Photo: Bonnie Sen

Planning a wedding or corporate event and looking for a venue? Here is our annual list of some of the venues in DC, Maryland, and Virginia where we have either coordinated and planned events or have visited since 2008. While this is not an exhaustive list of all possible venues for private events in this area, we hope you find this useful as a starting point. — Vicky

Washington, DC

Newseum. Real Weddings & Events:

Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. Real Weddings:

Omni Shoreham Hotel. Real Weddings:

Meridian House. Real Weddings:

Fairmont Hotel: Real Weddings:

Hotel Monaco. Real Weddings:

Mayflower Hotel. Real Weddings:

Carnegie Institute of Science. Real Weddings:

101 Constitution. Real Wedding: Tented Winter Wedding with a Capitol View

American Museum of Women in the Arts. Real Weddings: A Romantic Japanese-Korean Fusion Wedding

American News Womens Club. Real Wedding: Lucky #13

Andrew Mellon Auditorium

The Anthem

Capital View at 400

Carnegie Library. Real Wedding: Capital Bridal Affair Giveaway Winner’s Wedding

The City Tavern Club. Real Wedding: Unique High Texture Fall Wedding

City Winery

The Congressional Club

Conrad Washington, DC (opening Spring 2019)

Daughters of the American Revolution

Decatur House. Real Wedding: A Fall Jewish Wedding

Del Friscos Double Eagle DC

Del Mar

District Winery

Dumbarton House

The Dupont Circle Hotel Real Wedding: Sophisticated Spring Wedding

Eastern Market North Hall. Real Wedding: Fall Jewish Wedding

Equality Center

The Fairfax at Embassy Row

Four Seasons Georgetown

Georgetown Marriott. Real Wedding: Springtime Wedding Full of Music

The Hamilton Live

Harman Center for the Arts

The Hay Adams Real Event: 50th Birthday Brunch Party

Intercontinental Washington DC The Wharf

Josephine Butler Park Center. Real Wedding: Starry Night Winter Wedding

Mexican Cultural Institute. Real Event: Day of the Dead Inspired Marketing Luncheon

Momofuku CCDC

National Building Museum

National Press Club. Real Wedding: Globe Trotting Lawyers Tie the Knot

Nationals Park

Park Hyatt Hotel. Real Wedding: Springtime DC Wedding

Perry Belmont House

Prequel

Ritz-Carlton Georgetown. Real Wedding: Intimate Small Fall Wedding

Sequoia Restaurant. Real Wedding: Summer Chinese-Italian Fusion Wedding in Georgetown

The Showroom

Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery

Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

Spy Museum

Tregaron/Washington International School. Real Wedding: Nature Inspired Fall Wedding

Union Stage

Union Station

United States National Arboretum

Westin City Center

Whittemore House. Real Weddings: Color Blast Sangeet for Indian Fusion Wedding

Virginia

Clarendon Ballroom, Arlington. Real Weddings:

Whitehall Manor, Bluemont. Real Weddings:

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna. Real Weddings:

Washington Golf & Country Club, Arlington. Real Weddings:

River Farm, Alexandria. Real Weddings:

2941 Restaurant, Falls Church. Real Weddings:

Top of the Town, Arlington. Real Weddings:

Middleburg Community Center, Middleburg. Real Weddings:

Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, Arlington, VA. Real Weddings:

Thai Jewish Summer Fusion Wedding
Thanksgiving Indian Wedding coming soon

Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA. Real Weddings:

Lansdowne Resort, Leesburg, VA. Real Wedding:

Army Navy Country Club, Arlington

Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, VA

The Boars Head Inn, Charlottesville

Briar Patch Bed & Breakfast, Middleburg, VA

Bull Run Golf Club, Haymarket, VA. Real Wedding: Perfect Spring Day

Caboose Brewing Company, Vienna, VA. Real Event: Marketing Event

Chrysalis Winery, Middleburg. Real Wedding: Tented Summer Winery Wedding

Fairview Park Marriott, Falls Church. Real Wedding: Lighthearted Summer Indian Wedding

Fort Belvoir Officers Club, Ft. Belvoir. Real Weddings All Things Romance for Fall Wedding

Foxchase Manor, Manassas. Real Wedding: Spring Gujarati Indian Wedding

George Washington Masonic Memorial Alexandria. Real Wedding: Fall Alexandria Wedding

Hendry House, Arlington: Real Wedding: Backyard Picnic style Spring Wedding

Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hotel, Herndon, VA

Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Old Town, Alexandria. Real Wedding: Hollywood Inspired Wedding

Hollin Hall, Alexandria. Real Wedding: (Virginia & Fall Inspired Wedding)

Hyatt Regency Reston, Reston, VA

Hyatt Regency Tysons Corner Center, McLean, VA

International Country Club, Fairfax. Real Wedding: Light Blue and Brown Fall Wedding

Khimaira Farm Luray

The Lorien Hotel, Alexandria

Lyon Hall, Arlington. Real Wedding: Wedding at a Couple’s Favorite Arlington Restaurant

