Image Source: Unsplash
Weddings are unique, heartwarming, and joyous occasions that deserve the perfect setting. Museums in Washington DC provide a magnificent backdrop to your wedding, combining history, culture, and sophistication. Plus, all your wedding photos and videos are going to be very unique, considering the museum backdrops. This article will explore some of the most stunning museum wedding venues in the city, offering couples an unforgettable experience on their special day.
1. Smithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery
TheSmithsonian American Art Museum/National Portrait Gallery is a stunning combination of two distinct museums housed in a National Historic Landmark building. The venue offers a variety of spaces, including indoor and outdoor options.
1.1 Unique Features
The venue offers a neoclassical exterior with 21st-century exuberance in its event spaces. The courtyard is dedicated to wedding receptions, making it ideal for large parties. The portrait gallery is also a great location for wedding photography, offering countless opportunities to get creative.
Venue Capacity: 50-1200 standing; 40-850 seated
2. Anacostia Community Museum
TheAnacostia Community Museum, located at 1901 Fort Place SE, offers a unique and intimate setting for weddings.
2.1 Unique Features
The museum provides a variety of spaces, including a community program room, lobby, galleries, and an outdoor terrace. The museum is perfect for intimate weddings, accommodating between 20-150 guests. The venue is currently undergoing renovations and will reopen soon.
Venue Capacity: 300 guests standing, 200 seated in the main gallery; 70 standing and 50 seated on the patio/terrace; up to 350 guests for tented outdoor events.
3. The Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center
TheRonald Reagan Building & International Trade Center is the largest structure in Washington, D.C. The center offers a multitude of event spaces, ranging from an astounding atrium to a charming ballroom, efficient meeting spaces, and even an outdoor plaza.
3.1 Unique Features
The Ronald Reagan Building captures the essence of the city through its striking architecture and superior location. The center’s culinary team can satisfy the tastes of any international palette, adding to the overall wedding experience.
Venue Capacity: Atrium: up to 1550; Atrium Ballroom: up to 1275; Woodrow Wilson Plaza: up to 2000.
4. Arena Stage at the Mead Center
TheArena Stage at the Mead Center offers a unique and vibrant setting for weddings.
4.1 Unique Features
Upon entering the Arena Stage, guests are greeted by floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. The venue offers multiple levels of balconies that wrap around the center, providing distinct areas for the cocktail hour, ceremony, and reception.
Venue Capacity: Rooftop Terrace: Up to 250; The Grand Lobby Capacity: 350 (seated) to 500 (standing).
5. Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium
TheAndrew W. Mellon Auditorium is an iconic and historically significant venue known for its limestone-finished walls, large historic columns, and gorgeous hardwood floors.
5.1 Unique Features
The Great Hall space is perfect for a beautiful wedding ceremony or an extravagant Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration. Its grand pillared entryway sets the scene for a memorable celebration.
Venue Capacity: Third Floor: up to 200; Great Hall: 600 (seated) – 1000 (standing).
6. Union Station
Union Station is a restored transportation and shopping center that doubles as an incredible location to host a grand celebration such as a wedding or corporate event.
6.1 Unique Features
The venue offers airy built-in décor elements perfect for a celebration that transitions from day to night, such as a wedding ceremony and reception.
7. National Museum of Women in the Arts
TheNational Museum of Women in the Arts offers unparalleled event spaces for your next dinner, dance, cocktail party, or wedding.
7.1 Unique Features
The Great Hall is both elegant and historic featuring beautiful marble floors and gorgeous works of art, all part of NMWA’s collection. The museum also offers the Elisabeth A. Kasser Board Room or Third Floor Gallery for more intimate gatherings.
Venue Capacity: Performance Hall: up to 200.
8. The Society of the Cincinnati (Anderson House)
Located on Washington, D.C.’s Embassy Row,The Society of the Cincinnati is a Neoclassical mansion that offers premiere spaces to host stunning celebrations.
8.1 Unique Features
The mansion features gorgeous finishes, 20th-century chandeliers in the grand ballroom, carved-wood walls, ornate marble floors, and papier-mâché ceilings.
Venue Capacity: 170 (seated) – 300 to 450 (standing) with tented garden.
9. The Decatur House
Located just one block away from the White House,The Decatur House is one of the oldest and most prestigious homes in Washington, D.C.
9.1 Unique Features
The venue offers incredible indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate parties of varied sizes, mixing rich historic charm with updated conveniences.
Venue Capacity: Entertaining Parlors: 80 (seated) – 120 (standing); Carriage House: 150 (seated) – 250 (standing); Courtyard: 220 (seated) – 300 (standing).
10. Dumbarton House
The Dumbarton House is a historical landmark that offers a variety of party spaces, including the elegant Belle Vue Room with breathtaking 13-foot ceilings and French doors that open up to a gorgeous attached courtyard.
10.1 Unique Features
This venue combines art exhibits with functional spaces for large parties, providing a unique setting for your wedding.
Venue Capacity: 80 (seated) – 140 (standing)
Choosing one of these exquisite museum wedding venues in Washington DC will give your wedding a unique twist, immersing your guests in a world of art, history, and culture while celebrating your special day.
