Planning a wedding in Washington DC means having access to some of the most elegant, historic, and visually striking venues on the East Coast. Whether you are drawn to grand architecture, lush gardens, or waterfront views, the nation’s capital and its surrounding areas offer a remarkable backdrop for your celebration. Choosing the right venue is one of the most important decisions you will make because it directly affects the quality and emotion of your wedding photography and videography.
At Original Weddings, our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team has had the honor of documenting countless celebrations across the city and beyond. From timeless ballrooms to sweeping outdoor estates, each location offers something unique in light, texture, and atmosphere that helps your story come alive on camera.
Photography thrives on natural light, architectural symmetry, and beautiful composition. Videography shines when there is movement, emotion, and sound that build a sense of story. The best Washington DC wedding venues balance both qualities, creating spaces that look stunning in photographs and feel cinematic on film.
This guide features our favorite Washington DC wedding venues for photography and videography. Each one offers distinctive scenery and versatile spaces that make your wedding imagery feel timeless and authentic. Below, you will find a collection of our favorite venues, with real weddings captured by our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team.
Top Washington DC Wedding Venues
- Union Mills Public House: Industrial charm meets refined elegance with exposed brick, moody lighting, and cozy character.
- George Washington Hotel: A grand historic venue with vintage architecture and romantic, softly lit ballrooms.
- Hyatt Regency Reston: A modern hotel with sleek design, open spaces, and stunning glass architecture for clean, bright visuals.
- Martin’s Crosswinds: A classic Maryland ballroom venue perfect for vibrant lighting, large guest counts, and dramatic reception footage.
- Herrington on the Bay: A breathtaking waterfront venue ideal for golden-hour portraits and sweeping cinematic drone shots.
- River View at Occoquan: Modern, airy, and surrounded by nature, this venue offers diverse indoor and outdoor settings.
- The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens: A glass-enclosed garden venue drenched in natural light and botanical beauty.
- The Woodlands at Algonkian: Tranquil forest scenery and rustic architecture create an intimate, romantic aesthetic.
- Raspberry Plain Manor: A classic Virginia estate with rolling hills and timeless grandeur, ideal for formal weddings.
- Glenview Mansion: Elegant gardens, stone staircases, and historic interiors make this one of the most photogenic DC-area venues.
Union Mills Public House
Industrial Elegance in Downtown DC
For couples who love a mix of urban sophistication and rustic charm, Union Mills Public House offers the best of both worlds. The exposed brick walls, iron fixtures, and warm lighting make it ideal for dramatic, editorial-style photography and cinematic wedding videography. Every frame feels rich in depth and texture, creating a setting that feels both modern and timeless.
Captured by the Original Weddings Washington DC wedding photography and videography team, Kaila-Marie and Jacob’s celebration showcases how beautifully this downtown venue transforms into an artistic backdrop.
You can also relive their day through their wedding film!
George Washington Hotel
Historic Romance and Gilded Details
The George Washington Hotel captures the essence of timeless romance through its neoclassical architecture, gilded ballrooms, and elegant design. Every detail of this historic venue reflects sophistication and warmth, creating a cinematic atmosphere for wedding photography and videography. The soft window light, candlelit dinners, and crystal chandeliers bring emotion and depth to every frame, making it one of the most photogenic Washington DC wedding venues.
Captured by our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team, Jimena and Sean’s celebration highlights the perfect blend of history and elegance that makes this venue unforgettable.
You can also relive their day through their wedding film!
Hyatt Regency Reston
Modern Luxury and Architectural Light
For couples who love contemporary design and modern luxury, Hyatt Regency Reston offers an elegant backdrop filled with light, symmetry, and style. Its expansive glass architecture and open interiors make it ideal for refined wedding photography and cinematic videography. Every space captures a balance of sophistication and clarity, from bright portraits on the grand staircase to soft, romantic moments in the lobby.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team captured Josephine and Clint’s celebration with a cinematic approach that reflected the clean, modern design of the venue.
You can also relive their day through their wedding film!
Martin’s Crosswinds
Classic Ballroom Grandeur
For couples who love elegant spaces and lively receptions, Martin’s Crosswinds offers a perfect blend of grandeur and warmth. The spacious ballrooms, polished interiors, and dynamic lighting make it ideal for vibrant wedding photography and cinematic videography. Every moment here feels alive, from emotional entrances to joyful dancing surrounded by family and friends.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team documented Bryan and Maria’s day with a bright, energetic style that matched the atmosphere of this timeless venue.
You can also relive their day through their wedding film!
Herrington on the Bay
Waterfront Beauty near Washington DC
Few venues can match the cinematic backdrop of Herrington on the Bay. This Chesapeake Bay waterfront location offers panoramic views that glow at sunset, creating breathtaking visuals for wedding photography and videography. Its coastal landscape, lush gardens, and open-air pavilions make it ideal for drone videography, golden-hour portraits, and relaxed outdoor ceremonies.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team captured Isabel-Aranzazu and Brendan’s celebration with a focus on light, color, and movement that reflected the calm beauty of the bay. To help couples visualize how this venue comes to life on film, we’ve also shared Jessie and Gary’s wedding video below, beautifully showcasing the coastal atmosphere and cinematic light of Herrington on the Bay.
You can also relive their day through Jessie and Gary’s wedding film!
