Venue Spotlight: Hotel Monaco DC

When it comes to hosting a wedding to remember, we can’t think of many venues as memorable as the Hotel Monaco, located at 700 F Street, NW.

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.

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. You can see why it’s one of Petal’s Edge’s favorite spots to say “I do”. In fact, we’ve done over 50 weddings at this venue alone – more than any other in town!

Location: Penn Quarter

Capacity: 200 with dance floor

Photo by Love Life Images

Something blue wedding bridesmaid dresses

Adam Mason Photography

Photo by Love Life Images

Petal's Edge | Real Wedding: Emily and Kevin - Hotel Monaco | Washington DC Florist

Photo by Emily Blumberg

Pro Tips:

Ceremonies at the Hotel Monaco take place partially in the round, with guests seated on three sides of the grand dome and the bridal party’s entrance 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 particularly popular, but for a more organic feel, draping greenery is equally at home in the space.

With tables situated around the central dome, receptions 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 winding up the central columns makes a transformative statement piece!

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.

Christina Joy Photograpy

Jen Harvey Photography

Hotel Monaco ballroom decorated with lush greenery on the columns

Heather Hughes Photography

Bride with wearable flowers during ceremony beneath custom made chuppah at Hotel Monaco DC

Potok Photography

Suspended chuppahs can take advantage of natural architectural features to evoke a solid structure and poles

Photo by Susie & Becky

Photo by Susie & Becky

Photo by Jen Cody

Jewish DC wedding ceremony with suspended chuppah at Monaco DC

Photo by Kurstin Roe Photography

Looking for more inspiration? Search our blog for more examples of Hotel Monaco weddings.

Searching for the floral designer with the most experience in town at the Hotel Monaco to translate your vision for your wedding into flowers? Contact us today!

When Mother Nature takes her cues from the tablescape. 😉⁣
⁣
At River Farm, the serpentine table looked as though it had grown right out of the landscape. Florals in plum, blush, taupe, and eggplant wound between wood candle holders and fruit, creating a rhythm that felt perfectly in step with the surrounding gardens. The palette was moody but soft, a study in texture and tone rather than contrast. It is our favorite kind of designs: one that blurs the line between what is arranged and what simply belongs.⁣
⁣
📍 @riverfarm_va⁣
📷 @ashleewilcoxphoto⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @curatedeventsdmv
📜 @thestationeryarchitect⁣
📋@simplybold_events

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When Mother Nature takes her cues from the tablescape. 😉⁣
⁣
At River Farm, the serpentine table looked as though it had grown right out of the landscape. Florals in plum, blush, taupe, and eggplant wound between wood candle holders and fruit, creating a rhythm that felt perfectly in step with the surrounding gardens. The palette was moody but soft, a study in texture and tone rather than contrast. It is our favorite kind of designs: one that blurs the line between what is arranged and what simply belongs.⁣
⁣
📍 @riverfarm_va⁣
📷 @ashleewilcoxphoto⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @curatedeventsdmv
📜 @thestationeryarchitect⁣
📋@simplybold_events

We call it the creep…

Everyone talks about the rising cost of flowers, but there’s another story behind the numbers: time. Over the years, wedding timelines have stretched. First looks, detail shots, getting-ready portraits, ceremony and reception setups starting hours earlier than before, and more complex with event breakdowns. Florists are often still paid by the piece, not by the hour, yet the hours have multiplied.

What was once a 2 to 4 hour delivery day has quietly turned into a 12 to 16 hour production days with setup, standby, and late-night breakdowns. And flowers are still perishable, so they cannot sit out waiting for the photography timeline to catch up.

When couples ask why flowers cost more now, this is part of the answer. It is not just about stems or supply chains. It is the labor, the logistics, and the reality that perfection takes time, often a lot more than it used to.

Cover @masonphotography

123 15

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 18294771121257479

We call it the creep…

Everyone talks about the rising cost of flowers, but there’s another story behind the numbers: time. Over the years, wedding timelines have stretched. First looks, detail shots, getting-ready portraits, ceremony and reception setups starting hours earlier than before, and more complex with event breakdowns. Florists are often still paid by the piece, not by the hour, yet the hours have multiplied.

What was once a 2 to 4 hour delivery day has quietly turned into a 12 to 16 hour production days with setup, standby, and late-night breakdowns. And flowers are still perishable, so they cannot sit out waiting for the photography timeline to catch up.

