Venue Spotlight: Arena Stage

August 12, 2021

This week in our venue spotlight, we’re introducing a space like no other. Do you have a flair for the dramatic? This week’s venue spotlight takes us off the beaten path to the Mead Center for American Theater, also known as the home of Arena Stage. Have you ever thought of having an Arena Stage wedding? Beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows and tons of natural light are some of our favorite aspects of this venue. But that’s not all!

Photo by Connor Studios

About

Located along the waterfront in the historic Southwest neighborhood of Washington DC, the Mead Center for American Theater offers striking contemporary architecture and a range of event spaces to suit your needs. With the opportunity to use the stage of one of three unique perform spaces, ceremonies can be next level in their uniqueness. Think stage sets and suspended elements, and dramatic stage lights to amp up the drama. A designer’s delight! Soaring two-story floor-to-ceiling windows make the Grand Lobby an airy and light-filled space. After the ceremony, guests can mingle and sip on cocktails at the Rooftop Terrace! As the sun goes down, enjoy the magnificent views of the waterfront while dining in the Molly Smith Study or Grand Lobby. Spacious, contemporary, and enclosed by a towering 56’ glass wall, the Mead center sets a dramatic tone for the most important event of your lives.

Location: Southwest Waterfront

Capacity:

Molly Smith Study – 200 seated dinner

Lower Lobby – 100 seated dinner

Grand Lobby – 300 seated dinner

Richard’s Place – 250 seated dinner

Pro Tips:

With the opportunity to use the stage of one of three unique perform spaces, ceremonies can be next level in their uniqueness. Think stage sets and suspended elements, and dramatic stage lights to amp up the drama. A designer’s delight! For the reception, we love color in this space. Put your stamp on the event, and embrace tall designs that take advantage of the height of the space. Drama, drama, drama!

Couple pose for portraits during Arena Stage wedding

Photo by Connor Studios

Couple pose in a hallway at Arena Stage Mead Center during their wedding

Photo by Connor Studios

Wedding couple post in front of windows at Arena Stage

Photo by Connor Studios

Photo by Connor Studios

Photo by Connor Studios

Tables set for Arena Stage Mead Center wedding reception

Photo by Connor Studio

Photo by Connor Studios

Photo by Connor Studios

Photo by Connor Studios

All photos from wedding designed by Petal’s Edge Floral Design.

Searching for a floral designer in DC to translate your vision for your Arena Stage wedding into flowers? Contact us today!

A chuppah like no other. ✨ For Lottie & Kyle’s wedding at the Hotel Monaco, we framed the ceremony with tall, airy designs of eucalyptus, larkspur and delphinium, while delicate strands of white dendrobium orchids floated from the canopy suspended between the rotunda columns. The result? A chuppah that felt ethereal, elegant, and completely one-of-a-kind. Don’t miss the next photo for a closer look at this dreamy design!

📍 @monacodc
📷 @susiehadeed
💐 @petalsedgedc
📋 @margobrightoccasions

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A chuppah like no other. ✨ For Lottie & Kyle’s wedding at the Hotel Monaco, we framed the ceremony with tall, airy designs of eucalyptus, larkspur and delphinium, while delicate strands of white dendrobium orchids floated from the canopy suspended between the rotunda columns. The result? A chuppah that felt ethereal, elegant, and completely one-of-a-kind. Don’t miss the next photo for a closer look at this dreamy design!

📍 @monacodc
📷 @susiehadeed
💐 @petalsedgedc
📋 @margobrightoccasions

Love in full bloom - rain and all ☔️ ✨

Tamari & Zach embraced the romance of a rainy day ceremony at the historic Tudor Place, saying “I do” beneath clear umbrellas. Then they celebrated in the cozy, intimate setting of the Tabard Inn - with a warm floral palette of corals and oranges, the dreamiest Cafe au Lait dahlias, and proof that a little rain only adds to the magic.

📍 ceremony @tudor_place reception @tabard_inn
📷 @emilyalyssaphotography
💐 @petalsedgedc

#tudorhousewedding #intimatewedding
#weddingceremonyflowers #floralurn #dcwedding
#washingtondcwedding #dcweddingflorist #virginiaweddingflorist
#washingtonianwedding #alexandriaflorist #leesburgflorist
#dmvweddingflorist

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Love in full bloom - rain and all ☔️ ✨

Tamari & Zach embraced the romance of a rainy day ceremony at the historic Tudor Place, saying “I do” beneath clear umbrellas. Then they celebrated in the cozy, intimate setting of the Tabard Inn - with a warm floral palette of corals and oranges, the dreamiest Cafe au Lait dahlias, and proof that a little rain only adds to the magic.

📍 ceremony @tudor_place reception @tabard_inn
📷 @emilyalyssaphotography
💐 @petalsedgedc

#tudorhousewedding #intimatewedding
#weddingceremonyflowers #floralurn #dcwedding
#washingtondcwedding #dcweddingflorist #virginiaweddingflorist
#washingtonianwedding #alexandriaflorist #leesburgflorist
#dmvweddingflorist

A floral moment as timeless as Leah & Matt’s love. 🤍 Their intimate ceremony at Mount Vernon Inn featured a breathtaking circular arch of lush white roses—the perfect symbol of eternity. Inside, glass-enclosed taper candles set aside soft, full blooms filled the tables and set the scene for a romantic reception. Classic, elegant, and completely unforgettable. ⁣
⁣
📍 @mountvernoninn⁣
📷 @vnessphotography⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
📋 @_byjessie_

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A floral moment as timeless as Leah & Matt’s love. 🤍 Their intimate ceremony at Mount Vernon Inn featured a breathtaking circular arch of lush white roses—the perfect symbol of eternity. Inside, glass-enclosed taper candles set aside soft, full blooms filled the tables and set the scene for a romantic reception. Classic, elegant, and completely unforgettable. ⁣
⁣
📍 @mountvernoninn⁣
📷 @vnessphotography⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
📋 @_byjessie_

G is for greenery 🌿, L is for lush ✨… you get the idea!

