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Weddings

About

The American Institute of Architects is a wedding venue located just around the corner from The White House in Washington, D.C. A unique alternative to hotel venues, this stunning event space features both indoor and outdoor options for you and your guests to enjoy. With an award-winning staff on-site, you can count on an incredible and accommodating experience from start to finish when you host your wedding day at this venue.

Facilities and Capacity

With a capacity for up to 350 guests for a standing reception, The American Institute of Architects is the perfect setting for celebrations big and small. Dance the night away under the stars in The Courtyard, while the urban atmosphere of the city takes place all around you. For indoor celebrations, utilize The Social Gallery, which features two story windows, elevated ceilings and a grand staircase for a dramatic entrance. With space for a 200-person reception or a seated event for up to 150, this bi-level room will captivate guests with its urban architecture.

Services Offered

Not only is The American Institute of Architects a stunning event space, it is also run by a team of expert event planners. Known for their great design, seamless solutions, and impeccable attention to detail, the event planning team at The American Institute of Architects knows exactly how to execute a successful event. They’ll walk with you throughout the planning process, assisting you in making all of the many decisions that go into planning a wedding day. While working with this five-star team, you’ll have access to some of the best caterers and vendors in the area so that you can feel confident your guests will be well taken care of. From expert planning to full setup, the team at The American Institute of Architects is ready to set you up for success. Services include:

  • Event planning
  • Event rentals
  • Chairs
  • Tables
  • Setup
  • Outside vendors
  • Wireless internet

Location

One of the best features of The American Institute of Architects is its unique urban location. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C. With five-star hotels and a variety of parking decks nearby, your friends and family will have nothing less than the best city wedding experience.

The American Institute of Architects is scheduled to begin a substantial renewal of its headquarters on New York Avenue in Washington, D.C. in January of 2023. We anticipate the project lasting up to 2 years and plan to welcome guests back into the building in the first quarter of 2025. At this time, we will only be taking rental reservations until mid-December 2022.

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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$6,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$5,500

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$6,500

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season?

$5,500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Chairs
Event Planning
Set Up
Tables

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Museum

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Event Planner
Event Rentals
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What event items are available?

Chairs
Tables

What transportation and access is available?

Wheelchair Access

Reviews of The American Institute of Architects

Elise
Elise Sent on 08/22/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Highly Recommend AIA for your Wedding!

AIA is such an exceptional event location in the heart of downtown Washington, DC. Amy, the onsite coordinator was extraordinary, extremely responsive and easy to work with throughout the entire planning process.

Upon arriving at AIA venue guests entered via two grand entrances into a beautiful courtyard that served as the perfect setting for cocktail hour with multiple bar locations including nooks for the acoustic musicians, photo booths and guest book display. Supplementing the venue lighting with up-lighting and stair lighting enhanced the natural beauty of the setting as the evening unfolded. The natural architectural interest of the grounds and Octagon building provided for breathtaking photographic scenes. The space offered a natural flow from the cocktail hour to the plated dinner seating and on to the dance floor facing the band stage. The catering staff was able to operate efficiently behind the scenes via the on-site kitchen and staging areas. Allowing access to the entire site was fantastic as it allowed us to accommodate multiple elements throughout the evening. We rented a tent for our event in case of inclement weather because we desired everything outside but there is the option of shifting everything inside if the weather did not cooperate.

The address presents several hotels at different price points that are convenient and within walking distance to AIA. We highly recommend hosting your milestone events at this venue to enhance the memories that you will create.
Madeline
Madeline Sent on 11/10/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Perfect Team and Perfect Venue

Amy and her team at AIA made our special day awesome. Amy was always responsive to our many questions and was very accommodating of requests for early vendor access - even allowing us to leave all of our items overnight from the rehearsal. We highly recommend the beautiful venue, Amy, and the ever friendly Rick in security too!
Eleni
Eleni Sent on 09/25/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing experience at AIA

Our wedding at The American Institute of the Architects could not have gone any better! They were very responsive and flexible with meeting with us and our caterer. It is a beautiful location with both an indoor and outdoor space. We had such a magical day and can't thank AIA and Amy enough!
**Photos in this review were taken by Morgan Elizabeth Photography**
Brittany
Brittany Sent on 05/27/2022
5 out of 5 rating

Hidden Gem!

