DAR

Experience Historic Elegance

Holds ceremonies and receptions

5.0

Praised by couples for:

Amenities

Unique aesthetic style

Guests comfort

This venue was more than we dreamed of, it was the perfect mix of elegance and classic DC architecture. Amanda (Events Director) was amazing to work with, very responsive, and on top of everything! I cannot recommend this space or the events staff enough.

Melissa Z.

5.0

DAR was the most stunning venue, and the perfect backdrop for our ceremony/reception. The staff was so kind and helpful, and our photos could not have been more stunning thanks to the incredible marble columns and historic venue. Our guests raved about how stunning the venue was and so many people asked me about it. Truly the most perfect DC venue.

Lizzy C.

5.0

Amanda Lee Barber

EVENTS DIRECTOR

Typically responds within 24h

AWARD WINNER

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

Your Dream Wedding Venue Moments from the White House Discover DAR, a historic landmark and wedding venue nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., just moments from the White House. Our venue offers an array of stunning event spaces, perfect for both social and professional gatherings, making it a top choice for those seeking a historic wedding venue in the nation's capital. And talk about one incredible view of the Washington Monument! With several unique spaces available, DAR Headquarters can be tailored to suit your event's needs. Whether you're planning an elegant outdoor wedding or a charming, intimate celebration, DAR provides an unforgettable setting. Your guests will be enchanted by the historic ambiance and breathtaking views ensuring your special day is truly memorable. Steeped in grandeur and elegance, DAR provides several incredible atmospheres for your one-of-a-kind celebration. Ornate spaces for your festivities include the Library, which is brimming with well-read books and furnished with wooden fixtures. The lovingly curated Museum invites you and your loved ones to journey through American history with seasonal exhibits that tell an exciting story. DAR has included accessible facilities throughout all of its venues, ensuring everyone enjoys the utmost comfort and flexibility for your special day. Be sure to check out the gallery for an exclusive 360° Virtual Tour!

Woman-owned Business

26+ years in business

Speaks English

Small team (2-10 members)

Amenities + details

Amenities

Ceremony Area

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

Ballroom

Estate

Historic Venue

Library

Museum

Venue Service Offerings

Service Staff

Awards and Affiliations

2025 'Best of Weddings'

Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding

Meet the team

Amanda Lee Barber

Events Director

Amanda has been in the events industry for over 15 years. Her role at DAR is to ensure fitting the space with the event’s needs. Be it making vendor recommendations or logistical choices, Amanda is all about no one feeling like a “square peg in a round hole” when trying to decide the best venue for their event.

5.0

out of 5.0

23 reviews

Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

DAR is a stunning, timeless DC venue with iconic Washington Monument views and dramatic historic architecture that often needs minimal decor. Guests praise the professional, responsive events team, smooth logistics, vendor recommendations, and reliable rain-plan options. Highly recommended, though pricey with reasonable historic-protection rules.

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Melissa Z

This venue was more than we dreamed of, it was the perfect mix of elegance and classic DC architecture. Amanda (Events Director) was amazing to work with, very responsive, and on t...

op of everything! I cannot recommend this space or the events staff enough.

Lizzy C

DAR was the most stunning venue, and the perfect backdrop for our ceremony/reception. The staff was so kind and helpful, and our photos could not have been more stunning thanks to ...

the incredible marble columns and historic venue. Our guests raved about how stunning the venue was and so many people asked me about it. Truly the most perfect DC venue.

Any questions?

Anna Z

Hosting our wedding at DAR was 100% the best decision we could have made. Aside from the absolutely beautiful aesthetics of the venue (which cannot be beat), the entire experience ...

working with DAR was wonderful from start to finish. We reached out directly to inquire about available dates and they were extremely responsive. Throughout the process we were welcomed to do walkthroughs when we needed and were given every opportunity to bring our perfect wedding vision to life - even with it being a historic venue. I cannot recommend getting married at DAR enough. They do have recommended vendors but all of them are incredible and working with vendors who already know the space definitely makes the day-of that much better and more seamless. Everyone should get married at DAR! We are so so happy.

Tori M

We had our wedding at DAR in April 2026, and working with Amanda and the DAR team was truly seamless from start to finish. Our wedding planner handled most of the direct communicat...

ion with them, but from our perspective everything ran incredibly smoothly. The level of service was exceptional, and the staff were warm, responsive, and genuinely invested in making our day perfect. The venue itself is timeless and classic. Grand yet romantic, with stunning, iconic DC views that made the day feel extra special. Our wedding was everything we dreamed of and more. We highly recommend DAR to anyone looking for a venue that feels distinctly “DC,” paired with a team that goes above and beyond to ensure an unforgettable day.

