The Historic John Marshall Ballrooms
The historic ballrooms of the beautiful John Marshall Hotel in downtown Richmond...both with soaring ceilings and glorious chandeliers... the very grand Virginia Room with balconies and staircase and the stunning Marshall Room with floor to ceiling windows. Renovated to their 1929's grandeur.
Black-owned and Woman-owned Business
14+ years in business
Speaks English
Small team (2-10 members)
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Liability Insurance
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Historic Venue
Hotel
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Food & Catering
Any questions?
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.027 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
John Marshall Ballrooms is a stunning historic downtown venue with elegant ballrooms and convenient on-site spaces that photograph beautifully. Reviewers praised the responsive, flexible staff and seamless service, plus smooth vendor coordination. In-house catering earned rave reviews for delicious, well-presented food.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Lisa M
5.0
5/20/2026
I got married at John Marshall Ballrooms in May 2026, and it was truly amazing! The JMB team was wonderful to work with throughout the entire planning process and on the wedding da...
y itself. They were responsive, flexible, and genuinely cared about making our day special.
The venue itself is absolutely beautiful and feels so different from a typical wedding venue. The food from their in-house caterer, Homemades by Suzanne, was also delicious, and we received so many compliments from our guests about it.
After touring venues all over VA, I can confidently say that JMB offers more support and flexibility than most places we looked at. They really go above and beyond to help make your wedding day everything you want it to be. I’d absolutely recommend JMB to anyone looking for a beautiful city venue and a great team to work with!
Mariya G
5.0
2/07/2026
The John Marshall Ballrooms was absolutely wonderful — I had a truly perfect experience hosting our event there. From beginning to end, everything was handled with professionalism ...
and care. Communication was excellent; anytime I had a question, Kaitlyn responded quickly and helpfully.
I had several guest count changes fairly close to the event, and every time the team was kind, understanding, and accommodating. That flexibility meant a lot.
The venue itself is stunning — honestly one of the most beautiful spaces in Richmond. The food was excellent as well; many of our guests commented not only on how delicious it was but also how beautifully it was presented. Everything looked stylish, polished, and very aesthetically pleasing.
The staff was fantastic. Plates were cleared promptly, service felt seamless, and the bar service was great too. Overall, the entire experience exceeded expectations. Our guests clearly enjoyed themselves, and the beauty of the space combined with the level of service truly elevated the event.
I would absolutely recommend John Marshall Ballrooms to anyone looking to make their event extra special. Planning meetings, vendor coordination, and every step leading up to the event were smooth and enjoyable — they really make you feel supported throughout the entire process.
Any questions?
Emma E
5.0
8/26/2025
The JMB could not have been more perfect of a venue for my wedding. The team was amazing, communication was always clear and timely. There was a situation the night before my weddi...
ng and the team at JMB made me feel reassured and took care of any issue without giving me a cause for worry. I could not recommend them enough. If you're looking for old time Richmond for your venue, you found it.
Allison C
5.0
8/26/2025
Kaitlyn & Maria and the rest of the JMB team were fantastic to work with and we would highly recommend the John Marshall Ballrooms for your wedding (or event!)! We used the Marshal...
l Ballroom for our ceremony, the lobby for our cocktail hour, and the Virginia Ballroom for our reception and it all worked perfectly. We also had our bridesmaids get ready in the guest suite and our groomsmen get ready in the club room which was super convenient. Being able to have everything in one location was incredibly convenient, and our guests commented about how beautiful everything was. The space set up perfectly for our event - the stage for the band was great, the dancefloor was spacious, the bars were conveniently located, and we had space to bring in an ice cream cart on top of plenty of beautiful tables for our guests. Kaitlyn & Maria were amazing to work with and answered so many questions for us quickly! They provided several high quality items for our wedding - including linens, easels, a card box, some signage, etc. - saving us money and making it so easy to prepare. We would also be remiss if we did not talk about how outstanding the food from Homemades by Suzanne was - from our tasting to day of, everything was absolutely incredible. Several guests commented along the lines of "wedding food is not typically good, but this is delicious!" Overall, the JMB was perfect for our wedding and we were so pleased with how everything worked out!
Amani A
5.0
7/03/2025
We had our wedding at The John Marshall Ballrooms, and it truly exceeded all of our expectations. From the stunning venue to the incredible team, everything came together perfectly...
and we were able to plan it all in just seven weeks.
A huge part of that was thanks to Maria, who was an absolute dream to work with. She made the entire process feel so easy and stress-free. Her responsiveness, organization, and positive energy made planning a wedding in such a short timeframe not only doable but enjoyable. We couldn’t have done it without her.
