Woodend Sanctuary & Mansion

. Woodend recently built out its tented patio, and the changes were well done and the space looks beautiful. Many of our guests commented on how well the wedding flowed between ceremony/cocktail hour/dinner/dancing. This was something we were worried about, because the spaces are distinct, but it ended up working out perfectly and gave people enough room to feel comfortable and to switch between activities. The grove was a stunning backdrop to the ceremony, the suites were a perfect space to get ready, and the location was ideal for guests staying in Bethesda. It’s hard to find venues like this around DC, but it is truly the total package. We couldn’t have been happier with this choice.

hotos. The space changed quite a bit between the time we signed our contract and our wedding date--the shape of the tent changed, and it was moved further away from the house/ballroom. In the end, the change turned out fine, but the new configuration puts more space between the dinner tables and the dance floor, so there were several guests who we didn't get to see much because they were in the tent, not dancing. We wish that Woodend and the event manager, Beatriz, had done a better job of communicating these and other changes, though we understand that they were doing the best they could to meet the needs of the permitting board.

indoor-outdoor experience and piece of mind as a backup plan. The location is wonderful - it feels like the house is secluded and private, but you are only about 8 minutes from a wide range of hotel options in Bethesda for guests. Beatriz was great to work with, she answered all our questions and was very communicative. Not only did Woodend fit our wedding vision, but we also loved that we could support a good cause at the same time. There are some restrictions to consider, but they were very upfront about them and none were dealbreakers for us. I would also note you have to choose from their list of partner caterers - we went with Corcoran and loved their food and service! Overall, I would HIGHLY recommend Woodend Sanctuary for a wedding.

things worth mentioning are that the rules for the venue are very strict as to preserve the historic property and preserve - so no candles are allowed, and a very limited vendor list is required to pull from. Otherwise we loved having our wedding here! The location was easy and close to Bethesda and 25 minutes from Georgetown/DC.

ceremony inside (should you need to) was a key point in our decision to go with this venue. Beyond that, the spaciousness of the grounds and mansion never allow for guests to feel too cramped during the evening.

s so easy to work with. With both indoor and outdoor options adjustable day-of, Woodend made planning a fall wedding as stress-free as possible. We couldn’t imagine a better venue for our wedding day.

tering package, drew us into this venue. While we were unable to use the outdoor grove area for our ceremony due to Tropical Storm Ophelia, the catering company was able to transform the tented terrace into a lovely ceremony location. Other perks of this venue include the central location, plenty of parking space, and a lovely bridal suite and charming library for the groomsmen. Some potential drawbacks are not being able to use candles, throw petals/have a flower girl, and the requirement of specific vendors for lighting in the tented terrace (which were costly) and catering (the catering company we went with was excellent). Overall, we were very happy with our decision to go with Woodend!

lace that came up. I ended up looking at over 100 more venues in DC, MD, and VA and we kept coming back to this one. The grounds are gorgeous and the tent is perfect for dinner. We could not have asked more a more picture perfect venue for our wedding!

roperty is large and well kept; the natural beauty, including the flowers, trees, and surrounding forest, made it feel peaceful and grand. The mansion is also beautiful and well-kept; we really didn't need any extra decorations beyond flowers because the space is so decorative in and of itself. The tented terrace is also such a great space. Woodend is very close to DC, which is where we live and where all of our guests were staying, yet it feels so quiet, private, and secluded; truly the best of both worlds! Beatriz Engel is a pro. She was organized, straight-forward, kind, and responsive. She clearly laid out all rules and expectations, so there were no surprises on our end. Our guests were obsessed with the venue, and could not stop talking about it. We HIGHLY recommend Woodend!

by trees. Woodend gave us both. On top of that, we wanted to have a baraat--an Indian procession with a horse--and we were concerned that, as a nature sanctuary, they would not go for it. But Beatriz was so flexible and made it work! She's also very responsive by email. We were blessed with the best weather that has ever occurred in June in DC, which really showcased the beauty of the place (though the rainy day contingency was well-thought-out and would have worked too.) I loved how much sprawling acreage we had, so we could have a baraat, lawn games, and even just different nooks for guests to wander off to. Also, compared to the other outdoor venues we visited in the DMV, this was by far the best value (can't wait to file my taxes and get that write-off!) since it's a non-profit. The location is so convenient--close enough to downtown Bethesda that our guests didn't have to worry about a long ride back to their hotels. Our only concern was the max capacity of 170, but honestly, it was probably a blessing in disguise to have to reign in the guest list. Strong recommend!

