A historic venue in the heart of Downtown Columbia
300+ guests
1208 Washington Place is a hidden jewel located in the heart of Downtown Columbia, SC. This unique wedding and event venue dates back to 1924 and has been added to the list of historic buildings in Columbia and The National Historic Register. It was initially The First National Bank, operating from 1924 until 1994. With the original bank vaults and board room, 1208 Washington Place is a perfect event space for social events, corporate meetings, receptions, and more.
1208 Washington Place offers a wonderful selection of event spaces, each with its own unique charm and capabilities. The National Republic Ballroom, reminiscent of another era, welcomes guests with impeccably preserved 22' recessed textured ceilings, creating an elegant ambiance perfect for larger gatherings of up to 300 guests in a reception setting. The Washington Street Ballroom seamlessly combines the bank's original stocks & bonds room, offering a modern and distinctive atmosphere with floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed air ducts, and movable air walls to accommodate groups ranging from 5 to 300. The library, once the bank's board room, exudes aesthetics with its crown molding, marble walls and floors, oversized gas fireplace, and vintage Wainscot wall paneling, making it an ideal setting for small meetings and creative social functions. Finally, the three-tiered outdoor terraces provide the perfect space for cocktail hour or outdoor social gatherings.
The team at 1208 Washington Place invites you and your partner to throw your dream wedding celebration in one of their three event spaces. You and your guests will be transported to a bygone era with the historic remnants of vault doors, brickwork walls, and early 20th-century revolving doors and window frames. You can rent these spaces for your wedding ceremony, reception, engagement party, shower, or any other event. You are welcome to ask outside vendors to make your day special in your chosen space, and the venue team stands by to help you with anything you may need. Get in touch today to explore this beautiful and historic building.
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
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Ceremony:
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Bar services:
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Catering:
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Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is May-Jul, Oct and Dec.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Historic Venue
Hotel
Rooftop
Venue Service Offerings
Rentals & Equipment
Any questions?
Reviews
3.2
out of 5.06 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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Amber B
5.0
4/02/2024
I recently had the pleasure of working with 1208 Washington Place for my wedding, and I couldn't be happier with the experience. From start to finish, they were professional, attentive, and went above and beyond to make our day truly special. First and foremost, the communication was outstanding. They were prompt in responding to emails and always made themselves available to answer any questions or concerns we had. This level of responsiveness really put our minds at ease during the planning process. I cannot recommend 1208 Washington Place highly enough. If you're looking for a wedding venue who will truly go the extra mile to make your day unforgettable, look no further. Working with 1208 Washington and their staff was one of the best decisions we made during our wedding planning process, and I am so grateful for their hard work and dedication.
Vendor response 04/02/2024
Thank you so much Amber! It was truly an honor to be a part of your special day! You were ...
absolutely amazing to work with and we are so excited to see all the photos from your wedding. We wish you a life and marriage full of all the love in the world, Congratulations!!
Jillian P
5.0
11/02/2023
I got married at 1208 Washington Place in June of 2021. I LOVED everything about 1208! So many people told me how much they loved my venue and how gorgeous it was. I was able to save so much money on decorations because the venue decorated itself! It was elegant and beautiful. It has a very timeless look that you can’t find anywhere! Stephanie was a dream to work with and really helped my vision for my wedding come true. Cannot recommend enough!
Vendor response 11/02/2023
Thank you so much for the kind review! We are so happy to hear that you and your guests lo...
ved the venue! You are an absolutely STUNNING bride!!
Any questions?
Kiaya D
2.0
3/16/2019
Was originally interested in this venue but after reading the contract decided not to choose it. It’s filled with a lot of hidden and the potential cost would have gone way over our budget. The tour was great but discussing the cost did not fully reflect what we read in the contract
Susana O
1.0
10/20/2018
Get everything in writing! I reserved a sweet 16 for 270 people. They told me 1 month prior that they could not provide 270 with a dance floor because I specified it was a sweet 16 not a quinceañera (like teens don’t dance). Finally I said ok give me 270 people without a dance floor and they could not. I had to rent the whole building! I was told linens were included. I week prior I called for the sash colors and was told they were not included. Me my daughter and sister heard that they were as well. At this point i had no choice. I pd 10,400 when it was originally 6400. I hate surprises and being lied to. Management never called me and hid behind their rep. These are unethical people that own this place. In my business if there is a problem I will fix it and then some. My mistake was trusting in Carly. Get everything in writing, no phone calls.
Suggs S
1.0
6/11/2018
Our contract did NOT state everything we were charged for.
I paid 712.00 for floors to be cleaned !
They are always sticky and dirty.
No one in management would address my issue's.
Paid for table set up and 2 table's collapsed.
Candice W
5.0
1/11/2018
Amazing space and so much fun to decorate! Carly is wonderful and so helpful and it can fit a large ceremony and reception!
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