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Linda Sent on 05/07/2023

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Bridal Shower

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.

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Latisha Sent on 12/31/2022

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Lovely gardens, draped tent, historic home

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 Leslie 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!

Katie Sent on 12/31/2022

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History, gardens and great staff

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 husband 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.

Ann Sent on 12/28/2022

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So helpful, and gorgeous venue

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. Leslie, 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.

Anya Sent on 06/20/2022

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Garden celebration with beautiful tent

River Farm has lovely, well tended gardens and huge tent with crystal chandeliers and white draping. They let us work with the specialized caterer my Aunt and Uncle wanted. This was an anniversary party, not a wedding, but with the breadth and scope of the celebration, it was treated like a wedding. We had 9 hours which included all the setting up and cleaning up time. If my Aunt and Uncle had been younger, it might have been inconvenient to need to be out by 9pm on a Sunday but given that most of the guests are senior citizens, it was perfect. The staff was really helpful and welcoming. Leslie was the manager who worked with them from the beginning and was knowledgeable, patient, and warm. Glena was the staff person who stayed until the end of the event and she was organized and helpful. My Aunt and Uncle were so happy, and everyone had a wonderful time.

Cw Sent on 05/30/2022

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Garden Wedding with River view

Even though we got married in March, the venue rental manager Leslie promised that everything would be beautiful and it was. It was too cold for too many plants and flowers to be blooming yet but there was still color (mostly white and purple which were our colors anyway). The tent isn't heated but we were able to rent heaters and it worked fine. The tent walls have "windows" of clear material so we still got the outside feeling and we had our ceremony under the really huge osage orange tree that's over 250 years old. Leslie (the manager) clearly loves her job and does a great job making everyone feel welcome and confident. Our wedding was perfect.

Tina Sent on 05/24/2022

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Gorgeous Venue, Enthusiastic Service

River Farm is a historic home set on acres and acres of gorgeous gardens with so much natural beauty that our florist hardly had to do anything. The rentals manager, Leslie, has so much genuine enthusiasm for what she does and where she does it that our nerves were instantly calmed every time we talked to her. My daughter was concerned about Covid impacting the wedding, but Leslie was flexible and understanding, which was very reassuring - not all venues are willing to be flexible even with pandemic uncertainty. The grounds and gardens looked lovely even though it was still early spring, and their tent comes with elegant draping and crystal chandeliers. The bridal room was small but had access to a private bathroom which was helpful. All in all it was a perfect planning experience as well as a perfect day for my daughter and her new husband.

Mother Sent on 10/27/2020

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Perfect Wedding Venue

River Farm is a beautiful property once owned by George Washington and currently owned and operated by the American Horticultural Society. It overlooks the Potomac River and is the perfect wedding venue for a couple who loves gardens and historic mansions. This wedding happened in the middle of the COVID global pandemic. Leslie, who was in charge of rentals, was extremely helpful when we had to deal with these unexpected challenges The grounds were absolutely beautiful for a fall wedding. We were blessed with glorious weather and were able to have the ceremony in the garden under the pergola. The outdoor tent area was elegant, required no extra decoration other than flowers for the tables and was perfect for the reception. Both settings, being outdoors, allowed for increased “social distancing” and safety without losing a sense of togetherness and celebration. The house is stately and has a small but nice area on the second floor for the bride and a nice parlor area on the first floor usually used by the groom. Given the small size of the wedding due to safety concerns with COVID, we just had couple’s dance, father/daughter and mother/son dances in the ballroom which is small but very elegant. We had a videographer do a livestream of the wedding for guests who couldn’t come to the wedding. Everyone, including the “virtual” guests loved the venue and gave rave reviews. It was truly a wonderful place to have a wedding!

