The East Coast is the BEST for romantic wedding celebrations! The entire Eastern Seaboard has many diverse cities and landscapes, making it the perfect choice for your wedding. With easy access for both domestic and international guests and so many gorgeous vistas, from ocean views to rolling hills, you’re sure to find a place that you vibe with here.
Here are some of the top wedding destinations on the East Coast, including all the details on why you’ll love them, the best time of year for your best day ever, and insider tips to help you bring your vision to life! The wedding venues are just as impressive too, whether you’re all about historic mansions, romantic parks and lakes, ideal for elopements, and luxury estates.
Richmond, VA
There are many unique wedding locations on the East Coast, but Richmond will always be one of my favorites. The capital of Virginia, this vibrant city has a rich history and was actually named by CNN Travel as the top US town to visit in 2024! It has its own airport, so access is easy, or it’s just less than a two hour drive from DC.
In addition to great museums and galleries, Richmond offers amazing gardens, a happening foodie and craft beer scene — and it’s a great base for outdoor activities like canoeing and hiking. Basically, it’s a place where your guests will LOVE spending a few days!
Why you’ll love a Richmond wedding
Getting married in Richmond is ideal for couples who want to celebrate in a charming city with lots of history, culture, and incredible cuisine. In Richmond, you get wonderful urban spaces, but also lots of nature opportunities a short drive away.
Richmond wedding venues to consider
Destination weddings in Richmond Virginia are easy to plan, thanks to so many gorgeous venue options! The city offers historic homes and hotels, stunning gardens, and grand ballrooms to suit weddings of any size, but here are some of the top venues to check out!
Main Street Station
For couples seeking something completely unique, you just might fall in love with the idea of a Main Street Station wedding. Dating back to 1901, this is both a fully functional Amtrak train station and an elegant wedding venue. The Headhouse is a French Renaissance-style ballroom that can seat up to 200 and feels SO timeless, with marble floors, arched windows, and vaulted ceilings.
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
A Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden wedding comes alive in spring, with lush, vibrant spaces where you can say your vows outside, immersed in nature. When everything is in bloom, it feels legit magical here!
The garden can cater to both small and large celebrations, including a cute tea house for receptions of under 40 guests. You also have the elegant Bloemendaal House, a historic landmark, that can host 48 inside or up to 200 in a stylish tent just in the yard outside the home.
The Jefferson Hotel
Talk about elegance and history! This hotel dates back to 1895 and is an icon of the city, with its iconic tall stone clocktower and ornate interior furnishings.
The Grand Ballroom, with sparkling chandeliers and detailed plasterwork, is so classically beautiful and can host up to 400 guests, with other ballrooms also available for smaller weddings. As local wedding specialists, their team always smashes it, with packages and options that make it easy to plan your event.
Common House
Originally designed to be an inclusive social club, Common House is also a popular Richmond wedding venue; a bright and airy space that’s a killer blend of traditional and modern design.
The Courtyard is an inviting outdoor space, with gorgeous brickwork, for your ceremony, then celebrate into the night in Union Hall, a private room for up to 150 guests. With hardwood floors, golden chandeliers, and white walls, it’s easy to transform this space into your vibe.
Washington DC
Our nation’s capital needs no introduction! Sure, we all know it as a place to visit for history and monuments, but there is so much more to the city. It’s an eclectic, vibrant, and diverse destination with so much to offer, including sporting teams, cuisine from all over the world, and lots of fun local markets, shops, and bars.
Plus, with three major airports serving the DC area, it’s a super easy and convenient choice for a destination wedding, or if you have guests flying in from other parts of the country, and tons of hotels to suit every budget.
Why you’ll love a DC wedding
DC is a classically beautiful city, with loads of gorgeous historic architecture, waterfront views, and high-end hotels and restaurants. As your East Coast wedding photographer, we can also incorporate the beauty of the city, such as its iconic marble monuments, the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool, or the charming heritage architecture of Old Town Alexandria.
DC wedding venues to consider
DC wedding venues are all about luxury and history, ideal for large, traditional weddings. However, you can also find modern hotels, restaurants, and funky bars that are ideal for smaller weddings and elopements.
Sequoia
Located on the waterfront in Georgetown, this space is epic — soaring ceilings, clean white lines, and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out on both the Potomac and some of DC’s top landmarks, paired with innovative fine dining. Sequoia wedding photos are always light and bright, plus we can also plan to take some shots around Georgetown, a gorgeous neighborhood with cobblestoned streets and historic canals.
The Line DC
This boutique hotel, in the trendy Adams Morgan neighborhood, is all about sophistication and style. Located in a former neoclassical church, this space seriously brings the wow factor with a blend of traditional and modern design.
The reception and ceremony areas here are stunning, but perhaps one of the best wedding spots in DC for your portraits is the hotel’s spacious rooftop. With panoramic views of the city, your photos here will be one-of-a-kind and romantic!
District Winery
DC’s only winery is such a good choice for couples seeking something a bit more hip and modern. Located in The Yards, a trendy space along the Anacostia River, the catering (and wine!) here is exceptional.
With a huge outdoor terrace, an ideal place to say your vows, and light-filled interior spaces, you’ll love the fun of this venue. Your District Winery wedding photos will definitely include the wine barrel room and the building’s all-glass facade — there are so many good photo opps here!
The Schuyler
With a capacity of up to 450 for a seated dinner, The Schuyler is a chic downtown wedding venue that’s ideal for larger weddings!
