The River House at Odette's opened in the fall of 2020. It offers sweeping views of the Delaware River and Lambertville and it's nestled along the canal path where bicyclists, runners and couples pass by. It's sophisticated, romantic, edgy yet elegant. A vibrant jewel-tone color palette mixes with natural reclaimed materials and curated furnishings. It has 36 guest rooms and a ballroom for up to 200 guests with a large dance floor- and full-length glass doors for unobstructed river views. An outside private veranda overlooks the river. An outdoor riverfront ceremony space is available as well.
This is an upscale hotel in the heart of historic New Hope, Bucks County Pennsylvania.
You’ll get ready in lavishly decorated rooms with either a river or a mountain view.
The Bridge Suite has two entrances. One is just for the bedroom and another bathroom, and this is perfect for the groom to get ready. This privacy makes for an easily arranged first look even though both bride and groom might be getting ready at the same hotel … and in the same suite! And as a special extra, a complementary two-night stay is included for the bride and groom when they their wedding is at River House at Odette’s.
There are 4 great first locations inside River House for your first look.
One location is the large ballroom, with plenty of space for the bride to walk up to the groom.
The second location is the private outdoor area on the first floor.
And the third location is Roof. Roof is a private dining club. The roof is private and only open to overnight guests and members.
The fourth location is outside along the canal. It's wonderfully scenic and romantic place for a first look and for wedding portraits.
They have a beautiful piano lounge, which is perfect for elegant portraits of the bride and groom.
During the the holiday season, it's beautifully decorated throughout. Most impressive is the large and opulently bedecked tree in the lounge area. It provides yet another perfect spot for portraits, both full-length and intimate.
Then there’s a cozy couch area for those fun, cozy, snuggling images.
The outdoor veranda is also a great spot for bridge and groom photos, as is the private rooftop area appropriately named Roof.
But let’s not forget that canal path! There are SO many spots to take gorgeous photos! There is a picturesque area just south of Odette’s with a sweet bench facing the river that’s perfect for posing couples and just a two-minute walk from Odette’s. You have your choice of using the river with the sun behind you or pose facing the mountain and the setting sun. Sometimes I like the sun behind my subjects, especially during the warm light of golden hour.
Another great spot I found that is different and great for wedding photos is a piece of land just north of River House. It’s just five minutes of walking for the couple, affords a stunning background of both the river and the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge! This is a pictorially better option than posing couples directly on the bridge for several reasons:
1. I find the bridge to be very narrow for portraits
2. There are always people in your background
3. It’s difficult to do full-length portraits with the river in the background because the railing takes up half of the photo!
So I find photographing from my favorite spot on the riverbank gives me a better photograph by having the river and the bridge as my background.
And don’t forget to bring along walking shoes so you don’t have to stroll about in 4-inch wedding heels!
The River House supplies bicycles for guests to use. Another great photo prop! I like to place the bridal bouquet on the handles or in the quaint basket as an exceptional and unique detail shot, and it’s also great to pose with the bride and groom. It’s not hard to visualize all the pictorial photographs I can create with couples using the bride’s flowing wedding gown and a vintage-looking bicycle!
The town of New Hope, filled with historic buildings, antique shops, second-hand stores, quirky gift shops and small restaurants, is THE place for eclectic shopping. It has an impressive theatre in the Bucks County Playhouse as well as other cultural attractions. In fact, it was even named one of “America’s Favorite Towns” by Travel + Leisure.
A quick walk (with sensible shoes!) into New Hope for wedding day photos is a spectacular idea. It provides a wealth of visual ideas with a number of diverse, quirky props and backdrops that make for different and unique wedding photos.
And if you’re not up for leaving the grounds of your luxurious venue the day of your wedding, it’s right there waiting for just the two of you the very next day.
Ceremonies at River House can be inside in their ballroom or outdoors riverside.
