Say “I Do” at Philadelphia’s new historic wedding venue, Riverside Weddings at Gloria Dei. Walk down the aisle following the footsteps of Philadelphia’s own Betsy Ross and countless other couples since 1700. Capture your unique moments in our park-like setting surrounded by nature. Gloria Dei works as an intimate wedding chapel for 20 and is the perfect size for up to 150!
Choose from an Episcopal ceremony or an interfaith-ceremony with your own officiant.
All Christian and Interfaith traditions welcome!
In Pennsylvania, a self-uniting marriage license offers couples an option for the wedding of their dreams. We invite you to bring your own officiant or clergy to Gloria Dei Church.
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Ceremony Options
Classic Episcopal Wedding:
Are you looking for a traditional Episcopal wedding? This is the service used in the Royal Weddings—and it’s the basis for weddings in many popular tv shows and movies!
Our ceremony follows the Canons of the Diocese of Pennsylvania and the Book of Common Prayer. You do not need to be Episcopalian to be married in this tradition, but one partner must be a baptized Christian, and couples should plan to attend 2-3 Sunday services prior to their wedding. This package includes meeting with the Gloria Dei Church rector for pre-marital discussions and to plan your perfect ceremony.
Same-sex couples are fully welcome and affirmed. The Episcopal Church also welcomes couples who have been previously divorced.
Episcopal weddings should be booked at least three months in advance (6 months for re-marriages). Couples married at Gloria Dei are also invited to renew their vows at our annual Valentine’s Day Service. No weddings are conducted during Lent.
This package includes:
- Use of Gloria Dei Church for the wedding ceremony and rehearsal
- Use of Bridal Suite and Library in Gloria Dei’s historic rectory for gathering, preparation, and photos prior to ceremony
- 3-5 meetings with Gloria Dei Clergy for pre-marital support and wedding consultation
- Pre-wedding planning meetings and the assistance of our Gloria Dei Wedding Coordinator
- Rehearsal and ceremony with clergy
- Organist for ceremony
- Pre-and post event cleaning fees
Fees: $2750
Other Christian and Interfaith Traditions: Self-Uniting Services*
Are you looking for a beautiful historic space to create your own unique wedding ceremony? Riverside Weddings at Gloria Dei allows you the flexibility to create your ideal ceremony. Please contact our Wedding Specialist for more information.
This package includes:
- Use of Gloria Dei Church for the wedding ceremony and rehearsal
- Use of Bridal Suite and Library in Gloria Dei’s historic rectory for gathering, preparation, and photos prior to ceremony
- Pre-wedding planning meeting and the assistance of our Gloria Dei Wedding Coordinator
- 1-2 meetings with Gloria Dei Clergy for pre-marital support and wedding consultation
- A clergy witness to your vows
- Organist for ceremony
- Pre-and post event cleaning fees
Fee: $2750
*Guidelines apply (PDF link)
Wedding with Your Own Ordained Clergy (excludes internet ordination):
Would you like to be married by a family member or friend who is an ordained minister? Riverside Weddings at Gloria Dei welcomes ordained Christian clergy to officiate weddings in our beautiful, historic church! Please contact our Wedding Specialist for more information.
This package includes:
- Use of Gloria Dei Church for the wedding ceremony and rehearsal
- Use of Bridal Suite and Library in Gloria Dei’s historic rectory for gathering, preparation, and photos prior to ceremony
- Pre-wedding planning meeting and the assistance of our Gloria Dei Wedding Coordinator
- Organist for ceremony
- Pre-and post event cleaning fees
- This package is not available to lay persons who are ordained through the internet
Fee: $2250
Weddings in Gloria Dei Riverside Hall or Tented Ceremony on Church Grounds
This self-uniting wedding service may be perfect for you! You will enjoy the peaceful, park-like setting of Gloria Dei Church, with complete creative control of your wedding ceremony and program. Gloria Dei Church is a vibrant and active Church. As such, with the campus activity during the week, this option is recommended for Saturdays, Sunday afternoons, or evening hours.