When couples ask why flowers cost more now, this is part of the answer. It is not just about stems or supply chains. It is the labor, the logistics, and the reality that perfection takes time, often a lot more than it used to.

Cover @masonphotography

Head tables call for drama.⁣
⁣
At the International Spy Museum, Danielle & Peter’s head table became the focal point of the reception. Suspended florals brought color and scale into a sleek, modern space, while candles and layered textures grounded the design to create intimacy beneath. The effect was both dramatic and inviting, a statement that marked the couple’s place in the room. For us, flowers aren’t just about filling space, they’re about shaping it: directing attention, softening architecture, and transforming even the most contemporary venue into something romantic and unforgettable.⁣
⁣
📍 @spymuseumprivateevents⁣
🍽 @occasionscaterers⁣
📷 @photomat22
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @perfectsettingsllc⁣
📋 @bellanottedc

5 5

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17909598372097743

Head tables call for drama.⁣
⁣
At the International Spy Museum, Danielle & Peter’s head table became the focal point of the reception. Suspended florals brought color and scale into a sleek, modern space, while candles and layered textures grounded the design to create intimacy beneath. The effect was both dramatic and inviting, a statement that marked the couple’s place in the room. For us, flowers aren’t just about filling space, they’re about shaping it: directing attention, softening architecture, and transforming even the most contemporary venue into something romantic and unforgettable.⁣
⁣
📍 @spymuseumprivateevents⁣
🍽 @occasionscaterers⁣
📷 @photomat22
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🪑 @perfectsettingsllc⁣
📋 @bellanottedc

A floral palette of rich jewel tones have a way of redefining a room... For Alex & John`s wedding at the Hotel Monaco, layers of burgundy, eggplant, and textured seasonal blooms brought depth and drama to the ceremony space. The architecture was already striking, but the flowers changed the atmosphere, creating warmth, intimacy, and focus where guests gathered. That’s the impact of investing in floral design: it goes beyond color. Flowers set the mood, shape the experience, and ensure your wedding feels unforgettable from the very first impression.⁣
⁣
📍@monacodc⁣
📷 jencody⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc

4 1

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17964694433976924

A floral palette of rich jewel tones have a way of redefining a room... For Alex & John's wedding at the Hotel Monaco, layers of burgundy, eggplant, and textured seasonal blooms brought depth and drama to the ceremony space. The architecture was already striking, but the flowers changed the atmosphere, creating warmth, intimacy, and focus where guests gathered. That’s the impact of investing in floral design: it goes beyond color. Flowers set the mood, shape the experience, and ensure your wedding feels unforgettable from the very first impression.⁣
⁣
📍@monacodc⁣
📷 jencody⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc

Did you know that baby’s breath can be a showstopper all on its own? 🌟

At Meaghan & David’s Willard Hotel wedding, we used this delicate bloom to create everything from airy, elevated centerpieces to rings of the tiny flowers to circle candles and lush runners on the head table. The result? A look that’s both ethereal and elegant, proving that baby’s breath can be more than just a filler flower. It’s a versatile, often budget-friendly option that brings a soft, romantic vibe to any wedding. Who’s ready to fall in love with this understated beauty? 😍

📍 @willard_intercontinentaldc
📷 @kellylossphoto
💐 @petalsedgedc

9 3

Open post by petalsedgedc with ID 17858944599510431

Did you know that baby’s breath can be a showstopper all on its own? 🌟

At Meaghan & David’s Willard Hotel wedding, we used this delicate bloom to create everything from airy, elevated centerpieces to rings of the tiny flowers to circle candles and lush runners on the head table. The result? A look that’s both ethereal and elegant, proving that baby’s breath can be more than just a filler flower. It’s a versatile, often budget-friendly option that brings a soft, romantic vibe to any wedding. Who’s ready to fall in love with this understated beauty? 😍

📍 @willard_intercontinentaldc
📷 @kellylossphoto
💐 @petalsedgedc

Backyard weddings come with charm built in. Intimacy, laughter, the feeling of home. And flowers should be designed to meet that atmosphere! For Kristel & Jordan`s celebration, we leaned into their pastel floral palette paired with texture, and movement, keeping the palette playful but elevated. The result was a design that felt one-of-a-kind, deeply personal, and still refined. It’s proof that whether it’s a ballroom or a backyard, thoughtful floral design always sets the tone for the experience.⁣
⁣
📷 @apkephotography⁣
🍽 @getplateddc⁣
💐 @petalsedgedc⁣
🍰 @sweettreatsdmv

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