Originally designed in the Art Deco style, today it’s all about flexibility, providing couples with a blank canvas that they can personalize — perfect if you have a clear wedding vision!
If you’re planning on extravagant floral displays, colored lighting, or ornate centerpieces, you might love a wedding here. This venue is romantic in a stylish and fun way!
Charlottesville, VA
Well known for being the home of both Thomas Jefferson and the prestigious University of Virginia, Charlottesville is actually one of the most romantic wedding destinations on the East Coast!
It’s in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and there are also lots of local wineries in the area, so it’s a good choice for couples who love the outdoors and aren’t about planning a wedding in a big city. Virginia is all about luxury wedding venues too, particularly in Charlottesville!
There’s so much to enjoy in Charlottesville, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Monticello, the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, and lots of local farms and parks, ideal if your guests are bringing along kids. And like Richmond, Charlottesville also has its own airport for easy access.
Why you’ll love a Charlottesville wedding
Charlottesville and the surrounding countryside just oozes romance! Pastel sunsets over wine country, bright autumn foliage, and charming hospitality mean a wedding in Charlottesville is going to be so unforgettable.
With lots of historic homes, antique furnishings, and a vibrant local food scene, Charlottesville is ideal for couples seeking tradition, elegance, and Southern hospitality.
Charlottesville wedding venues to consider
With such gorgeous natural beauty, it’s no surprise that Charlottesville wedding venues are often located in gardens and wineries. You can also find grand, historic homes and hotels that cater well to large, traditional weddings.
Clifton Inn
This historic boutique hotel spans 100 acres and seriously delivers on those dreamy Blue Ridge Mountain views — which means, hello gorgeous sunset wedding photos!
The grand Manor House of Clifton Inn, with white exteriors and black shutters, will pop so well in your photography and can host up to 100 guests, or larger weddings are ideal for their outdoor marquee.
With exceptional service and traditional elegance, this venue is just made for couples seeking a luxury Blue Ridge wedding.
Southwest Mountains Vineyards
Just outside Charlottesville, this venue is perfect for a winery-style wedding! Southwest Mountains may be a newer wedding vendor but have quickly become a favorite for couples seeking a rustic chic venue with amazing food and award-winning wine. Their historic barn dates back to the 1890s and can host up to 180 guests for a reception, and has been beautifully renovated, with a stone fireplace and lots of natural light.
The sunsets are gorgeous here too, perfect for your ultra-romantic couples portraits!
Old Metropolitan Hall
With a great location in downtown Charlottesville, this venue is a beautifully restored space that delivers vintage glamour. The intimate, wood-paneled Library space is perfect for small elopements or the Ballroom can handle up to 150 guests.
With chic black and white tiling, original brickwork, and a cute shop front window exterior, your Old Metropolitan Hall wedding photos will be unforgettable! The food and customer service are highly regarded as well.
Eastwood Farm and Winery
This female-owned Charlottesville winery is a dream for couples planning a relaxed garden wedding! There are lots of ceremony spots to choose from, including an orchard, meadow, and serene forest, so you have lots of freedom here to create a wedding that suits your style.
There are also two large lawns where you can set up a marquee, or host your reception outside, dancing under the stars! Your Eastwood Farm wedding photos will be so ethereal and romantic, as we capture the soft golden light as it comes down across the mountains and into the gardens and orchard.
Located near Charlottesville in Virginia’s Blue Ridge foothills, is a top wedding venue known for its stunning vineyard views and rustic elegance. Designed by founders Dean Andrews and Lynn Easton, it offers two ceremony lawns—the Vineyard Lawn for 140+ guests and the Main Lawn for smaller groups—plus the 3,600-square-foot Granary for receptions of up to 200. The Veranda serves as a charming backup space, ensuring flexibility in any weather.
The venue excels with all-inclusive packages, featuring farm-to-table cuisine by Chef Ian Rynecki, using local ingredients and paired with their acclaimed wines. With a capacity for 250 at stationed dinners, it includes essentials like tables and linens, plus a Bridal Loft and Groom’s Cellar for prep. Pippin Hill’s seamless hospitality makes it a favorite for a memorable, stress-free wedding day.
You can see more of what a Pippin Hill Wedding looks like here.
East Coast elopement & wedding planning tips
If you’re ready to lock this in, I’m so happy for you! To make the process smoother, here are a few of my East Coast insider tips, as a local Virginia wedding photographer.
- Spring and fall are generally the best time of year for your East Coast wedding! Spring in DC brings gorgeous pink cherry blossoms, but Virginia also stuns with vibrant autumn leaves. Summer can be an option too, but it can bring sweltering temps and humidity, particularly in Richmond and DC. Or, think outside the box with a cozy winter wedding, which can bring reduced venue fees and fewer crowds.
- DC and Virginia are popular destinations for not just weddings, but also for tourism and business conferences. So, it’s best to lock in your preferred venue (and a block of hotel rooms for your guests) as soon as possible so you don’t miss out.
- Some photo locations, like the National Mall or national parks, may require a permit. However, I can help with this, so no stress!
- If you’re local, definitely go check out some of the venues above! Visiting in person is the best way to decide if a venue really clicks with you and is right for the vibe and style of your wedding vision.
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If you’re ready to make some photography magic, I’d love to be by your side on your most special day! Please reach out with any questions or to lock in your East Coast wedding photography package.
