DC Wedding Venue for a Large Guest Count

DC Wedding Venue for a Large Guest Count

When you’re planning your event and it’s go BIG or stay home time… well we have a few suggestions for the perfect DC wedding venue for a large guest count to share! Looking for the perfect wedding venue is an exciting but challenging and sometimes overwhelming process. Many factors go into finding the perfect space, not the least of which is the size of your guest list. We’ve listed five of our favorite DC wedding venues perfect for a large guest count.

Union Station
Photo by Connor Studios

While many of us know this iconic Beaux Arts building at 50 Massachusetts Ave., NE as Washington, DC’s main railway station, it’s also a top choice for inaugural balls, galas and other notable events. Designed by Daniel Burnham as part of a city beautification plan, Union Station was redeveloped in 1981-1988 to preserve the historic treasure and create versatile special event spaces. The East Hall, in particular, is our favorite spaces with its dramatically raised ceiling, glamorous lighting and incredible architecture which make for an incredible guest experience. The East Hall can host up to 800 guests for cocktails and seat up to 350 guests with a dance floor, while the main hall can accommodate even more people, with 1,800-2,200 seated guests. Here are some of our favorite weddings that’s we’ve designed at Union Station. Spring Union Station Wedding | Winter Union Station wedding | Romantic Union Station Wedding

Dock5
Photos by Juliet Fradin & Anne Scherrer

Industrial spaces are seemingly a rare find in DC – but look no further than the more than 12,000 square feet of warehouse space that is Dock5! The Washington, DC wedding venue is located directly above, Union Market at 5th Street, NE in Washington, DC, the unique space can accommodate an extensive guest list of 400 seated guests with room for cocktails. We love the high ceilings and outdoor event space that can be transformed into your dream ceremony and reception. See how we created an urban garden for this wedding, bringing the outdoors in.

Mayflower
Erin Kelleher Photography

The Mayflower Hotel is located at 127 Connecticut Ave., NW in Washington, DC. Centrally located in the city, the hotel is a perfect DC wedding venue with tons of space also for guest accommodations. The hotel is steeped in history, and has brought timeless elegance to DC since 1925. The recently restored Grand Ballroom provides seating for as many as 500 guests. Check out this gallery from a recent wedding in the Grand Ballroom. Quite stunning!

Ronald Reagan International Trade Center
Carl Elixir Photography

The Ronald Reagan Building is located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue. There are a range of medium to small spaces within the venue where you can host your wedding, but for a larger guest count we are specifically focusing on the Atrium. Some of the more striking features of this contemporary space include the dramatic staircase, soaring skylight ceiling, terrazzo marble floor and all that natural light! This modern space can seat over 800 guests, and is an impressive blank canvas that you can customize to your chosen look and design. We do recommend adding some extra tall floral arrangements to help fill the space.

Salamander
Photo by Kate Fine Art Photography

Former the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, the Salamander is prominently located at 1330 Maryland Ave, SW in Washington, DC, along the revitalized southwest waterfront. As a hotel, the DC wedding venue offers contemporary amenities in a picturesque setting, with the exceptional service one expects from a Mandarin Oriental hotel. On the lobby level, the Event Lawn offers a 4,000 square foot outdoor space overlooking the Washington Marina, Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial. It’s an especially dreamy outdoor ceremony space! The hotel also has extensive ballroom spaces. Two of the largest – the Grand Ballroom and the Oriental Ballroom – can seat 700 and 400 guests respectively. There are so many spaces at this hotel that you could even have all your wedding-related festivities for the weekend in one place, and never been in the same room twice!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our take on the hottest DC venues for large weddings! This list is far from exhaustive, and there are many more great venues to accommodate large guest counts. If you are looking for a venue in the DC area, be sure to check out our venue spotlights for ongoing ideas and inspiration!

Searching for a floral designer in DC to translate your vision for your large wedding into flowers? Contact us today!
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Advice I’d give you as a florist if I wasn’t afraid of hurting your feelings…

1. Creativity costs money

Thoughtful choices matter. Floral design comes from premium blooms, careful mechanics, and hours of labor. Often, investing in a few impactful designs creates more magic than trying to do a little bit everywhere.

2. Pinterest isn’t reality.

Styled shoots, filters, and out-of-season flowers can set unrealistic expectations. A skilled florist translates your inspiration into something real, beautiful, and perfectly suited to your wedding.

3. Your choice of wedding planner can be a 🚩

A strong planner protects your vision and collaborates with your creative team. But not every planner has the same level of experience, and misplaced trust can cost you money, time, and beauty. Surround yourself with professionals who set you up for success. Protecting quality is how your vision comes to life

4. Repurposing only works with a plan.

Yes, some ceremony flowers can move into the reception, but it requires staff, timing, and logistics. With forethought, it’s seamless and impactful. Without it, it can create stress or compromise the design.

5. Timing is everything.

Flowers are living things with a short window of perfection. A carefully built schedule protects bouquets, keeps installations fresh, and ensures your flowers look their best when it matters most.

🌸 And one note for fellow vendors: florists care deeply. I don’t know a single one who doesn’t. We want to give couples our very best work. But flowers are perishable, which means details matter. When timelines push us to deliver too early, when arrangements are dismantled without our input, or when fading blooms are photographed as “detail shots,” the couple’s vision suffers. Collaboration is what protects the flowers and, ultimately, the experience we all want for our clients.

