The 25+ Most Popular Washington DC Wedding Venues

There are many options out there. For the past years as a Washington DC wedding photographer, I have documented weddings in different areas of Washington DC and I do have some preferences. Of course, this is very personal and any DC wedding has its uniqueness. 

I narrowed down more than 25 wedding reception venues that I love for many reasons. And maybe you will too! I added the capacity and the cost (average or starting price) to help you find your best match.

On this page, you will find in this order:

  1. The Line Hotel (Blog Post): I am a huge fan of this venue. As a history nerd, I love that this hotel was a 110-year-old church in the heart of Adams Morgan, one of the best DC neighborhoods. I think this venue is great if you have a lot of guests coming to the capital. The best part about this wedding venue: you can schedule your morning prep, your ceremony, and your reception at the same location. Capacity: with a 4,000-square-foot area, the hotel hosts up to 300 guests so you can have a large party. The view is also spectacular as you can see the Washington Monument from the rooftop. Cost: $30k - $40k For 100 Guests
  2. Anderson House: If you like European-style signatures of luxury and a marble staircase, this is the venue for you. The best part of this wedding venue is its garden with a reflecting pool for your ceremony or cocktail hour. The Society of the Cincinnati's Larz Anderson House is hidden amongst the historic mansions and embassies of Massachusetts Avenue. If you are getting married in April, count on the Magnolias to give you the best background for your wedding photos. Capacity: The venue limits the number of guests to 130 people. Cost: between $12k-16k depending on your date and day of the week.
  3. The Schuyler: This is one of the favorite locations for DC wedding planners. This black canvas gives them the opportunity to create unique decor each time they work there. Located in the Hamilton Hotel, this contemporary ballroom has a 12,000-square-foot area. Capacity: it can hold up to 450 people. Cost: The Schuyler Grand Ballroom is currently $12k for weekday events and $15k for weekend events.
  4. North Hall (Blog post): Welcome to Eastern Market! You can literally create anything you want in this blank space, which is perfect for a non-traditional wedding. Bring draping and lighting to craft your own vision. Capacity: it can hold up to 200 people. Cost: starts at $5k.
  5. Decatur House: This historic home was built by the architect of the U.S. Capitol. It’s also one of the first houses ever built in DC! This house gets everything you want: entertainment Parlors with inlaid wood floors, 19th-century chandeliers, and hand-painted ceilings. But the true treasure of this place is the location: right on central Lafayette Square. Capacity: it can hold up to 300 people. Cost: between $5k - $8k for 100 guests.
  6. Friends Meeting of Washington: Established in 1930 as a Quaker meeting house, this wedding venue is located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. In keeping with Quaker values, couples of every background, creed, and orientation are welcome to celebrate their precious day at this historic location. Capacity: Up to 300 guests when renting the whole venue. Options to reserve for 50, 96 and 200 guests as well. Cost: between $3.300 and $7.500 depending on which room you want and your number of guests.
  7. The Hay-Adams: This wedding venue has the best view of any other. Even TV crews from all over the world rent this space to get a view of the white house. With 6,350 square feet, this venue can hold up to 250 guests. Located on the crossroads of 16th & H Street, the Hay-Adams is the perfect combination of understated elegance and traditional luxury. Capacity: 250 guests for a seated dinner with dancing. Cost: their pricing starts at $10k.
  8. Longview Gallery: This space, adjacent to the Washington Convention Center, features 8,500 square feet of modern industrial space. This is again a great blank canvas for wedding planners. This venue is located near the historic Blagden Alley, a great place to get your wedding portraits done! Capacity: between 50 and 200 guests. Cost: starts at $10k.
  9. Clyde’s: With locations spreading across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, Clyde’s offers a variety of different event spaces to choose from. Started as a virtual restaurant during the pandemic, Clyde’s is now back open for business and ready to help you plan the wedding of your dreams. Capacity: up to 130 guests. Cost: starting at $5.500 for ceremony and reception.
  10. Mess Hall: this DC venue offers a unique space for those looking to create an out-of-this-world event that guests won’t soon forget. This 2,000-square-foot warehouse is actually an industrial community kitchen. The kitchen, which occasionally acts as an event venue boasts 18-foot ceilings and allows for multiple room configurations to give you complete control over the space. Capacity: up to 150 guests. Cost: starts at $20k.
  11. Abigail: another one of Washington DC’s newest bars, Abigail is an ultra-modern bar. Conveniently located in the Central Business District, Abigail offers over 5,000 sq feet of entertainment space, making it the ideal location for large wedding celebrations. The space can hold over 300+ guests, so grab your loved ones and head over to Abigail for a wedding party for the books! Capacity: up to 400 seated guests. Cost: contact the venue.
  12. Saint Yves: this is Washington, DC’s ultimate private luxury event venue. Located in a historic building in Dupont, Saint Yves’ 5000 square foot space is filled with floor-to-ceiling windows and luxe furniture and decor. The space offers two full-service bars. Capacity: the venue can accommodate 400 guests. Cost: contact the venue.
  13. The Sun Room: this is a new extension of one of DC’s best gift shops, Salt and Sundry. This chic homeware store recently expanded and now offers a 3,000 sq ft space, perfect for intimate weddings and other events! The Sun Room features an onsite kitchen and industrial garage doors that give the space plenty of natural light. Capacity: ideal for 100 guests. Cost: inquiry with the venue (thesunroom@shopsaltandsundry.com)
  14. The Dacha Loft: Nestled above the Dacha Beer Garden, the venue is a unique and magical backdrop to any Washington DC wedding. This venue is best for small and intimate gatherings as it can accommodate up to 40 guests for a seated dinner or 70 guests for a cocktail reception. It also has a full-time events staff that will help you with planning and managing every detail of your day. Capacity: seated dinner with 12-40 guests and reception with 20-70 guests. Cost: $500 room rental and $2k food and beverage minimum for up to 35 guests. 

