Indoor venues for DC weddings

July 8, 2010 6:23 AM

Help me find indoor venues for DC guerilla weddings.

Over the last couple of months, I've gotten into the marriage equality movement, and have been performing what I term "guerilla-style" weddings in DC. For $50, I've been meeting folks in public areas and performing quick ceremonies, taking no more than 10 minutes—the actual wedding part is about 2 minutes, really, but there's getting everyone together, filling out paperwork, taking pictures, etc.

There are a lot of outdoor spaces for such things, especially after 6 in the evening—the Capitol grounds, in front of the Botanic Gardens, the Tidal Basin. I've not encountered any resistance or police rousting or dirty looks anywhere except at the Arboretum. I avoid monuments and crowds, and try to keep things casual and quick.

But what if it rains?

I've performed several simple license signings at area restaurants, but that's not conducive to standing up and repeating vows and saying "I do" and exchanging rings. I performed a ceremony at the Newseum, but the couple had rented the space. I performed one ceremony in the atrium at the National Portrait Gallery, but I felt very conspicuous, and don't feel like I should show up there too often.

I don't mind the place being crowded with onlookers or anything, but I don't want to be have to deal with security guards—not worried about "getting in trouble," but I also don't want the ceremony to be interrupted. We don't cause a ruckus, but, yeah, we do tend to attract attention, and I don't want to bother other people needlessly, either. I've used my house everal times, but would like someting fancier or more fun. It does have to be in DC.

Any ideas?

posted by MrMoonPie to Human Relations (28 answers total)

Union Station?
posted by carmicha at 6:24 AM on July 8, 2010

Union Station has a bit of a reputation for being unfriendly (to photographers, at least). Otherwise, it'd be just about perfect--easy to get to, lots of activity so we don't draw too much attention. I think we'd have to be really fast there.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:33 AM on July 8, 2010

National Cathedral? (I know - religious connotations, but it's a beautiful space). Although it's not really Metro-accessible. Speaking of...maybe a Metro platform, if you're reasonably quick and discreet, and you pick a station that's well- (but not too) trafficked. I'll think about this more.
posted by rtha at 6:39 AM on July 8, 2010

I bet no one would rat you out for a quick ceremony on a Metro train itself. At least, I wouldn't.

Barring that, inside the Lincoln Memorial late in the evening on a weekday? The Old Post Office?
posted by divka at 6:50 AM on July 8, 2010

The main hall at the National Building Museum seems to be pretty ideal - it's beautiful, the guards there are pretty listless, and they never have more than a few staff members on the floor (also, they don't seem to care that much *what* you do there, as long as you don't cause a ruckus.)
posted by ryanshepard at 6:51 AM on July 8, 2010

The Library of Congress? Absolutely stunning building, and photographer-friendly. I'd suggest sounding out the staff first, though.

For law nerds, I'd submit that the Howard University School of Law library is a real treat - it's the best-looking law school library in the city, IMHO. Beautiful, sunlit open space, with old-school green glass lamps on the reading tables and other bits that just make it seem very classy.

There has to be a suitable building on the Georgetown campus - old, classy, plus you get to tweak the Catholic Church's nose a bit. :D You'd want to talk to one of the gay-rights groups on campus about setting something up. In fact, go ahead and talk to them anyway - they'd likely have good ideas for other venues as well.
posted by Mr. Excellent at 6:58 AM on July 8, 2010

Georgetown Park Mall? Haven't been there in years and years, but it's apparently pretty quiet and half abandoned.
posted by JoanArkham at 6:58 AM on July 8, 2010

After my first pick of the Kogod Courtyard, I could easily see short ceremonies done at:

1. The Building Museum
2. Dumbarton Oaks
3. Capitol Visitor's Center
4. Lincoln Memorial
5. National Gallery of Art, especially the East Building

Harder to do, but...

6. The Great Hall at Folger Library
posted by anotherpanacea at 6:59 AM on July 8, 2010

If it's not pouring, there are also some covered outdoor spaces where you could likely do this - The Orangery at Dumbarton Oaks, the WW1 Memorial, and the summer house on the grounds of The Ontario all seem like good possibilities.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:09 AM on July 8, 2010

National Museum of Women in The Arts. Gorgeous space, friendly folks.
posted by ersatzkat at 7:11 AM on July 8, 2010

1) The Palace of Wonders would be wonderful, if only for the shock value.
2) The indoor portion of Eastern Market has a nice big empty room at the north end of the building.
3) I *think* you could potentially pull off doing one in Union Station, as long as you met someplace else beforehand.
4) The NBM, as others here have mentioned, is one of the most drop-dead-gorgeous buildings in DC. There are plenty of public spaces in the building housing the Postal Museum as well.
posted by schmod at 7:22 AM on July 8, 2010

Good ideas so far! Preferably, these places would be open after 6, and as late as 7 pm or so.

