Appleford Estate

Long Stems as served the Main Line and Philadelphia with premier event decor for over 40 years. We work with you one on one to bring your event vision to life. Our talented team of designers have worked on dozens of events at Appleford Estate, the lovely staff at Appleford are always a joy to work with. The stunning grounds at Appleford Estate highlight sophisticated florals. This venue is one of our favorites for picturesque weddings. Located minutes from our shop in Villanova, conveniently located in the heart of the Main Line with many other nearby amenities. The gardens and bird sanctuary of Appleford are a wondrous joy to behold, many picture perfect spots dot the grounds including a gorgeous pond and indoor outdoor dining area. To book your wedding or event consultation call 610-664-7362 or follow the links below to fill out our online form.

Appleford Estate’s sprawling Fieldstone Home is a handsome example of early Pennsylvania farmhouse architecture dating back more than 300 years. The Villanova property, originally part of a land grant from William Penn, is carefully maintained as an arboretum and bird sanctuary. With its blossoming trees and boxwood gardens, stone walls and clear streams, Appleford provides a serene sense of beauty in every season. Over the years, the house steadily evolved from several simple farm-type buildings joined together into a striking example of old-style regional masonry. In the late 1920s, Appleford was purchased as a weekend retreat by Philadelphia investment banker Lewis H. Parsons, and his wife, the former Anabel Banks. For two years, they worked with the renowned restoration architect Richardson Brognard Okie to meticulously reconstruct the building. At the same time, they began traveling throughout the United States and Europe to collect the important antique furnishings which still decorate the house today. The beautiful acreage surrounding Appleford was transformed under the direction of acclaimed Philadelphia landscape architect Thomas Sears. From the woods and meadows, he created a series of lush formal gardens, brick walkways and rhododendron tracts, set off by a stream, pond and waterfall. Gardens can be enjoyed from every window of the house; each vista holds an air of enchantment and distinguished charm. At the time of her death in 1973, Annabel Parsons left Appleford to the citizens of Lower Merion Township. According to her wishes, the property was given the name Parsons-Banks Arboretum to honor her late husband Lewis Parsons and son Clayton Banks, who also pre-deceased her. In addition to having an arboretum and bird sanctuary designation, Appleford is known for being an elite event and wedding venue on the Philadelphia Main Line. The Appleford Committee was formed as a volunteer group to raise funds necessary for maintaining the house and grounds, in cooperation with the township. The Committee largely depends on public support and receives no local government funding in its ongoing mission to preserve the historic house and open space surrounding it.