Charming Historic Venue with Potomac River View
Andrew and Nathalia Holden
OWNER
AWARD WINNER (2X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Cedar Knoll Restaurant is a restaurant and event venue located in Alexandria, VA. This stunning property provides clients with a warm welcome to their happily ever after. Their waterfront views and charming historic property provide the perfect setting for any of your wedding celebrations. The venue's team offers skill, an inviting atmosphere, breathtaking views, and delicious food that will delight and surprise you and your guests.
Couples who choose to celebrate their nuptials at Cedar Knoll Restaurant can look forward to a day of joy and excitement. There are a number of outdoor settings for your ceremony, allowing you to enjoy a romantic service in the beauty of nature. Indoors, the event room features large illuminating windows and a neutral color scheme that can be elevated and enhanced with couples' own decor. The property can accommodate gatherings of up to 200 attendees inside the restaurant with the space for an additional 90 outdoors.
The team at Cedar Knoll Restaurant offers a wide range of services to choose from. The property can be rented for a number of celebrations, including elopements, wedding ceremonies, commitment ceremonies, and more. The in-house catering team will happily craft a delicious meal for you and your loved ones, allowing you to share an unforgettable culinary experience with your nearest and dearest.
What You'll Love What Cedar Knoll Restaurant
The beautiful setting offers the perfect backdrop for wedding portraits. The waterfront location and historical details set the property apart. To see more, check out the gallery.
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Pricing details
Couples usually spend $21,350
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Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
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
Guest Capacity
Up to 200
Settings
Backyard
Ballroom
Beach
Waterfront
Historic Venue
Restaurant
Tented
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Destination Weddings
Destination Wedding Packages
Destination Wedding Planning
Food & Catering
Planning
Destination Wedding Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Tents
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Andrew and Nathalia Holden
Owner
Hello, and thank you for considering Cedar Knoll for your special day!
We're thrilled at the opportunity to collaborate with you in crafting a wedding that creates lasting memories for you, your loved ones, and your guests. We are dedicated to providing a personalized and hands-on approach to every aspect of your celebration. Whether you envision an intimate gathering or a grand affair, our experienced staff will work tirelessly to ensure that your wedding day reflects your unique style and vision. We look forward to the opportunity to turn your wedding dreams into reality!
Availability
Reviews
4.6
out of 5.022 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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Sabre P
5.0
6/23/2021
Best classic venue in the area. If you're looking for a location with a view, amazing food menu, historical look, Amazing customer service and won't bust your budget-Cedar Knoll has everything you need. We had our ceremony and reception there, everything was picturesque. The ceremony was right outside under the big Tree. It has rained the day before and there wasn't a mud puddle in sight. The Cedar Knoll team allowed me to personalize my ceremony and reception to fit our taste.
What I loved the most about Cedar Knoll was the food. It was all we talked about. We chose the family style option. This not only eliminated the "chicken or beef" dilema but everyone got to try Everything. We had passed around and displayed hors d’oeuvres (due to pandemic, display was changed to served and everyone got a little of everything). Everything was so tasty and devine. They even made my cake as well. With everything they did I still had room in my budget to do a 2hr wine service. I can't say this enough-. We loved the food and cake.
I couldn't have been more pleased with the venue and service. My wedding day went off with out a hitch and Jessica (event coordinator) did an amazing job being responsive and answering my questions and helping me the entire time.
Vendor response 07/03/2021
Thank you Sabre for your kind words. It was a pleasure working with you and your family to...
create your happily ever after. The best of luck to you on your new chapter and thank you for letting us be a part of it!
Katherine S
5.0
11/10/2024
We recently celebrated our wedding at Cedar Knoll, and it was an unforgettable experience. The staff were helpful and kind and went above and beyond to accommodate everything from guests’ dietary restrictions to moving chairs for a last-minute rain plan.
The food and cake were delicious, receiving great reviews from all of our guests. The interior of the venue is beautifully decorated, and the stunning views of the Potomac River were an amazing backdrop.
