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Host an Event

Our award-winning spaces will make the perfect venue for your next unforgettable event.

We’re still here, and we miss you! Our events office is open, and we’re excited to talk about your future events at the Barnes Foundation.

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Weddings

The architecture of the Barnes—both inside and out—provides a stunning backdrop for weddings, as well as engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, and bridal showers. With many spaces and catering options, we can accommodate grand-scale receptions, intimate parties, and anything in between.

Our experienced staff and catering team will help you plan every detail. Other benefits of hosting at the Barnes include:

  • Complimentary access to the collection and special exhibitions
  • Multiple locations for wedding photos including our private gardens
  • Complimentary parking and coat check; valet parking available
  • On-site audio-visual support
  • Use of Barnes images for invitations and event-related publications
  • Circles membership benefits for one year including free admission, exclusive programs and lectures, and invitations to special events

Weddings at the Barnes

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Dream days at the Barnes.

Event Spaces

Walter and Leonore Annenberg Court and Terrace

Our main event space, the large and beautiful Annenberg Court, can accommodate weddings of up to 320 guests with dancing.

The Annenberg Court opens onto the expansive terrace, one of Philadelphia's largest covered outdoor spaces, creating a unique indoor-outdoor venue. The space may be used for ceremony, cocktails, or dinner. In the evening, your guests can enjoy a cocktail or dessert by the lusterware-tiled fireplace.

• Seated dinner reception with dancing: up to 320


Frances M. Maguire Garden Pavilion

The Maguire Garden Pavilion is a beautiful venue for receptions for up to 100 guests. Perfect for rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, or engagement parties. The floor-to-ceiling window walls open onto the lush garden courtyard.

  • Reception (standing): 75–85
  • Dinner (seated): 60
 
In the Garden Pavilion, tables set with china and wine glasses overlook a garden.

Lower Lobby Suite

Perfect for an indoor ceremony, bridal shower, engagement party, or rehearsal dinner, our Lower Lobby Suite is the only space in the Barnes, other than the galleries, that features art from the collection. An open-air atrium planted with sweet gum, ginkgo trees, and a variety of ferns bathes the room in sunlight

  • Ceremony: 250
  • Reception (standing): 125
  • Dinner (seated): 70–80

Garden Restaurant

Our restaurant and adjacent garden provide a lovely setting for arehearsal dinners, engagement parties, bridal showers, and cocktail receptions. With transitional glass walls and an open kitchen, the Garden Restaurant can transform from casual to formal for a relaxed get-together or a black-tie affair. A reflecting pool and surrounding flora create a private, tranquil oasis minutes from Center City.

  • Reception (standing): 75
  • Dinner (seated): 50
The Garden Restaurant overlooks a leafy courtyard.

Constellation Culinary Group

The exclusive caterer of the Barnes Foundation, Constellation Culinary Group will create an unforgettable culinary experience for you and your guests, with custom menus and an impeccably precise service plan to match the mission of your event. Shaved white truffle served tableside, gueridon-style cheese service, and a choice of cutlery to complement a perfectly aged NY strip steak are just a few of the unexpected touches you’ll enjoy. And you’ll find that our signature approach to creating culinary experiences and our ability to interpret and feature “food as art” align seamlessly with the refined reputation and the world-class collection at the Barnes.

Meet the Team

Melissa Brannon

Senior Director for Business Strategy, Barnes

Melissa is an arts advocate who brings more than 30 years of experience to the Barnes-Constellation team. She values creating incredible memories for her clients and is committed to providing excellent customer service. Thrilled to be a part of a team that embodies high standards for service and cuisine, Melissa is inspired and motivated by her colleagues and clients every day.

Rebekah Gable

Senior Manager of Business Development, Barnes

A 17-year resident of Philadelphia, Rebekah joined the Barnes Foundation in 2015 to lead tourism and group sales initiatives in addition to providing business metrics and servicing special events. She enjoys working with clients to develop meaningful experiences and long-term partnerships.

Colleen Delaney

Sales Manager, Groups and Events, Barnes

Born and raised just outside of Philadelphia, Colleen is a proud member of the Barnes team. She offers a warm welcome and a wide range of knowledge for all clients. She enjoys collaborating with tour operators and groups leaders to create unforgettable experiences.

McKenna Macko

Venue Sales Event Manager, Barnes

Bucks County native and Philadelphia resident McKenna is an arts advocate with a passion for event execution. She holds a BS in hospitality management and has experience in non-profit event planning with several area organizations. She looks forward to working with you to create special memories with your friends and family.

Eric Bird

General Manager, Constellation Culinary Group

Eric brings over 15 years of hospitality and fine dining experience to the Barnes. Over his career, he has enjoyed developing, opening, and improving the food and beverage operations at numerous cultural destinations, including the New York Botanical Garden, Carnegie Hall, and the Pérez Museum of Art, Miami. Most recently, Eric served as regional manager for Constellation Culinary Group in Philadelphia and New York.

Anita Hirsch

Executive Chef, Constellation Culinary Group at the Barnes Foundation

With an impressive list of executive and corporate chef appointments, including stints with Neiman Marcus in Dallas and the Myriad Restaurant Group in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, Anita has over 30 years of experience in the culinary arts. She was named “Best Chef Midwest” by Cincinnati Magazine and “Best Chef Cincinnati” twice by Midwest Living, and has published recipes in Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Southern Living, and more.

Gina Rio

Director of Catering, Constellation Culinary Group​

Gina Rio has a 20-year background in hospitality, marketing, and event planning, most recently as wedding sales manager for Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music. Gina strives to bring each unique vision to life with her passion for design and detail. Her natural ability to connect with clients and collaborate with colleagues allows her to create personal experiences and exceptional events.

Ginger Metzger

Catering Sales Manager, Constellation Culinary Group

Ginger pairs her keen operational approach, developed over a decade in the hospitality industry, with a strong background in the visual arts—she earned her BFA from the University of Pennsylvania and her MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. She brings her passion for creating beautiful experiences centered around exceptional food and drinks to the Barnes, and sees her arrival here as the culmination of her endeavors in her adopted home of Philadelphia.