I got hitched less than two months ago, which means all that wedding venue searching is still fresh on my brain. The District has hundreds of places to get married from art galleries to college campuses, which could mean months of calling, emailing, and visiting spots until you find the perfect place for you and your partner. I’ve enlisted some DCist writers to help narrow that list down with some of our favorite, most picturesque places for nuptials in the city.
(Photo by Bonnie Bogle)
JOSEPHINE BUTLER PARKS CENTER: The elegant buttercup yellow building on the east side of Malcolm X Park is just as lovely on the inside as its exterior would suggest. And as befitting a historic house (originally a private residence, it once served as the Hungarian embassy before coming into the hands of the non-profit Washington Parks and People), the Josephine Butler Parks Center doesn’t just have a beautifully ornamented ballroom—there’s also a library, a conservatory, and a balcony overlooking the park. — Rachel Sadon
The Josephine Butler Parks Center is located at 2437 15th St NW.
WHITTEMORE HOUSE: My brother and his wife got married at this historic mansion a few years ago and folks are still raving about it to this day. The 19th century home near Dupont Circle is perfect for the couple who wants to exude charm and elegance. There are nine rooms all furnished with antiques and art, but still retain their own character. We witnessed the couple’s nuptials in the banquet room, which was big enough to seat all of their guests with extra space for a dance floor. This room also leads to a courtyard where guests can mingle and get some fresh air. — Christina Sturdivant
The Whittmore House is located at 1526 New Hampshire Ave NW.
DACOR BACON HOUSE: For a truly D.C. wedding, it would be hard to beat this historic, elegant property with longstanding ties to the foreign service and diplomatic communities right near the White House. Furnished with ornate antiques and artwork, this venue can only be described as stately. Large, high ceilinged rooms are great for the reception, with rooms upstairs perfect for the bridal party to sip champagne and enjoy the pre-wedding preparations. Beyond the impressive interior, DACOR Bacon House also has a lovely garden that feels like an intimate oasis, and a rarity right in the middle of the city.—Meghan Markey
The DACOR Bacon House at 1801 F Street NW.
A wedding at Howard University School of Law’s Dunbarton Chapel (Photo by Maya A Darasaw, Mad Works Photography)
A COLLEGE CAMPUS: Living in a college town, I’ve been seen plenty of universities serve as wedding destinations. One of my first experiences was about two decades ago when my cousin had his wedding reception at Gallaudet University’s Kellogg Conference Center. I remember imagining what my wedding would be like as I watched the newlyweds and their bridal party take photos in the outdoor garden and along the staircase in the venue’s lobby. Just a few weeks ago, I was a bridesmaid in my cousin’s wedding at the University of Maryland. She and her beau had their ceremony and reception at the Samuel Riggs Alumni Center, which added convenience to their guests’ experience. Another friend just celebrated her three-year anniversary and shared with me a photo of her nuptials (see above) at Howard University School of Law’s beautiful Dunbarton Chapel. What’s so appealing about hosting your nuptials at a college, you ask? They usually hold more guests than an average venue suiting couples with big families and loads of friends, they tend to have dedicated wedding planners and lots of accommodations for couples who want all of their options on the table, and many of them have campus hotels for out-of-town guests or getting prepped before the big “I do.”—Christina Sturdivant
Gallaudet’s Kellogg Conference Center is located at 800 Florida Ave NE, U Md.’s Samuel Riggs Alumni Center is located at 7801 Alumni Drive in College Park, and HU’s School of Law is located at 2900 Van Ness Street NW.
The Newseum offers a stunning backdrop of the Capitol. (Photo courtesy of the Newseum)
NEWSEUM: If downtown best represents your version of the District, the Newseum is the place to commemorate your love for the city and your partner. The Newseum’s second-floor terrace offers a stunning backdrop of the Capitol that will make you appreciate Washington, no matter your politics. While the terrace is my personal favorite feature, the media-focused venue has lots of indoor rooms for weddings of varying party sizes—they even let you take over the entire building, if your wallet allows. As for food, the Newseum partners exclusively with Wolfgang Puck Catering so you’re sure to have a fancy feast.—Christina Sturdivant
The Newseum is located at 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
NATIONAL ARBORETUM: The expansive National Arboretum has a plethora of outdoor options, whether your wedding will be a large affair or an intimate gathering of close friends and family. There’s the National Herb Garden, Arboretum Meadow, Friendship Garden, or the National Bonsai Museum (the moon gate here would be especially fun). But undoubtedly the most impressive backdrop for a wedding has to be the National Capitol Columns—they were placed in the East Portico of the Capitol in 1828, but were subsequently moved, eventually finding a home at the arboretum. Situated in a meadow above a reflecting pool, guests walk up to the Corinthian columns along a tree-lined path—nothing short of magical, especially in the springtime. And just think of those wedding photos.—Meghan Markey
The National Arboretum is located at 3501 New York Avenue NE.
One of several rooms at the Mansion on O. (Photo by J.P. Goss via Facebook)
MANSION ON O: Relationships are a lot like the Mansion on O Street—a little zany, filled with twists and turns and all manner of knick-knacks, a living testament to history, and hopefully, always ready with another surprise. The Dupont home also does weddings with a number of different packages that range from brunch to a party for 400, and could include reserving some of its themed hotel rooms, in case you don’t want your guests driving home afterwards. If the Mansion on O Street puts even a modicum of thought into your event’s details that it does into its many rooms, your wedding will be one for the ages.—Rachel Kurzius
The Mansion on O Street is located at 2020 O Street NW.