We opted for a full buyout of the restaurant, but Cedar Knoll is flexible and offers a partial buyout option for smaller parties. We also used an external coordinator (shout out to Hadley Pettway!) who helped manage communications with the venue and our other vendors, ensuring our day went smoothly.
Any questions?
Ryan H
1.0
3/23/2024
The venue location is right on a main road with a lot of traffic. The view is nice and the management will tell you that you won’t hear traffic as it passes but that is false. The “coordinator” has not gotten back to me and you cannot get ahold of anyone at the restaurant. When I physically went in I met the owner that was very rude and unprofessional. If I could get my deposit back and find another venue I would. Please don’t waste your time here.
Jennifer T
1.0
2/14/2024
Management is rude and unprofessional. I spoke to three different people and am still unsure of who plans events. You also cannot get ahold of anyone via phone, text or email. They basically told me If I buyout the restaurant I only have two hours prior to the event to decorate which is ridiculous. The space is nice because it is on the water but for what they charge there is no flexibility, the restaurant is dirty and the grand ball room smells stale. I have dined there prior to my tour of the space and there was food all over the floor which raises concerns to have an event there.
They say they could fit a party of 100 but I don’t see how.
Nicole K
5.0
11/13/2022
Cedar Knoll was the perfect and unique venue for our reception. Jessica and the entire staff were excellent to work with. The venue included everything we wanted for our reception and planning was easy. Jessica responded quickly and addressed all of our questions and requests. The food was incredible and many guests said it was the best wedding food they've had. The venue was beautiful and needed very little decor. We are so lucky to have celebrated our wedding here!
Vendor response 11/18/2022
Thank you so much Nicole! It was so wonderful meeting and working with you and Alex to cre...
ate your reception! Wishing you both nothing but the best on this next chapter of your lives.
Micky Q
5.0
5/09/2022
Cedar Knoll was an absolute beautiful venue for our daughter's wedding. The location of the restaurant on a hill over looking the Potomac River, made for the perfect ceremony on the lawn with a gorgeous view. Our every need was met, they work closely with you to select just the right menu and will create anything you desire. We've had so many guests rave about the food, the setting and service. I can not say enough about this beautiful, welcoming, fun filled establishment. Jessica, their event coordinator, made this a joyful easy process to navigate.
She always responded in a timely fashion and did a little hand holding when needed. I can not say enough about choosing Cedar Knoll , it is a magical place!!
Vendor response 11/18/2022
Thank you so much Micky for your kind words. It was such a joy working with you and your f...
amily to create this special day. Alex & Laurel are so lucky to have you!
Zahra E
5.0
2/04/2022
My husband and I got married in January at Cedar Knoll. It was absolutely incredible and it could not have been more perfect. From our ceremony in the botanical room to our beautiful cocktail hour and reception in the Lafayette room, we truly had a magical experience here. Our guests raved about the food, each course was delicious. The staff were so helpful and had such great energy with us throughout our entire day. Jessica was super helpful throughout the entire process and always went above and beyond with our requests. We highly recommend sharing your special day with Cedar Knoll.
Vendor response 11/18/2022
Thank you Zahra for your review. I loved working with you and Matt to create your magical ...
day! You even got snow. What every winter bride in the DMV dreams of. Congratulations to you and your family!
Odette F
5.0
10/28/2021
The venue was in a perfect location, the staff and service was phenomenal, the food was delicious. Everyone was very excited and loved the place. The staff was very accommodating even at the last minute. Thank you 🙏🏽
Megan G
5.0
10/25/2021
Location: Cedar Knoll was the absolute perfection reception venue! Our guests are STILL raving about the food. The Hummingbird Room created the perfect ambiance for our light, airy, and romantic wedding. While we hosted our ceremony at River Farm, Cedar Knoll still tied in perfectly with the history of Mt Vernon and our guests from cross-country really enjoyed being able to celebrate the history of the area without feeling like they were in a tourist-destination. As River Farm was on the market during our wedding planning, we did have Cedar Knoll as our very serious 2nd option in case a sale were to have gone through! The grounds are beautiful and you just can't beat the view of the Potomac.
