Eastern State Prison closed in 1971… Transformed into a tourist destination
Weekday rental cost 4.8 million won… Available for rental only from April to August
The old U.S. prison where Al Capone was imprisoned is becoming popular as a wedding venue.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that Eastern State Prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is emerging as a unique wedding venue.
This prison served as the largest prison in Pennsylvania for 142 years, from 1829 to 1971. It is famous as a place where notorious prisoners such as Chicago’s mafia leader Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton were imprisoned.
It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1965, and is currently operated as a museum.
Christina Spence (41), who got married at this prison in 2021, said in an interview with WSJ, “I passed by Al Capone’s cell in a wedding dress,” and “This prison is a unique wedding venue.” She added that she “will also celebrate her fifth wedding anniversary in this prison.”
Lauren Bokmeyer and Eugene Zanda, who married here last summer, explained that the prison provided chairs and tables for 55 guests.
A food truck was called in to provide Korean food such as kimchi lettuce wraps and green onion pancakes as reception food. They said that although they could not hang decorations due to concerns about damaging the exterior wall, they were able to decorate the ceremony hall with flower decorations.
The amount the couple paid for a weekday wedding rental was $3,600 (about 4.8 million won). According to prison officials, rental costs may vary depending on details.
Eastern State Prison only accepts wedding rental reservations from April to August. The reason is expensive heating costs due to the cold weather in winter.
WSJ explained, “It’s perfect for couples who are willing to wait for warm weather,” and “Prison weddings are economical as they cost less than outdoor weddings in the suburbs.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.