digitally signed.
Payment can be made via check or money order (made payable to National Park Service) and sent to the Special Park Use Office at 143 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, 19106. During peak wedding season (Spring + Fall), processing applications may take several weeks. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to them directly at inde_permits@nps.gov.
The park charges at $25.00 permit application fee to cover costs for internal processing and monitoring. The location fee for wedding photography permits for Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park are as follows:
- $50: 1-10 people
- $150: 11-30 people
- $250: Over 30 people
For folks who are interested in more than one of the below locations, separate photo permit fees must be paid. Permits are limited to one hour on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Once the photo permit application is processed, marriers will receive two separate billing emails to pay the application fee and applicable location fee(s).
9 wedding photo spots at Independence National Historical Park
- The Magnolia Garden
- Rose Garden (wheelchair accessible from the Locust Street entrance, with the fountain turned off from early fall through late Spring)
- 18th Century Garden
- Benjamin Rush Garden
- South steps and lawn area of the Second Bank of the United States
- The front steps of the First Bank of the United States (though the First Bank will be unavailable due to construction until 2026)
- Dock Creek (the lawn area on the south side of Carpenters’ Hall between 3rd and 4th Streets)
- Washington Square (vicinity of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier excluded)
- Behind the Merchants’ Exchange Building (which currently has a construction project off to the side of the building
Oftentimes, marriers opt to browse these locations in advance to check out any potential construction and the seasonality of the gardens. The park locations are within close proximity to each other and are within minutes from each other when walking. Wedding photography isn’t permitted in any other areas of the park.
Wedding ceremonies at Independence National Historical Park
For those who are interested in getting married at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, wedding ceremonies are considered for the Magnolia Garden or Rose Garden locations. Wedding ceremonies cannot exceed two hours in duration, with a cap of 35 guests. Setup of equipment such as tables, tents, chairs, and amplified sound is prohibited.
The permit fee for having an intimate wedding at Philadelphia’s Magnolia Garden or Rose Garden is $50. The wedding ceremony permit application can be found here on the NPS.gov website and sent to: Special Events Office, 143 S. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
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