This venue is hands down amazing! It's a beautifully situated venue gem in the middle of D.C. I love that the venue has historical and modern elements all in the same space! Also, Amy, Isabel, and Ricky will make sure your wedding goes off without a hitch! I just performed a wedding there last week and they were AMAZING! You won't be disappointed!
M
Megan Sent on 12/19/2021
5 out of 5 rating

The perfect downtown venue!

AIA is such a special gem in the heart of downtown Washington, DC, and I am so grateful we were able to get married there! Amy made everything so easy, and we so appreciated her flexibility as we planned during COVID, her amazing communication throughout the process, and her excellent recommendations. The space itself is incredible- we loved the juxtaposition of the historical Octagon building and courtyard with the modern Architect's Institute. It provided the perfect setting for our "modern romantic urban" styled wedding. We wound up having both the ceremony and reception outside, but so appreciated having the option of being able to move it all inside if needed! Having access to the entire site was a real bonus, and the location of the venue was unbeatable. We cannot recommend this place enough for a unique, beautiful, and unforgettable wedding venue!
D
Dan Sent on 11/15/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Great venue!

The AIA worked out terrifically for us. There's a very cute courtyard that you can hold your ceremony (and probably your cocktail hour) in, weather permitting, and then the space inside is interesting and fun. Amy, the events coordinator, is terrific to work with. And it's a great value compared to other venues in the area (especially considering that it's right off the Mall and near the White House and downtown).
P
Pdub Sent on 10/25/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Beautiful Wedding

Beautiful indoor and outdoor space. The venue was very responsive and communicative.
C
Cory Sent on 10/17/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Hidden Gem in D.C.

AIA is nestled behind a brick wall just blocks from the White House. Inside the brick walls is a gorgeous outdoor courtyard with a well-manicured lawn and beautiful trees. The best thing about the venue is that you don't need need to do a lot to make it feel special. Amy (the manager) is excellent, responsive, and flexible. We used a bunch of different less traditional vendors and she helped us make sure that everything went smoothly.
M
Matthew Sent on 10/05/2021
5 out of 5 rating

A perfect 10

Our wedding was originally scheduled back in May of 2020--a date we chose long before COVID. Over the course of multiple postponements and needing to change some vendors, the AIA folks were unfailingly flexible and helpful. The space is beautiful and especially perfect now, with a huge picturesque courtyard. Would recommend with zero hesitation.
M
Mike Sent on 10/01/2021
5 out of 5 rating

Wedding Reception

AIA review
AIA was a pleasure to work with in planning our wedding reception. We booked the venue at the very start of the pandemic, and they were very accommodating with postponing our day. We hosted 100 guests in their outdoor courtyard and the weather turned out to be amazing in the late afternoon and evening. The location is in a great spot near the White House and hotels half a mile away. We were given the whole day of our reception to access and get everything set up with the vendors. Amy and her team at AIA helped make event coordination a very smooth process.
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Awards

34
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2023 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2022 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner

Professional Network & Endorsements

1 Endorsement
Candy+Co. Events, LLC Candy+Co. Events, LLC Wedding Planners

We love working with AIA! Not only is Amy and her team flexible and helpful but they're on top of the whole event! The venue is modern and classic with an element of old world DC just outside in the courtyard! Our couples love the space and we enjoy every moment of working with this incredibly responsive team!

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Map

The American Institute of Architects frequently asked questions

The American Institute of Architects includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Chairs
  • Event Planning
  • Set Up
  • Tables
The space offered by The American Institute of Architects for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Museum
The American Institute of Architects offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
The American Institute of Architects offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
The American Institute of Architects offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
The American Institute of Architects offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Chairs
  • Tables
The American Institute of Architects 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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