RENTALS • SOCIETY HILL HOUSES
Terms for Powel & Hill-Physick House Rentals
Monday through Thursday
$1,400 for 4-hour rental*
Additional Hours: $500 Per Hour
*Rate 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. Please also click on the Inquiries button below to complete the attached Inquiry Form. Our Rental Manager Megan Thibodeaux will contact you shortly to answer questions and set up am in-person consult.
Please see our separate Inquiries links for Grumblethorpe and Historic Wayensborough on their respective Rental pages.
House Rental Pricing
House Capacities
INDOOR EVENTS
Both Powel House and Hill-Physick House may be used for ceremonies, seated luncheons, or dinners of up to 40 guests inside, or for cocktail receptions of up to 75 guests 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.
Rental price quotes do not include tenting fees. If your guest list exceeds our indoor capacity, a tent must be reserved at the time you book the venue from PhilaLandmarks’ exclusive vendor, Ocean Tents. There is a fee associated with reserving the tent.
Note that if the weather cooperates on the day of your event, you can elect not to use the tent you have reserved. Ocean Tents offers our guests the flexibility to let you decide whether you want the tent or not, a few days before your event. Please note that the tent reservation fee is non-refundable.
Our Exclusive Tent Rental Partner
OCEAN TENTS
For information: 609.914.0600
Taylor Chiappetta taylor@oceantents.com
Ocean Tents also supply tables, chairs, linens, lighting, and other items if you are renting the houses for a wedding ceremony.
Other Key Terms and Information
PREFERRED PARTNER CATERING COMPANIES
We ask that you select from our Preferred Caterer List, all of whom are familiar with our historic houses and specific protocols. Please note that using an outside caterer is subject to approval and comes with an additional fee.
ALCOHOL
Both of our Society Hill historic houses are BYOB. This is a great feature as you can fully customize your bar and save on costs and markups. We allow you to drop off alcohol yourself a day or two prior to your event or have it delivered to our houses from the distributor you have selected. All drop offs and pickups must be coordinated directly with the house manager of the PhilaLandmarks property you are renting. Appointments are 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. Given that our houses are historic landmarks, red wine cannot be stocked at any bar inside the houses.
MUSIC POLICY
Acoustic bands are permitted, however amplifiers may not be used for any instruments. Drum kits are not permitted on the properties. Acoustic bands that are hired must consult with the Private Rentals Manager to ensure they understand PhilaLandmarks guidelines.
Amplified bands and DJs are not permitted at either Powel House or Hill-Physick House.
Speakers, Outlets, Other Equipment. Clients must provide or rent their own technical equipment for music playlists and speeches. Simple, household speakers work well in the gardens and inside the houses. We can provide a total of 2 outdoor outlets for plug in speakers/microphone for speeches, or clients can provide wireless bluetooth speakers. Our PhilaLandmarks Site Managers will ensure that speakers are set to appropriate sound levels and will monitor sound throughout the event to ensure it remains at a reasonable level.
Historic Waynesborough: Note that at our country property in Paoli, PA, amplified bands from our Preferred List are allowed, as are DJ’s.
EVENT TIMING
For the courtesy of our Society Hill neighbors, events must end by 9:00pm.
PARKING
Hill-Physick House: There are two parking garages located at 2nd and Lombard Streets
Powel House: Autopark at Olde City; See Map
SMOKING
Smoking is not permitted in the houses, gardens, or in front of the residential properties surrounding the venues.
ADDITIONAL HOUSE RULES
Alcohol service must end 30 minutes prior to the contracted end time of the event.
There is no dancing allowed inside of the houses. However, dancing in our garden spaces is of course permitted.
No candles or open flames of any kind are allowed inside the houses. Floral companies as well as craft stores now have wide selections of beautiful, elegant LED / flameless candles.
Security Deposit
To formally reserve the house for an event, we require a signed contract and a $1,000 refundable security deposit. The security deposit is separate from your rental fee. The deposit will be refunded approximately 30 days after your event if there has been no damage to the house, grounds, or the museum and its artifacts. 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.
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.
To obtain the facts and required Special Event Insurance, please click on the link here
Inquire / Book a Consultation
Please complete the form below to inquire about renting either or both of our city houses