Food: We commented a lot during wedding planning that at previous weddings we had attended, the food never really tasted that great for what the couple was paying for. Cedar Knoll's food is worth every penny (and more!) Everything from the appetizers to the soup to the salad to the entrees to the cake was delicious!
*Gluten Free Food: They were also extremely accommodating with a gluten allergy within our party and our regular gluten-eating guests had no idea that some of what they were dining on had been made gluten free! The GF orange almond cake was also delicious and beautiful!
Service: My dad is still raving about the chef/owner coming out to introduce himself during the tasting and give us insights into what could and couldn't be made gluten free. I had a wonderful time working with Jessica throughout the preparation for the day and appreciated how responsive and accommodating she was throughout the process.
Overall: You cannot beat the deal you get with Cedar Knoll - delicious food, incredible location, and fantastic service. Trust us, we went to a LOT of restaurants for possible receptions and Cedar Knoll is the choice you'll want to make!
Vendor response 10/27/2021
Thank you so much Meg for that detailed review! We are honored to have been chosen for thi...
s special celebration and look forward to seeing you and Caleb again sometime soon.
Sharon F
5.0
9/20/2021
After having to scrap the big reception we'd planned due to covid, we wanted a one-stop shop that would provide good food and good photo ops for our twelve-person reception. Jessica at Cedar Knoll was so communicative and professional that we sent them a deposit without ever visiting the venue. It was a great decision. The food was delicious. My mother-in-law's restrictive diet was accommodated and I got two entrees since I couldn't pick one :) I'd give the sweet potato biscuits with pepper jelly ten stars! The package included an adorable cake, too. Since we didn't order enough meals to meet the minimum payment, the kitchen packed up lunches for local teachers. The staff was attentive all evening. The Botanical Room looked beautiful by candlelight, and the windows provided a great indoor/outdoor feel.
Vendor response 10/14/2021
Thank you so very much for that wonderful review! I am glad to hear I was able to make thi...
s process easy and smooth for you. That is something I aim for with my clients and you were a pleasure to work with. Congratulations to you and Thomas and we look forward to celebrating many anniversaries with you two!
Jenny D
5.0
7/01/2021
Beautiful venue, amazing food (kudos to Chef Andrew!!), and wonderful hospitality! We had our intimate ceremony and reception here and our guests still rave about the wedding. Jessica answered every single one of our questions and helped bring our vision to life. The fabulous team helped make it the best day ever and we look forward to celebrating many milestones at Cedar Knoll in the future!
Vendor response 07/03/2021
Thank you so much Jenny! I am so glad to hear how much you and your family enjoyed yoursel...
ves. We fully expect to see you on your one year anniversary (if not sooner!) and look forward to all the milestones you and Andrew will have along the way :-)
Lindsey O
5.0
1/16/2021
I had always wanted to elope or have a small wedding, but family-demands pushed us to plan a larger wedding than I had desired. When the pandemic caused our plans to change, I was actually kind of excited to have a second-chance at planning the intimate, garden-style wedding of my dreams. Jessica at Cedar Knoll helped us pull that off in a very short time frame (like 30 days!).
