5 DC Outdoor Wedding Venues You Need To Consider For Your Wedding
April 25, 2023
Last month I shared my favorite Virginia outdoor venues, so it’s only right to follow up with my favorite DC outdoor wedding venues! With many weddings under my belt as a DC wedding planner, I have 5 amazing DC wedding venues I want to share with you today.
1. Dumbarton House
This historic home sits on just over an acre of grounds and gardens featuring courtyards and terraces. There are so many options for your ceremony and reception here. You can get married outdoors in an elegant garden while your reception can be held in a tented area on the courtyard terrace, with dancing inside the Belle Vue Room.
The North Garden is the perfect spot to have an outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour. This outdoor space is about a quarter of an acre with lush trees and plantings that are reflective of Federal-period gardening. A brick-accented wall runs the length of the garden with a central niche that makes a focal point for a wedding ceremony.
The Upper Terrace and East Garden can serve as additional cocktail hour locations. The terrace features grand staircases that lead to the lower courtyard. The Upper Terrace offers a great view of the East Garden which is a beautiful spot for bridal portraits amongst the magnolia and dogwood trees.
You can’t go wrong with the Dumbarton House and its lovely locations for an outdoor ceremony and the 200-year old trees, magnolia blossoms, and winding stone walkways that create the perfect backdrops for photographs that will be cherished for a lifetime.
2. DAR
This historic DC wedding venue is in a great location with nearby ideal hotels and is just simply spectacular. DAR is the headquarters for Daughters of the American Revolution, and is in the heart of our nation’s capital.
The DAR Portico and Terrace are fantastic outdoor options to house a wedding ceremony. With its intricately detailed columns and magnificent view of the Washington Monument, you get that stunning DC backdrop everyone loves.
One great feature of the Portico is the covered rotunda. This offers shelter from light rain while still allowing you to host your ceremony outdoors. This is also the most popular place to dance as the evening continues!
3. Capitol View at 400
When it comes to DC outdoor wedding venues, Capitol View at 400 has the most distinctive rooftop space. It has spectacular views from Union Station to the Library of Congress, the Capitol Dome across to the Washington Monument! Capitol View at 400 has removable clear side panels on their rooftop. The panels can be opened as needed or closed to allow for air conditioning and heating for year round events.
4. Omni Shoreham
With 11 acres of pristinely manicured courtyards and lush gardens, this venue provides outdoor luxury with close proximity to downtown DC. Omni Shoreham overlooks DC’s Rock Creek Park, providing natural beauty in every direction. This gives you the illusion of being in the countryside rather than in the middle of a big city.
The stunning scenery of the gardens offer the idyllic ceremony location, with the terrace as a perfect spot for cocktails. Next is dinner and dancing al fresco under a tent so you can enjoy your whole event outdoors.
This hotel could be the perfect location if you have a lot of out-of-town guests who need a place to stay.
5. DC War Memorial
If you want a very DC wedding, the War Memorial is the perfect wedding ceremony location for you. One of the most beautiful, more private locations on the National Mall, which is well-kept by the National Park Service. The marble rotunda makes for a beautiful setting. The white marble columns, ample trees, and open grassy space make it feel open and private, even in the middle of everything. This would only be a space for your ceremony, but it is possible to fit quite a few guests under the dome or in the large lawn space in front.
If you’re planning your big day and are looking for DC outdoor wedding venues, I hope this list helped. All The Dainty Details would love to help you plan your wedding at any of these amazing venues. Let’s chat about how we can work together!
