200 S. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/pennsylvania/the-bellevue-hotel/
Opened in 1904 and originally called the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, The Bellevue Hotel Philadelphia has been an historic Philadelphia landmark ever since.
The hotel sits on the corner of Walnut Street and Broad Street, just south of Philadelphia’s City Hall. For many Center City weddings, The Belleview provides easy access to shoot portraits in and around the City Hall courtyard. Now called Avenue of the Arts, South Broad Street is a bustling, beautiful area with many wedding venues that sit next to one another. Some are new, some are old, but none compare to the grand nature of The Bellevue.
The absolute epitome of luxury, Bellevue Hotel's doors have opened to the likes of Katherine Hepburn, the Vanderbilts, and even the Queen of Romania in 1926. The hotel has hosted both Republican and Democratic Conventions since its inception, along with several society gala balls, earning its title as “The Grande Dame of Broad Street.”
To have a wedding at the Bellevue is to have an old-world Philadelphia affair that provides an incredibly elegant touch to each event.
While history echoes in its corridors, it can also be found in just a short 2-mile walk to Old City, home of the Liberty Bell. Located in the hub of Philadelphia’s Theater District, guests will have no shortage of entertainment options. The Bellevue underwent a massive $100 million renovation in 1978, in which it imported 44,000 square yards of carpet from Ireland, 25 tons of marble from Portugal, and ornate, crystal chandeliers from Uruguay, which only contributed to its already opulent standing in Philadelphia society. The Grand Ballroom at the Bellevue has long been viewed as the most beautiful room in the entire Philadelphia region.
Over the years, gourmet and casual restaurants have been added, alongside couture shops, a salon, spa, sporting club, and 11 floors of office space, making it a proverbial “one-stop-shop” for any occasion. The Bellevue has always been considered the premier venue for the elite and aristocratic.
Weddings occur in either the two-tiered Grand Ballroom, hosting up to 1,450 guests, or the Rose Garden, located on The Bellevue’s 19th floor. Suites in The Bellevue boast 14-foot ceilings, parquet flooring, and a sumptuous warmth that will surely leave guests refreshed and reinvigorated.
Any couple yearning for timeless sophistication in the heart of Philadelphia need not look further. To learn more about events at this spectacular venue, visit their website.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have photographed nearly 100 weddings at The Bellevue Hotel Philadelphia in my career as a wedding photographer. Besides the quintessential Philadelphia experience they provide, they treat me like family. From the catering staff to the management office, we’re old friends, and it’s a treat every time I have the chance to work at The Bellevue.
Getting married at the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia? Reach out today for information on wedding photography.