Outsiders might be surprised at the architectural legacy on display in Wilmington. It’s full of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century gems. Hotel Du Pont is my favorite Wilmington wedding venue. Rachel and Sean’s January wedding was the epitome of style in this elegant setting.

An Elegant Wilmington Wedding Venue

Hotel Du Pont is an incredible Wilmington wedding venue. From the guest suites to the ballroom, this venue is pure glamor. I loved exploring every part of the hotel with Rachel and Sean on their wedding day. 

Hotel Du Pont is an ideal venue for people who want a high-end experience on their wedding day. If any place ever shouted “black tie,” it would be Hotel Du Pont. Gilded mirrors and oil paintings decorate the shining wood walls. A wide marble staircase leads up to the second floor. 

This Wilmington wedding venue is also home to a modern French restaurant, Le Cavalier. The terrazzo floors, marble bar, and gilded sconces set the stage for a romantic meal. You can imagine how delicious the food and cocktails at your wedding will be. 

For a full wedding including ceremony and reception, costs start at $35,000 for a peak date and $30,000 for off-peak dates. You can go all in for your celebration and invite up to 275 guests. Hotel Du Pont has 25,000 square feet of event space, so you’ll have plenty of room for all of your day’s events.

Hotel Du Pont is located in downtown Wilmington on West 11th Street between North Market and Orange. It’s easy to step outside for some outdoor portraits with your wedding party. There are so many pretty historic buildings around the hotel. You can get a good mix of candid and more editorial photos.

Gilded Age Details

This Wilmington wedding venue has a national reputation as a historic hotel. It was commissioned by Pierre S. du Pont, the local millionaire whose plant collection became Longwood Gardens. Craftsmen from France and Italy contributed to the architectural details that make this space so stunning. When the hotel opened in 1913, it was immediately popular with America’s elite. Now your guests can dine in the same space that hosted Amelia Earhart and Elizabeth Taylor.

Some of my favorite details at Hotel Du Pont include:

• The sweeping marble staircase
• Chandeliers dripping with crystal
• Elaborate moulding 
• Decorated ceilings 

Although this Wilmington wedding venue has been around since the 1910s, it’s very well maintained. That’s partly because it went through a full restoration and renovation in the 1980s. Now you can get ready for your wedding in one of the spacious, sunlit suites. The hotel’s designers got everything right down to the last detail. The rugs, paint, and window dressing feel bright and intentional while honoring the hotel’s historic aesthetic.

Would you like to see another wedding at Hotel Du Pont? Check out this black tie wedding with a reception at Hotel Du Pont.

Rachel and Sean’s Elevated Celebration

Hotel Du Pont was the perfect Wilmington wedding venue for Rachel and Sean’s wedding. They went for a classic event design. Rachel wore a strapless white dress with a big train. Her wedding party wore pale pink silk dresses. Sean and his groomsmen looked sharp in black tuxes. 

Rachel and Sean brought that wedding feeling to Hotel Du Pont with abundant white florals. Towers of roses sat on either side of the ceremony spot. Gorgeous bouquets sat on the reception tables. The classic look was just right for the setting.

Even though Rachel and Sean’s wedding was really elegant, they had a lot of fun too! They kicked off their reception with a champagne tower. Rachel especially enjoyed this part! Her wedding party had everyone cracking up during toasts, too.

After formal dances and the cake cutting, the party kicked into high gear. Guests piled into the photo booth with novelty hats. Others hit the dance floor with Rachel and Sean. You’d never know it was the middle of winter by the sweat everyone worked up on the dance floor.

At one point, Rachel snuck away to change into a sleek reception dress. We took advantage of the opportunity to do some fun night portraits in the halls of the hotel. Someone grabbed a luggage cart and Rachel hopped on. I love these photos because you can see the intense joy Rachel and Sean were feeling by that point in the reception.

Are you interested in having me photograph your wedding? Inquire with me here!