We also have to rave about the food. Homemades by Suzanne catered our wedding, and every single guest commented on how amazing it was. The food was delicious, beautifully presented, and far beyond typical wedding food. Truly one of the highlights of the night.
A special shoutout to Anthony, who helped us the day before during the final walkthrough, making sure all of the tables and chairs were set up perfectly. On the wedding day, he was part of the catering team and did an amazing job serving food. His professional attitude stood out, and we’re so grateful for his help.
The entire staff was cheerful, welcoming, and went above and beyond to make our day special. Everyone was smiling, helpful, and genuinely seemed to care about making the event perfect.
If you’re looking for a beautiful, historic, and elegant venue in Richmond with top-notch service and an outstanding team, we highly recommend The John Marshall Ballrooms. It’s a breathtaking space, and thanks to the wonderful staff, our wedding was truly unforgettable.
Yoana D
5.0
7/03/2025
We are so grateful to Maria and the team at the John Marshall Ballrooms for helping make our wedding day so special and memorable. From the moment we got engaged and then fell in l...
ove with the John Marshall Ballrooms, Maria was there every step of the way. She provided clear communication and guidance throughout the planning process and was always quick to respond to any communication form~
On the day of the wedding, everything went smoothly. The venue was beautiful, and many of our guests commented on how STUNNING the space was. The catering team also did a PHENOMENAL job with all the meals. We received plenty of compliments on the menu and how well everything was presented. Even now, months later, people are still talking about how good the food was!!
Maria’s professionalism, and attention to detail were truly appreciated. She helped us feel confident that everything would be smooth sailing, and we were very pleased with how the day turned out.
If you're considering the John Marshall Ballrooms for your event, we definitely recommend it. Maria and her team made our wedding day memorable and stress-free, and we’re grateful for all their hard work.
Hannah S
5.0
6/17/2025
The Ballroom was beautiful and fit all of our needs for our wedding reception. Having the event space, food and beverage all handled by the same vendor was so helpful in the planni...
ng process. The food & drinks were great and our guests had a great time!
Maria was amazing to work with and went out of her way to make sure everything ran smoothly! We are so grateful for all of her help!
Chelsea H
5.0
7/31/2024
The John Marshall Ballrooms were the PERFECT choice for our summer wedding. It did end up raining and it was quite hot on our wedding day, so we were so glad we went with an indoor...
, air-conditioned venue. Maria (the event coordinator) was so so helpful from start to finish; she brought up a lot of small, important details that I had not thought to consider, which I was grateful for. She is also very responsive to all questions. Both ballrooms and the lobby were beautiful and photographed so well and have such a great 1920s look. Additionally, there are several hotels within just a few blocks and plenty of restaurants, so we were able to plan the entire weekend with no required driving for guests, which many mentioned they appreciated. We would definitely recommend having your wedding here!
Kenneth L
5.0
5/09/2024
The John Marshall Ballrooms are first class in every way. Maria and her team worked with us on the smallest details over the course of our engagement. They were the first and onl...
y venue we toured. Once we had our initial meeting and they were available on our date, we did not need to look further!
They provided excellent food and drinks that were incredibly delicious. They worked with us to customize our menu as well as our signature drinks to get everything exactly how we wanted it. In addition, the service was incredible. Worthy of a true black tie affair!
No matter what we asked, as long as it was within their pre-established rules, they made it happen! The Hotel John Marshall is in the upper echelon of Richmond wedding venues.
Delaney H
5.0
10/22/2020
We cannot recommend this venue enough! We had to change our date 3 times due to COVID-19. Amy was always willing to help in any way. She made the process seamless. She would always...
respond quickly to any questions that may have come up. We were able to have our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at this venue and everything flowed effortlessly. Our guests were all very pleased with the venue and the staff service. I would highly recommend the plated meal, it was very smooth and COVID friendly for all guests in attendance. Amy and the staff were excellent and you will love working with them for your event! (Also, the food is A+)
Kelsey P
5.0
3/20/2017
We had the John Marshall Ballrooms (Virginia Ballroom) for our reception and it truly was amazing! I am so happy we chose to celebrate our wedding here!! Everything was just as we ...
had imagined it. The planning process went very smoothly with Amy and she was very responsive, organized and quick to answer emails! The wedding day there were a few hiccups with our checkout time of the JM's guest suite, where my bridesmaids and I were getting ready...but overall, it was a great experience & we are very happy we chose JMB! :)
Mollie G
5.0
4/23/2016
We had our wedding in the small ballroom at the John Marshall earlier this month. We were so thrilled not only with how beautiful the space was, but also with the amazing job that...