Meredith Sent on 11/02/2018

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The Perfect Wedding Setting

River Farm was the very first place we looked at for our October wedding. It is truly a gem! And even more wonderful is Janet who serves as the lead for all weddings and events. Janet is hilarious, warm and genuinely wants to help couples on their special day. The grounds are beautiful and make for a wonderful backdrop for your vows. The new and improved tent is incredibly lovely and can be heated or cooled in case of inclement weather. It rained on our wedding day, but we were dry and warm inside that beautiful tent, which by the way, has 2 incredible chandeliers. Our guests are still raving about River Farm!!!!

Elizabeth Sent on 10/08/2018

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If you are looking for a gorgeous venue who knows what they are talking about when it comes to hosting events, look no further! They made everything effortless when we were setting up for our wedding. Janet is so knowledgeable and helpful. The location is to die for. We heard all night how much everyone loved our venue and how gorgeous it was! Dancing must be in the ballroom because River Farm is in a neighborhood and there are noise ordinances. I was a bit worried having it slightly separate from the dining area just outside, but I had guests say how much they loved this, because if they wanted to talk, they could go outside and they didn’t have to yell at eachother over music. Highly recommend!

Jennifer Sent on 09/11/2017

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My now husband and I fell in love the second we visited River Farm. It has everything you could ask for- multiple ceremony options (including an inside option if it rains, which we needed!), views of the river, a spacious reception tent with lighting (INCLUDED!), lush garden spaces, and of course the beautiful historic home itself. Even on our very rainy wedding day, the property looked stunning and provided a lot of options for great photos. Janet helped us throughout the planning process, and was exceedingly professional and warm. She was happy to answer any questions that arose and worked well with our caterer to make a seamless transition to our "plan B" when it became apparent our outside ceremony wouldn't be feasible. This spot truly is a hidden gem, and its price is extraordinarily reasonable for the amount of time you get at the venue (including the option to drop of items the evening before), the incredible support Janet provides, and the sheer beauty of the venue itself.

Madiha Sent on 08/29/2017

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The team at River Farm truly care about their patrons and want them to have the best event possible. We couldn't express more how much we LOVED having our event there. Everything from the beautiful scenery to the historical home was magical. Our guests are still talking about the venue and amazed they've lived in DC for years without ever knowing about it. River Farm is a hidden gem that everyone should experience. I hope everyone is lucky enough to have or attend at least one event there!

Courtney Sent on 10/12/2016

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As soon as we saw River Farm, we knew it would be the perfect place for our venue. The grounds are gorgeous and we loved having one location for both the ceremony and the reception. There are so many different areas and options for the ceremony, cocktail hour, pictures, etc. Janet was a joy to work with and a true bright spot in our wedding planning. She was always helpful and responsive. Another great thing about this venue - a tent is on site in season and included in the venue fee. Everyone commented on the beauty of River Farm and many local guests were surprised they had never heard of it - hidden gem!

User2566379 Sent on 04/01/2016

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I CANNOT say enough about this great venue! The wedding I attended was FLAWless--due in large part to this beautiful setting. The tented patio (great when there were a few unexpected raindrops!) overlooked the Potomac, and the Manor house was so homey and comfortable. They even had a place to hang and display family pictures, and a ballroom that was perfect for dancing! The property was historically interesting--once belonging to George Washington himself! But even all THAT paled in comparison to the STUNNING grounds--beautiful fragrant flowers and rolling greens. I wanted to move in! I will recommend this fabulous venue to every prospective bride I know--and I hope I get another invitation soon :-)

Katrin Sent on 03/18/2016

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The Staff at River Farm is incredible helpful and will go out of their way to make your day super special! The venue is stunning with its historic background! We had about 85 guests at our March wedding and would recommend this venue to everyone!

Amy Sent on 03/18/2016

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River Farm was a perfect venue for our wedding! The staff was so great to work with. They always answered my emails promptly and they were full of great suggestions and ideas. The gardens were a beautiful backdrop for our wedding portraits, and the interior of the house is beautiful too! The upstairs "bride room" was perfect for peeking out the window to watch your guests arriving. If I could do it all over again I'd choose River Farm for sure!

