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D.C. Wedding Venues

Last week I blogged about some of my favorite Northern Virginia wedding venues to help couples who are starting their venue search. This week I’m continuing the series with some of my favorite D.C. options. You might think that most of these are going to be feel very metropolitan, but D.C. actually has quite a few hidden gems! Enjoy some of my favorite D.C. wedding venues!

 

Josephine Butler House

The Josephine Butler House is a gorgeous location tucked right in the heart of D.C. The house is a light yellow with different ballroom options inside. Outside there’s a small side garden and balcony that are perfect options for cocktail hour. Right across the street is Meridian Hill Park so you’ll have plenty of options for portrait locations!

 

Tudor Place

I’m so excited to be heading to Tudor Place for Nataliya and Drew’s wedding in June! This Federal period mansion is on 5.5 acres of gardens in Georgetown. Boxwood gardens, blooming flowers, iron gates and fountains fill the space making it the perfect intimate setting for any wedding!

 

Washington National Cathedral

If you want a classic D.C. wedding and a venue that will wow your guests look no farther than the Washington National Cathedral! Not only is the church stunning the cathedral is also home to the Bishop’s Gardens which are filled with beautiful portrait spots and architecture. This is also one of my favorite private locations for engagement portraits in D.C.!

 

The Line

The Line Hotel is definitely on my bucket list for venues I would love to shoot at! This hotel can accommodate up to 300 people so it’s a perfect setting for those with big guest lists! Originally The Line was originally a 110 year old church that was renovated into a hotel. If you’ve ever looked it up on Instagram you’re likely to have seen snaps of their famous mirror or the chandelier created from the church’s organ! My favorite part of the line is the rooftop balcony overlooks Adams Morgan and gives you and your guests 360 degree views of the city including the Capitol and the Washington Monument.

 

The Fairmont

The Fairmont is another D.C. hotel that I recommend looking into! It has huge bay windows, filling the hotel with lots of natural light. The lush, central courtyard also offers couples a perfect ceremony and portrait location!

 

Museum of Women In the Arts

The Museum of Women in the Arts is perfect if you’re searching for an elegant ballroom! The NMWA is another D.C. venue I would love to work out soon! The marble interior and chandeliers make it the perfect space for a large reception. You can even have your guests line the balconies upstairs while you enjoy your first dance below!

 

DAR Constitution Hall

Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall is one of my favorite D.C. venues! I worked here a few years back and fell in love with the space! The ballroom is the perfect blank canvas for any type of reception and the portico space is perfect for outdoor ceremonies and dance floors. If you want to switch things up they also have the option have your reception outside as well and then move indoors for dancing later on!

 

Decatur House

If you’re looking for something a with lots of history Decatur House might be the perfect fit for you! The Decatur house is one of the oldest homes in Washington D.C.  and is located just a block away from the White House. The brick patio out back is perfect for ceremonies, but can also be tented for an elegant reception space.

 

Anderson House

I’m not entirely convinced that the Anderson House wasn’t just transported from France! Also known as The Society of the Cincinnati, the mansion was originally built in 1905. My favorite feature is the Hoyt Garden with a large reflecting pool. It’s perfect for ceremonies, portraits or even for an outdoor reception under the stars!

 

Arena Stage

If you’re looking for something modern Arena Stage is a great fit! The theater is mostly white concrete and glass windows with a huge space for a seated indoor reception. Not only does it have a private patio that can be used for ceremony or cocktail hour it’s also just steps away from the Wharf if you want some photos waterfront!

 

Meridian House

Meridian House is perfect if you’re looking for an European vibe! Designed by the same architect who created the Jefferson Memorial the beautiful house is right next to historic gardens offering both indoor and outdoor options to couples planning their wedding.

 

Lincoln’s Cottage

The Gothic style building at Lincoln’s Cottage is such a unique space in D.C. to tie the knot! The home itself is a beautiful ceremony backdrop and pairs great with a tented reception!

