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Weddings

About

The National Press Club is a historic wedding venue located in the heart of Washington, D.C. Just a block from the President’s home, the venue features views of the White House and the Washington Monument. Guests will enjoy top hotels next door, plenty of parking garages, and easy walking to the museums on the National Mall. The Press Club's large and adaptable event spaces make for the perfect setting to bring any couple’s wedding day vision to life.

Facilities and Capacity
With a maximum capacity of 225 guests, National Press Club can be adapted to fit both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations. The NPC Ballroom is known for its presidential look, featuring wood trim and deep blue carpeting. This spectacular space can be opened up or sectioned off to fit the sizing needs of your wedding day from ceremony to dinner and dancing. For smaller functions, you’ll want to utilize the adjoining First Amendment and the Holeman Lounges for ceremony, recepton, and dinner celebration. There are also smaller rooms for bridal parties, signing ceremonies, and vendors.

Services Offered
The expert team at this venue hostes more than 2,100 events annually, both privately and publicly. To provide a flawless event experience, they go above and beyond to coordinate all aspects of event details, including in-house gourmet catering, AV and multimedia production services, and much more. National Press Club’s wedding day services include the following: Event planning, In-house catering and Servers, Setup, Tables, Chairs, Linens, Cleanup.

Cuisine
The catering team is committed to providing both creative cuisine and impeccable service. They pride themselves on providing top-of-the-line fresh ingredients, including seafood that is delivered fresh daily and meats that are hand-butchered in-house. National Press Club uses fresh, local fruits and vegetables in their menu creations.

Full catering menus can be viewed at https://www.press.org/catering-menus.

Some popular selections:

Starters
Lobster, crab or three cheese ravioli, sage brown butter and capers
Wild mushroom, artichoke and three pea risotto
Pasta nest with shrimp, clams, mussels and basil cream sauce
Smoked salmon crepes, marinated cucumber ribbons and crème fraiche

Salads
Avocado, greens, oranges, mango, scallions and sesame brittle garnish
Forest mushrooms in balsamic vinaigrette, grilled asparagus, edamame and shaved Parmesan
Endive, blue cheese, spinach, walnuts and pomegranates seeds (seasonal) or apple/pear bites
Fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomato Caprese salad, bibb lettuce and extra virgin olive oil (seasonal)
Arugula, tri-colored pickled beets, grapes, herb goat cheese and cinnamon maple roasted walnuts
Mixed greens, cucumber ribbons, smoked Gouda, cornbread croutons and almonds
Chardonnay poached pear, baby greens, blue cheese, walnuts and peppercorn vinaigrette

Main Course
Grilled salmon or lobster tail, boneless NY strip, red pepper polenta, sautéed spinach with tomatoes
Seasonal rockfish, grouper or mahi mahi and filet au poivre, mushroom risotto and Roman artichokes
Jumbo lump crab cake, rosemary grilled flatiron steak, chive mashed potatoes and cheese peppers
Acorn squash, quinoa, wild rice, cranberries and pecans, braised greens, cider reduction (Vegan)
Peruvian roasted chicken, Chimichurri sauce, purple potatoes, black beans and yucca crisps
Spanish spice-rubbed chicken, lentil rice with olives and dates, roasted squash with mint
Chicken piccata, mushroom risotto and ginger-garlic Feta green beans
Grilled herb marinated chicken breast, saffron scallion couscous, peppers and zucchini sauté

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Frequently asked questions

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Clean Up
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Linens
Set Up
Tables

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Cake Cutting
Dessert
Server(s)

Reviews of National Press Club

Matthew
Matthew Sent on 10/28/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Flexible, adaptable, professional, but most importantly helped us put together our dream wedding

My now-wife and I initially booked the National Press Club back in October of 2019, when we needed a space that would have held 150-200 guests. Flash-forward to a spring and summer of uncertainty in 2020 that many had to deal with, and we were unsure that we would be able to be married at all.