Georgetown Park Mall (and, I'm now reminded, that little mall across the street from George Washington, you know, where the Tower used to be) could work. Any other mostly-empty retail spaces out there? Heck, a restaurant with a large foyer or an office building with an empty lobby would be OK, too.

As much as I'd like to use the Library of Congress, I cannot--although it'd be wonderfully convenient since I work there, I don't want to mix work with activism. I went and checked out the Capitol Visitor's Center, but I'm a little worried about all the guards.

I'd thought about the Postal Square Building, mentioned by schmod--it's convenient and quite empty; I'll check it out one evening, just to make sure it's accessible. We could always slip into the Capitol City Brewery.

Eastern Market could work. Even if the North Hall is being used by someone else, there's plenty of covered space outside, and no one would bother us there, for sure. I walk by there every work day; not sure why I hadn't thought of it.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:58 AM on July 8, 2010

I think the Marvin Building's atrium at GW would be cool or any of the squares at GW, like the one on 20th and G.
posted by parmanparman at 8:03 AM on July 8, 2010

I was recently in a couple of big empty lobbies in GWU's business school in Duquès Hall. The wedding photos will likely include Bloomberg branding, though....
posted by anotherpanacea at 8:17 AM on July 8, 2010

I've never investigated them as far as friendliness (but have not heard anything negative either) but what about some of the public spaces in the Kennedy Center? If the heat ever breaks the patio area is nice and otherwise there's a lot of inside space. The lobbies are SO huge you could probably find a corner/side with few people to disturb.
posted by phearlez at 8:32 AM on July 8, 2010

What about that area under the Hirshhorn that's outdoors but covered?
posted by Stewriffic at 8:38 AM on July 8, 2010

Top of the Post Office Pavillion? Great views, though you may have to pay to get up there.
posted by tittergrrl at 8:56 AM on July 8, 2010

Postal Square is a "secure" building -- you have to go through metal detectors to get in, but access is otherwise (AFAIK) unrestricted, and I doubt anybody would bother you. No idea about evening hours.

I'll second the notion that the CVC is a very, very bad idea. Even outdoors, you're likely to get hassled.
posted by schmod at 9:01 AM on July 8, 2010

The indoor flight room (birdhouse) the National Zoo would be neat. The wedding party might be joined by a Great Argus or a Western Crowned-Pigeon.
posted by montaigneisright at 9:13 AM on July 8, 2010

have you scoped out the US Botanic Garden, right by the Capitol? It's never been terribly crowded when I've been in it.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:13 AM on July 8, 2010

Second the Kogod Courtyard.

There is also a maze of publicly open rarely visited hallways/tunnels/galleries connecting the Freer, Sackler, and the African Art museums, accessible by the Ripley Center near the Smithsonian Castle. (PDFs)
posted by chrisulonic at 10:25 AM on July 8, 2010

Ooh, yeah the Ripley center. They even have a nice little fountain area.
posted by JoanArkham at 10:37 AM on July 8, 2010

OK, lots of daytime venues, but most of the museums close at 5-5:30. I wonder if we'd be noticed at Air & Space or Natural History?
posted by MrMoonPie at 11:02 AM on July 8, 2010

Extended hours, eh? The L'Enfant Plaza metro station has an unused mezzanine that would make for a rather unique altar.
posted by schmod at 12:22 PM on July 8, 2010

The Christmas Tree Room at Little Miss Whiskeys would be awesome. In fact, I wish I had gotten married there...

Used to be pretty uncrowded around post work/happy hour time, but I haven't been in a while. I see they do reservations now, although that's not really in the "guerrilla" spirit, I suppose.
posted by JoanArkham at 12:50 PM on July 8, 2010

Apparently, the answer is Home Depot, Taco Bell, or Coldstone Creamery.
posted by decathecting at 2:48 PM on July 8, 2010

Hah, I did one at a Starbucks. It was a nice Starbucks, with couches and a fireplace, but still.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:07 PM on July 8, 2010

Just thought of another: The Uline Arena (right across the street the NY Ave Metro station).

It's a huuuuuuge abandoned concert hall and former ice rink steeped in history (The Beatles played their first American show there, and the photo for cover of Bob Dylans Greatest Hits was taken at a show there in 1965. It's very grimy right now, but maybe one of your clients might like that? You may be able to get in at night; during the day it's used as a commuter parking garage, and I think it's open at night on weekends.

Like I said....if the idea of being married in an abandoned warehouse appeals to you, look no further. However, it is an abandoned warehouse.

It's a pity we don't have a blog like Scouting NY in DC....
posted by schmod at 9:57 AM on July 9, 2010