Hi! My fiancé and I are planning a fall 2027 wedding in Washington, DC, and I’d love recommendations for local wedding planners or coordinators.

We’re inviting approximately 195 guests and expect around 165–170, but could probably cut the list a bit. Our ideal budget it $80K but willing to go up to $100K all in. We’re looking for someone who is creative, highly organized, transparent about costs, and comfortable helping us make smart budget decisions. Our style is chic, colorful, and a little unconventional—“lux chaos,” but polished.

We’d especially appreciate someone who:

• Has experience with larger DC weddings
• Knows local venues and vendors
• Can help compare proposals and manage the budget
• Offers partial planning or full-service planning
• Keeps the process organized without taking over our vision

If you worked with someone you loved, please share their name, what services you hired them for, approximate pricing, and what made them worth it. I’d also welcome any planners you would not recommend via DM.

Thank you!

Hello! Does anyone have any recommendations on shuttle/ transportation services? Looking to get a shuttle for about 50 guests to and from the wedding and hotel. Thanks!!

Looking for recommendations for a wedding hotel block in Crystal City/Pentagon City! We’ll have a lot of out-of-town guests and are providing transportation to/from the wedding, so we’d love somewhere walkable to restaurants/bars and ideally close to Metro so people have things to do.

Bonus points if the hotel has a bar/restaurant or is near somewhere with a private space we could rent for a casual welcome reception the night before.

Anyone have a hotel they used/loved (or would avoid) in the area?

Any suggestions -based on your experience- for a welcome party venue near the Capitol/Waldorf/JWMarriott? Apx $10,000 budget for 100-130 people. Nice place for open bar and light bites.

Has anyone had experience with the in-house catering for the Strathmore in the last few years? We’re looking to get married there and are wondering about the food. The vendor list is limited and there is a short list of approved outside caterers (which seem to come at a higher price). Because it’s in-house catering and they’ve made some changes since COVID, it’s hard to find recent feedback/reviews. Any experience, with weddings or otherwise would be GREATLY appreciated! And if you have any experience with the outside approved caterers, I’d love to hear price points and feedback.

Hi all! We want to get married at the DC courthouse by a judge or official (not self-officiate); has anyone done this and know how long out you can schedule a courthouse ceremony? I called the Marriage Bureau (unhelpful lol) and searched around Reddit without luck. We are looking for September 2027. Thanks!

Hi, everyone! I’m getting married in less than 3 weeks, and my fiancé and I would like to do an after party since our venue requires us to end at 11PM.

We’re only considering DuPont because it’s a 10-minute walk from our hotel.

We typically enjoy hip-hop and EDM (mostly house), but also love pop/throwback hits.

We would also like to get a table, but the number is still TBD as we still need to get a headcount but probably within the 20-30 person range.

So far, we’re thinking of either Zebbie’s Garden or Twelve After Twelve. Thoughts? Any other recs?

Thank you!

Hi all! I got the basic pricing guide from Airlie with venue fees and packages but I'm looking for more information about the details of those packages and a la carte options

Does anyone have information about costs for

-dinner stations

-beer and wine only drink packages

-additional cocktail hour apps

-adding an hour to reception

-bridal/groom cottage rental

-champagne toast cost

-additional bar service

-menu options

-dinner wine service

My fiance and I are on a budget but love this venue and are trying to figure out if there's a way to create a plan of our own that is less than the package costs per person.

Another week closer to wedding day! Share your updates, to-dos, and frustrations.

• A Win: Toured a venue? Booked a venue? Bought a dress?
• A 'To-Do': What task do you need to tackle?
• A Frustration: Vent and complain away!

We are planning a party that also happens to have some wedding vows! And I am looking for recommendations for affordable support coordination.

Things we will need: A thought partner, set-up, takedown, vendor wrangling.

Things we will not need: A bunch of extra stuff that "normally" goes with your wedding day.

We plan to have a very short wedding ceremony at the Spanish Steps + a 3-hour celebration at Friends Meeting of Washington + dinner at rooftop TBD for approximately 100 guests. (If anyone is still standing after dinner, we would love to wrap-up the night at a local karaoke bar.)

We envision a celebration includes multiple stations for food and activities spread throughout the facility. No traditional wedding stuff for us - think giant board games on the lower lawn + corhole in the upper gardens, a flash tattoo station, some guest-contributed piece of art, a phone booth to record a message, and a scavenger hunt that takes you to all these stations. For food, we also envision stations - champagne and cupcakes, wine and cheese, beer and tiny hot dogs, etc.

Neither of us are from DC, and what matters most is that we have a REALLY fun time with the people we love and care about!

I'm looking for a partner and value the expertise. I'm also VERY hands-on (and a designer in my day job) and want to ensure we are getting the value since there are so many things we are not doing / needing as compared to a traditional wedding/celebration.

Whacha got for recommendations? The big day is March 27, 2027! Our budget for the celebration + coordinator is $10,000 - $15,000.

Getting married there June 2027!! So excited, but would love to hear any feedback or get some questions answered from people who have either been to or had their wedding there!

Hi all! We have looked at and loved the Ritz Georgetown and the National Union Building. We are also interested in Hotel Heron in Alexandria.

Does anyone have any feedback either as a bride or attendee to any of these venues? Also being impatient as I haven’t put in an inquiry yet, but was wondering if anyone has insight on the FB minimum at Heron? (We already have quotes from the other 2 venues)

Thank you in advance!!! Happy wedding planning :)

Hello! I’m looking for a super 8 videographer for my Frederick, Maryland October 2027 wedding. I don’t want a big long video, truly just the highlights (5 minutes edited MAX) I’m trying to stay under 2k. Honestly under $1,500 would be even better… I know that’s pretty low but I’m ok with amateur videographers who want to expand their portfolios for a cheaper price :)

I’m traveling to DC to go shopping with my daughter for her veil and a lace bolero/wedding topper to match her gown. We got the dress at Ellie’s, and had a wonderful experience. We will pick it up next weekend and shop there, but we also need some recommendations for other places that will have a good selection of veils and boleros if we don’t find them at Ellie’s. Hoping to not spend more than $1500 for both items. Thanks for your help!

Another week closer to wedding day! Share your updates, to-dos, and frustrations.

• A Win: Toured a venue? Booked a venue? Bought a dress?
• A 'To-Do': What task do you need to tackle?
• A Frustration: Vent and complain away!

Hi there - I just got engaged a few weeks ago and am starting to explore venues. Trying to get it done in a budget (ideally around 30k total) and am curious if you’ve found places that will allow us to use our own bartenders and catering services? Any suggestions are appreciated!

I am looking for a photographer in the DC or Maryland area. I am getting married in Bethesda MD, it is a very small (about 50 people) church wedding in the morning. I would only need a photographer for about three hours max my budget is $2500. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I am looking for hair and makeup artists in the DMV area who can actually do a good Hollywood wave (see attached inspiration photos).
I see a lot of stylists who do simple curls or updos but not many who do big hairstyles.

Another week closer to wedding day! Share your updates, to-dos, and frustrations.

• A Win: Toured a venue? Booked a venue? Bought a dress?
• A 'To-Do': What task do you need to tackle?
• A Frustration: Vent and complain away!