Lyon Park Community Center, Arlington, VA. Real Wedding: Intimate Winter Wedding

Mount Vernon Inn Alexandria. Real Wedding: Mt. Vernon by Candlelight

The Observation Deck, Arlington, VA

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner. Non-Profit Event: Fundraiser & Gala for Pediatric Oncology Nonprofit

Riverside on the Potomac, Leesburg, VA. Real Wedding: Winter Jewish Wedding

Rust Manor, Leesburg

Salamander Resort, Middleburg, VA. Real Wedding: Romantic Springtime Wedding in Muted Tones

Sheraton Tysons Hotel, McLean, VA. Real Wedding: Summer Gujarati Indian Wedding in Pink, Mauve & Gold

Signature Theatre Arlington, Arlington/Shirlington

The State Theatre, Falls Church, VA

Sunset Crest Manor, Chantilly. Real Wedding: Summer Intimate Indian Wedding

Sunset Hills Vineyard, Purcellville. Real Wedding: Fall Inspired Winery Wedding

Thomas Birkby House, Leesburg. Real Wedding: Modern Chic in Black, White & Green Wedding

Trummers on Main, Clifton

West Belmont Place Lansdowne

Westfields Marriott, Chantilly. Real Wedding: Vibrant Indian Wedding

Westwood Country Club, Vienna. Real Wedding: Classic Spring Interfaith Wedding

Maryland

Annmarie Sculpture Garden, Solomons. Real Wedding:Art Gallery Inspired Fall Wedding

Black Rock Center for the Arts, Germantown

Celebrations at the Bay, Pasadena, MD. Real Wedding: Waterfront Indian Fusion Wedding

College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, Hyattsville, MD

Gaylord National, National Harbor. Real Wedding: Indian Fusion Wedding with a Sikh and a Christian ceremonies

Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo. Real Weddings & Events:

Glenview Mansion, Rockville. Real Wedding: Blue and Orange Summer Wedding

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, Cambridge, MD

Inn at Perry Cabin, St. Michaels

Marriott Bethesda North, Rockville. Real Wedding: A Fun Indian Wedding

Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts “VisArts”, Rockville

MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill

Newton White Mansion, Mitchellville

Oxon Hill Manor, Oxon Hill. Real Wedding: Relaxed Whimsical late Summer Wedding

Rockwood Manor, Potomac. Real Weddings:

Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort, Cumberland

Silver Spring Civic Center, Silver Spring. Real Wedding: Latin Infused Modern Fusion Wedding

Strathmore Music Center, North Potomac. Real Wedding: Aquarium Inspired Wedding

Strong Mansion, Dickerson. Real Wedding: Preppy & Elegant Spring Wedding

Volt Restaurant, Frederick. Real Wedding: Stylish Fall Wedding for Foodies

Woodend Sanctuary, Chevy Chase

Editor’s Note: this article was originally posted in January 2018 but have been updated in January 2021

Save

Photos: NK Swingle

Here are some resources to get you started to planning your rehearsal dinner and welcome party for your wedding.

Rehearsal Dinners

Rehearsal dinners usually occur after the ceremony rehearsal the day before the wedding. Those invited include your attendants plus their significant others, immediate families and grandparents of both sides, and if there are children involved in the ceremony, the children plus their parents. Some couples also include extended families.

Restaurants – Restaurants are a natural choice for rehearsal dinners. The Washington DC area has so many great restaurants Depending on the size of your group, most restaurants can accommodate a private party of some sort, either in a completely separate space or semi-private space.

OpenTable.com has a new feature listing Private Dining options of their member restaurants.
In the back of each Zagat Guide is the Special Features section which includes a section for restaurants with Private Rooms
Subscribe to our blog as we explore the restaurant options in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Special Events Venues – any venue you might have considered for your wedding reception is a possible option as well.

Welcome Parties

Many couples today choose to host a Welcome Party in order to spend more time with their guests. While it is not practical to invite all your guests to your rehearsal dinner, you could have an open invitation to the Welcome Party. Here are things to think about:

Timing – Schedule something after dinner for 2-3 hours. If you think your dinner might run late, make sure somebody from your party can show up early to greet guests. Make sure you yourselves don’t stay too late so that you can get a good night sleep before the wedding day.
Food & Beverage – with the party late enough, I don’t think it’s necessary to provide food, unless you want to provide dessert or snacks. If you are at a restaurant or bar, I think it’s perfectly OK to have everyone pay for themselves. If you want to host a portion of the food and beverage, that’s OK too except don’t forget to budget for it. For example, my husband and I hosted a Welcome Party at Continental Pool Lounge in Rosslyn. The bar reserved several pool tables for us. We paid for that but our guests paid for their own drinks. We had a blast hanging out with our friends in a more casual atmosphere.

Bars – Bars are a natural gathering place and some will allow you to rope off an area just for your private party.

Private homes – We’ve also had a few clients whose friends or families offered to host a Welcome Party.

We’ve reviewed some venues in the past. Here is a summary:

Trummers, Clifton, VA

Lorien Hotel, Alexandria, VA

Fairfax at Embassy Row, Washington, DC

— Hope you will enjoy this series and find it useful! Vicky

Save