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Weddings

Dumbarton House Reviews

Dumbarton House View more information

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 rating
27 Reviews
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88% Recommended by couples

Awards

27
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2017 Winner
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2015 Winner
  • Stephen
    Stephen Sent on 01/03/2023
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    Great wedding location, great team!

    We loved our experience with our fall 2022 wedding at Dumbarton House. The venue team was fantastic! The site is excellent for siting a large variation of guest sizes. We had about 75, but could have been not too big with 50 and could have easily held 110-120. The arrangement of the venue allows for photos and dinner setup simultaneously with cocktail hour and zero cross-over. Highly recommend lower (east) garden for cocktail hour, just know you'll need lighting.
  • Brant
    Brant M. Sent on 05/12/2021
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    Excellent experience, beautiful venue

    Hosting our event here went perfectly, and the staff were incredibly helpful and professional. The space is gorgeous and I would definitely come back again!
  • Kate
    Kate Sent on 06/03/2019
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    Incredible Wedding Venue!

    Dumbarton house was a magical place to get married. Hilary Hughes and her staff did an amazing job! I would highly recommend Dumbarton House.
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  • C
    Cassie Sent on 12/08/2016
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    This was our first and our last place to select for our wedding! We went for more of a garden themed, yet wanted to stay within DC since most of our guests were coming from out of town and didn't want to opt for a vineyard that would require shuttles to drive everyone out to Virginia. Suzanne who is the event coordinator was very responsive and detailed, and had also worked with some of our other vendors so we were very lucky with that.

    The Dumbarton house is already a beaut that you don't need too many decorations if a garden-themed wedding is what you're aiming towards. We had our wedding in the fall so the leaves made for great, natural decor. You have the option to use upstairs, downstairs, and inside. The house has a great flow to it. Although the house can accommodate up to 150, I would suggest 120 or less to accommodate for dance floor space.
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    Abi Sent on 10/31/2016
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    My husband and I got married at the Dumbarton House on October 1, 2016, and it was everything we wanted it to be. The coordinator, Suzanne, was so helpful throughout the entire process, answering the numerous questions we had, always in a very timely manner. She was very professional and worked well with all of our other vendors.

    We had 113 guests and a live band, which fit the space very well. We held our ceremony in the North Garden, and it felt secluded and was quiet, definitely did not seem like it was in the middle of Georgetown. The cocktail hour was in the Upper Terrace, and because of the possibility of rain, we tented this area only. The tent was high enough that it didn't feel closed in, and we were happy with the result. The dinner and reception were in the Belle Vue room and the Lower Courtyard. We sat half of the tables outside and the other half in the room, but it really felt like one room. My husband and I would occasionally walk by the Dumbarton House in the months leading up to our wedding, and we were able to see different tent configurations on the property, which helped informed our decisions on the tents.

    This is such a beautiful and historic venue in Washington, DC and we received so many compliments on how classy yet comfortable it felt. The staff was extremely helpful, and we would recommend this to anyone looking for a venue!
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    Caity Sent on 10/20/2015
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    Our wedding at the Dumbarton House was totally perfect. The house itself is gorgeous-- we used the gardens for the cocktail reception and the Belle Vue room and patio for the dinner, and everyone was extremely impressed. We chose the Dumbarton House because of the dedicated indoor space (rather than setting up a tent on grass, which made me nervous), its interesting history, its ornate ballroom (we did very little additional decorating), and the attentiveness of the staff.

    Throughout the planning experience, the staff was responsive, flexible, informative, and very nice. During the cocktail hour, my husband (!) and I were trying to find a quiet place to talk in the middle of all the revelry, and a Dumbarton House staff member brought us to a private room away from the crowd and had the catering staff bring us wine and a plate of canapes. This gesture was so sweet and made us feel valued as guests.

    I highly recommend the Dumbarton House! Wonderful value, inspiring history, perfect experience!
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    Adriana Sent on 08/21/2016
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    Dumbarton house was perfect for our wedding. Cocktail hour in the garden was perfect and it was fun for guests to be able to wander through the little museum. The reception hall is fantastic and picturesque. The only thing to consider is that you will have to add the cost of a tent for the patio area (not cheap) and that the tent won't be air-conditioned. The staff was fabulous!
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    Jean Sent on 09/17/2014
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    I would recommend Dumbarton House hands down. We worked with Suzanne, who was so helpful and nice throughout the entire process. We had to do two different walk-throughs, and she was very flexible. The wedding day went great and the scenery couldn't be beat. You really don't need to decorate much b/c the Dumbarton House and their grounds speak for themselves. It was also a great deal compared to other vendors in the area.
  • User2189827 Sent on 06/21/2015
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    The Dumbarton House is so beautiful, and the people who run the place are friendly and easy to work with. We only had our ceremony there - in the garden outside - which a lot of people don't realize is possible, so they think the Dumbarton House may be too expensive for them. They really know what they are doing, which was much appreciated by this bride!
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    Amanda Sent on 07/07/2014
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    Dumbarton House was the perfect setting for our June wedding. We couldn't have asked for a better venue. We held the ceremony in the back garden (120 people), had cocktails on the upper terrace and had a seated dinner in the Bellvue Room/lower terrace. We were initially concerned about the reception being separated into two rooms, but when the french doors are all open, the two rooms flow seamlessly. The event coordinator changed during the course of our planning, but the current coordinator, Susanne, was a pleasure to work with. She was responsive and very helpful throughout the process.