Kayla Sent on 09/28/2015

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We worked with Janet and had nothing but pleasant experiences. She was quick to respond to emails and offered us her office to store our supplies for the wedding the night before (booze and decorations). The property itself is just amazing and they've been doing a bunch of work over the past year to improve the house and grounds. They were very flexible to our needs and requests and it was overall just a pleasant experience. The only minor hiccup we had was in regards to our rehearsal - something was lost in communication and there was an event starting when we were going to have our rehearsal. They were very apologetic and worked quickly to help find a different time that worked for us.

Elizabeth Sent on 05/02/2015

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I grew up in the Mount Vernon area so River Farm has always had a special place in my heart. However, our wedding at River Farm was above and beyond my dreams. Janet was so easy to work with and very responsive. While it is clear that she and her team have a lot of experience in hosting weddings, they are still able to create a unique wedding experience for each couple. We lucked out with the most beautiful spring day and the venue was just breathtaking. It is important to note that they have great inclement weather back-up policies in place. I loved that our guests were able to wander throughout the venue, and that we were able to create separate event areas for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We were also able to accommodate a live band in the ballroom for the reception and even with a packed dance floor, it did not feel cramped. I can't say enough wonderful things about River Farm as our wedding venue!

User1742391 Sent on 07/30/2014

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River Farm is a great location that offered not only the outside for our use, but the inside which made the decision the right one. It's beautiful in the summer time in the gardens and has a great view of the river. We were even able to see fireworks in MD/DC.

Natalie Sent on 07/02/2014

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My husband and I searched high and low around Northern Virginia for the perfect location that would be historical, outdoors, beautiful, convenient and most importantly, in our budget. River Farm was all of these and more! We were lucky to have perfect weather on our wedding day and every single guest commented to me about how beautiful the property was. Our pictures turned out AMAZING and everything was just the way we pictured it. Janet, the event coordinator, was extremely helpful and always responded to any questions we had within the same day. I highly recommend River Farm!!!

Kate Sent on 10/31/2013

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River Farm is an amazing place to get married. Because it is maintained by the American Horticultural Society, it is stunning. The event manager there is very friendly, extremely responsive to email and easy to work with. She was very accommodating - letting us bring things in early when no other event had booked the space. They even provide you with an excellent recommended vendors list. Practically everyone we used came from that list and all were great. You can definitely trust River Farm to provide great recommendations and a beautiful place for an event.

Bonnie Sent on 10/25/2013

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We absolutely LOVED using River Farm for our wedding! It was by far the most beautiful, outdoor setting in the Virginia area. The staff, especially Janet, were lovely to work with; they helped us put together our dream wedding and worked hard to accommodate our needs. The property does have some restrictions around noise (no outdoor music) and certain fixtures (no candle flames on tables), but that didn't impact our day at all. We have friends who are who still come up to us and tell us how fantastic our big day was! Also, compared to other venues, it is priced reasonably. You do have to bring in all your own equipment (tables, chairs, etc.) but when you work with the right caterer this should not be a problem. I highly recommend this venue if you want an beautiful, outdoor wedding. The gardens and landscape is so nice that you barely need to spend money on decorations! We just loved it!

User1378749 Sent on 10/14/2013

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When my husband and I got engaged, we knew we wanted our wedding to be in the fall, and outdoors. River Farm was the perfect backdrop for celebrating coming together as one. It has acres of beautiful gardens and old trees (this was part of George Washington's farm!) and the house is just magnificent! River Farm offers multiple locations for the actual wedding ceremony, as well as the tent for the reception; additionally, the ballroom of the house is just footsteps away, which we utilized for the cake and dancing. Aaron and Janet were awesome to work with and offered advice to assist in making the behind the scenes go smoothly. Our wedding was beautiful and the guests really enjoyed touring the beautiful landscape!