Chauna M

DAR was the PERFECT venue for our wedding. It was the most beautiful and most DC experience dancing under the portico with the Washington Monument in the background. The library an...

d main hall are beyond stunning; it took basically no decorating other than some flowers on tables. Also, Amanda was such a delight to work with. She made every step of the process easy and enjoyable. Cannot recommend this venue enough.

Katie P

Our wedding at the Daughters of the American Revolution was nothing short of extraordinary. It is, without question, the most elegant, beautiful, and iconic venue in all of Washing...

ton, D.C.. The space feels regal and timeless, which is perfect for a formal, black-tie celebration, but it also functions as the ideal blank canvas. Unlike many venues that require you to use (and pay for) their rentals, here you have the freedom to bring in exactly what you want, allowing your vision to come to life without compromise. Working with Amanda and the DAR on-site team was an absolute pleasure. They were organized, kind, responsive, and exceptionally professional throughout the entire planning process and on the wedding day itself. Their calm confidence made everything feel seamless. What truly sets this venue apart, though, are the breathtaking, unobstructed views of the Washington Monument. Our guests—locals and out-of-towners alike—were completely blown away. Many told us it was the most stunning and quintessentially DC wedding they had ever attended. The setting was magical, sophisticated, and unforgettable. We couldn’t imagine having been married anywhere else!

Caleb C

We had a wonderful experience having our wedding reception at this stunningly beautiful, historic venue! Amanda and her team were so professional and helpful. We love museums, libr...

aries, and architecture, so DAR was the perfect choice for us. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a DC wedding venue just steps from the National Mall!

Stephanie B

We just had our wedding at DAR on November 1, 2025, and it was more than we could have ever asked for! Amanda and Lacey were SO helpful in every aspect of our big day. They know th...

e venue inside and out, understand how to manage vendors, and truly get what creates an exceptional guest experience. We asked them a ton of questions, and they were always open, patient, and incredibly helpful in their responses. The venue itself offers the most beautiful and unique spaces for each part of the celebration—ceremony, cocktail hour, reception, and dancing. DAR isn’t short on options, and every area is stunning. We feel so lucky to have been able to get married there, and we would recommend DAR to anyone looking for the perfect wedding venue in D.C.!

Kelsey B

My husband and I could not be more pleased with how our wedding day at DAR turned out. We had the pleasure of working with Lacey on the DAR Events team, and from day 1 she was fant...

astic to work with - responsive, organized, and professional. We fell in love with the venue and its flexible options for creating the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception of our dreams. Having a rain plan that we loved just as much as plan A was important to us, and DAR delivers on that with incredible indoor and covered outdoor spaces. When it ended up raining on our wedding day, the DAR team worked seamlessly with our planner to ensure everything ran so seamlessly, including an extensive room flip with nearly 700 candles! Our guests were so complimentary of the venue; so many have reached out sharing this was their favorite venue they’ve ever attended a wedding at. Dancing outside underneath the rotunda with its beautiful uplit columns and the glow of the Washington Monument serving as a backdrop for our first dance was an experience I will never forget. We can’t imagine hosting our wedding anywhere else besides DAR! Truly the best decision.

Clara C

Beautiful venue, great location, and awesome views of DC! This was such a fun and historic reception space. It felt like everyone really cared about making sure we had the best exp...

erience!

C C

Amanda is a star and absolute pro. DAR is an amazing, amazing place and we are so grateful for the team there. Our planner was not good, and DAR, our photographers and caterers wer...

e really the glue to the whole event. We are hoping to celebrate our 5 year anniversary there. There is not better venue in DC, and you are truly in the best hands. Thank you Amanda!!!

Caroline L

Amanda at the DAR is a DREAM to work with! She will ensure your day is absolutely flawless, and she provides so much help with selecting vendors, organizing the day, utilizing eve...

ry unique part of the venue, etc. Amanda is a rapid email response kind of girl (which was sooo helpful) and is always there with the most fun attitude. The venue is unbelievably special - nothing could compare in the entire DMV! Your guest will never forget how special a DAR wedding is! Book away!!!

Julia S

The most stunning venue and view in DC! A magical and memorable evening! DAR Museum was a dream come true for our DC wedding. The views, the history, the building, it was all so p...

erfect and unique. It cannot be recreated or beat! Our wedding turned out better than we ever imagined and we could not be happier with the venue. The views were unreal, the interior is stunning, the photos are a dream come true! DAR is expensive and there are a number of rules in place to protect this historical venue, but they are all reasonable, and ensure more people can enjoy this special space! The rules were easy to adapt to and didn't bother us or affect our wedding in any way. If DAR is in your budget, DO IT! You'll never experience anything similar to a wedding at DAR, it's one of a kind.