The truth may not always be easy to hear, but hearing it early will save stress, protect your vision, and give you flowers that feel unforgettable for all the right reasons. ✨

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17972946413931910
Advice I’d give you as a florist if I wasn’t afraid of hurting your feelings… 1. Creativity costs money Thoughtful choices matter. Floral design comes from premium blooms, careful mechanics, and hours of labor. Often, investing in a few impactful designs creates more magic than trying to do a little bit everywhere. 2. Pinterest isn’t reality. Styled shoots, filters, and out-of-season flowers can set unrealistic expectations. A skilled florist translates your inspiration into something real, beautiful, and perfectly suited to your wedding. 3. Your choice of wedding planner can be a 🚩 A strong planner protects your vision and collaborates with your creative team. But not every planner has the same level of experience, and misplaced trust can cost you money, time, and beauty. Surround yourself with professionals who set you up for success. Protecting quality is how your vision comes to life 4. Repurposing only works with a plan. Yes, some ceremony flowers can move into the reception, but it requires staff, timing, and logistics. With forethought, it’s seamless and impactful. Without it, it can create stress or compromise the design. 5. Timing is everything. Flowers are living things with a short window of perfection. A carefully built schedule protects bouquets, keeps installations fresh, and ensures your flowers look their best when it matters most. 🌸 And one note for fellow vendors: florists care deeply. I don’t know a single one who doesn’t. We want to give couples our very best work. But flowers are perishable, which means details matter. When timelines push us to deliver too early, when arrangements are dismantled without our input, or when fading blooms are photographed as “detail shots,” the couple’s vision suffers. Collaboration is what protects the flowers and, ultimately, the experience we all want for our clients. The truth may not always be easy to hear, but hearing it early will save stress, protect your vision, and give you flowers that feel unforgettable for all the right reasons. ✨

Victorian elegance met modern romance at the Fairmont. ✨ Centerpieces have the power to set the tone for an entire ballroom. Half the guest tables featured tall silver candelabras topped with textured designs of hydrangea, roses, dahlias, and lisianthus in shades of pink and burgundy. More than accents, the elevated designs added height, repetition, and cohesion throughout the room. The balance of tables held silver footed bowls brimming with the same rich palette, styled in a looser, organic shape. Together, the mix of height, texture, and candlelight created a romantic atmosphere that was timeless and unforgettable — the kind of detail that takes a wedding from beautiful to truly show-stopping. 🌸✨

📍 @fairmontwashington
📷 @roephoto
💐 @petalsedgedc
📋 @eventaccomplished

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Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17940077411937301
Victorian elegance met modern romance at the Fairmont. ✨ Centerpieces have the power to set the tone for an entire ballroom. Half the guest tables featured tall silver candelabras topped with textured designs of hydrangea, roses, dahlias, and lisianthus in shades of pink and burgundy. More than accents, the elevated designs added height, repetition, and cohesion throughout the room. The balance of tables held silver footed bowls brimming with the same rich palette, styled in a looser, organic shape. Together, the mix of height, texture, and candlelight created a romantic atmosphere that was timeless and unforgettable — the kind of detail that takes a wedding from beautiful to truly show-stopping. 🌸✨ 📍 @fairmontwashington 📷 @roephoto 💐 @petalsedgedc 📋 @eventaccomplished
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  • A vintage Palm Springs theme for The Scout Guide launch party at Hotel AKA. Petal's Edge is Washington, DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
  • Classic luxury for Hay Adams wedding. White roses. Phalaenopsis orchids. Crystal candelabra. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, MD.
  • Gallery O on H Street with its indoor and outdoor event spaces and a multi-level tent courtyard was the perfect setting for an urban garden vibe with a bold floral palette in shades of coral and peach, bright yellows, and lush greens. Petal's Edge is the Washington DC area's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company, specializing in unique wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations & tablescapes for weddings in DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland.
  • Not everyone gets a do-over, but Caitlin & Sean'a small 2020 fete was followed by a summer celebration at River Farm, a fabulous floral arch, whimsical flowers skirting the cocktail tables, centerpieces to accompany the metro theme. Petal's Edge is the Washington DC area's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company, specializing in unique wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations & tablescapes for weddings in DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland.
  • Modern black & white wedding, St. Francis Hall DC, light curtain, white flowers, speakeasy lounge. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
  • Summer hotel wedding with pops of color. Olive tall centerpieces. Cascade bouquet. Smilax installation. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
  • Rustic spring wedding at St. Francis Hall featured soft neutral hues and lush greenery. Smilax and candle strewn aisle. Spirea accented elevated arrangements. Peonies. Garden roses. Petal's Edge is the Washington DC area's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company, specializing in unique wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations & tablescapes for weddings in DC, Northern Virginia & Maryland.
  • White Lotus Mediterranean wedding theme. Citrus accents. Flower color blocking. Aisle flowers. Arch. Petal's Edge is Washington DC's best wedding florist & corporate event floral design company. Specializes in wedding flowers, event design, decor, bridal bouquets, floral installations, floral walls, backdrops, arches, Chuppahs, boutonnieres, floral centerpieces, tablescapes & more for weddings receptions & wedding ceremonies in Washington, DC, N. Virginia, Alexandria, Arlington, VA, Maryland.
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