Maryland has so many romantic and photogenic venues for your celebration, and William Paca House is definitely one of them. A William Paca House wedding promises to be elegant, classy, and timeless.
As a Virginia wedding photographer, I’m always thrilled to venture to my neighboring state of Maryland, and I loved every moment I spent at William Paca House photographing Cheyenne and Brian’s stunning September wedding. This venue is truly spectacular, from the incredible on-site staff to the location. I highly recommend it if you’re searching for a beautiful wedding venue in Maryland.
Read on to discover everything you need to know about planning a William Paca House and Garden wedding.
Your Guide to Planning a William Paca House and Garden Wedding
The William Paca House is a national historic landmark (and treasure) in the heart of Annapolis, Maryland. It’s a beautiful five-part mansion with gorgeous period furnishings and paintings inside. Furthermore, it’s only a few steps away from the stunning Annapolis waterfront and the iconic Maryland State House.
The home was originally built in 1760 for William Paca, one of Maryland’s four Signers of the Declaration of Independence and once governor.
The mansion also has a beautifully maintained two-acre garden filled with native and heirloom plants, as well as an enchanting summerhouse with a latticework bridge and a charming fish-shaped pond.
This might be your dream wedding venue if you want to plan a garden-themed celebration, be immersed in a romantic atmosphere from the moment you step foot onto the grounds, and you want a venue that is filled with character and has a rich history.
One of my favorite aspects of this venue is all of the different spots for stunning photos. Throughout the property, you’ll find cute benches, lots of greenery, flora and fauna, the summerhouse, and so much more that offer you a wide variety of beautiful backdrops to set the scene for your celebration.
Since this venue is in downtown Annapolis, you’ll also be super close to many other incredible spots you can enjoy! Whether you want to plan an after-party somewhere downtown, have your guests stay downtown so they’ll have a very easy time getting to the venue, or head out to some different locations to take photos on your wedding day, including the waterfront or the iconic Maryland State House dome.
Ceremony locations at William Paca House
For your wedding, you can say “I do” in the garden and then celebrate the rest of your day in one of their two tented terraces with the mansion as a focal point in the background. You can also have your ceremony in front of the summerhouse, on the bridge, or right next to the pond. There’s an abundance of charming spots to choose from.
After your ceremony, you and your guests can enjoy exploring the gardens, playing lawn games, and basking in the golden hour light as the sun dips behind the mansion.
Something to be mindful of—the garden and tented terraces are only available for events from April to October, and typically, couples schedule their celebrations between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. The venue can host up to 120 guests for a cocktail-style reception or up to 180 guests.
What amenities/services are included at William Paca House for weddings?
If you plan your wedding at William Paca House, their wedding package includes:
- A tented terrace
- A catering kitchen
- Guest entrance through the Museum
- Flexibility with event planning and assistance with choosing a caterer. Something to note about this venue – there is a $1,000 fee to choose a caterer who is not from their preferred vendor list.
- A private getting-ready room
How much does a wedding at William Paca House and Garden cost?
The fee for the venue depends on the day of the week you choose to have your wedding, but the rental fee is around $7000 – $8500, and this comes with the following:
- 5-hour access to the venue for the ceremony, cocktail hour, reception dinner, and dancing
- Exclusive access to the garden
- A private getting-ready room
- Tented terraces with perimeter lighting & liner
- Tables & chairs
- Catering kitchen & prep area
- 1-year family membership to Historic Annapolis
Also, if you want to host your reception at the William Paca House, they offer a separate option to host only your ceremony on the grounds, Tuesday through Thursday. It costs $3000 and includes a 2-hour garden ceremony.
For a custom quote, more info about pricing, or to inquire about booking a date at William Paca House, go here!
Wedding activities to plan in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis has sooo many fun activities you can make a part of your wedding celebration, whether these are activities you want to include on the day of your wedding or before or after! Here are some activities I’d recommend trying:
- Have a brass band march you and your guests to a private boat or yacht for an epic after-party after your wedding reception
- Go on a historical tour to the Annapolis Naval Academy or the Colonial Annapolis Historic District
- Charter a sailboat or go on a boat tour – I’d recommend doing this at sunset
- Go kayaking or paddleboarding
- Enjoy a culinary experience, try the seafood, or head to an oyster bar
- Explore Annapolis’s charming downtown – take in the sights and peruse the local shops
Ready to Plan a William Paca House and Garden Wedding?
I hope you found all this info on planning a William Paca House wedding helpful! This mansion is more than just a lovely estate – it’s a living, breathing part of history, and planning your celebration here means you’ll also be writing your own permanent chapter in this historic home’s rich story.
And…if you’re still looking for the perfect wedding photographer in Virginia (and beyond) for your day, I’d love to learn more about your love story. You can click here to get in touch or click here to learn more about my services!
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