t for the ceremony and the tent/mansion were amazing for the reception! No one was cold, the tent was well heated. I loved that we had the bridal suite upstairs to go to relax (being an introvert myself, this was definitely needed!), and the groom's room as well! I highly recommend Woodend for any special occasion.

tented patio offers a beautiful backdrop for any reception. There was plenty of space to set up lawn games and enjoy the day. The team is easy to work with and very responsive to questions. From our first visit we knew Woodend was the best choice!

ith the price!) available in case of bad weather. The indoor and outdoor spaces are beautiful. The dance floor is a little on the small side, but was still plenty of room for our DJ and for dancing. The rooms for the bridal party were nice as well- the mirror in the upstairs room is gorgeous! Beatriz was very responsive throughout the entire process. Only good things to say!!!

between the two throughout the night. The layout of the venue was allowed us to create a flowing reception with different activities and stations in different areas (lawn games, photo booth, cocktail and food stations). The tented terrace gave us much-needed peace of mind in the event of bad weather. In our case, we were so lucky to have nice weather and the space couldn’t have been more beautiful with the flowers and trees all blooming to create a wonderful backdrop. The library and bridal suite were the perfect private spaces for us to retreat to. Our guests absolutely loved this venue and it suited our wedding so well. Beatriz was a joy to work with and made planning the event so easy. We were able to visit the venue a few times to make sure our ideas for activities would work in the space. We are so glad that we had our wedding at a place with trails open to the public so that we can revisit this special place over and over. We can’t recommend Woodend Sanctuary highly enough.

and offer a great Plan B in case of rain. We did end up needing to use the tent instead of the Hemlock grove for our ceremony, but we have absolutely no complaints about it. You still get a stunning immersive outdoor feeling while staying comfortably dry! :) Beatriz was wonderful to work with, she is very responsive and graciously accommodated our unique requests. We highly recommend Woodend!

of our needs. Our day ended up being chilly, so the heated tent helped keep everyone comfortable. Beatriz and her staff were also great to work with.

eir website video tours and sending our moms to scout it out before we even saw it in person, and we had no regrets. The venue is expensive, but it is so elegant with multiple ways to use the various beautiful spaces, indoors and outdoors. We had two ceremonies on our wedding day, a tea ceremony in the Great Hall and a chuppah ceremony in the Hemlock Grove, and had two receptions, one in the conference room and portico and one on the tented terrace. The tented terrace as a backup plan for rain (which we thankfully did not need to use) and with the option of heating on a cold fall evening was key. We had some precious moments with our wedding party in the staging rooms and on the balcony, and had some romantic portraits in the meadows by the grove. Beatriz, the site manager, was easy to communicate with. Woodend provides a select list of approved caterers who are also very costly, but know the venue well. In order to preserve the mansion and grounds, there are some rules to follow with noise and decor, which Beatriz will outline. Overall, it was a big investment, but the natural beauty of the setting enhanced our wedding in so many ways and made for beautiful wedding day photographs and memories.

! She was very responsive and attentive to all my questions and emails. I booked Woodend Sanctuary for 6 hours for my ceremony only and it was perfect. I was able to get my getting ready photos, first look photos, wedding party photos and ceremony all done. You have to work with their preferred list of vendors, but that is very standard. They have many rules and regulations, but all that information is upfront. We booked this venue before the pandemic and when we had to reschedule, we did have to pay a date change fee. Rehearsal was a breeze to schedule and follow through. Rehearsal was also an additional fee. We unfortunately were not allowed to use the balcony, it had water damage from the storm in the week earlier. The bridal suite and grooms library room were spacious. We were allowed to take photos anywhere on the venue. Woodend Sanctuary has an awesome tent rain backup plan which was one of the factors that convinced us to book there in the first place. Overall we enjoyed having our wedding ceremony at Woodend Sanctuary! Thank you to Beatriz for all her hard work!