We had driven past Cedar Knoll a hundred times, but as we drove past on the day we decided to cancel our original wedding plans, I noticed a sign out front advertising picnics on the lawn. I immediately knew it would be the perfect venue for our new 15-person wedding plan and I emailed Cedar Knoll from the car! Jessica was amazing and responded right away with all of our available options. Because having a socially-distanced wedding was extremely important to us, Jessica helped us select a wedding brunch plan for the pergola-covered patio (with the Botanical as a back-up in case of poor weather). Honestly, the inside of Cedar Knoll is just amazing - there are so many different options: bright and airy cottage chic, dark and romantic, or bright and glamorous! The whole building has this wonderful rustic charm that just makes you feel welcome. They set up chairs and an archway on the lawn for our ceremony to make it the perfect garden wedding. We were fortunate to have the perfect weather for a mid-October day, but it was a tad chilly in the shade so Cedar Knoll cranked up the outdoor heaters to keep us cozy while we dined outside on the pergola. We were impressed with the generous menu selections with good price points, the food was delicious, we were able to create our own bar package, the cake was beautiful AND delicious (I'm sure I would have spent so much more ordering a custom cake elsewhere), and the staff was attentive and kind.
We brought our own flowers and greenery to decorate the tables and archway (I raided Trader Joe's the day before for all the fall florals). The dinnerwear was vintage and fun which made decorating our large 15-person table simple. Because the space has so much character and style, you could easily get away with minimal decorations.
Cedar Knoll made the whole process easy and our wedding was simple, elegant, and an absolute blast. My friends kept wishing they could go back and re-do their wedding like ours! Our style was definitely more casual and bohemian than most, but Cedar Knoll offered other plans and packages available that could easily tailor to a larger or more formal event.
Absolutely would recommend to a budget-conscious couple who doesn't want to compromise on style or food/beverage!
P.S. definitely coming back for anniversary dinner
Vendor response 03/02/2021
Thank you so much Lindsey for your raving review! You were a pleasure to work with and we ...
are so happy to be a part of your happily ever after. We look forward to serving you again for your anniversary and any other time in between.
Kerry L
5.0
9/21/2020
Cedar Knoll did a wonderful job hosting an intimate rehearsal dinner. The veranda location was ideal and they were very flexible when it came to rainy day plans, willing up until the morning of the event to move us inside if necessary. The food was delicious, the servers wonderful, nd the location beautiful. It was perfect for a social distancing dinner and I highly recommend it.
Vendor response 09/22/2020
Thank you Kerry! It was so great planning this event with you and Jan. We hope to see you ...
all sometime soon.
Cindy A
5.0
7/22/2020
This lovely venue, in an historic building overlooking the beautiful Potomac River, was the setting for our wonderful bridal shower.
Jessica helped us plan our celebration down to the smallest detail. The menus and the drinks were perfect for our occasion. The service was amazing!We would definitely go back to Cedar Knoll for our next special occasion.
Vendor response 09/22/2020
Thank you so much Cindy! It was truly a pleasure working with you and Naomi and we are so ...
happy we got to be a part of this very special day.
Carolyn D
5.0
7/14/2020
Historic venue overlooking the Potomac River. Amazing venue location with a variety of indoor and outdoor space and top notch service and food. Highly recommend!
Vendor response 07/21/2020
Thank you for those kind words Carolyn! Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and the best o...
f luck on your new adventure on the west coast.
Lyndsey C
5.0
11/25/2019
My husband and I recently got married at Cedar Knoll and it was everything we wanted for our wedding. We had less than twenty people and the venue was perfect for that. It was intimate, romantic and beautiful. The staff was extremely helpful from the moment we came to view the venue for the first time. Jessica was a pleasure to work with and she was always very quick to respond to any questions I had. Chef Andrew is incredibly talented and the food was spectacular. Our guests are still raving about it!
Vendor response 12/23/2019
Thank you so much Lyndsey for your kind review! The love you share with Stephen is so real...
and obvious! I even over heard your photographer saying to her assistant - "I've photographed many couples, but these two are so in love it is just so beautiful to be a part of". I concur, and am so glad that you chose us to host this very special union. Cheers to a lifetime of love!
Sarah C
5.0
11/25/2019
Cedar Knoll was the perfect venue for our November wedding. From the start, the special event manager and owner were attentive and responsive. Beginning with our first site visit through the execution of our reception we received top notch service. Jessica worked with us to create a fair weather and foul weather plan as November weather in Virginia is unpredictable. She accommodated special details and requests and we felt like we were getting personalized service throughout our planning.
