Imagine this: You’re lost in wedding dreams, and having just returned from a trip across the pond, all you can think of is a Chateau de Versailles-type of grandeur. Opulent. Gilded. Dreamy. Well, look no further than the Cosmos Club, an elegant venue full of gold accents. 6,000 linear feet of gold accents, in fact, and conveniently located in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. It’s no accident that people have described the Warne ballroom at the Cosmos Club as “like Versailles, but smaller”.
ABOUT
Founded in 1878 by John Wesley Powell as a gentleman’s club for those interested in science, the Cosmos Club embodies the rich history and esteemed status of Washington D.C. The club unites individuals across creative, intellectual, and scholarly domains and has fostered camaraderie among presidents, Supreme Court justices, Nobel Prize and Pulitzer Prize winners, and recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. A District of Columbia landmark, the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and exudes elegance both inside and out.
The Cosmos Club itself has counted many different DC buildings as its home, but it’s current residence came to be with the purchase in 1950 of the Townsend House at 2121 Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Designed by architects Carrère and Hastings, the Townsend House was built for railroad and coal heiress Mary Scott Townsend between 1898 and 1900 and features Louis XV elements on a Beaux Arts-style exterior.
The Cosmos Club in DC brings its members together through common interests and a shared passion for arts and intellect. Additionally, weddings and private events can be held here when hosted or sponsored by a current club.
Location: 2121 Massachusetts Ave. NW,Dupont Circle neighborhood, Washington,
Capacity:
The Cosmos Club is not your typical mansion or museum. The range of rooms offer everything from old-fashioned warmth to societal tradition of the Gilded Age.
Warne Ballroom: 130 guests with dance floor
Members Dining Room: 70 guests without a dance floor
Crentz Room: 100 seated guests without dance floor
Long Gallery: 60 guests without dance floor
East Garden: 80 guests for reception-style seating or 140 guests for a ceremony
PRO TIPS
Start your day with a first look or wedding portraits in the East Garden.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the ornate style of the Warne Ballroom, with its gilding and murals reminiscent of Louis XV style. Lean in to classic and gardeny styles and opt for lush, textured floral designs to complement the feel of the space. Tall designs match the grandeur of the space, whether blending tall and low designs on the tables or opting for a singular, grand head table.