    One thing to note is a tent for the lower terrace is required and the house does not provide any rentals (tables, chairs, etc) so be sure to factor those additional costs in.
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    Shannon Sent on 03/25/2014
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    Dumbarton House is a beautiful venue, filled with history and prestige. The staff are very nice and incredibly accomodating!
  • User1436226 Sent on 11/13/2013
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    Dumbarton House was a fabulous venue -- lovely space and great staff. The sticker price is a bit high, but staff worked with us to get some discounts through their donation program and preferred vendors. The staff (Carol then Suzanne) were very professional and responsive, and the walk through was very detailed. A+ all around
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    Izumi Sent on 07/29/2012
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    Dumbarton House was a perfect venue for our wedding! The house and garden were beautiful. Missy (events manager) was very kind and helpful! We highly recommend it!
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    Christine Sent on 08/03/2009
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    The Dumbarton House was a fantastic location and the staff was incredible. I highly recommend having your wedding at Dumbarton.
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    Jenny Sent on 02/01/2007
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    Dumbarton House is just gorgeous. We had our ceremony on the back garden centered on the stone niche between the urns. So intimate and picturesque. Our dinner was in the ballroom below, and because of the size of our group, had to tent the stone patio. With the French doors open, you wouldn't think it was two rooms. Dancing was inside, as well as cake cutting. Everything was just perfect. Highly recommend!!
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    Carrie A. Sent on 11/21/2014
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    When we first saw Dumbarton House we knew this was where we were going to get married. While the house itself is beautiful, it was the grounds that attracted us. Dumbarton was very accommodating in showing us around and let us stop by multiple times before the wedding to get a proper feel of the venue. We worked with Suzanne who was especially wonderful in answering all of our questions and even offering suggestions when we asked. The staff that worked the event was very professional and accommodating as well.

    The only hiccup was that a few days before the wedding we were informed that the terrace, where we originally had planned to have the cocktail hour, had to have lattice work blocking the banister (and the view) since the banister was loose. While the east garden worked out better in the end, we did have to update relevant vendors just days before the wedding, which added some unnecessary stress. However, this seems to be a rare occurrence. Overall, everything went smoothly and everyone loved our venue and commented on how beautiful it was. We loved it as well and would not hesitate to recommend Dumbarton House.
  • Jules
    Jules Sent on 11/08/2020
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    Wonderful microwedding

    We would highly recommend Dumbarton House for a wedding venue. We originally chose Dumbarton House because of its beauty and central location in the Georgetown neighborhood. We originally planned for a larger wedding of around 100 guests to be held during the spring. As the COVID situation developed, we first postponed the larger wedding, without any modification, to a later date. Ultimately we kept our later date, but converted the wedding into a microwedding at Dumbarton House. Throughout this long process, the Dumbarton House staff were extremely accommodating and easy to work with despite having several personnel changes. Their flexibility was greatly appreciated as we made difficult decisions and modified plans. We were especially pleased with how they structured their contracts for their microweddings, and felt it allowed us to get married in a beautiful, special location at an affordable cost.
  • User1655205 Sent on 06/10/2014
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    I used the Dumbarton House for my wedding reception in May 2014. I LOVED it! The staff were great to work with, the venue is absolutely beautiful, and every time I visited I just fell in love with it even more. It has a very elegant, yet un-pretentious feel. The vendors that the event coordinator recommended were absolutely wonderful and they are willing to work with you if you have a tight budget (I did). I honestly cannot say enough wonderful things about this place. My reception was just absolutely perfect!

    Some things to keep in mind (not negative, just things to consider):
    -You MUST reserve the venue for an additional 3 paid hours (2 for setup, 1 for cleanup) in additional to your event hours. So keep that in mind for cost calculations.
    -They have a preferred vendors list, but you don't have to use those vendors unless you want a tent. They will only let you use one tent company... and it is pretty pricey. The tent, however, is beautiful and well-constructed so you don't have to worry about quality.
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  • R
    Rachel Sent on 05/22/2016
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    We could not have been more pleased with choosing Dumbarton House for our wedding. The venue is classic D.C. - it's beautiful, offers indoor/outdoor space, and is a historic property that doubles as a museum. It is full of charm and character. We were also extremely pleased with the level of service and professionalism of the staff that week worked with. Suzanne was extremely responsive and accommodating. We had our wedding ceremony in the courtyard, reception in the ballroom with a tented area, and a cocktail hour outside. We also came to the venue a few hours early to take pictures - the setting is really perfect for wedding photos. Also of note are the many delightful hidden rooms in this charming venue. There was space for a bridal suite and a room that was perfect for our ketubah signing ceremony. If you want a classic D.C. wedding, this venue is really perfect.
  • User1566881 Sent on 03/25/2014
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    Our wedding was at the Dumbarton House in November 2013 and it was wonderful! Our only concerns about the whole day were what you would expect in November in Washington, DC -- which was that it was a little cold. Luckily with Sugarplum, the tent vendor that Dumbarton House uses, our guests were kept warm. The tents and heaters got a little expensive though. The Dumbarton grounds are beautiful and were great for photos of the wedding party before things got started. The grounds and house are also very spacious for doing both a ceremony and reception all at one venue. It's also great having flexibility with catering. 100% recommended!
  • Anna
    Anna Sent on 07/01/2014
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    Dumbarton House was a gorgeous venue and I'm glad we picked it. Suzanne, the Rental Events Coordinator, was fantastic-- responsive, patient and knowledgeable. I had a million dumb questions and she always got back to me quickly.

