The Carriage House

The Carriage House and surrounding grounds is of the best “one stop shop” wedding photography options in Wilmington, Delaware. There are numerous locations to explore on the estate for bride and groom portraits, bridal parties, and family portraits. Shade and colorful foliage are easy to come by any time of year. The grounds are gorgeous and we discover new spots to shoot on every visit.

SOME SPOTS TO CONSIDER:

The Rose Garden with it’s beautiful rose bushes, koi pond, stone gardener’s shed and giant ancient yew (which you can actually step inside)

The grounds of the main house are a treasure trove of photo spots. Its stone architecture makes a fairy tale backdrop and we love the impressive wooden doors set in beautiful Gothic arched doorways. The expansive stone facade and sprawling grounds at the back of the mansion are great for large group shots and the huge back porch helps if you need to take pictures in a drizzle!  There is also a cute smaller porch next to The Conservatory which is great for more intimate portraits.

Speaking of the Conservatory, we highly recommend paying the additional fee to use this space. It is a newly restored greenhouse painted in an unmistakable blue color, which offers beautiful flowers and color year round as well as some welcome warmth on cold days. Although only the Bride and Groom are allowed inside for wedding photos, we frequently use the outside as a backdrop for group portraits. The blue color really pops!

Lastly, don’t forget to check out the quaint little ice-house around the front of the mansion. It’s mossy cedar shingle roof is another fantastic backdrop for portraits.

The bridal suite at The Carriage House is large with a good amount of comfortable seating and the staff lays out a nice assortment of snacks and beverages. The room has plenty of racks to hang dresses and other garments, accommodate larger bridal parties.

Although window light is a bit limited in the room because of the way the sun hits the building, there are opportunities for natural light portraits of the bride, bridesmaids, and family. Your wedding photographer may take advantage of flash or the available light provided by lighting fixtures as additional options.

There is only one bridal suite at The Carriage House, however, if a space for the groom to get ready is required, he and his party will have plenty of room in the loft where ceremonies are held or in the bar area downstairs.

There are quite a few locations around the property that can be set up to host your outdoor wedding ceremony.

One of our favorite outdoor ceremony locations is the lawn just outside The Carriage House garden. It sits right in front of the main house with thick foliage all around. This location offers an intimate, secluded atmosphere, with a perfect backdrop for photography.

You may also choose to consider the main garden of the Carriage House directly in front of the ancient Yew tree, or in back yard of the main house with the namesake mansion as your backdrop.

Indoor ceremonies take place in loft space of the Carriage House which features amber colored wood paneling, massive timbers and stone walls throughout. The use of flash photography will likely be required as there is limited natural light available. Photographers that have experience shooting here will have no problem setting up for this lighting scenario.

Receptions take place in the main ballroom. This is the updated room where the carriages were actually housed. It offers a very nice rustic feel with plenty of wood accents and stone walls. The dance floor is a good size and the original carriage house barn doors still hang on the walls.

The ballroom offers easy seating for 150 guests in the main room as well as 50-75 more in the attached indoor patio space.

Cocktail hours take place in the main lobby and bar area on the first floor, just outside the ballroom. Greenery caterers offer both banquet and buffet style meals and the food is excellent! We love working with Michelle and her team from Greenery. She always makes sure your reception flows smoothly and is a huge perk for having your wedding here.

Just minutes off of Rt. I95, The Carriage House is very easy to get to from many areas. It is also easily accessible from Route 13 and 495, which adds to the large number of area hotels, salons and other businesses at your disposal.

The property is wheelchair accessible and has ramps, automatic doors and an elevator.

ADDRESS: 4671 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington, DE 19809J