The venue is beautiful in all four seasons and has so much character it does not need much extra decoration. For our wedding, we took advantage of the three beautiful interior fire places and decorated with garland and fairy lights. In warmer months, the lawn and patio essentially double the venue’s space and offer a spectacular view I have not seen in any other venue along the river. Our guests loved the food and raved about the brussel sprouts. The thoughtfulness the kitchen puts into food preparation is evident – another unique attribute that sets Cedar Knoll apart.
One thing that my husband and I love about having had our wedding reception at Cedar Knoll is that it is a restaurant we can continue to visit – for weeknight dinners, special occasions, and holidays. It is a special place we look forward to returning to often.
Vendor response 11/25/2019
We appreciate your kind words Sarah! You and your family were a joy to work with and I'm a...
little sad it's all over! We look forward to seeing you all again soon though. Congratulations again and thank you for choosing us!
Brad L
5.0
11/12/2019
Cedar Knoll is an amazing venue to have a wedding. We started out our venue search by looking for the typical, big room, lots of seating capacity, dance floor, catering, etc. However, we really wanted something special and not cookie-cutter, something unique and a place to remember. We live in Alexandria and frequently bike along the Mount Vernon Trail and always rode by Cedar Knoll. When we first walked into the restaurant, the entire staff greeted us and we met up with Jessica the events manager. She instantly raved about how good their food is compared to other venues (I tend to think the typical wedding food is well.. pre-made re-heated, nothing to get excited about). Well, their food is truly amazing.
We decided to go with Cedar Knoll because of the price, the food, the location, the uniqueness, the beauty, and the history. When you go through and walk around the restaurant, each room has its own theme. At first, you might worry about how can I fit 100 people in one room (we had 109) forget about tradition; spread your guests throughout the restaurant. We were afraid people might get offended by not being seated near the bride and groom but they did not seem to mind it. We decided to have our food served family style. This forced everyone to have to chat with each other and made it feel like a good old Thanksgiving dinner.
Before we had our food tasting, we printed out our invitations with a cow and a fish because that’s the traditional food choice. Towards the end of our tasting Andrew (head chef) brought out the last entre (they use all different size and styles of neat plates). He served us a pork tenderloin with sweat potato and pineapple hash served on top. At first bite, I looked over to my wife and said, “ah crap”. Not because it didn’t taste good, but because I knew this had to be included. The problem was that we had already sent out our invitations with a cow and a fish as the options. This tasted so good we decided we had to have it included and scrapped the steak. Our guests certainly enjoyed this decision! I wanted to include this experience to try and hopefully paint a picture into how good the food was at our wedding.
We had an outdoor ceremony on the front lawn which was beautifully setup with the big oak tree as our back drop. Yes, because of its proximity to GW parkway you could hear the cars from the road, however you ignore them as soon as the ceremony starts. The ceremony went off without a hitch and cocktail hour was excellent. Jessica kept bringing us food to ensure we would not miss out while we were having our pictures taken. I’ve been to several weddings where the bride and groom missed out entirely on their cocktail hour. For the reception, our guests were spread out and we had three tables setup in the grand room so we could have a dance floor. Sure, the dance floor isn’t the largest however, I believe that it was a good thing. It makes it seem less awkward when you only have 10 people dancing. Everything went off without a hitch during the night and the staff, Jessica, and Andrew all did a wonderful job. They allowed for us to leave our stuff overnight so we did not have to worry about cleaning up. When we came back to pick everything up we saw a lot of the same staff from the night before. They all congratulated us again and talked about how wonderful the night was. After using Cedar Knoll for our venue, it's apparent they are like a small family, one that I am happy to have married into!