Franziska Sent on 10/11/2011

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River Farm was such a beautiful venue to have our ceremony/reception. I closely worked with Susan, who was very accommodating and responsive to any of my inquires/emails.
We had the ceremony in the garden, which is simply magnificent and the reception in the tent, which is set up between April and October and included in the rental price. Dancing was in the ball room, which a lot of our guests loved, because those who weren't necessarily into dancing, could stay in the tent/garden area and would not be bothered by the music. My husband and I especially liked that we were able to bring our own liquor and any other vendors (we didn't have to choose from their preferred vendor list). The venue is simply gorgeous.
Only negative point is that in case of rain, sides for the tent will need to get rented (not included in rental price).

Gail Sent on 08/01/2010

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What a magical place for a wedding. Overlooking the Potomac, high up on a hill, rich with American history.

You rent the entire estate and boy is it worth it. You have the house, the land, the gardens maintained by none other than the American Horticultural Society, a huge tent, and just one of the most spectacular settings in all of Washington DC.

The staff at George Washington's River Farm are incredibly helpful, immediately answering any question and very accommodating to requests. Janet Daniels was so very nice to work with. We can not sing her praises enough.

All our guests said from the moment they drove up the drive they knew this would be something special. Our guests were there from 4 to 10 and so many commented how the time flew by. They so enjoyed walking in the gardens, touring the house, sitting on the lawn or under the tent, dancing in the ballroom. We even had a beautiful full moon to boot!

It was an enchanted day at GW River Farm for the bride, groom, their parents and all our guests.

Cari Sent on 05/28/2009

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River Farm is a magical place! For those that would like an outdoor wedding, I cannot think of a better location in the Alexandria area. The gardens are beautiful (and they worked hard to make it look good the days leading up to our wedding) and the home overlooks the Potomac River. Everyone kept raving about what a beautiful location we had selected. Both the grounds and home are lovely to explore, and people had fun doing do.

A tent is always kept up, so in case of rain, the tent is there. We had sunshine, so the ceremony was outdoors with the reception under the tent. Then for dancing, we moved into the ballroom! All in all, we couldn't have been more pleased!

Mairin Sent on 05/07/2008

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My wedding was a dream come true, all because of River Farm! The setting could not have been more beautiful - we had our ceremony in the garden and the natural beauty of the flowers in bloom surpassed anything we could have created on our own, even with the most talented florist! Everyone on the staff was incredibly accomodating in the planning stages, and my family has even remained involved with other events there since our wedding - my mom still volunteers there because she had such a great experience working with them.

Lynn Sent on 10/05/2007

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River Farm is an absolutely beautiful historic home and garden setting. It is currently run by the American Horticultural Society so the grounds are breathtaking. The flowers and gardens are what drew me to the location. The ceremony is outdoors in the gardens and you are surrounded by such beautiful flowers I couldn't resist. The site of the river was an added bonus. I'm overwhelmed by the beauty every time I go there.

Caitlyn Sent on 05/09/2018

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Cannot say enough good things about River Farm!! Knew we wanted an outdoor venue and this was perfect. So many beautiful areas - the gardens, the river the house. Our wedding was exactly what we imagined - my husband will tell you he got sick of how many people went up to compliment how beautiful the venue was. Janet was amazing to work with, answered questions promptly. Easy location for guests to get to if they're staying in Old Town. Plenty of options there (ceremony, cocktail site) to make the wedding your own. Book now!

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Claudia Sent on 08/13/2016

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River Farm was the perfect venue for our wedding! It is so beautiful and there are so many gardens to spread out in and explore during the reception. We thought the staff, especially Janet, did a great job of helping us to plan the day's events. We thought this was a lovely, down-to-earth place to get married!

User948555 Sent on 03/22/2016

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I have attended two weddings at River Farm and both were tailored extremely well to each of the individuals' needs. The location is beautiful, with the surrounding gardens creating a wonderful atmosphere. The buildings were spacious and the outdoor space was perfect. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and historical event location.

Emily Sent on 10/12/2012

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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.

Lauren Sent on 05/20/2011

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I really enjoyed having my wedding at River Farm. I received so many compliments on the setting. The landscape is so beautiful! A few problems: 1. they do not allow open flames, I adjusted by using battery operated tea lights.. not a big deal. 2. It rained the night before and there really was no option for Rain, thankfully the sun came out right before my ceremony. But it did make for much panic the night before!