Yet, that space and size turned out to be lucky for us, as we were able to use the National Press Club to have a socially distant, pandemic-restrictions-compliant, wedding and dinner reception for 30. Throughout the process of planning, George and his team were able to roll with all of the changes such a ceremony would entail, from rethinking seating arrangements to designing menus. Most importantly, he and his team were responsive throughout the entire process as we reconfigured the ceremony to meet the new normal: no concern was too small for an email or a phone call, and George was always able to come up with an answer that would help our day go off as smoothly as possible.

On our wedding day, George and his team at the National Press Club did a great job of managing all of the processes: from setting us up with "get ready" rooms, to working with our other vendors, to changing the decor from ceremony to reception, to even helping us manage our "surprise" entrance to the reception. (Of course, the food and drink were delicious as well!).

We received many compliments from our guests throughout the evening and after the wedding about how special of an event we held, and how safe they felt (everyone was wearing maks, completed temperature checks, and complied with the local Covid rules), even in these uncertain times. Much of the credit for that can go to George and his team at the National Press Club: they preserved our dream wedding date with a fabulous wedding. Highly recommended.
Brenda
Brenda Sent on 10/06/2011
5 out of 5 rating
I had my wedding ceremony and reception in the Holeman Lounge, with my Cocktail Hour being held in the adjacent First Amendment Lounge. My event coordinator at the Press Club was Patty Powers, and she was great to work with. Patty definitely proved on my wedding day that she's a true professional at coordinating weddings. The NPC (on the 13th floor) is a superb location--I really enjoyed having a view from the First Amendment Lounge during my cocktail hour. I received nothing but praises from my guests regarding my choice of the wedding venue and the food served during my reception.

The NPC is definitely an A+ in my book. I don't know why anybody would not want to have there wedding ceremony/ reception here!
N
Natasha Sent on 09/30/2010
5 out of 5 rating
We and our guests loved The National Press Club for our wedding reception. It was a perfect location for guests, who ranged from four months to 93 years old. Because of the exhibits outside the room, older guests were able to enjoy the cocktail hour both inside the Holeman Lounge and strolling through the exhibits, and our younger guests had "moving around" space to expend their energy.

We worked with Cara--who was fantastic--and made planning our event literally stress free. She provided flexibility, helpful hints, and guidance where needed. We also were pleased that pretty much everything could be selected in-house, which made dealing with multiple vendors for all the details not necessary--a huge bonus because we didn't have a wedding coordinator/planner assisting us, and we were on a budget.

A number of our guests commented on how distinguished and beautiful the space was, and another guest (who attends literally hundreds of galas and special events a year) told us that the hors d'ouevres were the best he'd ever had.

If you are looking for a great location, excellent service, wonderful food, and a successful event, The National Press Club should be at the top of your list.
U
User1403464 Sent on 10/27/2013
5 out of 5 rating
Super amazing!! There are many venues in DC area that we can choose but we loved working with George whom was the event coordinator at the Press Club. From the beginning of the planning to the date of the wedding, George has been responsive, accommodating, flexible to our request and absolutely easy to work with. Everything was done beautifully and beyond our expectation....BIG THUMBS UP!!!!
Jennifer
Jennifer Sent on 11/25/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Warm, welcoming, and flexible

We had an amazing experience working with the Press Club. From the get-go, we worked with George who was incredibly warm, welcoming and easy to work with. Although COVID presented challenges to our plans, George was a wonderful partner throughout and we cannot highly enough recommend!
E
8Efadc58E2E65860Aea3F118749Bc1A1D254Efe1 Sent on 11/04/2020
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect historical DC venue

