How Do I Get Married at a Monument?
We may be a little biased but we think Washington DC is the best city for weddings. Come on, just think about it for a minute. We have a totally iconic skyline with some complete stunners like the Capitol Building, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial – and the list goes on and on. And don’t get us started on the amazing DC wedding vendors! If you’re looking to capitalize on some of the offerings, check out our DC local Venues with a View post! If you want something a little more up close and personal, we’ve got some awesome tips and tricks on getting married at a monument today. There are quite a few logistics that you need to consider if this is the road that you and your honey are considering so make sure to follow our suggestions below for your DC monument wedding!
Evelyn Alas via Sweet and Intimate Wedding Ceremony at DC War Memorial
There are three locations on the National Mall (This includes the Mall itself and all of the monuments, like the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.) in DC where you are allowed to have your wedding ceremony. Keep in mind that this is just the ceremony. You are not allowed to host a wedding reception at any of the monuments. The locations are as follows:
- The west lawn of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial
- The George Mason Memorial
- The DC War Memorial
Kristen Gardner Photography via Blush Hay Adams DC Wedding
Although a wedding ceremony does not tend to be the most lengthy part of your wedding day, make sure you check the time limits at each of those sites. They range anywhere from a one hour limit to a two hour limit with set up times. You will also want to check out Washington DC’s general event calendar. If you want to get married at a monument, planning around holidays, concerts, construction, and other variable is a must. For example, the Washington Monument is closed until 2019; there may be some construction around the area that you will need to account for on your big day.
k. thompson photography via Classic and Timeless Fall DC Wedding
A wedding ceremony on the National Mall is considered “special use” event. You must fill out this permit application and pay a non-refundable $50. The permit application process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks so get this submitted as soon as possible. You might also find this Special Event Guidelines document from the National Park Service helpful in your wedding planning.
You can take photos at many of DC’s iconic monuments – you are not limited to the three above. Those are just for hosting an actual ceremony. However, you will need to get a permit even if you are simply looking to take photos for your DC engagement session or on your wedding day.