All in all it is a beautiful location and the staff was easy to work with.

Rachel Sent on 05/09/2018

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We had a beautiful wedding at River Farm! It has a bit of a magical setting with the flowers, trees and Potomac river, and our guests really loved being there. It’s an unbeatable location, right near DC, but still feels like you are far away from the city. It’s also a great venue for having kids at a wedding because they can run around while the adults have a nice evening. We liked the idea of choosing our caterer, flowers, drinks, and everything else. One drawback is the number of bathrooms (and not really updated) and the evening time limitation as everything needs to be finished by 10 pm. In terms of service - Janet at River Farm was extremely responsive and helpful. We had no problems...and are still getting glowing compliments from our guests!

Michele-Ann Sent on 10/24/2017

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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.

Janine Sent on 06/17/2016

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Wonderful venue. The gardens are beautiful and the house is so well preserved. The venue staff were so helpful and working with Janet was wonderful. Even when we had rain the venue turned out beautiful and so did our pictures! At the end of the night the staff even found the missing shoe of one of my guests! Couldn't be happier with everything and would highly highly recommend this venue to anyone.

User1417654 Sent on 11/02/2013

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If you enjoy the look and feel of Mount Vernon or Colonial Williamsburg, River Farm is just the place for your wedding/reception. My daughter and I visited a number of places, and as soon as we saw River Farm, we knew it was special and just the place for her wedding. The setting is elegant, classy, and unique. We heard frequently from our guests what a spectacular place it was to have a wedding reception. The gardens, maintained by the American Horticultural Society gave our guests a beauiful place to stroll during cocktail hour, and the view of the Potomac in the background couldn't be matched. With a July wedding, it was hot, but having the air conditioned house and ballroom gave a comfortable place for dancing. Janet Daniels was wonderful to work with, and we found the whole experience of using River Farm a delight. If you want somethng different from the typical ballroom wedding reception, you definitely want to consider River Farm. It is close in to the DC area, unlike similar historic homes, which are miles away.

Ediana Sent on 06/05/2012

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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!

Gillian Sent on 12/18/2011

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5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

This was a beautiful setting. Janet Daniels (rental manager) was a delight to work with. We had bald eagles fly by during the ceremony and a harvest moon reflected in the Potomac during the reception. Hard to beat.

Meaghan Sent on 11/11/2010

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

My husband found River Farm and we absolutely fell in love with it. I think I went there a dozen times before our wedding! It is a hidden gem and our guests absolutely loved being here. The view is stunning and the gardens and general environment of the tent, the house, and the grounds is just so lovely. Our wedding day was truly perfect and I look forward to going back to River Farm for years to come and re-living those memories.

Kerry Sent on 10/28/2010

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

River Farm is a really beautiful venue and the perfect setting for a wedding. As soon as my fiance and I went to visit it, we knew that it was where we wanted to get married. The gardens are so colorful and scenic (especially in the late spring, summer, and fall) that you really don't need a lot of added decor! The only drawbacks (that we didn't really realize until later in the planning process) are a few of their rules, which are due to it being a historical property. No open flame of any kind is allowed AT ALL. We had to use battery-operated votives, even outside. Even paper lanterns that were to be hung in the tent would have had to be treated with flame retardant and certified by a fire marshall before they could be hung. Also, you cannot have amplifed music outside. DJs who have worked at the venue before know how to aim the speakers out windows so that you can have dinner music on the patio, but the rule is something to be aware of. Otherwise, it's a beautiful place and the staff is great to work with. All of our guests remarked on how much they loved River Farm.

Jennifer Sent on 10/25/2010

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We had such a lovely wedding here, beautiful setting, gorgeous landscape which made for the most amazing pictures. The staff at River Farm was wonderful as well. We never had a single problem or issue. The one downside to renting this venue is the rules since it's a historical landmark. They are very strict with open flames and amplified music for certain locations, specifically outside.

