Your Guide to Planning a Wedding in Alexandria

Historic charm, red brick architecture, stunning waterfront views – Alexandria has it all. Named a Top 5 Best Small City in the U.S. by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for five straight years, Alexandria is an unparalleled destination to tie the knot. Discover everything from unique wedding venues and trendy hair salons to top-notch catering companies and buzz-worthy bakeries just minutes from the nation’s capital. Another pro of an Alexandria wedding? Visit Alexandria’s team is at the ready to offer complimentary planning services at no cost to you. Read on for our guide to organizing all your wedding logistics in Alexandria.

Unique Venues

If you’re seeking all the charm that Alexandria has to offer, look no further than the panoramic views on the rooftop of the ALX Community – Atrium or the steps of George Washington’s Masonic National Memorial. The most romantic way to say “I do” might be in one of Alexandria’s gorgeous gardens like the Magnolia Terrace at the historic Carlyle House or Christ Church. Host an open-air wedding aboard the Cherry Blossom Riverboat via City Cruises anchored by Hornblower with a background of the Washington, D.C. skyline. You may also fancy a spot like Cedar Knoll’s Pergola Patio for a fairy tale wedding adorned with waterfront views, bistro lights and a wall of ivy. Don’t overlook intimate spaces within spacious venues like Building Momentum’s charming rustic pergola in The Garden. Find more special spaces to host your event at Lloyd House, Alexandria History Museum at The Lyceum or Torpedo Factory Art Center.

Signature Hotel Weddings

Alexandria’s hotels offer distinct spaces with waterfront views, iconic backdrops and more for your intimate celebration. Check out the enchanting interior courtyard at The Alexandrian for an intimate affair with your friends and family or revel in waterfront views at Alexandria’s only waterfront property, Hotel Indigo, where you can “cheers” at their al fresco restaurant, Hummingbird. Be charmed at Sheraton Suites, which cater to Halal, Hindu and Kosher Weddings, or tie the knot at The Westin’s spacious Edison Ballroom. Host your reception at Alexandria’s largest hotel property, the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, with dining options catering to wide-ranging dietary needs and a property ideal for large weddings. Or book Hilton Alexandria Old Town or Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town for a strategic location at the top of King Street.

Boutique Venues

Be enamored with boutique venues like Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection, set in a Federalist-style building and boasting a literary touch in the hotel’s library and cocktail lounge. Enjoy a serene atmosphere at Lorien Hotel & Spa and delight yourself with bites from acclaimed restaurant BRABO. You and your guests can soak in incredible original artwork during an event at Principle Gallery, housed in a Revolutionary-era townhouse, or inside the salmon-pink Athenaeum, built in the Greek Revival style and home to the Northern Virginia Fine Arts Association.

Estate & Garden Venues

Hoping to be surrounded by stunning natural vistas? Tie the knot on the grounds of historic estates including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, America’s most-visited historic home, George Mason’s Gunston Hall or Lee-Fendall House Museum & Garden in Old Town. Or opt for a ceremony on the sprawling lawns of River Farm, with views of the Potomac River. The Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House offer two distinct experiences on the same estate; overlooking the Potomac, Woodlawn plantation was carved from George Washington’s Mount Vernon, established on the tribal lands of the Doeg people and was later purchased and transformed by abolitionist Quakers. Meanwhile, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Pope-Leighey House, a Usonian home built in 1940, artfully blends into the landscape. Host your ceremony at Hollin Hall & the Meeting House at Mount Vernon Unitarian Church beneath its wisteria-arbored terrace next to a boxwood maze.

Florals & Greenery

Wedding flowers are one of the most important components of the visual experience on your big day, so it’s important to work with a team of floral professionals that can help bring your vision to life. Let K Aubrey Flowers’ full-service design team create custom floral accents from quality flowers. Be inspired by nature with Enchanted Florist’s exquisite arrangements or up your creativity with an unforgettable floral experience by Bloom Fresh Flowers. Check out high-end retail florist Helen Olivia Flowers to bring your floral dreams to life, no matter how big or small. You’ll find only the freshest of flowers from Holland Flowers & The Wedding Loft. Explore a full range of plant and floral arrangements with custom design from Conklyn’s. Choose sophisticated greenery for your celebration, sourced from Greenstreet Gardens of Virginia.

Hair & Makeup

Look to Alexandria salons and beauty spots to handle your hair and makeup needs. Let Sugar House Day Spa treat your tresses and do your makeup for you and your bridal party, or head to makeup boutique Bellacara, which carries all the best beauty brands. Treat your roots at waterfront Salon Monte from TLC’s wedding and reality TV star Monte Durham. Relax with eco-friendly products and an elegant hairdo for the big day at Latina-owned Cualtzin Salon or get your hair styled at Holistic Hair Studio, where you can rest assured your hair is being treated with free trade and organic hair products. Jump into an artsy and chill environment at Salon deZEN while you get a wedding blowout or unique fluid hair painting. Feel relaxed and radiant at Stylists at North while getting your hair styled, nails manicured and makeup refreshed as you sip some procured wine or custom tea. Need to unwind before the big day? Indulge in skin and body therapies at Fountains Day Spa or luxuriate in day spa packages at the Lorien Hotel & Spa.

Catering

Image Credit: Korean Husband Hong Kong Wife

Food quality, creativity, presentation and customer service are all important when it comes to choosing a catering company for your wedding. Windows Catering Company has built its reputation in the D.C. area as a top wedding caterer for more than 25 years, so you can rest assured your party is in good hands. Kick things up a notch with wood-smoked barbeque from Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company, Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster Barbeque and Pork Barrel BBQ. Alexandria Restaurant Partners offers full service catering with a bar from  Mia’s Italian Kitchen and  Theismann’s Restaurant & Bar. Plus, check out Alexandria’s countless caterers including Bittersweet Catering, Main Events Caterers and Design Cuisine.

