March 10, 2020

2019: Wedding Receptions

Continuing our round up of all our 2019 weddings, today we are showing off the beautiful wedding receptions. As a bonus, I’ve added ALL the floor plans for the featured wedding reception. You will notice that I frequently use All Seated for my floor plans. This is a free online program (for up to 10 events per year) with thousands of venue floor plans already loaded for you to work with. If you are going to embark on All Seated by yourself, note that dining tables should be 5 feet from each other, and 3 feet from walls.

Loudoun County Wedding Receptions

Riverside on the Potomac Weddings

riverside on the potomac wedding reception set up with round tables, dark wood folding chairs, white linens and blue napkins, coordinated by Bellwether Events — Riverside on the Potomac – Wolfcrest Photography

Riverside on the Potomac wedding reception Floor Plan for 200 guests coordinated by Bellwether Events

A look at two wedding receptions at Riverside on the Potomac, from almost the exact spot, with almost exactly opposite linens. However, above had about twice as many guests as below.

Riverside on the Potomac wedding reception in the barn with ceiling drapery, dark wood chivari chairs, teal velvet linens, planned by Bellwether Events — Riverside on the Potomac – Kurstin Roe

Riverside on the Potomac wedding reception barn Floor Plan for 80 guests coordinated by Bellwether Events

Tranquility Farm Wedding

This was s wedding reception using the barn at Tranquility Farm. We used all farm tables, with the band and the dance floor in the center. It was packed once we got all of the tables in there; therefore we ended up moving the bar outside, to the bottom of the front door steps.

DC Wedding: The Fairmont Hotel

Fairmont Hotel wedding reception - peach and blue flowers, blush uplighting - coordinated by Bellwether Events — The Fairmont Hotel DC – Freed Photography

Fairmont Hotel wedding reception mirror top table - peach and blue flowers, blush uplighting - coordinated by Bellwether Events — The Fairmont Hotel DC – Freed Photography

Fairmont Hotel wedding reception head table - peach and blue flowers, blush uplighting - coordinated by Bellwether Events — The Fairmont Hotel DC – Freed Photography

Fairmont Hotel wedding reception floor plan - coordinated by Bellwether Events — The Fairmont Hotel DC

Private Home Wedding Receptions

McLean, Virginia

the driveway being crossed by a doe, leading to a Virginia home about to host a private wedding - planned by Bellwether Events — Matt Schmachtenberg

virginia home wedding reception under a clear top tent, with round dinner tables with neutral linens and cobalt blue chairs - planned by Bellwether Events — Matt Schmachtenberg

Virginia home wedding tent floor plan 40x60 with bump out for bar - planned by Bellwether Events — Capital Party Rentals

For this Virginia private home wedding, the ceremony was in the front yard by a pond, the cocktail hour was around back by the pool, and the wedding reception tent was on the side of the house. We were able to place the tent on the driveway, avoiding the need for a leveled floor. Most everything fit under the main tent; however, you can see on the floor plan that we also had a mini tent attached to the big tent to cover the bar. In the photo, you are standing on the dance floor and facing the side with the DJ table – the head table is to your right.

Potomac, Maryland

a private home in Maryland hosts a wedding. The sailcloth wedding reception tent is set up in the front yard, caddy corner to the house. coordinated by Bellwether Events — Bokeh Lane

A sailcloth tent set up in a Maryland front yard for a wedding reception. White folding chairs and navy linens at round tables. coordinated by Bellwether Events — Bokeh Lane

a private home wedding in Maryland hosted the cocktail hour by the pool. Casual tables are set with pale blue linens and small floral arrangements. coordinated by Bellwether Events — Bokeh Lane

A sailcloth tent wedding reception floor plan, coordinated by Bellwether Events — Sugarplum Tents – Susan Gage Caterers

At this Maryland private home wedding, we had the ceremony in the backyard, the cocktail hour by the pool, and the wedding reception tent was set up in the front yard, on grass. A sailcloth tent is a pole tent, therefore you can see the poles shown on the floor plan. This tent got a bit crowded once all the tables were set up; as a result we decided to set up the food stations just outside the tent.

Historic DC Venues

Decatur House Wedding

A wedding reception at Decatur House - a clear top tent set up in the courtyard with round and rectangular tables with white linens and light blue napkins. coordinated by Bellwether Events — Decatur House – Whole Heart Studios

For this Decatur House wedding, the ceremony was offsite. Guests arrive through the Historic House, walked down to the Carriage House for the cocktail reception. We had the wedding reception dinner in the clear top tent; later returning to the Carriage House for dancing and dessert.

Daughters of the American Revolution: DC Wedding Receptions

wedding reception in O'Byrne Gallery at DAR in Washington DC with round and rectangular tables with white linens, gold chairs and blush charger plates. planned by Bellwether Events — Daughters of the American Revolution – Kurstin Roe

DAR wedding reception floor plan 115 guests planned by Bellwether Events

Two different wedding receptions at DAR, both using the O’Byrne Gallery for their dinner tables. Above we used a mix of table shapes, below we had just two very long rectangular tables set up for dinner.

wedding reception in O'Byrne Gallery at DAR in Washington DC with two very long rectangular tables with gray linens and gold chairs. coordinated by Bellwether Events. — Daughters of the American Revolution – Genevieve Leiper

DAR wedding reception floor plan 92 guests coordinated by Bellwether Events.

DC Wedding: Meridian House

Meridian House DC wedding reception two long tables with dusty rose velvet linens and gold chairs set up in the Library. planned by Bellwether Events. — Meridian House – Procopio Photography

Meridian House DC wedding reception with round tables with dusty rose velvet linens and gold chairs. planned by Bellwether Events. — Meridian House – Procopio Photography

Meridian House DC wedding reception - cocktail lounge with vintage furniture and a large wooden bar - planned by Bellwether Events — Meridian House – Procopio Photography

Meridian House DC wedding reception floor plan 115 guests planned by Bellwether Events

District Winery DC Wedding

One little note about this District Winery wedding reception floor plan. The in-house catering staff was used to there being just one table number per long section of tables. We wanted guests to have an easy time finding their assigned seat, so we split each long table into two table numbers. In other words, front-facing the guests, there were 8 table numbers, and for back of house, we had just 4.

Woodend Sanctuary Wedding

For this Woodend wedding reception, I just want to point out that after all the guests picked up their escort cards and sat for dinner, we removed that table; as it was placed in the middle of the dance floor. Everything else remained all night long.

You can look back at our other 2019 posts about wedding ceremonies, head tables, wedding stationery, the jewelry, the bridesmaid attire, men’s attire, shoes, cakes, bouquets and a data-driven analysis.

And if you are looking for more wedding reception or wedding venue inspiration, take a trip down memory lane with our 2018 wedding receptions, our 2017 wedding venues, our 2016 wedding venues and our 2015 wedding venues.