Amy Loving and the staff at the John Marshall provided in helping our wedding day come together. Amy in particular played a huge role in making sure the day went as smoothly as possible. She answered every email we sent her, and she did a great job making sure everything ran smoothly during the entire wedding day. The food catered by Homemades by Suzanne was delicious, especially their chicken mushroom wellington and the mac and cheese bar. The John Marshall is an amazing place to get married, and we couldn't recommend it more highly!
McKenzie H
5.0
1/25/2015
We had our wedding reception here and loved every bit of it.
The space, the decor, the service, the staff all exceeded our expectations. I LOVED having the Bridal Suite and the...
rented apartment to get ready in. I would recommend this venue to anyone and everyone!
Peyton H
5.0
12/19/2014
This venue is absolutely beautiful and they staff is very easy to work with!
Heather K
5.0
10/11/2014
The staff at the John Marshall were all very helpful, friendly, and professional. When my stepson got upset because he didn't like anything on the menu, Suzanne asked him what he w...
anted. 10 minutes later, he had a plate of his favorite, chicken tenders. The venue was beautiful, and the food was amazing.
Rose G
5.0
6/06/2014
I thought the John Marshall was the perfect venue..it was a huge party and that's what my daughter and son-in-law wanted...for everyone to have a great time. Amy answered countles...
s questions over the seven month planning period and always gave the best advice. Jaime, who stood guard during the wedding, made sure everything happened on time and exactly how it was suppose to. The staff was wonderful, gracious, professional and eager to please. Probably, my favorite feature, at no added cost, was the bride's room. It's a beautiful room with two work stations which we used for hair and makeup. We started our day at 9:00 with soft music, food and beverages. Friends came and went. My daughter remained very relaxed all day as did everyone. The John Marshall met our expectations.
Anonymous
5.0
2/03/2014
From the planning to the day of the event was a wonderful time. The staff involved were very attentive and went way beyond there means to ensure everything went off without any pro...
blems. You have an exceptional staff and should be very proud to have them on board, in short Amy Loving should receive a pat on the back for making my Daughter's wedding, a time that all of our families and friends will never forget.
Tim Vest
Response from The Historic John Marshall Ballrooms on 02/04/2014
Thank you, Mr. Vest! We all enjoyed working with your family for the ceremony and recepti...
on this past weekend. Please come back to visit... and bring us pictures :)
Anonymous
5.0
1/13/2014
My daughter was married here in March 2013. We chose the larger Virginia Ballroom for the reception. Rental of the Virginia Ballroom includes use of a large suite on the second lev...
el adjacent to the balcony of the ballroom, that was used for groomsmen prep before the ceremony and babysitting during the reception. Homemades by Suzanne is the manager and caterer for the venue, and the owner Suzanne Wolstenholm and her catering manager Amy Loving were there and made sure every detail was taken care of. The food was delicious, we had many guests tell us this was the best reception dinner they had ever been to. Amy was available by email or phone for our many questions when planning and booking the event. The venue is lovely and historic. There are many options to select to help make things fit your budget. We were very happy we chose a venue that included linens, tableware, glasses, everything in the base price. They worked well with all the vendors. The staff is very professional and all so very nice. I have been back to lunch at the John Marshall several times since then, and can verify the quality of the food and the friendly professional staff are still excellent.
The cost may seem expensive at first, but when you consider all the things that are included in your base price, and you know you will receive the highest quality service, it is really a bargain!
Response from The Historic John Marshall Ballrooms on 01/15/2014
Thank you so much for taking the time to offer your kind words (and for continuing to visi...
t :) We love to see all of the familiar faces among our luncheon guests! - Amy
Mary G
3.0
1/09/2014
The venue was just what we wanted for this historic themed wedding. The assistance in planning was minimal. We were told we could bring our decorations in the day before and store...
them there but when we came in we were told someone else had the space. The day of the wedding we were told everything would be set up the night before so we could decorate but it wasn't! when we tried to contact Amy, she was anything but helpful nor was she the rest of the night. She had made promises that weren't kept! The cocktail hour and servers were wonderful! The food by homemades by Suzanne was OUTSTANDING! It was served on time and hot! Other than the run ins we had with Amy it was great! I would just say, bring in your own planner because everything else was wonderful!
Response from The Historic John Marshall Ballrooms on 01/11/2014
We are very sorry to read of your dissatisfaction with our sales director, Amy. She works ...
90% of the events and usually receives rave reviews from clients. We would appreciate the opportunity to learn from your experience and talk with you directly about what went wrong with your event.
