Now that you know you want to get married in Washington DC, it’s time to choose your venue location! Whether you know you want a DC War Memorial wedding or you’re just slightly thinking about it, this blog post is for you. Below, you’ll find all of the details you need to confidently plan your elopement or intimate wedding at the DC War Memorial. These are the topics we will cover:
How to Apply to Have a DC War Memorial Wedding
2 Different Ways to Set Up Your DC War Memorial Wedding
Things to Note to Have a Smooth, Stress-Free DC War Memorial Wedding
The Best Part About a DC War Memorial Wedding
How to Apply to Have a DC War Memorial Wedding
1. Call the DC National Park Service Office
Call the Office before to make sure your desired date and time are still available! You can call the office at 202-245-4715. The permit office is open Monday-Friday from 8am to 4pm.
If your date is unavailable, check out 10 Unique Elopement Locations in Washington DC for more ideas!
2. Fill Out the Application
The application to get married at the DC War Memorial is a first-come, first-serve system, so the sooner you can apply, the better. You can apply up to 365 days before your desired date! There are more details about applying for a permit for your DC War Memorial Wedding on their website.
Click Here for a direct link to the application.
3. Submit Your Application for Your DC War Memorial Wedding!
You can submit the application by mail, by fax, or in person (side note: not email!). Processing time for permits can vary, so you should submit the application as soon as you can to make sure it’s processed in time for your wedding date. In the case of a government shutdown, permits are not processed or approved during the shutdown.
If approved, the National Park service will email you! Then, they’ll issue you the actual permit about 1-2 months before your wedding date. Print this out to have with you on your wedding day!
Now, onto the exciting part! Wedding planning!
2 Different Ways to Set Up Your DC War Memorial Wedding
Under the covered Memorial, there’s enough room for up to 40-50 people with either chairs or standing for your wedding ceremony. If you want to use chairs, it’s important to note that all of the setup and breakdown must occur during the 2 hours your permit allows to leave enough time for the next permit reservation. If you need recommended chair rental companies to use for your ceremony, I got you!
The other options is you could set up chairs in the lawn and have your ceremony to the side of the Memorial. However, usually with elopements and intimate weddings, people set up inside the Memorial itself. What way do you like better?
Things to Note to Have a Smooth, Stress-Free DC War Memorial Wedding
1. The DC War Memorial is not a private venue.
While you can still have a beautiful wedding at the War Memorial, it is an open space where tourists and locals can walk by. DC is a city where crowds change from day to day with seasons and events, so there’s no way to know how many people will be on the National Mall. Most of the time, people are respectful if they see a wedding happening, but it’s certainly not a private venue. Be prepared that there will likely be other people in the background of your wedding photos! There could also be other events like festivals, parades, or even protests on your wedding day, so just make sure to check out events ahead of time.
If you’re wanting a more private wedding ceremony in DC, check out the blog posts listed at the end of this post for alternative ideas!
2. You need to plan for parking!
There’s no parking immediately next to the DC War Memorial, so you have to plan ahead for parking and transportation. There is street parking along some of the roads nearby, like on Ohio Drive, however, parking is never a guaranteed because it fills up quickly! Please plan ahead so that family knows where to park, and leave plenty of time to do so. You could also plan to use a rideshare app like Uber or Lyft, or coordinate a ride with a private driver. For more details and resources on how to plan out your parking, visit National Park Service Wedding Permits.
Juliana Wall Photography | DC Elopement & Wedding Photographer
Check out more wedding photos to get an idea about what your DC War Memorial Wedding could look like below, or jump down to The Best Part About a DC War Memorial Wedding!
Can you imagine yourself getting married here? Does this look like how you’ve been envisioning your wedding day? Amazing! I am so excited for you! If you need a wedding photographer to capture all of the moments of your wedding day, you can learn more about my photography services here.
The Best Part About a DC War Memorial Wedding
You don’t have to stay at the DC War Memorial for your elopement! Due to its great location, you can easily pair this venue with other locations around the city for a full elopement day of activities you love. Don’t be afraid to dream big! This is your wedding day!
Some other location options: other monuments on the National Mall (Lincoln Memorial and the Tidal Basin), Union Station, art museums like the National Gallery of Art or the National Portrait Gallery, Library of Congress, The National Cathedral, and the Smithsonian Castle Gardens. Where would you want to go? I would love to hear about what you are envisioning! Schedule a free consultation call with me here.
Did you find this DC War Memorial Wedding post helpful in planning your DC elopement?
I know firsthand how overwhelming and stressful it actually is to plan an elopement. Check out the blog posts below for more helpful wedding planning tips and DC wedding resources.
Want more guidance? When you book with Juliana Wall Photography for your intimate wedding, you will receive guidance through the entire process! As a DC elopement photographer, I can confidently help you plan locations, vendors, activities, timelines, and more. I believe that your elopement is not just about beautiful photos, but it is about planning and capturing an experience that is unique to you. Let’s get started!
Recommended Blog Posts to Help Plan Your DC Wedding
How to Plan an 8-Hour Washington DC Elopement
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How to Plan an Awesome DC Elopement