Best Indoor Venues

Outdoor Wedding Venues

Many of the indoor venues that I have listed have also an outdoor area but usually, they are quite small. This list gathers wedding venues with huge gardens that can welcome between 100 and 200 wedding guests. 

  1. Meridian House: This is an exquisite historic home situated on three acres of manicured gardens. Conveniently located a mile north of the White House in the heart of the nation's capital, the property's stately elegance provides an ideal setting for your wedding. Capacity: this venue can welcome up to 200 people. Cost: you can estimate $10k - $12k for 100 guests.
  2. Fathom Gallery (Blog post): The team is incredible and the space is so unique, perfect for an intimate day. I love the outdoor patio where most people get married. It’s also easily transformed into a reception area. Capacity: This artsy venue has brick walls, is industrial, and accommodates 72 sit-down dinner guests, 125 for standing reception or 80 for seated presentations or wedding ceremonies. Cost: Starts at $5.000.
  3. Lincoln’s Cottage (Blog Post): President Lincoln's Cottage is an 1842 Gothic Revival mansion that features both history and charm. Located adjacent to the Cottage is the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center, a stunning Beaux Arts-style museum with ample entertaining space. Capacity: The venue's most popular wedding option, with space for up to 300 guests, is the tenting option. But keep in mind that the South Lawn can accommodate up to 1.500 guests. Cost: the cost of the venue varies from $3.000 to $20.000. 
  4. Omni Shoreham Hotel: Next to the Tidal Basin, the garden can welcome up to 400 guests with its 12 acres of nature and beauty. And because it’s a hotel, this could be the perfect location if you have a lot of out-of-town guests who need a play to stay for your wedding. Capacity: they have 3 different ballrooms with different capacities. Empire Ballroom (200 guests), The Palladian Ballroom (280 guests), The Diplomat Ballroom (150 guests). Cost: between $25k - $35k for 100 guests.
  5. Saint Francis Hall: This is truly one of DC's best-hidden gems. This is a charming facility adjacent to the beautiful Franciscan Monastery in the quiet Brookland neighborhood of Northeast Washington, DC (conveniently located near Catholic University). Capacity: up to 225 guests. Cost: starts at 10k for a Saturday date.
  6. DC War Memorial (Blog post): If you plan to have a very DC wedding, the War Memorial is the perfect wedding ceremony location for you and your guests. This is one of the most beautiful, more private locations on the National Mall, which is well-kept by the National Park Service (NPS), directly between the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the new Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial across Independence Avenue. You can have up to 200 seated guests. Capacity: An outdoor ceremony held on the back lawn can accommodate up to 200 guests. An indoor ceremony held in the Library accommodates a maximum of 80 guests. Cost: you need a permit from NPS ($90).
  7. Josephine Butler Parks Center: The property is a beautiful Renaissance mansion that has been revitalized to its original glory. The outdoor garden is perfect for any couple who wants history and nature to meet. The venue allows up to 200 seated guests and up to 225 standing. Capacity: you can host up to 300 standing guests. Cost: around $5.000 for the ceremony or the reception.
  8. Gallery O on H: Located about 10 minutes away from the U.S. Capitol, Gallery O on H is a perfect urban wedding venue. The property even has a living greenery wall that you can choose to get married in front of! Capacity: The space comfortably accommodates up to 110 guests and is perfect for smaller gatherings. Cost: Starts at $5.000
  9. United States National Arboretum: This one is often overlooked but I think it’s one of the best locations that Washington DC has to offer for nature lovers. First of all, no venue can beat its capacity which is up to 3.000 guests. Located in the Northeast DC area, the Arboretum has 446 acres of land and a variety of different types of garden areas to choose from. Capacity: up to 3.000 guests. Cost: Wedding packages weddings start at $10k.
  10. AutoShop: Located in the historic Union Market District, this industrial-vibe venue is a mix of old and new. Once a former auto body shop, this new Washington DC wedding venue has been reinvented to become a hip, modern event space. AutoShop features a main open floor, a second level with flexible partitions, and an outdoor terrace overlooking Union Market and the Capitol. Capacity: up to 150 guests. For a standing event, the venue can hold up to 400 guests. Cost: contact the venue.
  11. The View of DC: This is a best-in-class event space that will provide you and your guests with unparalleled views as far as the eye can see. The space offers a wide variety of rooms and amenities complete with a modern observation deck, outdoor terrace, and floor-to-ceiling wraparound windows. Capacity: 450 people can be accommodated standing. Approximately 120-150 people can be seated. Cost: contact the venue directly.