 

D.C. War Memorial

Most people don’t realize this, but you can actually rent out the national park sites for your wedding ceremony! Although you can’t host your reception here, the D.C. War Memorial is one of my favorite spots for a D.C. wedding ceremony. If you’re having an intimate wedding guests can be seated inside the rotunda while you exchange your vows in the center. Have a bigger guest list? Have them seated on the grass below while you two tie the knot on the front steps. Follow it up with portraits after you two before heading to your reception space! If anyone is looking for a photographer for this location let me know! I’m happy to help with the permit process for this iconic location.

 

American Pharmacists Association Potomac View Terrace

The Potomac View Terrace at the American Pharmacists Association has fantastic views of D.C. if you’re looking for a view and want to stay close to the National Mall this is the venue for you! The rooftop terrace is large enough to tent part of it for your reception while leaving the other part uncovered for an outdoor ceremony.

 

The Willard Intercontinental

Looking for something that’s quintessential D.C. elegance? The Willard Intercontinental is the perfect fit! If you’re worried about rain plans or getting married in the winter their stunning interiors are the only backup plan you need! The ballrooms at the Willard are stunning and have plenty of space for both your ceremony and reception.

 

Dumbarton House

Dumbarton House in Georgetown is a gorgeous D.C. secret. Close to Rock Creek Park, the Dumbarton House is an elegant brick building with courtyard, ballroom, gardens, and tented options. It’s perfect to create any type of wedding you’ve dreamed up!

 

Cosmos Club

If you’re looking for a venue that’s a perfect fit for black-tie city wedding you should definitely visit the Cosmos Club. The downtown landmark is elegant and warm! The ballroom looks like it could have been lifted straight out of the Palace of Versailles!

 

Hay Adams

I recently got to tour the Hay Adams and fell in love with the space! It’s a beautiful hotel with tons of natural light. My favorite part is the panoramic views on their private balcony. You can enjoy your reception overlooking the White House and the Washington Monument!

 

St. Francis Hall

I got to work at St. Francis Hall for this first time last summer for Gina and Jake’s wedding and fell in love with the space! Not only does it have ballroom or room for a tented reception, but the Franciscan Monastery’s gardens across the street are the most beautiful location for portraits. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Italy!

 

Andrew Mellon Auditorium

The ballroom at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium is stunning! This premiere venue can hold up to 400 people for a ceremony and reception or up to 600 if you’re only hosting your reception here! They can also host weddings late into the night with guests allowed on property until 1am!

 

Carnegie Institute of Science

The Carnegie Institute of Science is a great fit if you’re looking for an indoor wedding venue. The romantic architecture is perfect for a classic D.C. venue and has a unique dance floor that also doubles as the ceremony space. Still want photos outside? Don’t worry! The gorgeous marble steps in front are perfect for portraits!

 

The W Hotel

Want a fun hotel space that’s modern and a little bit funky? You should definitely check out the W Hotel! This artsy space is full of fun twists, but also offers lots of fun ways for you two to customize it to your wedding day vibe. A cool feature is the LED lighting based off of D.C.’s diagonal streets!

 

The Omni Shoreham

With three different garden views and five elegant ballrooms to choose from the Omni Shoreham is a great D.C. wedding venue to visit. The outdoor gardens overlook Rock Creek Park and have a gorgeous gazebo to tie the knot under. They’re also perfect for portraits and cocktail hour before heading indoors for your reception!

 

The Reach at the Kennedy Center

The Reach at the Kennedy Center is D.C.’s newest venues and I can’t wait to see how couples transform the space for their wedding days! The light-filled space is fairly neutral so it’ll work great with any color palette and season. As a bonus you’re only steps away from the Kennedy Center offering you twice as many portrait locations on your wedding day!

 

Hopefully this list of the best D.C. wedding venues helps to kick off your wedding planning process! The beginning of the wedding planning process always seems like the most overwhelming, but once you get going everything gets easier! If you’re looking for more advice click here to read more For Couples blogs. You’ve got this!

P.S. Newly engaged and thinking about wedding photography? Send me a message! I’m taking on a limited number of couples for 2021  in order to make each couple’s experience special. Get in touch! I’d love to work with you!

 

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Creating Memories || Northern Virginia Wedding Venues

I'm a Virginia wedding photographer serving the DMV and worldwide. I strive to balance the composed with the candid and capture vibrant, timeless images for my couples.

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