4.5 out of 5 stars and 25 reviews
4.5
(25)DMV: D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia
About this vendor
Step into a timeless fairy tale at River Farm, a historic wedding venue nestled on the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, VA. Just 10 minutes from Old Town Alexandria, this 27-acre estate, once owned by George Washington, offers a captivating blend of rich history, natural beauty, and unparalleled elegance. Picture yourself exchanging vows surrounded by lush gardens, sweeping river views, and a stately manor house that has stood for over a century.
River Farm’s history stretches back over 250 years. In 1757, a small brick house was built on the land, which was later purchased by George Washington in 1760, becoming the northernmost of his five farms. The estate is home to iconic trees planted by Washington himself, including Kentucky coffee trees he cultivated after his travels along the Ohio River. The Osage orange tree, planted by Thomas Jefferson, adds yet another layer of historical significance to the landscape, a living testament to the past.
Today, River Farm’s vibrant gardens and sprawling woodlands create an unforgettable setting for your celebration. As the headquarters of the American Horticultural Society since 1973, the estate is filled with lush beauty—featuring a serene Virginia native garden, expansive lawns overlooking the Potomac River, and a whimsical children’s garden with climbing structures and a pirate ship, perfect for sparking imagination in younger guests.
Whether you dream of an intimate ceremony by the river, a grand celebration on the expansive lawns, or a more secluded gathering surrounded by nature, River Farm offers the perfect setting. For winter weddings, a beautifully adorned tent with sparkling chandeliers creates a magical, romantic atmosphere.
Inside the manor, you'll find intimate spaces designed for your comfort and style. The elegant ballroom accommodates up to 50 guests, while the charming parlor offers a cozy setting for up to 25, with a large window that frames picturesque views of the meadow and river. The bridal suite provides a serene retreat for you to prepare, and River Farm is proud to be pet-friendly, ensuring that every member of your family can be part of the celebration.
From its storied past to its breathtaking grounds, River Farm is where history, elegance, and romance come together—creating the perfect backdrop for the beginning of your future together.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Handicap Accessible
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Ballroom
- Estate
- Garden
- Tented
- Trees
Venue Service Offerings
- Rentals & Equipment
- Tents
Awards and Affiliations
2-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2023.2013.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
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Reviews
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4.5
out of 5.025 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 6
River Farm was a beautiful location for our 170 person June wedding. Kate Cordle was responsive and helpful. We had a lot of vendors to coordinate, and her team did a great job wit...
h a lot of moving parts. We lost our initial wedding date because they picked up our voicemail too late and gave it to someone else, so be sure you call and follow up with several emails and calls when trying to book a wedding - slots fill up fast with several couples trying to book simultaneously. Be mindful that you simply pay for the space, not any rentals, so you will need to hire all vendors which can be expensive and will require more coordination on your part if you choose this venue. There is such and elegant and timeless feel to the gardens, ballroom, and manor. The river view surrounded by forest is stunning and terrific for a romantic garden party setting. I spent so much time here as a child, and I am so happy I could have my reception here as a public venue and it was not sold as a private home. Thanks to River Farm for a dream spot for my husband and guests to enjoy!
Photo Credit: Brook Moore Photography
Not that you would know it by looking at any of their information online or on their property, but they were a slave plantation. Nowhere on their property is that acknowledged. Als...
o, even before that, the land was Native land. There is no Land Acknowledgement. Now it's just offices for stuck-up wyte folks who don't bother to return calls when you sound a certain way when you call. If you get my meaning, don't even bother trying here.
River Farm was a dream venue! It was beautiful and so special for our late March wedding. We were grateful for the affordability and flexibility with things like catering, etc. The...
y're boosting up their staff so we had some trouble with delayed responses, but overall, the staff was very kind and easy to work with. Just something to plan ahead for!
No one ever gets back to you and the prices are really high.
Impossible to get ahold of. Even when you go visit, no one is there to help you. Disappointed - looks pretty.