Pamela Sent on 07/30/2014

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

River Farm was a beautiful venue! There are 2 bathrooms and the ballroom is nice. But on a good day, the acoustics from the band floated from the indoor ballroom(where bands must be) outside to the patio and we had guests dancing everywhere.. The gardens are stunning and the guests fully enjoyed walking the grounds from the house to the Potomac River! What a very warm and inviting venue!

Allison Sent on 08/22/2013

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

River Farm is beautiful and everything went really well. Is definitely expensive for providing the venue only but the tented patio with beautiful gardens and indoor space for a break from the heat talked me into splurging. There are many restrictions that I don't understand. (Why can't you play amplified music outside during the ceremony?? I get dance music later in the evening but this seemed a little restrictive). Guests out by 10 is also a little early for what you're paying and considering the music is indoors anyway we aren't disturbing the neighborhood. But the people that work there are great and very nice and I was very happy with my choice to have our wedding here. People were stunned at the view and the pretty gardens.

Kimberly Sent on 06/04/2010

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

We used River Farm for our reception and were very glad that we did. The gardens were beautiful and provided a wonderful back drop for our photos. All of our guests really enjoyed exploring the site and raved about the beautiful setting. We did not have much contact with the staff at River Farm so I cannot comment on working with them. There was no need for me to be in contact because there were no issues. Our catering manager handled most of the contact with River Farm staff and, to the best of my knowledge, everything was smooth and easy.

User1492438 Sent on 05/15/2014

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

I had both my Ceremony and Reception at River Farm. The place is gorgeous, and especially when you are using the outside space in the spring and summer, the flowers and details mean you don't need to do a lot of decorating. River Farm is also fantastic if you're looking for a place with history, which was one of the things we liked about it.

Janet was the site representative at our wedding, and she was incredible. We didn't have a planner or even a day of coordinator, but she helped to make sure all the vendors had things out in the right areas, answered all of our questions (we had many), and when my little cousin slipped and broke his arm, she drove him and his father to the hospital emergency room. She was fantastic, and very helpful to my parents, who stayed to the bitter end to pick up everything.

The only downsides of this site are:
*It's definitely on the more expensive side, especially with a big group like mine during high season. However, the natural beauty does result in savings, and a tent is already set up outside.
*Sometimes it can take a little while to get a response by email, because all of the wedding emails go to one group email address.
*The ballroom area was a little smaller than I expected from pictures, and a little dated. But this is what you would expect for a historical site. And the ballroom ended up working out perfectly for our 140 guests...even with lots of people dancing.
*There are a good number of restrictions (no candles/fire, no amplified music outside), so make sure that these work for you. Even so, River Farm was the perfect site for my wedding and I couldn't have asked for more!

L Sent on 05/21/2012

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

River Farm is an absolutely exquisite venue, and Janet is a pleasure to work with. River Farm was very flexible about letting us use the space in a way that worked for our event, and the gardens and house were stunning and perfectly put together on the day of our wedding. The only reason this is 4.5 instead of 5 stars is that they accidentally double-booked our wedding rehearsal with another event. We were still able to rehearse in a different area out front, but it was a bit of a last-minute surprise to have to call everyone coming and warn them not to intrude on the other event. On the plus side, River Farm was very apologetic and accommodating. Overall, we had a wonderful time, and couldn't imagine a more gorgeous setting to get married!

Erica Sent on 01/25/2018

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We absolutely LOVED River Farm! When my (now husband) and I visited it we felt immediately 'at home' there and knew it would be the perfect venue for our wedding. The grounds are kept in immaculate condition and the gardens, mansion, and water view are stunning. It has everything you could want for a DC area wedding, the history of the house & property, proximity to fabulous hotels, and beautiful Potomac River views! It was charming, yet elegant and we got so many compliments from our guests! My vendors enjoyed working the venue, and our photos showed it truly was the perfect backdrop for our special day. The only reason it did not get 5 stars, was that one of the associates forgot to show up for our vendor walk through, and that was a bit errking as we were coming from 3 hrs away for it. Other than that, everything went off without a hitch! We couldn't have been happier with our choice! Everyone was friendly & accommodating, and it was the perfect size for our 125 guest wedding. I highly recommended getting bistro lights for the tent, they turned out so well!

