Weddings at Historic Odessa Foundation

Bridal parties are welcomed to the tranquil village of Odessa and the grounds of the Historic Odessa Foundation. Imagine holding your special event in this storied town center with its beautifully restored 18th and 19th-century homes and its picturesque Colonial revival gardens, all lovingly maintained much as they were some 200 years ago. This unique 72-acre property can be the setting for your one-of-a-kind storybook wedding festivities – from bridal showers to rehearsal dinners, to the wedding ceremony and reception.

Historic Odessa: Where history comes to life...your history!

Historic Odessa Bank

The Historic Odessa Bank was designed in 1855 by prominent Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloan for what was then known as the New Castle County Bank of Odessa. The Italianate style brick structure was renovated in 2005, preserving an early safe, night deposit box and fireplace mantel. Recently, the Foundation adaptively restored the back wing of the building and today it houses the Historic Odessa Visitor’s Center. This versatile space is also used for changing exhibitions and is available for meetings, weddings, cocktail receptions and banquets.

Capacities & Room Sizes

• Front Room 40’ x 28’ (6) round tables or
• (8) banquet tables
• Banquet Capacity 70 guests (8) banquet tables
• Cocktail Reception Capacity 90 guests (5) high-top tables
• Back Room 26’ x 20’ bar and buffett area
• Dance Floor Area 16’ x 8’

The Barn at Historic Odessa

The Barn at Historic Odessa, situated at the back of the Wilson-Warner house surrounded by lush grounds and beautiful gardens, was built by its owner, David Wilson in 1812.

The Barn at Historic Odessa is situated at the back of the National Register Wilson-Warner House. It was built by its owner, David Wilson (1743-1820), in 1812 and once housed his fancy 19th century carriage with a plush red leather interior. In its time, the building’s stone exterior was quite unusual as most Southern Delaware structures of its type were constructed with brick or wood. Restored for adaptive re-use in the mid-1980s, the Barn and its surrounding grounds and garden are a much soughtafter venue for weddings, private parties and other special events at Historic Odessa Foundation.

Capacities & Room Sizes

• The Barn 30’ x 20’ (5) round tables
• Cocktail Reception Capacity 100 guests leading outside to lawn
• Theatre Seating Capacity 50 guests
• Indoor Ceremony Capacity 50 guests
• Outdoor Ceremony Capacity unlimited*

* Seating provided for 100 guests.
Extra chairs may be rented at an additional fee.

Grounds and Facilities

Historic Odessa Foundation can accommodate 25 – 250+ guests, depending on the space selected. All outdoor receptions require tenting for which there is an additional charge. Rentals at Historic Odessa include exclusive access to the grounds.

Catering

Catering services at Historic Odessa are provided exclusively by Cantwell’s Tavern. Located in the beautiful Brick Hotel (c. 1822) next to The Bank, Cantwell’s Tavern can provide everything you need for cocktail receptions and elegant farm-to-table dining experiences. Casual fare is also available for break sessions and business meetings.

Fees

Our rental schedule is based on a 6-½ hour time frame, allowing for a 4 hour event with 1-hour each for setup and breakdown.

Deposits & Payments

A non-refundable deposit of one-half of the full rental fee must accompany the signed contract to reserve Historic Odessa on a definite basis. Historic Odessa must receive the balance of the rental fee no later than 90 days prior to your event. Checks should be made payable to Historic Odessa Foundation.

Cancellation Policy

Notification of cancellation of a definite reservation is required in writing to Historic Odessa.

Liquor Policy

All liquor will be provided by Historic Odessa’s exclusive caterer, Cantwell’s Tavern.

FAQs

Can I ALSO have my wedding ceremony at Historic Odessa?
Yes. The historic gardens provide a beautiful setting for the perfect outdoor ceremony.

What happens in the case of bad weather?
Outdoor ceremonies will be moved under the tent.
(All outdoor events at Historic Odessa require tenting).

Can I choose my own caterer?
All food and beverage for Historic Odessa events are provided by our exclusive on-site caterer, Cantwell’s Tavern.

Is parking available?
Yes. Free parking is available on Main Street.

Is smoking allowed on the property?
No. As with all historic properties, Historic Odessa is a smoke-free environment.

What is the time frame for my event?
Outside events must be over by 10:00 pm, with music ending by 9:30 pm.

Are candles, sparklers or paper lanterns allowed at Historic Odessa?
Candles may only be used if the flame is enclosed in glass. Votive, hurricane, etc., are allowed both inside and outside the Bank and Barn; tapers, candelabras, paper lanterns and oil lamps are not permitted. Anything considered a fire hazard, including sparklers and firecrackers, are not allowed on the property. 

Can guests throw rice, fau x flowers, confetti, etc ?
Because we are a historic property, guests are asked to respect our meticulously maintained grounds and buildings; we do not allow any items to be thrown or released at Historic Odessa.

Will someone from Historic Odessa be present for my event?
Yes. A dedicated event professional will be assigned to your wedding to see that all arrangements are executed as planned.

Testimonials

Our wedding was everything we hoped it would be. The folks at Historic Odessa took care of all of our wants and needs . . . and then some! Thank you.

We celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary at Historic Odessa with 30 close friends and family. The Odessa Bank was the perfect venue — and the food and staff were wonderful. Thanks to everyone who helped make our special day complete.

To everyone at Historic Odessa: We want to extend our sincerest thanks for such a fabulous day for our daughter’s wedding. Despite a little rain, the staff adjusted quickly to make sure the wedding went off without a hitch. No pun intended! Thanks again.

Historic Odessa is a one-of-a-kind special event venue. To learn more about how we can help you plan your wedding festivities, meetings or other special occasions, please contact Jennifer Cabell at (302) 378-4119.