Capturing Your Perfect Wedding Moments
From the emotional first look to the joyous last dance, our photographers and videographers are there to capture every detail with precision and creativity. Each image and video tells a piece of your love story, ensuring that no moment is forgotten.
River View at Occoquan
Modern Design Surrounded by Nature
Set within Occoquan Regional Park, River View at Occoquan offers a seamless blend of modern architecture and natural beauty. The floor-to-ceiling windows fill every corner with daylight, making it perfect for elegant wedding photography and cinematic videography. The surrounding water and open landscape create endless opportunities for reflection shots, outdoor portraits, and moments filled with light and movement.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team documented Anika and Saad’s celebration with a natural, airy style that reflected the peaceful character of this waterfront venue. For more details and highlights from their day, visit their full wedding blog.
The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens
Natural Light and Botanical Elegance
For couples dreaming of a garden wedding filled with natural light and lush greenery, The Atrium at Meadowlark Gardens offers a one-of-a-kind glasshouse setting. The surrounding botanical landscape and year-round foliage create an airy, romantic atmosphere that feels alive in every frame. It’s a favorite venue for wedding photography and videography, where reflections and soft illumination bring a dreamlike quality to every moment.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team captured Anna and Matthew’s day with a gentle, light-filled approach that highlighted the venue’s natural beauty. To showcase how The Atrium transforms on film, we’ve also shared Daria and Jeremy’s wedding video.
You can also relive their day through Daria and Jeremy’s wedding film!
The Woodlands at Algonkian
Rustic Serenity in a Forest Setting
Nestled among the trees along the Potomac River, The Woodlands at Algonkian feels like a quiet hideaway made for heartfelt celebrations. The mix of natural wood tones, soft light, and open forest views gives every image a sense of calm and romance. It is a place where wedding photography and videography capture genuine emotion surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team told Alicia and Thomas’s story in a way that mirrors the setting itself, warm, relaxed, and deeply personal. The gentle light filtering through the trees made every frame feel like a scene from a timeless love story.
You can also relive their day through their wedding film!
Raspberry Plain Manor
Timeless Grandeur and Rolling Hills
Surrounded by Virginia’s rolling hills, Raspberry Plain Manor stands as a symbol of timeless elegance and southern charm. Its sweeping lawns, stone terraces, and stately architecture create a refined atmosphere perfect for classic wedding photography and cinematic videography. Every sunset brings golden light across the property, turning portraits into art and giving films a warm, romantic tone.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team captured Megan and Zachary’s celebration with a graceful, editorial approach that matched the manor’s grandeur and historic beauty. For more photographs and a closer look at the details of their day, visit Megan and Zachary’s full wedding blog.
Glenview Mansion
Elegant Gardens and Historic Charm
Glenview Mansion is one of the most elegant and historic wedding venues near Washington DC. Surrounded by manicured gardens and classic stone architecture, it offers a refined backdrop that blends romance with timeless sophistication. The sweeping staircases, arched windows, and lush outdoor terraces create endless possibilities for artistic wedding photography and cinematic videography.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team captured Samantha and Adam’s celebration with a refined, storytelling approach that highlighted both the grandeur of the mansion and the emotion of the day. Every frame, from the garden portraits to the candlelit reception, reflected the timeless beauty that makes Glenview Mansion unforgettable.
You can also relive their day through their wedding film!
Washington DC Wedding Photographers
Let us preserve your love story with elegant wedding photography for your special day. Secure your date today!
How to Choose the Right Washington DC Wedding Venue for Your Vision
Every great wedding venue combines visual grandeur with emotional storytelling, creating spaces that translate beautifully on camera. Choosing your wedding venue is one of the most defining parts of the planning process. It sets the tone for your celebration, shapes the visual story, and determines how your memories will feel in photography and videography. From the classic estates of Virginia to the modern architecture surrounding the capital, Washington DC wedding venues offer endless variety for every couple’s vision.
When deciding, think about the mood you want to create. Do you imagine a grand ballroom filled with candlelight or a garden ceremony surrounded by greenery and soft natural light? Consider the way your venue interacts with light and movement. These elements bring depth and emotion to both photography and videography. Venues with open spaces, reflective surfaces, and thoughtful design often produce the most dynamic imagery.
Our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team has documented hundreds of celebrations across the region, from elegant urban settings to tranquil waterfront estates. Each space offers something different, but the best venue is always the one that feels true to your story. Visit our wedding blogs to see how couples have transformed these beautiful Washington DC locations into unforgettable experiences.
Work with Original Weddings: Washington DC Wedding Photography and Videography Experts
Your wedding story deserves to be captured with care, creativity, and an eye for emotion. At Original Weddings, our Washington DC wedding photography and videography team is dedicated to documenting every detail in a way that feels authentic and timeless. From cinematic films to elegant imagery, we focus on preserving the feeling of each moment so you can relive your day exactly as it happened.
Whether you are planning an intimate garden celebration, a grand ballroom affair, or a waterfront ceremony overlooking the city, our team will guide you through every step with experience and artistry. We know each couple’s story is unique, and we approach every wedding with fresh vision and thoughtful storytelling.
With its blend of history, charm, and modern elegance, Washington DC remains one of the most inspiring places to begin your wedding story. If you are ready to start planning, explore our films, browse our wedding photography galleries, or contact us to learn how we can bring your vision to life.