SPANISH STEPS: Extricate yourself from the hustle and bustle of the city’s center at the Spanish Steps, a hidden treasure of Northwest D.C. just a few blocks from the current residences of Ivanka Trump, Rex Tillerson and the Obama family. You’d never know it, though—the spot in the picturesque Kalorama neighborhood is tranquil and elegant. Gaze at your blushing soon-to-be-spouse under the shadow of the granite lion-head fountain, and marvel at the beautiful architecture circa 1911. At the parties afterwards, impress your guests with this bit of trivia: The spot’s name refers to a similar but larger set of stairs in…Rome, Italy.—Mark Lieberman
The Spanish Steps are located on 22nd Street NW just south of S Street NW.
Have a wedding and seated dinner reception at Toolbox Pilates Art Studio in Dupont Circle. (Photo via Facebook)
AN ART GALLERY: An art gallery provides the perfect backdrop for creative couples to exchange vows—and D.C. has plenty of them. One of my favorites is Gallery O on H. Lots of couples take advantage of its versatile two-level courtyard that usually hosts jazz events during the warmer months. The area, which is roomier than the venue’s artful interior, works for ceremonies, mingling, dining, and dancing. Another popular gallery for weddings is Toolbox Pilates Art Studio in Dupont Circle. Split in two levels by a winding staircase, it’s a warm and cozy spot that can also transform for events of varying size and style.—Christina Sturdivant
Gallery O on H is located at 1354 H Street NE. Toolbox is located at 1627 Connecticut Avenue NW.
BLIND WHINO: For couples who want to up the ante on the artsy vibe, consider Blind Whino SW Arts Club—one of the most colorful buildings in the city. The church-turned-art space’s bright exterior will effortlessly liven up your big day. Inside, there are more murals, interesting exhibits, and plenty of space for a funky affair.—Christina Sturdivant
Blind Whino is located at 700 Delaware Avenue SE.
A STUDIO: There are a couple of spots in D.C. that offer raw spaces with millennial-esque accents like reclaimed wood floors, exposed brick walls, and Edison bulbs. The rest is up to you. The Loft at 600 is one such venue near Chinatown. And over in Ivy City, Studio 52 has similar vibes, but more industrial. Christina Sturdivant
The Loft at 600 is located at 600 F Street NW. Studio 52 is located at 1508 Okie Street NE.
A couple exchanges vows on Big Bear’s private garden patio. (Photo via Facebook)
BIG BEAR CAFE: Keep your guests caffeinated as they await your grand entrance at Big Bear Cafe, one of the most scenic coffee shops for weddings in the city. Surrounded by flowering vines and overhanging trees, you and your future spouse can become one with each other and nature on the shop’s private garden patio. After the ceremony, stay outdoors for an intimate seated dinner or cocktail reception or move the festivities inside for a family-style feast closer to the main bar. For larger parties, both spaces, or the entire venue can be rented out.—Christina Sturdivant
Big Bear Cafe is located at 1700 1st Street NW.
DOCK 5: If you’re looking for a hip, industrial venue that can house a ton of friends and family (up to 800!), Dock 5 may be up your alley. This warehouse space, with 22 foot-high ceilings, has been used for galas, culinary competitions, cocktail events, fundraisers—you name it. It acts as a perfect blank canvas for wherever your creative vision takes you. Need even more space for photo booths, fancy beer pong (cham-pong, anyone?), or bridesmaids vs. groomsmen corn hole? The outside dock and private alley can be arranged for use as well. And of course, you’ll be right around the corner from one of the most Instagrammed murals in the area—fittingly, the heart wall.—Meghan Markey
Dock 5 is located at 1309 5th Street NE.
Pop! Wed has a new secular “chapel” at Northeast’s Off The Beaten Track Warehouse. (Courtesy of Pop! Wed)
POP! WED’S SECULAR CHAPEL: This D.C. company distills weddings into their essence—ceremony, photographs, cake—and then makes it basically as easy as humanely possible for the bride and groom to enjoy the day with a handful of guests (wedding gurus Steven Gaudaen, Maggie Winters Gaudaen, and their team handle the paperwork, officiating, and photography). As for the location, they’ll arrange a legal pop-up wedding in a site of your choosing (peruse their blog for some of the surprising and always photogenic spots they’ve done in the past), or have the festivities take place at their tiny but charming secular “chapel” in Northeast. They even do same day ceremonies on Friday afternoons for those in a real rush.—Rachel Sadon
Pop! Wed’s secular chapel is located at 2414 Douglas Street NE.
ANYWHERE IN D.C. Fun fact about the District of Columbia: YOU CAN OFFICIATE YOUR OWN WEDDING (YES, THIS IS ME YELLING IN PRINT). D.C. is one of only four jurisdictions in the U.S. that allows self-uniting weddings, sometimes also called Quaker marriages (the other states are Pennsylvania, Colorado, Wisconsin). If you want to have a friend get certified as a minister by the Church Of The Internet and then apply for a temporary officiant’s license, by all means, go for it. But you can do the whole thing yourself just by checking a single box on the marriage application (look for a line underneath the officiant’s name that says “The parties to the marriage elect to officiate the marriage ceremony themselves.”) Both parties have to be present to pick up the certificate at the courthouse, which isn’t the case for non self-officiated weddings, but only one half of the couple actually needs to sign the paperwork (the first decision-making test of your pending marriage!) Long story short, I got legally married in the living room of an 8-person group house, but anywhere in the District’s borders will do.—Rachel Sadon
Literally wherever you want in the District of Columbia.
