What Makes the Willowbrook Courtyard Perfect for Delaware Evening Receptions

When couples visit us at Willowbrook Weddings in Bridgeville, they often ask about our outdoor reception options. We have two main choices: the Pavilion, which seats up to 150 guests, and the Willowbrook Courtyard. The Courtyard isn't a ceremony location. It's a large concrete patio under bistro lights, and it creates an atmosphere that works beautifully for evening cocktail hours and late-night dance parties under the stars.

The Willowbrook Courtyard: Your Delaware Evening Reception Space

The Courtyard sits on our 20-acre property at 8275 Cannon Road, just a mile from the interstate. It's not wooded, it's not rustic. It's a spacious concrete patio designed to hold your guests comfortably while bistro lights overhead add warmth as the sun sets. You can use it as part of your reception flow, whether that means starting cocktail hour outdoors before moving into our climate-controlled Willowbrook Hall for dinner, or keeping the energy going after your indoor meal with a late-night lounge setup outside.

How to Plan Your Evening Timeline Using the Courtyard

We host only one event per day, so the entire property is yours. Many couples use the Courtyard in layers. You might begin with cocktail hour here while your hall is being flipped for dinner. Or you could serve dessert and coffee on the patio after your indoor reception wraps. The bistro lights create a glow that photographs well, and the concrete surface handles heels and wheelchair access without issue.

You have access to our permanent bar inside, plus multiple bar location setups throughout the property. If you want a bar stationed on the Courtyard during cocktail hour, we can accommodate that. We also provide three bar tables with linens, which often end up on the patio for guests who prefer standing and mingling.

What's Included with Your Willowbrook Courtyard Rental

Your rental includes 250 black chiavari chairs with cushions, 30 five-foot round tables, four eight-foot farmhouse tables, five eight-foot rectangle tables, 10 high-top cocktail tables, and one half-round five-foot table. You can arrange lounge-style seating on the Courtyard using our cocktail tables, or pull in rounds if you want full seating outdoors. We also offer a dance floor with three color options, and sizes vary depending on your guest count.

We do not provide linens or tableware. Most couples rent those through vendors like Barton's Grand Rental. We also don't provide a kitchen, so all catering comes through your preferred vendor. You can choose a caterer from our robust preferred list, or request approval for someone not on the list. If your caterer does not have an off-premise liquor license, you must select bar service from our preferred bartenders list. If your caterer does have an off-premise liquor license, you must use that caterer for both food and alcohol.

Evening Lighting and Music Guidelines for Courtyard Receptions

The bistro lights are built into the Courtyard setup. They provide ambient lighting, not spotlighting, so if you plan to have your band or DJ set up outdoors, coordinate with your vendors about additional lighting if needed. Music must end by 10:00 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and by 9:00 PM on Sundays. The venue must be cleared 30 minutes after music stops, so your vendors will need to complete teardown within your contracted rental period.

Dimmable lighting runs throughout the venue, including inside Willowbrook Hall. That control helps transition your guests smoothly from cocktail hour on the Courtyard into dinner inside, or vice versa if you're doing an indoor ceremony followed by an outdoor reception flow.

Rain Backup Plans for Your Outdoor Courtyard Reception

Rain changes plans, and we have two backup options. You can move your ceremony indoors under roof in Willowbrook Hall, or use the Pavilion, which is covered. The Courtyard itself is open air, so if rain threatens your cocktail hour, we shift guests into the hall or under the Pavilion. There's no need to gamble. We've coordinated hundreds of events on this property, and our team stays on site throughout your event to help make real-time calls if weather shifts.

Photo Opportunities Around the Courtyard and Grounds

The Courtyard connects to the rest of our 20 acres. Your photographer can move guests from the patio into our gardens, which bloom seasonally, or down to the pond, woods, or waterfall. We also have access to the back forty, which offers wide-open field shots. Our team provides golf cart support for photo locations on request, so your older guests or anyone in heels doesn't have to hike across the property.

If you're doing an evening reception, the bistro lights photograph beautifully once the sun sets. We've seen couples take first dance photos on the Courtyard, or gather their wedding party under the lights for a final group shot before the night ends.