Maha K

If you are looking for a timeless, elegant, classy and beautiful DC venue-DAR is the one! My Husband and I are so elated we chose DAR for our wedding. From the start we know that ...

we wanted to get married in D.C. and nothing was more iconic than getting married in the heart of D.C. with the background of Washington Monument and the iconic marble columns. While the venue speaks for itself the team who was knowledgeable from the start really helped us feel confident that this was the right venue for us. While there were a few policy changes that we had to deal with (around rehearsals) Amanda and Lacey were always proactive in keeping us to date and helping us work through things. All of our guests are still speaking about how magical the space felt and how beautiful everything was from the ceremony on the portico to dancing under the columns of the rotunda. The space was BEAUTIFUL and we are so happy with our day and with the chance to use this iconic and historic space.

Ana L

An incredible, beautiful wedding vendue -- We chose the DAR and are incredibly happy with the support of the events team and how the photos turned out. It's an elegant venue in a ...

timeless way, and we look forward to revisiting the place again, remembering our wedding. The events team communicated seamlessly through every step, and gave us recommendations on vendors. They even shared what to expect on traffic and weather situations, an excellent level of detail.

Liz C

Amanda & her team were amazing. Super accessible, efficient and truly cared about our experience. I never felt like a burden & was in awe of my wedding day there. The venue is stu...

nning by itself and made the perfect backdrop for some of the most amazing photos. I would absolutely recommend this venue to anyone in the market!

Chris C

We had our wedding ceremony and reception here in April and it was truly magical. Our goal was simple, but elegant and the DAR was the perfect fit. We were lucky to have nice ...

weather which allowed us to have our ceremony and dancing outside on the Portico, however the rain options would have been just as marvelous. The O'Byrne Gallery was the perfect setting for our reception dinner. The staff of the DAR was incredibly helpful through the whole process, keeping us up to date on the restoration project to the exterior of the building that was happening at the same time. They were also very helpful with finding vendors that fit out style and budget but also knew the building and all of their policies. For a historical building like this, we would definitely recommend using their preferred vendors. We had such an amazing wedding and would definitely recommend the DAR to anyone looking for the same!

Lynn W

We used the DAR venue for our 2023 September wedding and it was everything we could have wanted and more. The venue itself is breathtaking and you honestly hardly even need to add ...

your own touch to it because it's gorgeous as is (which could help you save on some decor/florals). So many of our guests throughout our wedding were complimenting the venue and we still hear about it sometimes to this day! We also had such a great experience working with Amanda and her team. Not only were they accommodating and flexible, but they had excellent communication throughout. Highly recommend using DAR as your wedding venue because it's an experience you or your guests will not forget!

Zoe A

This venue is unlike anywhere else! So unique, so grand & now extremely special to us. DAR was our dream wedding venue, rich in history & overflowing with exquisite architecture, r...

ight in the heart of DC overlooking the Washington monument- it can't be beat! From our Cocktail Hour in the Library & Foyer to our Reception in O'Byrne Gallery, you couldn't help but be in awe of the beauty all around! Big thankyou to Amanda & her team who helped execute our BIG day behind the scenes, including a full change of plans when torrential rain hit! We will forever reminisce & greatest memories created with the people we loved who travelled from all over the world & can't wait to visit DAR again someday! We highly recommend this venue & believe you won't be disappointed!!

Amali G

DAR is an incredibly unique venue. It has historic charm, is very well maintained, and the decor and structure truly make it feel majestic. We enjoyed being able to use the library...

for our cocktail hour, which had special meaning to us as we met in school and have had long educational journeys. We are grateful to Amanda especially for guiding us through the process. We will never forget our special day at DAR!

Grace F

Wonderful communication and beautiful venue!

Veronica Y

The most naturally beautiful venue - multiple wedding guests said the same thing! Communication was easy, and they very kindly and generously compensated for the unforeseen constru...

ction that affected my wedding day. Security on the day of was TIGHT (which was much appreciated considering the downtown DC location) and all the staff and personnel we encountered throughout our time planning were kind and professional.

Evelyn W

DAR is an amazing venue that cannot be beat when it comes to an iconic DC wedding venue! The venue offers a number of different backdrops throughout the day. Even if it rain (as it...

did for our day), the backup locations are great! We were able to squeeze the ceremony out on the portico and our first dance on the rotunda during a rain window. We held dinner in the O’Byrne Gallery, which was beautiful with the natural light coming in the windows. Our guests loved when the reception started with dancing in the Foyer and socializing in the library. The duel environment offered something for everyone with the spaces still feeling connected! Amanda and her team are very responsive and happy to answer questions as they arise throughout the process!

Response from DAR

Wow! Thank you for the kind words! So glad your wedding was everything you wanted.

Service area & Contact info

1776 D St NW, Washington, DC

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(202) 879-3318

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DAR

Amanda Lee Barber

Events Director

Typically responds within 24h

DAR's photos

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DAR

About this venue

Review Summary

Service area & Contact info

Wedding vendors in Washington

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