Wedding Photography
The park charges a $25.00 permit application fee to cover the costs associated with processing, scheduling and monitoring wedding photography permits. Additionally, Public Law 106-206 requires the park to collect location fees for filming and photography. The location fee for wedding photography permits is determined by the number of persons involved in the filming activity according to the following scale: 1 - 10 persons: $50, 11 - 30 persons: $150, and over 30 persons $250. Permits are limited to one hour, unless specifically requested. Payment can be made by check or money order. At this time, we do not have the ability to process payment by credit card or other electronic means.
Wedding photography applicants are limited to the following 9 locations in the park: the Magnolia Garden, Rose Garden, 18th Century Garden, Benjamin Rush Garden (sometimes referred to as the Bishop White Garden), south steps and lawn area of the Second Bank of the United States, front steps of the First Bank of the United States, 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) and behind the Merchants' Exchange (permit holder may not move or go behind the chain at the foot of the steps). A map of the approved areas is provided. Wedding photography is not permitted in any other areas of the park. During peak wedding season (Spring and Fall), processing applications can take several weeks. We cannot respond to every inquiry about permit status.
Wedding Photography Permit Application
Wedding Ceremonies
Wedding ceremony permits are limited to only the Magnolia Garden or the Rose Garden. The permit fee is $50. A maximum of 35 guests and 20 chairs are permitted (we do not provide the chairs). Please note, the Rose Garden is handicapped accessible only from the Locust Street entrance. The fountain in the Magnolia Garden is turned off from early fall through late spring and requires regular maintenance throughout the summer. We cannot accomodate requests to turn on the fountain.
The Permittee is required to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, regulations, codes, permit requirements, and conditions as well as park regulations contained in Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
The Permittee will be held liable for any damage to park property arising out of a permit.
A permit may not be transferred to another party.
Issuance of a permit does not guarantee exclusive use of an area. The area for which a permit is issued will remain open to the public during park visiting hours. Permit activities must not interfere with park visitors.
Parking on park property is prohibited.
The consumption of alcoholic beverages and/or the possession of a receptacle containing an alcoholic beverage which is open, or whose seal is broken, are prohibited.
The release of helium balloons within the park is prohibited.
Wedding Ceremony Permit Application
The completed permit application, along with a check for the application fee and/or location fee made out to Independence National Historical Park, should be sent to the Special Events Office at 143 S 3rd St. Philadelphia, PA 19106. Allow a minimum of 7 business days for processing. In the spring and fall, it may take longer to process applications due to the high volume of requests. Applications received without the required payment will not be processed. Permit application charges are nonrefundable. Please note, the requested time, date, and location will only be considered once a completed application and fees have been received.