This venue exceeded every dream I ever had for my wedding day. The property itself is an absolute gem. The natural beauty of the flowers and greenery that graced the landscape perf...
ectly aligned with our vision for the wedding. And that elegant tent on the grounds? It was like it was tailor-made to complement the colonial-style home, creating a seamless and enchanting atmosphere.
My experience working with Leslie, who was our go-to person at the venue, was nothing short of exceptional. Leslie's deep passion for nature and her genuine enthusiasm for every aspect of the venue added an extra layer of excitement to our wedding plans. Her dedication knew no bounds, as she tirelessly worked to fulfill our every need and desire for the big day.
As if that wasn't enough, we were fortunate enough to cross paths with the organization's president, who emphasized their commitment to accommodating our wedding. Their dedication to making our day special was evident at every turn.
The venue's landscape? Well, it was a photographer's dream come true. Every inch of the property offered a breathtaking backdrop for photos, making it nearly impossible to take a bad shot.
If you're in the midst of a venue search, do yourselves a favor and check out this place. I promise you won't regret it. It's a slice of wedding heaven that'll make your special day truly magical.
I hosted my daughter’s bridal shower at River Farm. The setting set the tone for a perfect event. Being the end of April, the landscape was lush green with blossoming plants as far...
as the eye could see and the Potomac River as the backdrop. It rained the day before. It was too cold and wet to be outside. I was pleased with River Farm’s flexibility to allow for last minute decisions such as having the event indoors in the ballroom or outdoors under their tented patio. The ballroom with its colorful paintings by local artists was ideal. The room seated 30 people comfortably and would have been fine for more guests. We decorated the marble fireplace and mantle with flowers. It was the perfect backdrop for photos. I rented their tables and chairs which was more cost effective than the caterer. The foyer, living room and parlor were a pretty space for drinks and hors d’hoeuvres. The beauty and history of River Farm will make any special event even more special.
In spite of the threat of rain, the gardens at River Farm were lovely, the draped tent was gorgeous and having the ballroom as a Plan B was exactly what we needed. Our manager Lesl...
ie was reassuring and had lots of ideas about how to handle the weather. The house is historic from the 1700s and still has a historic feel to it. It’s also on the Potomac River and the views are amazing. And the vendors Leslie suggested were excellent. Our wedding was perfect!
River Farm has the most beautiful gardens and grounds!! And Leslie, the manager, was a great resource! She is enthusiastic but in a steadying and calming way that kept me and my hu...
sband excited and kept my parents calm. Glenna was there on our wedding day and she was organized and kind. There’s lots of free parking, garden and river views, and a totally zen vibe that made our day perfect.
Our wedding at River Farm was truly our dream wedding. Not only is River Farm a gorgeous venue with river views and amazing gardens, but the staff there was incredibly helpful. Les...
lie, the Rentals Manager, is enthusiastic and had so many great suggestions to help us! She was also really flexible with our vendors which everyone appreciated. Glenna also helped during our wedding and was great about keeping us on track.
We are so happy we had our wedding at River Farm. It is a gorgeous venue with lovely gardens, and a really flexible and supportive staff who are just as excited about your wedding ...
as you are. Leslie was so helpful, particularly when we realized the week before the wedding that we would probably have to prepare for rain, cold, and wind (in mid-May!). Our guests absolutely loved the grounds and the house and we all had a wonderful time. Highly recommend.
This is absolutely the best wedding venue. It was beautiful and honestly if you don’t get married here you’re missing out. The gardens are breathtaking and so is the Waterview. Wor...
king with Leslie was great she was there every step of the way and provided so much support. We loved it
Absolutely gorgeous! We cannot wait to have our wedding here. Janet is extremely helpful and gave us great vender suggestions as well as decor ideas for the reception and cocktail ...
hour. Also, there’s ton of parking which is hard to find around old town.
We could not have asked for a better venue than River Farm. When we first visited, we were struck by the natural beauty of the location on the banks of the Potomac. The gardens, ...
the meadow, the estate house, and the terrace all added to this beauty. We wanted a venue that was striking enough that it wouldn't need a lot of additional decoration, and River Farm absolutely fit the bill. Additionally, all of the distinct indoor and outdoor spaces available made it very easy to have the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception on-site, and our guests all loved strolling around and exploring the property on the wedding day. Janet and the rest of the River Farm staff were so easy to work with, and were always friendly and available when we had any questions in the months running up to the wedding itself, and on the wedding day itself. We would highly recommend River Farm as a wedding venue.