Beverages

Let Alexandria’s drink purveyors help you fill your bar. Del Ray’s Planet Wine boasts an impressive selection of nearly 2,000 wines and specialty beers, hand-selected by its staff, while Old Town boutique Wine Gallery 108 provides a vast spread of vino sure to please the sommeliers on your guest list. For crowd-pleasing, delicious non-alcoholic options, try the creative flavors from Umbrella Dry Drinks.

Sweet Treats

Do away with the traditional wedding cake and dish up some delicious and Instagram-worthy delights. Serve crowd-pleasing cupcake options with fresh-baked treats from Alexandria Cupcake or Lavender Moon Cupcakery. Order a vast array of pan-Latin American pan dulce from Veronica’s Bakery to please your guests. Try Buzz Bakeshop for whimsical treats and divine flavors or enlist Goodies Frozen Custard & Treats, which serves up legendary Wisconsin-style frozen custard and nostalgic treats out of a vintage 1952 Metro van named Gigi right outside your wedding venue, perfect for a spring or summer wedding. Lure yours guests (briefly) off the dance floor with all sorts of mouthwatering baked goods from Firehook Bakery & Coffee House and Junction Bakery & Bistro.

Live Entertainment

Nothing kicks your wedding up a notch quite like some live music to get your guests dancing and jamming. Home in on Alexandria’s Scottish heritage and dance to Celtic melodies as you float down the aisle with Celtic Music for All Occasions, or enjoy classical tunes from some of the nation’s finest performers in the String Quartet of Northern Virginia. Looking for a DJ for your reception? Enlist the services of Scott’s Music Place. Explore more musical options with Bachelor Boys Band, Pro Music DJ and Bialek’s Music.

Transportation

From convenience to luxury, Alexandria offers multiple transportation options for your wedding party needs. Check out woman-owned Fleet Transportation for 24-hour customer service and add-ons like airport meet-and-greets, customized guided local tours and more. Or arrive in style with DC Livery’s luxury limousines or executive sedans. Book a wedding shuttle bus with GOGO Charters and enjoy private service between the hotel, ceremony and reception. Try Reston Limousine to get you and your guests where they need to go safely and smoothly.

Favors and Gifts

Shopping for one-of-a-kind party favors and gifts for your bridal parties is easy in the D.C. region’s largest destination of independent boutiques. Support local artists and give guests a souvenir to remember their time in Alexandria with items from Made in ALX. Pick up home décor from Red Barn Mercantile or treat your bridal party to gorgeous glassware from The Hour Shop’s Modern Home Bar collection or gift a DIY kit, workshop experience or on-trend home décor gift from AR Workshop. Grab printed treasures from Penny Post and Alexandria-themed accents from The Old Town Shop. For a one-of-a-kind wedding gift, couples and guests can create laser-cut gifts with Building Momentum’s The Garden.

Capture Your Big Day

Image Credit: Kelly Loss Photography

Relish a candid and photojournalistic experience with Kelly Loss Photography or work with Theogenic Photography for all your wedding photography and videography dreams.

Pre- & Post-Wedding Experiences

Image Credits: Adedayo “Dayo” Kosoko for Visit Alexandria (left); Goran Kosanovic (right)

We know the bride and groom are the star of the show, but nothing makes the wedding weekend even more memorable like a pre- or post-wedding experience. Kick off the festivities with a rehearsal dinner in your ideal setting. Choose from a breadth of restaurants along Alexandria’s waterfront including Ada’s on the River, BARCA Pier and Wine Bar, Virtue Feed & Grain, Blackwall Hitch and Hummingbird or check out Del Ray’s made-for-strolling streetscapes with multiple venue options at Evening Star Café or Cheesetique. Gather in the heart of Old Town by choosing King & Rye, Vermilion or Landini Brothers as your venue. For a different waterfront vantage point just south of Alexandria, book your rehearsal dinner at Cedar Knoll or Mount Vernon Inn, located at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

For bridal and groomsmen parties, think outside the box with a “wine and welding event” at The Garden from Building Momentum. Roll up your sleeves and get creative at AR Workshop or enjoy an intimate al fresco getaway with Picnic & Peonies.

After the wedding festivities, wake up and keep the fun going with mimosas and bites aboard a booze or brunch cruise on the Potomac with City Cruises anchored by Hornblower or at one the Alexandria’s best brunch spots.

Décor

Take your wedding vision from imagination to reality with Alexandria’s décor experts. From handmade dinnerware to redesigned vintage pieces, Something Vintage Rentals creates bright, vibrant show-stoppers for your soiree. Plus, let Select Event Group help you realize your vision of a gorgeous indoor-outdoor affair.

Bridal Wear

Get ready to say yes to your perfect dress when you dive into the collection at Bridals by Natalie. Explore Global Bridal Gallery, which includes tuxedo shopping and perseveration and in-house alteration services, and Elegance By Roya Bridal, which offers gorgeous size-inclusive styles.

Jewelry & Clothes

Pick up the perfect finishing touches to your wedding look with chic, minimalist pieces from She’s Unique, something sparkly from Mystique Jewelers or exquisite creations from King’s Jewelry. Browse the curated collection of ethically-made pieces from Threadleaf & Company, peruse the style-filled racks at 3 Sisters and pull it all together with show-stopping footwear from The Shoe Hive.

Insider Tip: Be sure to check out all of Visit Alexandria’s wedding resources and receive complimentary help planning your big day.

Header Image Credits, left to right: Sarah Marcella Creative; Andy Li for Visit Alexandria; Ica Images for Visit Alexandria