We choose the Press Club for our wedding reception and cannot say enough about how amazing it was. George is the most incredible wedding planner. He helped us through every step of the planning process and I could not imagine getting through the day without him. The Press Club was beautiful and the staff is very kind. The guests ranted and raved about the delicious food and everyone enjoyed the venues historic setting. The national Press Club and George made our wedding day absolutely perfect.
J
Julia Sent on 04/03/2018
5 out of 5 rating
I cannot say enough amazing things about The National Press Club and Cara. If you are thinking of getting married here- do it!! Make sure you ask for Cara Lanza- she is the absolute best. She is super response to e-mails, and so easy to work with. She exceeded all of my husband and my expectations. She was very helpful and realistic in all of her suggestions- such a professional.
My husband and I were looking for a DC venue that was not a hotel, and The National Press Club was the perfect spot for our November wedding. The venue itself is so beautiful and filled with history, it was a great place for our out of town guests to really feel like they were in DC.
The various rooms were all gorgeous and our guests really enjoyed getting to stand by the podium, step and repeat, flags, photos, and newspaper plaques. The food was amazing- way better than the "standard wedding food". Service was great- so many servers all around making sure my husband and I, and our guests were comfortable throughout the night (and well fed)!
I am so happy we found The National Press Club and Cara. They truly made our wedding the best night of our lives!!
Jillian
Jillian Sent on 09/02/2023
5 out of 5 rating

A night no one will forget and beyond our wildest dreams

Best kept secret in Washington DC! This was the best decision we ever made and it is insane this famous venue is accessible at this price point. Weddings have become outrageously expensive with a million moving parts and when we found the press club we couldn’t figure out the catch. We were able to accommodate almost 200 guests in downtown Washington DC with in house catering for better pricing than standard hotels and venues in Virginia or Maryland. Our guests were all coming from the west coast and some for the first time to dc so to bring them into a historic venue with views of the White House and reception in the same room of the correspondence dinner made it an unforgettable venue. George is absolutely fantastic and the definition of a true professional who loves his work. He helped us create our dream wedding and was available to assist us with any question or request. The food is absolutely to die for and the chef is incredible. This is restaurant quality food with a huge selection of options, perfectly cooked beef, and incredible house wines; our guests haven’t stopped raving about it. I have been told by so many of the guests that this is one of the coolest most memorable weddings they have been to. Thank you to George and the press club for the most unforgettable magical wedding.
E
Emily Sent on 05/10/2012
5 out of 5 rating
I cannot say enough about the positive experience we had at the National Press Club. We were looking for a unique to DC venue that wasn't a hotel and that could accommodate a larger wedding (200+) -- it was very important to us to get married in DC itself -- and this is a hidden gem. We worked with Michelle who was wonderful -- literally everything we asked for she delivered on. At our tasting/planning meeting, she took copious notes (right down to napkin placement and favors on the table, etc), and provided them to us the next business day for review. She went above and beyond on the wedding day, personally arranging our escort cards, placing favors, etc., etc. The pricing was very straightforward -- no hidden surprises on the day of, and the invoices were provided with lots of time to review. We had such a great experience here!
U
User2675324 Sent on 07/03/2016
5 out of 5 rating
When planning your daughter's wedding, you dream that the reception will be beautiful, with professional and attentive service, delicious food, fun, unique. worry-free and memorable. The National Press Club was all of that and more; a perfect 10 and surpassed our high expectations.

In Cara Lanza's capable hands, from our first meeting to wedding day logistics, all aspects from ceremony, to wedding reception flow and orchestration were expertly executed.

We had 200 guests but the event felt comfortable and roomy, yet intimate at the same time. The cocktail hour space was particularly roomy and no guest had to elbow their way to the bar.

The food was terrific, the wait staff friendly and professional. To echo our guests comments, this was the best wedding they had ever been to. If there were hiccups behind the scene, no one (including me) ever knew about them.

I recommend the National Press Club without reservation as a wedding venue. Thank you for making our special day perfect. We would not have changed a thing!

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

55
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2013 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2012 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2011 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2010 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Hay Mckenna Photography Hay Mckenna Photography Wedding Photographers

Some of the most beautiful weddings we have ever done have been at the National Press club. They are professional, relaxed, wonderful to work with and a beautiful venue. We photographed the wedding of 2 ballroom dancers at the press club and the images we were able to take from the balconies surrounding the room were among the finest dance images we have ever done. It is a unique and wonderful location. Elaine Studley

Map

National Press Club frequently asked questions

National Press Club includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Linens
  • Set Up
  • Tables
National Press Club includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Dessert
  • Server(s)
National Press Club is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
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