Ceremonies are held along the Delaware-Raritan Canal with the lilting sounds of the Delaware river in the background. Inside, River House at Odette’s design can be described as edgy, elegant and vintage-inspired with an urban flair. A members-only rooftop bar will offer breathtaking views of surrounding Lambertville, N.J., and New Hope (membership is only $1000 a year and they’re now taking applications). The ballroom is glamorous yet sophisticated with vintage flair. The vintage touch pays homage to namesake Odette Myrtil, whose original cabaret sat on this very spot for 15 years. It was the place to go for a great meal, great music or great theater. You will see this theme played out in the ballroom with elegant wall coverings featuring musical scores and love letters belonging to Chez Odette. This open-concept reception room is both sophisticated and romantic, with views of Lambertville and New Hope. You can see the beautifully appointed ballroom at the River House at Odette's, as well as the outdoor ceremony space, the cocktail hour space and the exterior in these images here published in PhillyMag.com
Cocktail hour in their large modern bar specifically set aside for weddings looks out onto open sky and the scenic river. Gorgeous! They offer butlered hors d’oeuvres, a charcuterie table, artisan cocktail hour displays and specialty cocktails.
The bar / cocktail hour area flows conveniently into the grand ballroom, so your guests will enter a lovely open dining area perfect for celebrating, dancing and making memories. Floor length glass doors provide dramatic river views and also open up and allow you to be immersed in the fresh air and sounds of nature. The furnishings are modern and chic, edgy yet elegant, with vintage flair and antique elements such as refurbished brick and wood. The ballroom has a delicate and airy color palette that could easily go with whatever colors a bride selects for her wedding day. A champagne toast and custom wedding cake are included in your 5-hour reception.
Services include consultations, a printable wedding guide to access the floor plan, personalized food tastings, menus, lines and complimentary parking.
Here are the costs and package prices for weddings at River House at Odette's:
January through March; Saturdays: $209 per person(Fridays $199 and Sundays $189)
April, July, August, November, December: Saturdays $229 per person(Fridays $219 and Sunday $199)
May, June, September, October: Saturdays $259 per person(Fridays $229 and Sundays $209)
A $3,000 site fee is required, which covers use of the contracted space for cocktail hour and reception, set-up, breakdown, and event parking. Depending on the time of year and day of the week, there is a guest minimum of at least 75 people.
River House will block out rooms for your overnight guests. There are also options for ceremony services, rehearsal dinners, post-wedding breakfasts, and after party experiences. If you are interested inquire about these add-on rates.
If you book your wedding at the River House at Odette's, you will receive a personalized printable Wedding Guide, which will have your personalized floor plan configuration, a custom wedding insert for Save-the-Dates, directional cards, and a list of wedding day resources.
The plated dinner reception package includes;
A five-hour reception
Eight butlered hors d' oeuvres
Two cocktail hour displays; choose two from the Cheese Board, Craft Dips, Marinated grilled veggies, burrata bruschetta bar, antipasto, the poached shrimp & chilled seafood selections are additional
One action station; choose from Little Italy, Street Taco, Mashed Potato bar, Mac & cheese, slider or hibachi
The plated dinner
Three passed desserts
Your custom wedding cake designed by the River House
Coffee & tea service
Five-hour open bar
A specialty cocktail
Champagne toast
Born in Paris, Odette Myrtil moved to the United States, where she joined Ziegfeld Follies on Broadway as a Ziegfeld Girl. She performed on the London stage and in vaudeville and was part of the New York theatre scene in the 20’s and 30’s as a singer and violinist. She also had mid-size film roles from the ‘30s through ‘50s, appearing in at least two dozen Hollywood films. When she first visited New Hope in 1955, she loved the uniqueness of the artsy small community and moved here, managing the Playhouse Inn and its nightclub for three years. She purchased the vacant old River House tavern in 1960 and opened Chez Odette’s, which was a popular dining and vaudeville experience for locals and celebrities alike. She not only performed at Odette’s but also worked in the kitchen. Chez Odette ran Odette’s until she sold it in 1976. She died two years later in nearby Doylestown. Odette’s operated under new ownership until 2006, when damage caused by flooding permanently closed it.
The historic structure was built in 1784, and was known as the River House, serving locals and mule barge riders as an inn and tavern. In 2018, officials had the building carefully moved 1,000 feet away to the parking lot of an American Legion hall. See the move here: Moving O'dette's It is being painstakingly restored will become a free museum telling the story of the Delaware Canal.
For more information or to schedule a tour, call 215-682-2022.
River House at Odette's 274 S River Rd · New Hope, PA 18938
