When it comes to hosting a wedding to remember in Washington, DC, there are few venues as distinctive as the Hotel Monaco, located at 700 F Street, NW. It is truly one of our favorite venues, and one we have worked at a lot! You could call us the resident expert, as we’ve done over 50 weddings at this venue – more than at any other in town!
About
Built in 1839 as the city’s original General Post Office it’s since been beautiful modernized to flawlessly merge hip and traditional. The ballroom boasts 20-foot ceilings, a grand dome and skylight that lets in natural light, and ornate decor with a bold, modern style. Sounds perfect, right? With the Portrait Gallery and Capitol One Arena within blocks of the hotel, there’s no doubt you’re in the heart of DC. The mix of historic architecture and modern edge makes it an especially striking setting for weddings, whether you’re hosting an intimate ceremony or a full-scale evening reception.
Before you even leave the building, for anyone who loves that classic, city feel, there are countless spaces in and around the hotel that make perfect backdrops for first looks, group photos and more.
Location: Penn Quarter
Capacity: 200 with dance floor
Wedding Design Tips for Hotel Monaco DC
The Hotel Monaco offers a unique ceremony layout, with seating best described as partially in-the-round. Chairs are placed on three sides of the grand dome, and the wedding party enters facing guests. Best seat in the house for everyone! It does make for a tricky aisle way, but we say embrace the columns in the rotunda and do something suspended! Our suspended chuppah is a particularly popular option.
The space lends itself easily to transformation. Draping greenery along the columns, and even from the chandeliers, is an impressive way to add a more organic feel to the otherwise classic room.
A long aisle lined with flowers can be a challenge at the Hotel Monaco, as guests walk through that space to get to their seats – as well as exit in a less “processional” fashion when the ceremony is over – but there are other options for a traditional, processional entrance. Some couples have opted to move the altar area to the far side of the room, beyond the columns, or alternately use one of the room sides as the altar space. To use the far side, pipe and draping the back drop may be necessary. Finally, some couples have moved their ceremony to the Athens ballroom.
With tables situated around the central dome, receptions at the Hotel Monaco get an automatically intimate feel. We suggest filling the space with alternating tall and low designs to complement the natural architectural drama of the space. Have bigger decor goals in mind? Greenery and flowers winding up the central columns or suspended from chandeliers the makes for a transformative statement! Dressing the bookcases with candles and flowers also is a way to amp up the space.
While we wouldn’t call the room dark, as an interior space, lots and lots of candles transform this venue into something truly romantic. More is more when it comes to candles here! Lighting is also a must-have.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our real weddings at Hotel Monaco DC, including seasonal designs, candlelit receptions, and ceremony installations throughout the space.