    The venue is very pretty and I liked that we could have the ceremony and reception all on one site. As most of our guests were from out of town we needed a venue that was close to DC proper, and Dumbarton House is just the right balance of being in the city without having the drawbacks, like hearing traffic.

    There are some drawbacks, but that's inevitable with any place. It's a historic property so there are some limitations for what you can do, but nothing unreasonable. It's pricey, but you'll get that anywhere you go in this area. A tent is mandatory if your wedding guests are above a certain number, which further adds to the cost. A venue is really about what fits you and your needs, and for us, it was a lovely fit.
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    Abigail Sent on 09/27/2016
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    We had our wedding reception (but not ceremony) at Dumbarton House and got so many compliments from our guests on the beautiful venue! The staff are great to work with, the space itself needs absolutely no decor, and it was a perfect mix of central DC location and private, serene escape. Just be sure that you want a historic home event--there are restrictions on food, wine, decorations, and rental options. All of these are reasonable for maintaining the house, but will place limits on your options. Again, we were incredibly pleased with the party, and would recommend Dumbarton to any couple who wants a relaxed but sophisticated event!
  • D
    Deb Sent on 09/27/2014
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    Overall, we LOVED the Dumbarton House! I can't imagine a better venue in DC for our wedding.

    I do have a few suggestions though.

    It was a real bummer to have that fence put up on the patio weeks/months before the work started. We paid a lot for the venue, and the outdoor space/look is basically what we're paying for. So to have that huge fence go up that has such a significant influence on the view before you even need to do the work seemed a little inconsiderate and like bad management. Surely there could have been a better way to handle the old balustrade.

    Also, I have to say that I think the tent company is taking advantage of you (and your clients). Those prices are outrageous. Of all of the overpriced wedding industry expenses we had for the event, that was the only one that truly seemed unreasonable. Granted, we chose the clear roof tent (which was really important to me), but the cost of the tent was almost as much as the cost of the venue.

  • User1260677 Sent on 07/28/2013
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    Beautiful Venue for smaller weddings. Price is not cheap, but not outside of reasonableness for what you receive. It has so many beautiful areas on the property for ceremony, cocktail hour, gardens for children to play, a beautiful ballroom, for photos, etc.
  • K
    Ksenia Sent on 07/25/2023
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    They need to figure some things out

    We booked this venue in June of 2022 for our July 2023 wedding and during the past year they have had 4 different event coordinators, and turnover in the position directly above the coordinator. Basically, it’s a mess over there.

    We set up our walkthrough (which took a LOT of unanswered emails to set up) and when we showed up the person I’d been communicating with wasn’t there and we were informed he no longer worked there.

    Maybe once they figure out their staffing situation things will be better, but they don’t allow vendors in until 3pm on the day of the event, even if you want to pay to rent the space for additional time. I’m not even sure how you could possibly swing an on-site ceremony under those conditions.

    They were so uncommunicative and I felt like they truly did not care at all about our wedding being special or going well. Our day was beautiful in spite of them, not because of them.

    Dumbarton House's reply:

    Ksenia, We are sorry to hear that your experience was not everything you had envisioned for your special day. We have experienced some turnover in the Events Coordinator position, but that should not have had any impact on your day or the time leading up to your wedding. We sincerely apologize for any negative impact this had on your experience.

    Although we attempt to make every possible accommodation for our valued wedding parties, we are unable to allow vendors into our spaces until 3:00 PM due to the presence of members of the public visiting Dumbarton House Museum. We acknowledge that it may seem like an inconvenience, but this stipulation is outlined in our contract agreement and must remain in place to avoid conflicts between our rental events and our ability to provide a historically accurate experience to our guests during business hours. Dumbarton House has hosted many weddings under these guidelines and have found them to be successful in ensuring a smooth and happy day for the vast majority of our guests. However, we acknowledge that there are always steps to be taken to improve our service and are appreciative for your feedback.

    We are committed to continuously evaluating our practices and have taken note of your experience. Our hope and commitment is that everyone has a wonderful experience hosting their event at Dumbarton House and we will strive to incorporate your feedback going forward.
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