Melinda Sent on 10/17/2016

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

One of the most beautiful venues just 4 miles south of Old Town. Historic gardens and grounds overlooking the Potomac - a property owned and farmed by Geo. Washington - make this an ideal setting for an outdoor wedding. When winds jeopardized the outdoor ceremony, we moved it indoors to the ballroom - the space was a bit tight, but it made for a more intimate ceremony. The day improved and we were able to be outdoors. Our guests raved about the setting, including the spacious tent (we did get tent sides since it was breezy - good call on our part). It's not an inexpensive rental, but Janet was willing to help us in many ways. Wish RF provided a tax-deduction in addition to the rental fee, as Woodend does (another nonprofit venue). Would also be good if RF provided better signage to guests - they had a big "closed" sign up by the entry gate that confused some guests - would have been better if they had said closed for private event or wedding. When my son & DIL first said they wanted an afternoon wedding, I thought it would be a mistake - but I now see that there is a magic to an afternoon wedding in one of the most beautiful settings in the Washington area. It worked out better than we dared dream.

User1891783 Sent on 07/31/2014

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

River Farm is the perfect venue for a beautiful outdoor garden wedding. Our guests enjoyed wandering the gardens and walking down to the river to enjoy the view. It is a truly spectacular place to get married. Janet was so helpful with fielding our numerous questions, and was very accommodating.

Allison Sent on 02/24/2010

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating

We had our October wedding at River Farm and I couldn't be happier with the day's events. Thank God we had amazing weather though- RF didn't seem to have a great "rain option". I did have to deal with multiple staff members during our planning (which was under a year) which was frustrating at times- I guess they have high turn over? Overall the staff is very helpful though. This is a well kept DC secret and perfect if you are looking to have an outdoor wedding!

Cheryl Sent on 07/20/2011

4.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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3.5 out of 5 rating

River Farm was such a beauiful place to hold a wedding. All my guests absolutely loved the venue. And Janet from River Farm was excellent to work with. She was very helpful. I was able to get a great price for my Sunday wedding as well, since it was less than 70 people. I do have to say I dont think it is the best place to have a huge wedding or more than 150 people. The tent is big but the dance floor which is inside the house can only hold 80 people. And if you are doing amplified music it has to be done inside the house. Also if it rains you can only have 60-80 people inside the ballroom for the ceremony. They are pretty busy so getting them on the phone was sometimes hard, but they responded to email quickly. There was a staff member on site the day of the wedding but we never saw her come out of her office. Which was fine because my day of coordinator and caterers took care of everything. The only downfall to the venue is you only pay for the venue. You need to get everything else yourself. And you need to get a day of coordinator or wedding planner the day of to have a wedding here, it is such a big venue guests could get lost on where to go and what to do next if you dont have one. If you are having a wedding of less that 150 people and you want it outside I think River Farm is one of the best places to have it in the DC area.

Libby Sent on 05/27/2012

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

River Farm is a great spot for an outdoor ceremony and tented reception...provided the weather is good! We did our ceremony in the garden and dinner in the tent, and it was just beautiful. We had 125 people, which seemed like a good size...not too crowded and not too empty. It ended up pouring after our ceremony, and the tent was very cozy and dry! I think River Farm would be tight for a large group. The setting is just gorgeous, and you don't need anything (flowers, aisle runner, etc.) to enhance it! The views are spectacular, and it's just a fun place for guests to check out during cocktail hour. There are some restrictions about outdoor music, open flames, etc. but we did not have a problem working around them. Janet Daniels who works in the office is the absolute best...knows everything and anything about River Farm and always gets back to your emails promptly...and with smiley faces. :) The only reason I give it three stars for value is because it's pricey and literally you don't get anything else for your money other than use of the house, tent, and grounds. Tent sides, heaters, AC, music, food, liquor license, fire marshall fees, etc. is all extra...just good to know for budgeting purposes!