Riverside Weddings at Gloria Dei welcomes you to plan your perfect wedding with us! Please contact our Wedding Specialist for more information.
This package includes:
- Use of Gloria Dei Church Riverside Hall or a Tented option on Church grounds for the wedding ceremony
- Pre-event set-up in Riverside Hall. Maximum of 60 seated guests is optimal for the room size (75 guests for a standing reception)
- Maximum number of guests for a tent event will be based on the tent size
- Pre-and post event cleaning fees
Fee: $750*
*Please contact us for add-on options available with Tented events
About Gloria Dei
(Old Swedes’)
Church
Gloria Dei is an inclusive, vibrant and historic congregation located in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All are welcome here.
Surrounded by an idyllic National Park, this campus of beauty and tranquility, combined with free parking, in a South Philadelphia location, makes the ideal spot for weddings and celebrations. The church holds up to 150 guests for your ceremony. Adjacent Riverside Hall holds up to 50 guests for a seated reception and our parking area has space for a tented reception for up to 75 guests.
Photo Gallery
Create your ideal wedding experience!
Ready to Learn More and Reserve Your Day?
For information on renting Gloria Dei Church or Riverside Hall for concerts, birthday parties, lectures, or other gatherings, please visit our Events page.
My husband and I had our wedding ceremony at Gloria Dei this past April and couldn’t be happier with the turnout of everything. From start to finish, Christine, Rev. Chris and Candy were extremely helpful along the way making sure we have everything in order. They made the whole planning process painless and just easy! We also loved meeting with Rev. Chris for multiple sessions before our wedding as well, which we found to be super helpful. If you’re looking for an intimate, stress free and beautiful spot with some historic charm Gloria Dei is it!
After reading about the rich history of Gloria Dei, and that they do non-traditional weddings, I knew my (then) fiance and I had to get married here. My inquiry was met with swift response from Christine who became our contact person/coordinator. She always answered any questions we had and met with us to view the church and explain every detail of what to expect that day.
We met Rev. Chris via Zoom and knew that we had a great celebrant for our wedding! He too was always available to answer any questions. When the big day came, we felt so supported by the staff that it made me very comfortable. We had a church volunteer who was like a personal assistant and made everything run smoothly! I am forever grateful to Gloria Dei for making our wedding day the best day I ever could have imagined!
We had our wedding here and it was an absolutely fabulous experience. The church staff were wonderful and the lighting and decor in the church were perfect for photos. Highly recommend having your wedding with Gloria Dei
We got married here on a beautiful fall day and could not have been happier about our experience!! Paula, and Christine were so on top of communication and just some of the kindest people I know! They made our wedding special I could not recommend this venue more!!
We had an amazing experience having our wedding at Gloria Dei. Communication with all staff was open and easy making it one of the least stressful parts of planning our wedding. The church and grounds provided a beautiful backdrop for our photos. I loved that our photographer was able to access the balcony and get some unique shots of my husband and I during the ceremony. Even more so then the setting, the music made for such a grand experience. The organist Paul is incredibly talented and their organ is absolutely beautiful. They provided us more than enough space in Riverside hall to get ready before the ceremony and allowed us ample time to make sure decorations were in place. I would recommend Gloria Dei to anyone, there’s truly nothing like it.
My husband and I had our wedding ceremony at Gloria Dei in 2016 and our guests are still abuzz about this stunning enclave in one of Philly’s oldest neighborhoods. The church’s historic interior is unrivaled and the exterior yard and burial ground was the perfect place for guests to mill about before and after the ceremony. We were worried about the limited parking, but all 150+ guests were able to find spots on the nearby streets we told them about – no issues. If you’re a history or architecture buff or just want to kick off your forever in a stunning and meaningful setting, consider Riverside Weddings at Old Swedes.
An adorable church with friendly, organized and incredibly helpful staff. Amy helped the ceremony go so smoothly, she was a calming presence and very organized. Taking photos inside and on the grounds were so special and turned out beautifully! We loved our wedding here and highly recommend the venue for anyone looking for a quaint and welcoming chapel in the city.