ing the volume of emails she must be getting right now, she was always responsive and sympathetic, giving us recommendations, FAQs, even valuable advice on things like the timeline, tent space, etc. The venue itself is remarkable - beautiful, spacious, with lovely options for both outdoor and indoor weddings (plus a spacious, attractive tent on site if it rains!) It's both close enough to the city to be easily accessible for guests (our hotel of choice was 10 min away), and enclosed with enough acreage and trees to feel private and magical. Being able to have the ceremony and reception in the same space was key for us, but the two areas (the grove and the mansion) are separate enough that you still get the feeling of a "solemn" ceremony and then a "fun" reception. There are also nature classes and a little store on site that sells bird seed, etc - they (obviously) aren't open during the ceremony, but it was really meaningful to us to be able to contribute to a space that also serves to educate others about nature and the environment. Also, the Woodend team are incredibly helpful day-of - I didn't have to worry about parking, logistics, anything. They even had signs directing people to the ceremony site. Long story short, can't recommend this space enough. It's cliché to say, but it really was a magical day, and Woodend was a huge part of that.

guests. Woodend fit the bill perfectly with everything I was looking for and more!!! I loved having the ability to be at Woodend all day, including getting ready with our wedding parties in the designated rooms, first look photos, our ceremony in the grove, and the reception + dancing in the tent and mansion. Plus, Beatriz was amazing to work with. I can't imagine how many emails she must receive from other couples, but she always got back to us in a timely fashion and she was very organized with helpful FAQs and links for us to reference. We were also planning the wedding from far away (we live on the west coast) and Beatriz accommodated MULTIPLE venue visits/tours - first with our parents, and then with my fiance and me when we were in town. I'm also thank so glad that our wedding was able to contribute to the Audubon Naturalist Society’s mission. Thank you Beatriz and the Woodend team!!

eam are thoughtful, kind and so wonderfully helpful. If you're starting to plan your COVID wedding, this is a winning decision. Highly recommend Spilled Milk Catering for all food/rentals as well - they know the space like the back of their hands!

the winter (and not using the outdoor space), the setting proved magical for our holiday-themed nuptials. The folks at Woodend, especially Beatriz and Kathy, became part of my "squad," and helped our wedding become one of the best moments of our lives!

bridal suite is amazing and our first look on the balcony was a dream!!

they have one of the best rain plans in the DC Metro area. We even had a great moment where a butterfly flew by during our ceremony! Beatriz, the site coordinator, was excellent to work with. She was always responsive to emails and helped us to do a second tour of the venue after we booked it so that my mom could check out the venue. I'll also mention that Woodend gives you a great list of recommended vendors that have all worked at the venue before. This list is so helpful and everyone that we hired knew the venue incredibly well. We love Woodend so much and are so happy that it was where we got married.

with, no pushy at all, and very very helpful.

ora on site. The first photos we have seen look unreal. My (now) wife, from whose account I am posting, and I worked with Beatriz (Woodend’s event manager) for more than a year leading up to this event, and it turned out to be the 100% right choice to celebrate our big day there. Of course, the venue setup played a major role - this is one of the few spots close to downtown DC where you can have an amazing outdoor ceremony, followed by a reception in a beautiful mansion, at a fair price (part of which goes to supporting a great cause). But a big part of that is also due to Beatriz. As many of you who are reading this review will soon realize about the wedding planning process, it all comes down to people, particularly if you are doing a DIY wedding and don’t have a professional planner engaged. If you work with vendors directly, the people you work with have an enormous impact on your planning experience. I CANNOT over-emphasize this point. Good, competent, and responsive people will make your life so much easier, and you will have so much more peace of mind (which you will need every ounce of). If you decide to have a wedding at Woodend Sanctuary, you will not only get an amazing venue, but you will get to work with a complete rockstar, and that rockstar is Beatriz. In all honesty, I can’t say enough good things about Beatriz. She is amazing. Warm, friendly, and always incredibly helpful and resourceful when it comes to recommendations and ideas. Beatriz has seen it all at Woodend - she knows the venue and its many logistical possibilities inside out. I cannot tell you how many emails we have sent to Beatriz, and how many times we went over to the venue for walkthroughs, dance practice or just an opportunity to meet with her to pick her brain. I don’t know how Beatriz handles what is likely to amount to more than a hundred weddings per year, but she does it in a way that makes you feel like you have her sole attention and dedication. At the end of the process, it genuinely felt as if Beatriz was part of our family. We will always be grateful to her. My recommendation would be to book as many extra hours as you can - we had the venue from 3 PM to 1 AM on a Friday, which also ensured that we were the only wedding that day. Arguably only once in your life will you have everyone you care about in the universe gathered together in one place, and when that happens, you will want it to last as long as possible. It will fly by before you know it. One major reason we picked the venue is that they have a seamless rain plan, which we were fortunate not to have avail ourselves of (though it rained the morning of our wedding day). For anyone considering Woodend Sanctuary for their wedding - you can’t go wrong. Do it now.

