Wedding receptions with style

You’ve popped the question, walked the aisle and now it’s time to pop the Champagne. But where to hold your reception on the big day in D.C.?

If you’re looking for a hotel ballroom, the city offers plenty of options, from traditional to trendy. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering hotel reception spaces.

Find out how many events your location of choice holds so you can be sure you won’t be hurried out once your allotted time is over. Map out the spaces for your special moments like the first dance, the wedding cake cutting, seating, etc., and make sure there is enough space to accommodate your guests. If you are using the in-house caterer make sure the kitchen is equipped for any special menu items you may have planned. Some hotels have decor restrictions, so make sure you ask about furniture rearranging and ask to see photos of prior wedding receptions to inspire a few ideas.

Below are just a handful of area hotels ready to host same-sex wedding receptions when gay nuptials become legal, which is expected to happen in early March.

The Four Seasons Hotel, 2800 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W., has wedding planning down to a science. From invitations and wedding cakes to spa and beauty services, the Four Seasons can help ease the stress of planning a wedding. With original wedding packages or a package of your own design, the wedding consultants offer their expert assistance so you can enjoy your day with confidence. The Four Seasons features a sunlit, sophisticated space that occupies more than 13,400 square feet, including a terrace overlooking the C&O Canal.

The Madison, a Loews Hotel, 1177 15th St., N.W., is ready to help make memories that last a lifetime. The Madison recently added 1,500 square feet of new banquet space, which has created a total space of 12,000 square feet that will accommodate most any guest list. The expert event planners will help create the wedding of your dreams, along with amenities such as a fitness center and spa services to cater to your every need.

W Hotel, 515 15th St., N.W., “where historic Italian Renaissance meets modern cool” offers 12,000 square feet of event space that will make your wedding nothing less than spectacular. The Altitude, the rooftop ballroom at the W, would be a perfect location with its gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a backdrop of the nation’s most important landmarks. The expert event planners will work magic so your wedding day wishes come true in style.

Founded in 1981, the Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants are a collection of boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurants that are acknowledged as an industry pioneer and leaders in the boutique hotel concept. The Kimpton Hotel Group occupies five locations in the Dupont and Logan Circle areas plus two additional locations within sight of the National Mall and the U.S. Capital. For a truly memorable wedding experience consider Kimpton’s Hotel Palomar, 2121 P St., N.W. The Hotel Palomar is urban art gallery meets chic boutique hotel that will amaze your guests. The hotel offers more than 10,000 square feet of reception space, including the ultra stylish Phillips Room, named for the nearby Phillips Collection. The Phillips Room can accommodate up to 300 guests.

Other national hotel chains are also catering to same-sex couples in Washington. The Marriott and Renaissance Hotel chains offer 10 properties in the area, including the historic Mayflower. For a list of Marriott’s area hotels and information on booking a reception, visit dcmarriottweddings.com.

Other friendly options to consider when looking for reception space:

The Fairmont
2401 M St., N.W.
202-429-2400
fairmont.com/washington

The Fairfax at Embassy Row
2100 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
202-293-2100
starwoodhotels.com