Average Base Cost: $30,000
Average base cost for a Meridian House wedding is calculated by figuring a 125-person guest list on a Saturday night in mid season using an average price of $125 for food/beverage from one of their approved caterers. Entertainment, flowers, additional decorations and rentals, DJ, wedding coordinator, and photography are not included. Price is rounded up to the nearest thousand. Gratuity and tax is included.
*Prices subject to change
How it breaks down:
Facility Rental Fee: The Meridian House rental rates vary by season:
- Low Season (January, February): $8,000
- Mid-Season (March, July, August, November, December ): $10,000
- High Season (April, May, June, September, October): $12,000
Photo by Amber Wilkie
Vendors: You must use one of their approved vendors for catering, parking, and tents. For florals, photography, and decor, they just ask that you submit the vendor for approval to make sure they have the required insurance and are in good standing with the venue.
Food/Beverage: Approved caterers include the Catering Company of Washington and Design Cuisine among others.
Photo by Kurstin Roe
What’s Included: 10 hours of use (including setup and breakdown), use of Meridian’s tables and chairs for up to 150 guests, access to a private parking lot that accommodates 30 cars, and one hour of rehearsal time (subject to house schedule).
Extras: Additional hours for early setup may be purchased at $750/hour.
More Stats:
Space Type: Inside/Outside
Size: 150 guests, though they typically advise clients that they need to consider a rain plan (tent) if their guest count is over 120, or if they are using a band instead of DJ.
Bridal Suite: One of the rooms can be used to get dressed in
Parking: Yes. You will have access to their 30-car lot. For more than 150 guests, they require shuttles or valet parking to assist with guest arrival.
How Will Grandma Get There? The Meridian House is located a mile north of The White House, and there are a ton of hotel options nearby such as the The Ritz Carlton and The Dupont Circle Hotel.
Party On! On Friday or Saturday evenings events can go until 11 p.m. On Sundays, 10 p.m. Vendors then have an additional hour after end time to complete their load out.
Photo by A.E. Landes Photography
The Report:
Ambassador Irwin Boyle Laughlin purchased the land for the Meridian House in 1912, two years after his friend Henry White bought the adjacent site (now called the White-Meyer House). Later built and designed by renowned architect John Russell Pope in 1919–who also did the Jefferson Memorial, the National Gallery of Art (West Building) and the National Archives–the Meridian House is considered one of the best examples of French architecture in the United States. Surrounded by three acres of gardens, the house’s Linden Grove features 40 Linden trees that are over 80 years old and were donated by the French Ambassador to Laughlin, whose family kept the house until 1958. In 1960 the house was purchased through a Ford Foundation grant by a newly created non-profit organization dedicated to promoting international understanding, which later became the Meridian International Center. The building underwent a major renovation in 1994 while still maintaining it’s original architectural details.
Woman Getting Married Says:
I think Washington D.C. has some of the country’s most beautiful architecture, and this venue is no exception. I also love the Southern feel that D.C. has…this building seems like it could easily be a Charleston wedding venue! The gardens are in full bloom late April through mid-October, so I would highly recommend a wedding in that time period to take full advantage of the beautiful scenery. Couples typically have their ceremony in the garden, the cocktail hour in the Linden Grove, and dinner/dancing inside the house which is pretty much a perfect setup. I would, however, suggest keeping your guest list to 120 or below to maximize the space as efficiently as possible (and keep a rain plan without having to get a tent). The rooms are gorgeous but the larger the guest list, the more spread out everybody will be. If you’re looking for a gorgeous D.C. wedding venue with inside/outside space this is definitely one of my favorites!
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