Where to Elope in Washington DC?
Washington DC is a perfect place for an elopement for many reasons; history, classic architecture, beautiful parks, stunning museums, and of course the top ranked restaurants in the country to end your evening.
This page is dedicated to all things eloping in Washington DC. It is your guide to locations, vendors, and how to’s. It will also give you tips and tricks that I have learned over the years on how to have the most amazing DC elopement possible.
Lincoln Memorial
The iconic DC landmark of the Lincoln Memorial is the perfect backdrop for DC Elopements. The most ideal time to for your elopement here is at sunrise because the crowds are much smaller and we can catch the sun rising over the Washington Monument and lighting up the columns in the memorial.
My favorite is to photograph either readings of vows or intimate ceremonies in front of the reflecting pool.
If it is crowded we can go to the back of the monument and use the columns for a different perspective. This side also captures stunning sunsets.
Art Museums
The DC art museums offer a look of romance, quirkiness, and some of my favorite stair photos. The gardens on the side of the art museums are another perfect place for ceremonies. This is a great spot to hit on a DC tour style elopement. There is no permit needed to photograph inside the museums - however they do have restricting hours from 10-5pm. My recommendation is to go to the museums prior to your day to find some of your favorite art galleries to help inspire our day!
The Capitol
Another Iconic DC landmark is the Capitol. I personally like to photograph the building from front which is on the same street as the Supreme Court Building and Library of Congress. It’s a perfect one stop shop for all three locations. There is also a park near the Capitol Building that has the best cherry blossoms without the crowds of people.
Supreme Court and Library of Congress
On the same block as the Capitol Building you will find the Supreme Court Building and Library of Congress. The Supreme Court Building has some of my favorite columns for couple portraits and stunning doors. It’s a better location to photograph in the morning because of the direction of the light but can also be really interesting in the strong light of the mid afternoon. We can photograph inside the Library of Congress but we need to apply for a permit ahead of time. Permits are free. The library of congress can be very busy inside and security will make us keep moving.
Constitution Island & War Memorial
Constitution Island and the War Memorial are two small parks on the either side of the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Constitution Island is a small quiet island that has multiple beautiful willow trees on it - it gives Little Mermaid vibes. Also has a great view of the Washington Monument. It gives nature in the middle of the National Mall. On the other side (a 15 minute walk) is the War Memorial. This is a very popular spot for elopements and small weddings in DC . You do need a permit for elopements at the War Memorial especially if it’s more than 10 people. By getting a permit you are guaranteed to have that location for your ceremony. If you don’t have a permit we may have to adjust our ceremony location. I do love this area for ceremonies because it is fairly private and also surrounded by trees on two sides. If you want an iconic DC look this may not be the perfect location.
Off the Beaten Path
If you are looking for authentic DC vibes without making your day look like you are in DC there are so many offbeat options. Union Market has great street art and is a great place if you want to add in a location to eat or even grab a drink on a rooftop bar. If you have never been there before it is a food market with delicious vendors! Next up is Blagden Alley - a small back alley with great walls for portraits and a rainbow loves sign. Then there is U street which offers lots of amazing street art, real DC, and Ben’s Chili Bowl!
Off the Beaten Path
If you are looking for authentic DC vibes without making your day look like you are in DC there are so many offbeat options. Union Market has great street art and is a great place if you want to add in a location to eat or even grab a drink on a rooftop bar. If you have never been there before it is a food market with delicious vendors! Next up is Blagden Alley - a small back alley with great walls for portraits and a rainbow loves sign. Then there is U street which offers lots of amazing street art, real DC, and Ben’s Chili Bowl!