Waterfront Wedding Venue

Many of the indoor venues that I have listed have also an outdoor area but usually, they are quite small. This list gathers wedding venues with huge gardens that can welcome between 100 and 200 wedding guests. 

  1. Dockmaster Building at the Wharf: This is the premier waterfront event venue in Washington DC. With extraordinary views of the Washington Channel, Capital Yacht Club, Washington Monument, and the skyline of The Wharf, this space provides an extraordinary backdrop for your Washington DC wedding. Capacity: up to 140 guests. Cost: between $6.500 to $8.000.
  2. Sequoia Restaurant: This is a very unique location. Built on the banks of the Potomac River, this venue has a fabulous view of the Virginia skyline, but also the Kennedy Center, the Watergate Hotel, the gentle Potomac River, and its iconic bridges. Yes, all of these views are from one venue! Capacity: maximum capacity for up to 250 guests. Cost: $27k - $33k for 100 guests
  3. District Winery (Blog Post): This is one of my favorite venues to photograph. It’s a truly classy wedding venue and you get a fantastic view of the Potomac River! As a wine lover (I’m from Burgundy, France), I love how you can access their winery to shoot creative portraits. Capacity: Up to 200 guests. Cost: the costs vary depending on food, wine, and options included but you can budget between $25k-45k to organize your wedding at the Winery for 140 guests.

Best Washington DC Wedding Venues

FROM A WASHINGTON DC WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

There are so many venues in Washington DC! How do I pick one?

First, you need to have a budget. What percentage of your wedding budget can you allocate to this? Washington DC wedding venue costs range from less than $1000 to $50.000 so once you know how much you can spend, you will be able to narrow down your possibilities. 

Then you need to think about the season. Are you getting married during the spring, the hot summer, or the cold winter? Depending on the potential weather, that will help you choose a venue that can accommodate your outdoor or indoor wedding. 

At last, depending on if you are planning a large wedding or a small ceremony, this will help you to target your ideal venue. Many historic venues can only have between 50 and 80 guests so these would definitely not be for you if you want a big wedding. If you live in DC, you know restaurants have a big space in Washingtonians’ lives. Why not consider getting married at one? Check out my 18 favorite restaurants to organize your wedding. Actually, my very own wedding was planned in a wine bar and my guests loved it! We ended up in a bar after the reception. Best DC night ever! But that only works if you have a maximum of 50 guests. 

How do I choose the perfect location?

Location is everything in Washington DC. Do you want to be in the heart of the nation’s capital, close to the White House? Or by the Congress and use it as a backdrop for your wedding portrait? Or do you prefer the urban feel of Adams Morgan and 14th Street? There is no right answer, it depends on what you want for your guests and the theme of your wedding.

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about natasha

The best way to tell honest stories is through keen observation. How do I know? Because I spent 15 years as a journalist before becoming a wedding photographer.​​​​​​​

By paying attention to the ways you interact with your loved ones, I capture the in-between moments that will, one day, be significant. And using a trained eye and subtle approach, I do so unobtrusively.

As one of the top 120 wedding photojournalists in the world according to the Wedding Photojournalist Association and a member of the World’s Best Wedding Photographers, I know exactly when to step in and capture a moment - without overtaking the interaction.

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