-in for our ceremony, and allowed for us to have both the ceremony and the reception there with total confidence. All night, our guests drifted from the indoor setting to the portico or walked the grounds; it was great to see everyone so pleased no matter what the setting. The surroundings were simply stunning the day of the wedding and provided the perfect backdrop for photos. A deer ran through a field when the audience clapped for us, and guests remarked on how neat that was. The venue was beautiful enough on its own that it didn't need much additional decor. While we didn't make use of it, they do offer birdseed to be thrown during the send-off (sparklers, rice, etc. aren't allowed out of respect to wildlife). They also allowed red wine which was not always the case with other historic houses / venues we looked into. The Woodend day-of staff was great and kept things running smoothly. Everything was dusted, the outdoors was well-manicured, and the bathrooms were clean & stocked the entire night. One thing to be aware of is the tent -- they are very protective of the tent and only one company is allowed to interact with it. We wanted to string up some simple bistro lights and were told it would be $1700 to do so because that's what the one monopoly charged. The day of the wedding, we were informed that even though we'd requested all of the tent flaps to be up, one of the flaps was stuck down because of the way the company had secured it. We ended up having to make the best of it. It was okay in the end but frustrating at the time. Also, no chairs are included for the ceremony -- they had to come from the caterer, which was an additional cost for us. Beatriz was great throughout the process. Woodend was a great pick for the best day of our lives! -- Amanda & Sean

s outdoor ceremony area with a tent for back up and plenty of house and lawn space for the cocktail hour, reception, dancing, lawn games, photo booth and more. On top of that, Beatriz was great to work with as was the site manager the day-of. We couldn't be happier and many of our guests who are locals to the D.C. area kept saying how much they loved the venue but had never heard of it - so it's a great hidden gem in the DMV!

out the process and the day of site coordinator was very much present and responsive to our needs. The Grove where the wedding ceremony took place did have its share of gnats that day (mosquitos were biting on another visit), but our OFF lanterns seemed to do the trick in terms of keeping them away as I did not have any trouble once those were lit. I highly recommend this location, though I would be careful about selecting a caterer. We went with a less high end caterer on the list and got what we paid for.

y. We had already visited three other event spaces and had plans to see two more, but after touring Woodend we were sold. The house itself is full of character and the grounds are breathtaking, but the real value of securing Woodend for our wedding ceremony and reception was working with Beatriz and the staff at the Sanctuary. They were helpful, patient and accommodating and went out of their way to make our wedding a truly wonderful event. Good weather allowed us to get married in the grove, located several yards away from the house, but they also offer a fantastic Plan B by having climate controlled tent space covering the patio. If you want a truly original and memorable event, one that will fill you with happy memories the rest of your life, Woodend Sanctuary is the answer; we give this our most enthusiastic recommendation!

The grove is beautiful, and the mansion was a wonderful space for dinner and dancing. Beatriz was a pleasure to work with and flexible with our plans. All the terms of the venue were clearly laid out upfront, and no surprises. All and all, the wedding was wonderful and exactly what we were looking for. Highly recommended!

showers, we managed to have a beautiful tented ceremony on the outdoor patio. In the rain, the space was a perfect fit for a party of ~100 people. It was a great venue that was very customizable to our tastes. Thank you again!

always very responsive to my many questions and helped make our day go as smoothly as possible. We were fortunate to use the grove for our ceremony (warmed up with some heat lamps) and used the tent and house for our reception. All our guests raved about the gorgeous setting!

rees, the cocktail hour on the portico, the dinner and dancing and party throughout the downstairs of the mansion made for an exquisite and memorable affair. Beatriz was a doll to work with and couldn't be more helpful. I highly recommend this venue. Couldn't have been more perfect.

