Venue Spotlight: River Farm

A River Farm wedding is a true garden and flower lover’s delight. Located just down George Washington Parkway from us, by day River Farm serves as the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society. As floral designers, OF COURSE this is a favorite venue. Who doesn’t love been surrounded by gardens? As a company that loves supporting everything Alexandria, OF COURSE River Farm is one of our favorite venues.

About

River Farm, located on 25 acres at 7931 East Boulevard Drive in Alexandria, Virginia, has been the permanent home of the American Horticultural Society headquarters since 1973. Located just outside of the Washington, DC, metro area, the estate takes its name from a plot of land that formed an outlying portion of George Washington’s Estate. The property features a 1920s estate house and both natural and formal garden areas. Highlights include two small building with “living roofs”, the largest Osage orange tree in the nation and a spectacular view of the Potomac River.

Couples can choose an indoor or outdoor venue to celebrate their special day. Serene gardens create an idyllic backdrop for romantic wedding pictures while the enchanting forests provide a fairytale-style setting for an intimate ceremony. Guests can spend their evening relaxing outdoors on the cozy patio or on the rolling lawns overlooking the meandering river. An elegant tent features magnificent chandeliers and elegant decor. The interior ballroom inside the charming estate can seat up to 50 guests, and makes a great back up location for rained out ceremonies or dancing late into the night. The property is always open to pets, meaning no family members need miss out. Get-ready rooms are featured on site to allow couples a private space to prepare for their event.

Location: Alexandria, VA

Capacity: Up to 250 guests.

Pro Tips

A River Farm wedding offers a choice of backdrops for a romantic, garden ceremony, from the meadow to the Potomac River, historic trees, or the often flower-covered garden archway. Because of the natural features doing the heavy lifting, this is an apt opportunity to embrace a unique aisle treatment. The aisle isn’t often very long, meaning this won’t necessarily be a huge financial investment, but can really put an opulent spin on your ceremony. From clutches of flowers tied to all of the chairs to a full meadow of flowers lining the aisle, your aisle style can really make an impact at River Farm!

The tented reception is truly a blank slate for your wedding decor, from suspended options to a grand tent entrance piece. While you don’t have to do a lot at River Farm, don’t skimp on the basics like table centerpieces, your sweetheart table, or the cake!