*UPDATE 2015: Unfortunately both Stroga & Epic Yoga have closed their doors since the writing of this post.*
*UPDATE 2014: PLEASE READ THIS POST BEFORE CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING VENUES IN THIS POST*
It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged about wedding venues in the DC metro area. Originally when I started Capitol Romance, I wanted to highlight a venue once a week – hah! My was I optimistic (and completely unaware of how difficult that would eventually prove to me). However I get a TON of web traffic to my Washington DC Gardens Venue post I did a long time ago (lots of people want outdoor wedding venues in DC apparently) and I get a lot of hits to the blog for “cheap DC wedding venues” – which I am not sure I do the best at sharing.
But, for today, I’d love to share a round-up of some of DC’s best ‘offbeat’ wedding venues. You know, the non-hotel ballroom types.
Now, Washington DC isn’t exactly Brooklyn, so when it comes to offbeat wedding spaces, we aren’t exactly overflowing with lofts or industrial space. But we do have some pretty sweet alternative venue options in a few parts of the city that allow for some awesome nontraditional DC weddings.
Offbeat & Alternative Washington DC Wedding Venues Roundup
#1. Yoga Studios: Stroga & Epic Yoga
Stroga, in Adams Morgan and Epic Yoga in Dupont Circle, are two of the COOLEST event venues I have yet to see in DC. Epic Yoga has exposed brick, wood floors, high loft-like ceilings, fireplaces …. about as close to an industrial space as we are going to get in DC proper.
[via Yelp]
[via Relesh]
Stroga features chandeliers, a grand staircase entrance, and exquisitely ornate detailing on the walls.
[via Belladonna Fusion]
[via Russell Brammer]
I am suuuuuuuuuuper pumped to be working a wedding at Stroga this fall. For a real wedding at these locations, check out Ashley & Dave’s Super Local DC wedding on A Practical Wedding at Stroga . Please send us your wedding if you had it at Epic Yoga!
#2 Art Studios : Fathom Gallery, Longview Gallery
Art galleries are always a good wedding venue choice – mostly because they need little decorations, the space is already decorated with beautiful and unique art! Two of my favorite galleries in DC proper are Fathom Gallery and Longview Gallery.
We won’t go in-depth on Longview, because we already did an entire post on this space. Fathom Gallery is just as cool though, with some more exposed brick and hardwood floors, however, the space is much smaller than Longview.
[via Evenues]
Though not a wedding, Karson Butler Events designed a stunning baby shower at the gallery, with vibrant feathers & colors everywhere. It gives you an idea of how an offbeat wedding might look in the space. Check it out here.
[Image via Abby Jiu Photography]
#3 Markets: Eastern Market’s North Hall
A while back I featured a beautiful wedding at Eastern Market’s North Hall and ever since then, I get a fair amount of readers that email me to ask for more information about getting married there.
The location is PERFECT, the building is beautiful, and it certainly lends itself to being nontraditional. Plus the surrounding area provides some pretty sweet spots for wedding portraits. Check out more information on wedding rentals at Eastern Market here.
#4 Theaters: Woolly Mammoth & Arena Stage
The Woolly Mammoth was actually on my own original wedding venue list and the Arena Stage was only recently constructed in SE DC – but both are super modern. Huge ceilings, open air spaces, and beautiful metal and wood details make either of these spaces an awesome selection for an offbeat DC wedding venue.
Woolly Mammoth’s Kogod Lobby
[via Geppetto Catering]
Check out a real wedding at the Woolly Mammoth Theater here. The Arena Stage is equally stunning and I think, even a bit more expansive and impressive than Woolly Mammoth (plus I loovvvee the concrete floors).
Arena Stage Wedding
[via dc about.com]
United With Love had an awesome Arena Stage wedding on their blog last week! Check it out here.
Ok Romancers – what’d I miss?! Any other good ‘offbeat’ venues out there in Washington, DC? I’d love to keep adding to this post!
22 comments
Awesome. I would never even have thought about renting a yoga studio for a party… do you have any idea what their fees are like?
don’t know exact quotes – but i think as far as venues go, they are def on the more affordable end. (sorry that was so vague)
Holy cow. That STROGA venue is amazing. Sort of wish I’d known about it for my wedding last year.
Can I just live in Stroga please? I’d LOVE to photograph a wedding there!
Having had tickets to Arena for years (they built a new campus around old theaters from the ’60s, so there’s a neat, retro as well as contemporary vibe) I was excited to have my wedding there last year. The view from the outdoor terrace towards the river and Washington monument is pretty fantastic and I gather lots of couples use it for their cocktail hour. Their rates are quite reasonable, too – on the low end for DC, especially for a space that can work for a few or a ton of people. (I paid about $5200, I think)
Thanks Mary!! I hope I get to work a wedding there one day – you are so right, the space is SUCH an awesome mix of retro & contemporary!
For a smaller intimate wedding Hotel Tabard Inn was wonderful!! (and inexpensive!!) and they made my day go so smoothly.
O street Mansion is also offbeat, but more pricier.
Just a word if advice if anyone considering an event at Epic Yoga, it’s a beautiful space but don’t even consider it for summer events. I held an event there in July and it happened to be a heat wave, they had completely in adequate AC and the management was very unhelpful. It was about 90 degrees inside and basically ruined the event. The exposed brick is not worth that.
Thanks Kate – it’s good to know this feedback! I actually have a wedding there this summer so I will pass this along to the couple!
Don’t bother with Epic Yoga. I booked it for my wedding next year and was just told that they are closing in March 2016, before my actual wedding date :(
Thanks Rosa – this is good to know. I knew Stroga had closed but didn’t know that Epic Yoga was too.
We got married at The Chasleton on 16th st. The little ballroom is a great venue for almost no cost.
Hi Lynn- I’m in planning mode and have a few questions about the Chasleton. Would you mind if I PM you?
I’m loving the yoga studios! My fiancé and I are planning a January wedding and I am having trouble finding chic indoor venues that are affordable. I have sent inquiries to both studies as well as Eastern Market. Any more advice would be fabulous!
Hi Anne – glad you found the post useful. Working with Stroga was great (I worked a wedding there last fall and it was great -minus NO ELEVATOR!) I am working a wedding at Epic Yoga this year and my clients have been VERY frustrated with the venue coordinator, just FYI. Venues that aren’t used to dealing with weddings can be a handle to deal with. Eastern Market is a GREAT one though!
Hello,
My partner and I are looking at Epic Yoga for a wedding, can you tell me if the wedding you are talking about has occurred? Do you have any photos of it? It seems really reasonable for DC. But we’d like to know more when you say VERY frustrated
Hey Dorrie – why don’t you shoot me an email and we can chat :)
My friends had their wedding at the Mansion on O Street and it was quirky and SO much fun just wondering around the place and exploring all the nooks and crannies.
Thanks for the great roundup! I’m an LA based event planner helping my sister in-law plan her DC wedding and she doesn’t want a traditional hotel wedding. Looking forward to checking out your list for her.
Blind Whino in SW DC would most definitely be in the offbeat and awesome category! http://www.blindwhino.org