ble from area hotels. Our guests stayed in Bethesda and we had shuttles run the 10 minute drive between the hotels and the venue (there was also plenty of parking available on-site for local guests). The grounds are gorgeous and made for a beautiful outdoor ceremony and wonderful photos. The mansion and tent were the perfect size for 150 guests. It felt full and lively without being overly crowded. Beatriz was very responsive and great to work with. I would highly recommend Woodend to anyone looking for a DC-area wedding venue!

erfectly. Our reception started at 6:00pm and ended at 11:00pm. The sun sets on the opposite side of the house from where you have the cocktail hour and dinner tables, which helps with the summer heat. They had large fans set up in the main room where we had dancing. I loved having cocktail hour out in the grass by the portico. We set up the buffet in one of the rooms and had dancing in the other--that was important to me, I wanted to have a large separate area for dancing and Woodend was perfect for that. One of many positives is that you get to supply your own alcohol, which saves a lot of money. There are some things that aren't necessarily flexible--they have a list of approved caterers from which you have to choose (but that means they are all familiar with the venue), if you're getting married onsite you will have to book the rehearsal if you want that there, and during peak times they may host two weddings a day. Staff were very responsive all along the way. Because it's such a gorgeous venue, it books up quickly, so move fast! We booked in October for the following August, and I recall that most of the peak months in late spring and early fall were booked up!

ty. The weather was perfect so thankfully we were able to have the ceremony in the grove which is surrounded by trees. Dinner was served under the tent with dancing in the mansion. The flow of the venue made everything wonderful. Woodend provides you with a list of approved caterers, we used Main Event and highly recommend them as well. We received endless complements regarding the beauty of the venue. Beatriz, the manager of event rentals, was responsive and very helpful throughout the planning. A site manager is on staff during the wedding to ensure everything goes smoothly. The entire place has a very romantic feel. We highly recommend Woodend for your wedding!!

ecially inside the mansion. As much as we love the property itself, working with the manager of rental events, Beatriz, was just as pleasurable. She was by far the best vendor contact we dealt with throughout the planning process. We found some vendors to not be as friendly, helpful, or communicative post contract as they were pre-contract. This was not the experience with Beatriz. She was so patient, knowledgeable, and considerate. She will help provide the best experience possible while not over-promising. If something simply cannot be done, she is upfront about it and suggests alternatives. Her memory of what was discussed throughout the planning was also very impressive. (We had unfortunately dealt with some vendors who forgot important details that were discussed, causing some unnecessary stress.) We really could not be more pleased with Beatriz as the reception venue contact. Kathy Wilson was onsite the evening of our reception and was a real gem as well. I wish I had more time to speak with her, but my parents and guests were impressed with her and her kindness. There is likely going to be at least a few downsides with any venue you select, but Woodend is overall such an elegant and delightful place to celebrate a wedding. I recommend without reservation.

is very organized, professional and easy to work with. The venue is open to the public, so we could visit the ceremony and reception site multiple times with our friends, family and vendors before the big day. The scenery is just gorgeous in May - everything is lush and green, and many of the trees/flowers were blooming. There were deer romping nearby during our ceremony, which maybe not everyone would like - but we loved it! Additionally, we are bird-watchers and nature-lovers, so the fact that Woodend is on the grounds of the Audubon Naturalist society was a big plus for us. They provide you with a 1-year membership and part of the cost of the rental is tax-deductible, which is also great. Woodend provided everything that was in the contract and things really went off without a hitch. The site manager who was there the night of our wedding was helpful, too. We needed him to adjust the temperature in the bridal suite area and he was accessible to our other vendors, too.

ecause I fell in love with the venue and couldn't have imagined getting married anywhere else, but I know there are other comparative venues out there that are MUCH less expensive. One thing to keep in mind -- there's basically no flexibility in your contract. This isn't exactly a negative, but definitely be aware of it. You have to pay extra to schedule your rehearsal; availability for your rehearsal depends on what other events they have going on; you can't arrive early to take photos on the premises if there's an event before yours; and you are expected to get out by the agreed upon time, no exceptions. (Which is basically what you'd expect from a contract). Overall, very satisfied.