Our guests can't stop raving about the beauty and elegance of River Farm. It is definitely a hidden gem that many Alexandrian's aren't familiar with. We had a fabulous time at our...
wedding and had a great time working with the River Farm staff. Don't hesitate to book this venue! You won't be disappointed!!
River Farm is an absolutely gorgeous place to get married! It is so beautiful but also down-to-earth and not overly manicured. It had the perfect low-key garden party vibe we were...
aiming for. Janet and the staff were very easy to work with and helped make our planning easy. We highly recommend the venue to anyone looking for an outdoor wedding near DC.
So Gorgeous! Get married here if you want a stunning outdoor wedding only minutes from DC
This venue is absolutely fantastic. Expensive but totally worth the cost. It is so beautiful with incredible well manicured grounds and a lot of space and hidden places for guest...
s to wander too. It was so beautiful that it took a while for people to start dancing! They loved the venue so much that they wanted to explore more than dance. It has a great rain substitute in the ballroom, tent included, and parking for all guests. My husband and I had a wonderful time and incredible pictures to show for it.
We fell in love with River Farm on our first visit there. We hosted 120 guests and had our ceremony outside in the garden area, dinner under the tent, and dancing in the ballroom. ...
The grounds are beautiful, with a lovely garden area and a meadow that leads down to the Potomac River. Because it is an historic site and in a residential area, there are several restrictions (noise limitations, no open flame) but it didn't get in the way of us having a good time. We are looking forward to visiting again soon.
River Farm is a hidden gem, and one that you and your guests will LOVE to explore!! The website has a ton of useful information, including photos of the garden during each season, ...
recommended vendors, all rental agreements and regulations, pricing, etc. If you still have questions, the onsite managers are very helpful and prompt in returning calls and emails. The house on the property has useful spaces for smaller ceremonies or to use as a backup incase of rain. There are restrooms, and a decent sized kitchen for the catering staff to use. At the rear of the house is a large slate patio, where the tent is found during the season. The tent is included in your rental fee, as is the house, and all of the gardens!! This is not the case at other venues!! The grounds are impeccably maintained by the volunteer staff. The photo opportunities are limitless!! We had a Sunday morning wedding with a brunch reception immediately after. We set up croquet and bocce ball for our guests to play, and they were able to walk the grounds and gardens as well.
There are a few limitations, which are all spelled out in the agreement...guests cannot exceed 200 people. Once you hit 160 people you will be required to provide a bathroom trailer and valet. Amplified music cannot be played outside.
We highly recommend River Farm!!
We had our outdoor ceremony at River Farm. River Farm is an amazing venue. The grounds are gorgeous!! Our contact at River Farm was great and very helpful. It poured the day of our...
wedding but we were still able to finish our ceremony right before the rain started! :) River Farm was the reason we decided to have a local wedding. We couldn't of asked for a better ceremony site!
We fell in love with River Farm the moment we saw it and the staff was incredibly welcoming and helpful as we planned our reception there. It was everything we hoped it would be, ...
and live close enough to visit and enjoy the flowers and peaceful atmostphere anytime!
This was a beautiful venue - bald eagles even made an appearance during the ceremony. Janet Daniels was a pleasure to work with.
River Farm was the perfect location for my daughter's wedding. My daughter and her fiancee wanted a historic site, her fiancee wanted a site near water, and they both wanted an o...
utdoor garden wedding and a tented reception, with a ballroom for dancing. River Farm offers all that and much more. If you are looking for a wedding venue that has it all, then River Farm is the place for you. You need to book this site at least one year in advance, so walk, don't run!
Beautiful garden for ceremony. Lovely historic home for getting ready and entertaining guests. Gorgeous views. Romantic setting but not overly formal.
Contact
7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA | DMV: D.C., Maryland, Northern Virginia
River Farm - American Horticultural Society