Tara Sent on 12/01/2008

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

We hosted our wedding reception at the River Farm in Alexandria, Virginia. We selected this site because we liked the uniqueness of the home being historical and loved the location on the Potomac River. The American Horicultural Society is located at the River Farm so the grounds are immaculate and beautiful during any season. A tent covering the outdoor patio is included in the rental fee so you can enjoy the indoor and outdoor vibe. Our guests commented throughout the reception how nice the home and grounds were and the backdrop for our photographs was wonderful! We were very pleased with our choice!

Kimberly Sent on 08/11/2008

4.2 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

River Farm is absolutely gorgeous and just a place that is very hard to describe. The beauty is just breathtaking. We had great experiences with the event planners (emma and sara) but when they were not there, other staff members would fill in and each time was unpleasant. We had two very bad experiences, one on the wedding day -- the women at the desk would glare/frown at me and guest that walked by her office. Otherwise, the ceremony site is one of a kind and spectacular.

Emily Sent on 07/16/2010

4.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

River Farm was a fantastic location. Our guests loved the gardens where we set up bocce ball and cornhole. The tent was great and the ballroom was sufficient. My only qualms were the restrictions on open flame and the staff in the background of my pictures with jeans on! Sometimes response time was slow.

Jessica Sent on 11/03/2008

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
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4 out of 5 rating
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5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

River Farm was a beautiful wedding site - everything we hoped!

User2673131 Sent on 05/18/2016

3.9 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

The River Farm is absolutely stunning! It was the perfect location for our wedding day.

User2701595 Sent on 04/30/2016

3.9 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

River Farm is beyond beautiful. If you want an outdoor wedding in an historic setting, this is the place for you. It's easy to work with the River Farm staff because River Farm really doesn't provide anything, besides a venue - you're on your own to book all other vendors. But River Farm didn't give us a hard time about any of the vendors we booked (most, but not all, of which were on River Farm's preferred vendors list). They are very strict about their no outdoor amplified sound policy, and they do charge for every extra hour ($500!). But we would never have picked anywhere else. The home and gardens are so romantic.

Rose Sent on 09/25/2022

3.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

The ideal garden venue

River Farm is beautiful. We chose it because absolutely no decor is required (for our ceremony-only rental). Rent chairs and you are good to go. Though I would still choose it again, communication can be improved. It always took more than one phone call to get in touch with someone and my voicemails were never returned. At the time of my ceremony, rentals from the event the night before were being picked up and blocking the drive path closest to the manor house, which I had confirmed could be used for drop offs for my older guests. The rentals coordinator was also giving tours during my rental window. I didn’t let anything ruin my day and the beautiful gardens and views, but obviously there is room for improvement.

L Sent on 01/19/2012

3.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

River Farm is beautiful, but we had some communications issues with the staff. Several times, we were given erroneous information about a few issues. They were also slow to respond to email.

Ck Sent on 07/15/2009

2.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
2.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

The location is absolutely stunning. Guests raved about the site and took advantage of the surroundings. Unfortunately we had issues with the on-site volunteer staff and were less than pleased with the service received. It felt as though we were a burden, not a client. However, we have nothing but great things to say about the special event coordinator, Dan, who was especially helpful and pleasant. A mixed review in terms of service, but the location creates a magical event.

Sean Sent on 10/18/2024

1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1 out of 5 rating
Value
1 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

Expensive and no one returns calls

The prices online have gone up tremendously from when our older daughter got married, and no one ever returns calls.

Margaret Sent on 09/10/2024

1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1 out of 5 rating
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1 out of 5 rating
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1 out of 5 rating
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1 out of 5 rating
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1 out of 5 rating

Impossible

Impossible to get ahold of anyone. No one is there when you visit. Very disappointed.

River Farm - American Horticultural Society Reviews

Reviews

River Farm - American Horticultural Society