If you dream of hosting a wedding straight out of the gilded age, getting married in a castle and descending a gorgeous grand staircase for your entrance, Cairnwood Estate might be the place for you.
Cairnwood is a luxurious, grand French country chateau; the elegant castle on a hill. Cairnwood, built in the 1890s, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2022 and is now a National Historic Landmark.
The venue has panoramic views of the Bryn Athyn Cathedral and Glencairn Museum and is a tribute to French Renaissance influences blended with classical Roman and Greek architecture. In other words, it’s drop-dead stunningly beautiful, an architectural masterpiece from the late 19th Century. It has some of the most beautiful architecture in the Philadelphia area, and it’s right here in Bryn Athyn, Bucks County.
Cairnwood was built by John Pitcairn, a wealthy industrialist and co-founder of Pittsburgh Plate Glass. He built the estate as a home for his wife Gertrude and their children. One of their children had Glencairn built as his family home, and both remained in the family until 1979, when both Cairnwood and Glencairn were donated to the Academy of the New Church, a boarding school founded in the 1870s.
Cairnwood has 28 rooms and a chapel in the third story turret. How many reception sites do you know that have turrets? Cairnwood looks as stunning today as it did when it was built more than 100 years ago.
Flowering gardens and expansive lawns give Cairnwood endless indoor and outdoor possibilities. It has terraces, a grand staircase, gardens and balconies, an outdoor fountain garden, 40-foot-long covered veranda and large terrace. Six historic rooms are located on the first floor. It can host sit-down dinners for 200 or a stations-style reception for up to 275. There is no one room large enough for 200, so your guests will be seated in different, smaller but adjoining rooms. This can also add to the intimacy of the spaces. Guests will also love how the estate opens up to terraces and patios, giving sweeping views of manicured lawns and perfect gardens.
The Garden House has been restored and is available for smaller events of up to 40 people. The site fee is $600 for two hours.
A Lower Terrace 20-by-100-foot tent is available from March to December for an additional fee. A complimentary awning spanning 16 x 32 ft is included with rental from April to October. The management at Cairnwood will help and guide you through the ordering process and will also coordinate the installation. Side walls are included for full use of the terrace in case of rain. Five complimentary chandeliers with dimmers are also included, and there are many other upgrades available as well.
Cairnwood hosts only one wedding reception per day. Although historic, it is fully air-conditioned and two luxury dressing suites are provided, and they are stunning spaces! Grooms and groomsmen have plenty of space down the hall from the bridal suite. There’s lots of windowlight and beautifully appointed upstairs rooms, and access is available three hours before your event. Free parking is provided, and the facility is ADA compliant with accessibility. A large variety of hotel accommodations are nearby.
There is no minimum guest count requirement. Rental fees range from $1,800 to $8,800 for a reception, depending on the day of the week and time of year. This includes five hours of event time, though set up and clean up time is offered at no additional charge. Additional time can be added at $500 per hour.
Pricing for Tent Rentals
White Tent: The white tent package is $3,750, and is available April through December. This includes a 16-by-32-foot white top awning for the Upper Terrace and a 20-by-100-foot white top tent for the Lower Terrace.
Clear Tent
The clear top-tent package is $4,750 and is available April through May, and September through November. This includes a 16-by-32-foot white-top awning for the Upper Terrace and a 20-by-100-foot clear top tent for the Lower Terrace.
Awning Only
A 16-by-32-foot white awning for the Upper Terrace is included in the Estate rental from April through October.
Other Options for Tent Rentals
Temperature controls
Tent Heater: $275 per heater. Six are recommended for winter events.
Patio "mushroom" heaters for the veranda: $150 each, with two or three recommended in cooler weather.
Pole fans are $600, and 10 fans are in a "package."
Fabric Draping
Rib Draping: Fabric covering the steel of the tent ceiling.
Billowing Side Walls: Fabric covering the walls of the tent.
Ceiling Liner: A fabric liner for entire tent ceiling. This is $3,800, and you may combine this with the billowing side walls for a total of $5,450.
Uplighting and Market Lights
In addition, a variety of lighting options are offered throughout the property whether it's inside the Estate, inside the tent, on the terraces or in the fountain garden.
Cairnwood is not only available for wedding receptions but photo shoots such as portrait or engagement sessions. Both the Estate grounds and interior rooms are available. Photo shoots are $350 for one hour or $500 for two hours. Reservations are a must.
Cairnwood Estate 1005 Cathedral Road Bryn Athyn, PA
