Building Museum
National Arboretum
Dinosour Hall Natural Histoy Museum

I went to a nice wedding at fort McNair.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: thanks for some great suggestions. Even w/$10,000 venue (only) cost know that many of these exceed it. Hoping to keep budget truly all in to $35K.

And the Annapolis and Baltimore destinations are too far.

My DD called last night thinking maybe we look at a backyard (tented/dance floor etc.) Having a year to plan for and as a designer/being known as for throwing a good party etc - the problem I see with that is the neighbors/noise and having to shut down fun so early so I’m hoping the places I’m unfamiliar with are options.

Go with the backyard wedding. Your budget and guest list is not compatible with a DC-wedding.

I am sure there are places in DC that will rent to you in your budget. Pay no attention to the above negative poster.

You don’t live in DC do you? I’m sure she could find a rental for 35k but 35k is the complete budget. That budget is not realistic for 150 guests for a Saturday night affair. Don’t provide false fantasies and waste this woman’s time.

This is not true! I just had a $35k wedding in DC for 150 guests. I had all the bells and whistles too. My venue was the Capitol View Rooftop (http://www.capitolviewat400.com/), which is what I came here to recommend. It was stunning. I wish I could figure out how to link my photos here, but if anyone wants me to email some, just let me know. Here is my photographer's website: http://laurenrock.com/portfolio/weddings/ She doesn't have them organized by couple, but we are the first couple on the top left, so if you can recognize us throughout all the photos, you can see some of the venue (look for ones with the Capitol in the background).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were looking for something similar and went for the bumper car pavilion at glen echo. So much fun!

OP here: We keep coming back to idea of this place as do many like it. But to those who’ve done-are the August cautions justified? As we are a dancing kind of folk if no AC it really would be miserable. Do they have fans? We’ll go out but would appreciate hearing more re summer heat

I don't know if this is important to you but they do not allow liquor at Glen Echo, only beer and wine. This wouldn't have mattered to me as I had beer/wine only at my wedding but I know it's important to some people. If it's not to you, it will save you some $$!

My DD did an August wedding at Rockwood Manor in Potomac a couple of years ago. We had beautiful weather, but the mansion has AC, so all dancing, Photo Booth, etc. was inside. We had games, several bars, a s'mores bar, etc. outside. The place was a former Girl Scout retreat, so has 40 acres of woods and we did a "summer camp" theme. We rented the entire grounds for the weekend for $7000, including a number of houses where the entire extended family and wedding party stayed, so we had a Fiesta party two nights before, then the bridal luncheon also at the mansion.

Wedding made it into the Knot
https://www.theknot.com/real-weddings/a-casual-outdoor-wedding-at-rockwood-manor-park-in-potomac-maryland-album

More venue pics here:
http://nickimetcalf.com/rockwood-manor-wedding/

(Sorry you'll have to scroll down a bit)

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:We were looking for something similar and went for the bumper car pavilion at glen echo. So much fun!

OP here: We keep coming back to idea of this place as do many like it. But to those who’ve done-are the August cautions justified? As we are a dancing kind of folk if no AC it really would be miserable. Do they have fans? We’ll go out but would appreciate hearing more re summer heat

Anonymous wrote:Hotel Tabard Inn
Gorgeous setting but it’s small, very reasonable and fabulous food with great service

We got married there. Small wedding about 35 people. But it is far from unconventional.

This is OP. Thanks for all the great suggestions and to the above: we did have an older DD wedding at the Franscian Monestery 4 years ago and were able to stay all in at the 35k so even with crazy higher prices since then (like I think we were last wedding at their ‘affordable ‘ price) the great ideas here are helping!

We are actually set to visit two today-one at the dream level that we just need to see - other an option we never knew of and we’re natives

Anonymous wrote:River farm was on the cheaper side when we looked
Barns @ wolf trap (def book up in advance though)
Old town hall in Fairfax

We had our wedding at the barns - absolutely gorgeous! 150-200 would be a tight fit, I think....though worth checking into. Also, you have to buy your alcohol through Wolftrap, and can only work with a limited selected of caterers, so that part might end up being a bit pricier. All in all, our wedding came in well below $35k, but our guest list was around 75 people - not sure that we would have come in under $35k with a guest list twice as large.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP: thanks for some great suggestions. Even w/$10,000 venue (only) cost know that many of these exceed it. Hoping to keep budget truly all in to $35K.

And the Annapolis and Baltimore destinations are too far.

My DD called last night thinking maybe we look at a backyard (tented/dance floor etc.) Having a year to plan for and as a designer/being known as for throwing a good party etc - the problem I see with that is the neighbors/noise and having to shut down fun so early so I’m hoping the places I’m unfamiliar with are options.

Go with the backyard wedding. Your budget and guest list is not compatible with a DC-wedding.

I am sure there are places in DC that will rent to you in your budget. Pay no attention to the above negative poster.

You don’t live in DC do you? I’m sure she could find a rental for 35k but 35k is the complete budget. That budget is not realistic for 150 guests for a Saturday night affair. Don’t provide false fantasies and waste this woman’s time.