Northern Virginia is such a perfect place for an elopement or small wedding! Easily accessible from the Washington DC airports, this beautiful region feels a world away from the busy city life, with gorgeous natural beauty and lots of ideal venues for your event, like wineries, historic homes and parks. To help you plan your special day, I’d love to share with you my favorite small wedding venues in Northern Virginia!
Elopements in Virginia are ideal for couples looking for something meaningful, special and unique — your day is all about your love, so how would you plan the perfect day?
These Northern Virginia venues are amazing starting points, but you can add on plenty of other activities, like hikes, picnics or even a museum date! Oh, and bonus, as your Northern Virginia wedding photographer, these venues are also all winners for epic elopement photography!
1. Carlyle House Historic Park & Old Town Alexandria Waterfront
The Old Town Alexandria waterfront is one of the best places for a wedding in Northern Virginia! This historic district is just so picturesque — stately brick homes, leafy streets and a gorgeous waterfront with lots of restaurants. Note, you’ll need a waterfront permit for an outdoor elopement here.
Or, Carlyle House Historic Park is one of the top Northern Virginia wedding venues — a gorgeous 18th-century home that looks like it’s straight out of the English countryside!
2. The Rectory On Princess St
The Rectory is another incredible Old Town Alexandria wedding venue. This historic home dates back to 1785 with formal gardens, whitewashed brick and an elegant courtyard where you can exchange your vows.
Other great Alexandria VA wedding venues to consider include the Hotel Indigo along the Alexandria waterfront, Hollin Hall Weddings & Events, and The Athenaeum.
3. Swan Point
Dreaming of a wedding on the water? If so, Swan Point, along the Occoquan River, might be one of the best NoVA wedding venues for you. They can host up to 45 guests with an adorable waterfront gazebo where you can say your vows.
It makes for an intimate, fun and casual wedding venue, but the venue’s dock is the perfect setting for beautiful Swan Point wedding photos!
4. Stone Manor Boutique Inn
Set in the cute country town of Lovettsville, Stone Manor Boutique Inn is a wonderful B&B for elopements. With stunning stonework, inviting gardens and impressive attention to detail, this charming venue is just made for small destination elopements in Northern Virginia.
5. Stone Tower Winery
The NoVa winery scene is seriously booming! Stone Tower is a family-owned winery in Leesburg with gorgeous rolling hills and incredible food and wine (of course!). Say your vows outdoors amongst the vineyards then celebrate into the night with all your friends and fam.
Other great wineries in the area include Potomac Point Winery and Breaux Vineyards.
Wedding Photos taken while working as a second photographer for Birds of a Feather Photography.
6. The Red Fox Inn & Tavern
The historic Red Fox Inn & Tavern in Middleburg is so breathtaking! It dates back to 1728 and looks like somewhere where you’d see English royalty! Red Fox is one of the top intimate wedding venues in Northern Virginia — imagine ancient stonework, secret gardens and farm-to-table cuisine. Even better, there are super cute cottages on-site for you and your guests.
7. Goodstone Inn
Another top Middleburg wedding venue is the Goodstone Inn. This charming inn and restaurant is known for its fine dining and romantic atmosphere, with ivy-covered brick, a stunning outdoor ceremony location and plenty of room for you and your guests.
I love the inviting decor too, with European finishings, cozy fireplaces and four-poster beds.
8. Rust Manor House
For timeless, classic wedding photography in Northern Virginia, you can’t beat Rust Manor House! This Leesburg venue is a historic manor home, now managed by NOVA Parks.
This stunning venue can actually host up to 200 for a wedding, but it works well for smaller parties too. The home’s grand stone steps and columns are perfect for your couples’ portraits, but the venue’s vast spaces offer gardens, lawns, and elegant indoor spaces for photography too.
9. Effingham Manor And Winery
Effingham Manor weddings are ideal for couples looking for a country VA venue that’s scenic, relaxed and romantic. Set in Nokesville, Effingham’s known for its award-winning wines but they’re also a top wedding venue!
With sweeping mountain views, classic English gardens and lots of open space, Effingham is particularly beautiful in spring and autumn, when the colors of the region really shine.
10. Shenandoah National Park
If you’re a couple who craves time outdoors, Shenandoah National Park is easily one of the best small wedding venues in Virginia! Part of the famous Appalachian Trail runs through this spectacular park, known for its waterfalls, sweeping lookout points and golden sunsets. Oh, and the park is amazing for hiking!
Shenandoah is a top budget-friendly elopement spot too, with no permit needed for fewer than 15 people.
11. Walker Nature Center
I love wedding venues that are a bit out of the ordinary, like Reston’s Walker Nature Center. It’s an environmental education center with plenty of amenities, including boating, fishing, recreational sports facilities and an aquatic center.
You can rent out space here for your wedding — there are gardens, picnic areas and pavilions, all with quite reasonable rental fees.
12. Prospect Hill
Prospect Hill weddings are always a winner! This romantic bed and breakfast in Charlottesville offers private or small group elopement packages that make it easy to celebrate among the property’s meandering gardens or pastures. The historic home is close to lots of wineries and the Blue Ridge Mountains, plus the property has both horses and llamas, so there’s plenty to see and do nearby.
While you can’t go wrong with any of the above, they’re also just the tip of the iceberg! Other Northern Virginia elopement venues I love include Great Falls National Park, the Winery at Bull Run, Great Marsh Estate and Faith Like a Mustard Seed Farm, a cool spot for Virginia barn weddings.
If you’re ready to start planning your small wedding in Northern Virginia, I can’t wait to help you with all of your wedding photography!