When it comes to statement-making florals, a well-placed garland can do it all—elevate long tables, frame a ceremony aisle, or even drape around a fountain for that effortlessly chic look. Who said greenery was just filler? 💅

credits in tags

#outdoorwedding #tentedwedding #greenerygarland #dcwedding #washingtondcwedding #dcweddingflorist #washingtonianweddings #weddingreceptionflorals
#weddingcenterpiece #dmvweddingvendor
#stylemeprettyweddings #bridalguide #floristsofinstagram #washingtondcflorist

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G is for greenery 🌿, L is for lush ✨… you get the idea!

When it comes to statement-making florals, a well-placed garland can do it all—elevate long tables, frame a ceremony aisle, or even drape around a fountain for that effortlessly chic look. Who said greenery was just filler? 💅

credits in tags

#outdoorwedding #tentedwedding #greenerygarland #dcwedding #washingtondcwedding #dcweddingflorist #washingtonianweddings #weddingreceptionflorals
#weddingcenterpiece #dmvweddingvendor
#stylemeprettyweddings #bridalguide #floristsofinstagram #washingtondcflorist

Thank you to Megan and Damien for their 5 star review! We loved flowering and coordinating their beautiful wedding day at St. Francis Hall! ⁣
⁣
“We were so lucky that we found Petal`s Edge. Gorgeous flowers and we hired Gerry for her super talented day of wedding coordination. Planning a wedding is hard but Petal`s Edge made it easy. Beyond super beautiful florals that really elevated our day and made it special, it was such a huge help that any time I was stuck in the planning process, Gerry answered any question I had. Her professionalism and capabilities are simply unmatched. She knows everything about venues, vendors and more inside and out. Meetings to see your floral designs are super smooth. Petal`s Edge will write your contract super fast and easily helped us amend it. The day of the wedding couldn`t have been more perfect. It was so easy and fun. Petal`s Edge set everything up perfectly and make sure it ran smoothly. The florals were so beautiful!! I loved all of the details, from a stunning bridal bouquet, posies for moms and grandmas, framing the posters with eucalyptus, to gorgeous multicolored petals down the aisle. Our guests were so comfortable and well taken care of the whole night. Petal`s Edge really took the rustic/classic vision I had in mind and made it a gorgeous reality.”⁣
⁣
📍 @stfrancishall⁣
🍽 @pigsbbq⁣
📷 @ashleewilcoxphoto⁣
💐 📋 @petalsedgedc

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Thank you to Megan and Damien for their 5 star review! We loved flowering and coordinating their beautiful wedding day at St. Francis Hall! ⁣
⁣
“We were so lucky that we found Petal's Edge. Gorgeous flowers and we hired Gerry for her super talented day of wedding coordination. Planning a wedding is hard but Petal's Edge made it easy. Beyond super beautiful florals that really elevated our day and made it special, it was such a huge help that any time I was stuck in the planning process, Gerry answered any question I had. Her professionalism and capabilities are simply unmatched. She knows everything about venues, vendors and more inside and out. Meetings to see your floral designs are super smooth. Petal's Edge will write your contract super fast and easily helped us amend it. The day of the wedding couldn't have been more perfect. It was so easy and fun. Petal's Edge set everything up perfectly and make sure it ran smoothly. The florals were so beautiful!! I loved all of the details, from a stunning bridal bouquet, posies for moms and grandmas, framing the posters with eucalyptus, to gorgeous multicolored petals down the aisle. Our guests were so comfortable and well taken care of the whole night. Petal's Edge really took the rustic/classic vision I had in mind and made it a gorgeous reality.”⁣
⁣
📍 @stfrancishall⁣
🍽 @pigsbbq⁣
📷 @ashleewilcoxphoto⁣
💐 📋 @petalsedgedc

Industrial spaces have a beauty of their own, but the right floral design can take them from warehouse to urban garden. 🌿✨

For Laura & Michael’s Dock 5 wedding, we played with scale—tall magnolia branches to emphasize the height, lush florals to soften the space, and candlelight to add warmth. The result? An urban oasis that felt both grand and intimate.

1️⃣Go Big with Greenery – Tall magnolia branches brought height and movement to Laura & Michael’s Dock 5 wedding

2️⃣ Mix Textures – Lush, low floral arrangements softened the industrial edges while keeping the space dynamic

3️⃣ Layer Candlelight – Warm glows + metal details = a romantic urban oasis

4️⃣ Frame Key Spaces – A floral garland on the head table grounded the design and added intimacy. Trees flanking the table took it to the next level

5️⃣ Contrast is Key – Pairing the raw, industrial elements with soft florals and organic details created the perfect balance

📍 @unionmarketdc Dock 5
📷 @juliette_fradin_photography @anne_scherrer
🍽️ occasionscaterers
@drapekings

#dock5wedding #dock5 #autoshopwedding
#unionmarketwedding #virginiaweddingflorist
#luxuryweddingflorist #springweddingflowers
#stylemeprettyweddings #washingtondcwedding
#washingtondcflorist #dceventflorist
#washingtondcweddingvenue #washingtonianweddings