In response to the concerns mentioned, we often do have the room setup in advance (when schedule allows). Our contract is for setup with staff on site two hours prior but we usually have the room setup over a day in advance unless the room has been reserved for another event. We offer a very reasonable "day of" planner service and recommendations for full service planners. We have several locked suites where decor items can be dropped off in advance (even if there are other events).
Beth D
5.0
10/22/2013
Everything about our wedding was perfect with the assistance of Suzanne and Amy. They truly made everything beautiful and less stressful for our entire family.
We never had to wo...
rry about any aspect regarding the John Marshall- because they were always organized and on top of it all.
Thanks so much for helping us have the wedding of our dreams!
Anastasia W
4.0
7/20/2013
Great location and service. We had some hiccups but in the end everything turned out ok. Food was good and the drinks were flowing all night. Bartenders need some training but did ...
an ok job. Amy was great and always got back in a timely fashion.
Cassie W
5.0
1/26/2013
We went to the Omni and Marriott before coming here. Unlike the hotels, the John Marshall has neutral tans and beiges in their ballrooms. The chandeliers give it a nice touch, too!...
It was a bit on the pricey side but worth every penny. My coordinator was Amy and she was always getting back to me within a day or two either phone calls or emails. She set all my DIY decor up and coordinated with the vendors to make sure everything went smoothly. The day of everything went very smoothly. The bartenders, servers, and kitchen staff were so friendly and professional!
Jacquelyn G
5.0
11/14/2012
I fell in love with the John Marshall from the moment that I first saw it, and have nothing short of a glowing experience with the venue and Suzanne's team!
VENUE:
The venue it...
self is gorgeous, whether you decide to utilize either the Marshall or Virginia Ballroom, or even the Lobby areas. Your guests will feel privileged to dine and dance there, and you can even utilize it for your wedding ceremony if you desire. Using a venue that provided all linens, tables, chairs, food drinks, setup, staff, and other general catering was a huge benefit!
FOOD/DRINK:
Simply put- everything was amazing! Their menu list is extensive, and Suzanne and her team are extremely flexible with the setup and distribution of all food displays. They even offer a premium liquors
SERVICE:
You can't beat Suzanne's team! I worked with Amy, and she did everything and more that I could have possibly asked. She was even proactive enough to provide solutions to potential pitfalls that I hadn't thought of, and made sure to contact all vendors well in advance of setup. She took care of everything for me- literally, everything- from the setup of all tables with floral pieces and party favors, to coordinating with our DJ for our wedding introductions, to the layout of bubble dispensers for our exit line.
Multiple guests came up to rave about their positive experiences with the staff, which was nothing short of phenomenal throughout the night. They even helped consolidate gifts and items that needed to be sent home, and wrote a nice note to me after the service, helping me with any borrowed pieces from other vendors that needed to be returned.
OVERALL:
After such an incredible reception experience (and photos), and phenomenal food and service, the John Marshall proves to be a unique and glamorous venue! I highly, highly recommend them for any beautiful and unforgettable occasion!!
Shannon D
5.0
10/23/2012
The staff was EXTREMELY helpful and many guests commented on the high quality of service. The venue is a beautiful location for a wedding reception. Not all food items on the buffe...
t were replenished. One item was was gone before half the guests had been through the line. Not enough time was given between the staff serving the cake and clearing the table. Many guest were not able to eat their cake before the plates were taken.
Jessica M
4.0
8/16/2012
Our wedding was beautiful! The Virginia Ballroom is gorgeous and it looked exactly like I wanted it to look. Amy is a joy to work with and she and Suzanne were both incredibly kind...
and helpful. They were very flexible and helpful and made preparations and clean up a lot easier than I had feared. I was a little disappointed in the bar. My new husband enjoys beer and the beer and wine selections were very limited (only two wines and three beers). The staff was all very professional, but I was a little disappointed to see a tip jar out for the bartenders. I felt that for the amount per person that we paid, that my guests shouldn't be asked to provide tips. The food was good and we chose cheesecake from Suzanne's and it turned out to be tasty and beautiful.
Jessica T
5.0
10/24/2011
Suzanne was a pleasure to work with, the food was excellent and the staff made everything perfect. I would highly recommend Homemades by Suzanne for any catering need!
Natalie S
5.0
10/18/2011
Suzanne was so great to work with. I went back and forth and she was so flexible and sweet. Not to mention that the food was delicious!! Kim was our on site catering manager and sh...
e was fabulous!!!
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The Historic John Marshall Ballrooms
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