Vendor response 11/25/2019
Thank you Brad for that glowing review!! You and Lauren were wonderful to work with and we...
are lucky and thankful you chose us! Welcome to the family :-)
Lauren S
5.0
10/08/2019
Cedar Knoll was the perfect venue for our September ceremony / reception and Andrew / Jessica could not have been easier to work with! From the very beginning of the planning process, they were both flexible, responsive, and open to hearing my ideas, as well as my concerns. They made me feel very comfortable about the event and I didn’t have a worry at all going into the day! They went above and beyond (even fixing the landscaping and other aspects of the properties’ exterior when my mom pointed out some little fixes that could be done).
On the wedding day, everyone raved about our food (which I don’t think typically happens at weddings?) and Andrew (the co-owner / head chef) was so accommodating when it came to food allergies / special requests. Also, guests mentioned how attentive the staff was and how interesting the venue was! The history of the property is an added bonus and I love how much character the entire place has! Because of that, you don’t really need many decorations or flowers - the property speaks for itself.
I honestly cannot recommend Andrew, Jessica, or Cedar Knoll enough for your wedding if you’re looking for a venue in Alexandria with amazing food, great views of the Potomac, and an accommodating staff!
Vendor response 10/09/2019
Thank you Lauren for those kind words! You were a pleasure to work with and I have a feeli...
ng we will be seeing you around soon :-) Congratulations again and thank you for letting us be a part of your special day!
Kathleen H
5.0
5/28/2019
My husband and I got married at Cedar Knoll on 5/10. It was the most perfect day!!!!! Jessica and Andrew were so helpful throughout our wedding planning process. Two days before our wedding the weather report showed rain, Jessica promptly arranged a tent for our outdoor ceremony. Every single guest commented on how good the food was and how much they loved the venue. I wish we could get married again because it was such a fun party!!
Vendor response 10/09/2019
Thank you Kathleen! You & Nick were so fun to work (and celebrate) with! So glad we could ...
be a part of it.
K B
5.0
1/02/2019
If I could give six stars I would. We hosted a medium-size reception (60 people) at Cedar Knoll and can't say enough good things about the staff, the food, and the ambiance. From my first interaction to the day of the event, Christine and her staff were professional, flexible, and went above a beyond-especially compared to what other restaurants offered. Andrew, the chef, is very talented; his dishes are creative and full of flavor-seriously delicious!! He is also a laid-back and friendly guy. The ambiance of the main dining room and fireplace area is classic Virginia-an old stone fireplace, chandeliers, and white walls with portraits. It is stunningly beautiful. The outdoor porch area that is connected to the main dining room overlooks the Potomac and allows for freedom of movement and is very lovely. The whole restaurant has a historic, intimate feel, with elegant design touches. The day of the event, the staff was so professional, the food was exactly as it tasted during the tasting, and Christine was there, taking care of every detail. I was thrilled with how evening turned out. Our guests raved about it!!! Thank you Cedar Knoll-we will be back!
Nick R
5.0
3/25/2017
My wife and I got married here in May, 2016, and can't speak highly enough of it.
We were looking for a more intimate venue, but still large enough for all of our friends and family to be comfortable for the ceremony and reception. This place was fantastic as we ended having our ceremony outside on the lawn which was beautiful in the spring time, and the reception inside afterwards. They also have a fantastic porch, and with the beautiful weather we had in early May, it was opened so people could wander in and out of the restaurant which really added to the evening for us.
We can't forget about the food either! It was delicious and we had so many people mention to us just how good they thought the food was from the hors d'oeuvres to the main courses. I wish we could have had more time for the food during the cocktail hour! They also made our wedding cake for us which was a delicious lemon, ginger cake.
It was really easy to work with Andrew and the rest of the staff at Cedar Knoll, and they made an otherwise stressful planning process much easier, which led to the wedding being much more fun. We were so happy that we had it here, and though I may be bias, it was one of the most fun weddings that I've been. And a huge part of that is because of Cedar Knoll.
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$15,450 starting price
Andrew and Nathalia Holden
OWNER
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