Bridal Suite, Groom's Room, and Guest Amenities

Our Bridal Suite includes six hair and makeup stations with professional lighting, a private bathroom, a large lounge, and a separate dressing area with a large mirror. You can access the suite as early as 8:00 AM, depending on the day. The Groom's Room sits on the opposite side of the property and includes a lounge area, pool table, flat-screen TV, and full bathroom access starting at 11:00 AM, depending on the day.

Inside Willowbrook Hall, we have large, wheelchair-accessible restrooms. Parking for about 150 cars is lighted, and the lot sits close to the entrance, so your guests don't have a long walk.

Recognizing Your Rehearsal Options and Access Times

Your access begins at your contracted start time. We do not allow early entry. If you're renting a single day and the night before your wedding is booked, your rehearsal may need to happen earlier in the week or during one of our monthly open houses. Final approval for rehearsal timing comes 30 days prior if the night before your event is unbooked.

Your final guest count is due two weeks before your event. We don't have food, beverage, or guest count minimums, so you can plan for 50 guests or 250 guests. The Courtyard scales depending on how you use it. A smaller wedding might use it exclusively for cocktail hour. A larger wedding might use it as a late-night lounge after dinner inside.

All vendor deliveries and pickups must happen within your contracted rental period. We don't allow vehicles to stay overnight, though you can speak with our team about rare exceptions or placement.

Why Delaware Couples Choose the Courtyard for Evening Flow

The Courtyard gives you flexibility. You're not locked into one space all night. You can move your guests naturally from ceremony to cocktails to dinner to dancing, using both indoor and outdoor spaces. The bistro lights create a warm, inviting feel that doesn't require heavy decor investment. The concrete surface is practical, the layout is spacious, and the lighting is already installed.

We've seen couples do string quartets on the Courtyard during cocktail hour, set up cigar bars for late-night socializing, or simply use it as an overflow space when the dance floor inside gets packed. It works for elegant garden styles, shabby chic, vintage, or glam aesthetics. The space itself is neutral, so your decor and lighting choices define the look.

Plan Your Willowbrook Courtyard Evening Reception

If you're imagining an evening reception that flows between indoor and outdoor spaces, the Willowbrook Courtyard can anchor that vision. We'd love to show you the property in person so you can see how the Courtyard connects to the hall, the gardens, and the rest of the grounds. Our team stays on site throughout your event, and we've coordinated every type of weather scenario and timeline adjustment you can imagine.

Conclusion:

Willowbrook is located at 8275 Cannon Road in Bridgeville, just a mile from the interstate. Hampton Inn and Comfort Suites are about 10 minutes away in Seaford, and Georgetown has Tru by Hilton, Microtel Inn & Suites, and other hotels about 15 minutes from the property. If you're booking room blocks, reserve early because hotels in the area often host sports teams.

Ready to see the Courtyard in person? Email us at info@willowbrookde.com or call 302.228.0787 to schedule a tour. You can also request a pricing guide on our Investment page or check available dates for 2026 and 2027 on our Dates page. We host monthly open houses too, which are a great way to walk the property and ask questions without pressure.

FAQs

Can we host our entire reception outdoors on the Courtyard?
The Courtyard works well for cocktail hours and lounge-style setups, but it's open air with no weather protection. Most couples use it as part of their reception flow, combined with our climate-controlled Willowbrook Hall, which seats up to 250 guests for dinner. The Pavilion is our covered outdoor option and accommodates up to 150 guests for a full reception.

What happens if it rains during our Courtyard cocktail hour?
We move guests inside Willowbrook Hall or under the Pavilion. Our team stays on site throughout your event and coordinates with your vendors to make real-time adjustments. We've handled hundreds of weather shifts, so you don't need to manage logistics on your wedding day.

Do you provide heaters for evening receptions on the Courtyard?
We offer patio heaters as an optional rental, and we have four available. If your wedding is in late fall, winter, or early spring, heaters extend comfort for outdoor portions of your event.

What's included with the Courtyard rental?
The Courtyard is part of your full venue rental. You get access to the space along with our bistro lighting, 250 black chiavari chairs, cocktail tables, and bar setup options. You'll need to bring in linens, tableware, and catering through your preferred vendors. We provide a robust preferred caterer and bartender list, and you can request approval for vendors not on our list.