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Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House Reviews

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House

Alexandria, VA
4.8 out of 5 rating, 22 Reviews
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Reviews

4.8 out of 5 rating
22 Reviews
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    4.9 out of 5 rating
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100% Recommended by couples

Awards

22
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2019 Winner
  • R
    Rachel B. Sent on 09/28/2023
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    Couldn't have asked for better.

    Our wedding at Woodlawn was absolutely beautiful, and went without a hitch from start to finish. Expectations, timelines, and communication were really clear, the price was quite reasonable for the DMV area, and we got super lucky with a beautiful fall day. Set up and tear down were straightforward, and we used a planner recommended by the venue to ensure the day went smoothly, taking all the guesswork out of it. All in all, I can't imagine having done our wedding anywhere else!
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    Katie Sent on 12/23/2019
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    Historical, romantic venue with the BEST staff

    There are a few major decisions which have to be made when planning a wedding, but ultimately the venue is the biggest. We assumed we would be visiting venues for weeks trying to narrow it down, but luckily we visited Woodlawn first and immediately fell in love. After checking out 2 or 3 more venues to see what’s available it was very clear that Woodlawn was for us. The historic property carries so much American history, as it was part of George Washington’s estate. The colonial mansion made for a unique and beautiful backdrop for our ceremony. The grounds are kept in pristine condition and offer plenty of space for people to have some time away to explore. They even offer tours of the home after the ceremony for guests interested in learning about the home. We had many guests take the tour and loved every minute of it. The cocktail hour area was a top highlight of the evening; with its bistro lights above and fountain in the middle. The reception area offered plenty of space for our 125 guests to dance the night away. The entire team at Woodlawn was fantastic! We worked with Kathleen who was always responsive during the planning phase and very active the day of to ensure everything went smoothly. We could not be happier with Woodlawn’s exclusive caterer, Design Cuisine. Woodlawn and Design Cuisine work so well together to make everything perfect. There was literally nothing for me to worry about the day of. Woodlawn is a special place which will provide an unforgettable event for everyone there.

    Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House's reply:

    Thanks for your review of our property. We enjoyed hosting your celebration and welcome you back at any time.
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  • E
    Eileen Sent on 03/29/2020
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    Beautiful venue!

    We knew from the moment we saw Woodlawn it was where we wanted to get married! My husband and I loved the historic charm and romantic atmosphere. We visited a couple of other venues after we toured Woodlawn, but kept coming back to it as our top choice. The venue has so many options for outdoor ceremonies, a beautiful tent for the reception, and a quaint outdoor garden space for cocktail hour. Kathleen was our main point of contact through the whole planning process and was so responsive and helpful with any of our questions. On our wedding day, the Woodlawn staff went above and beyond to engage our guests and even offered them tours of the house during our cocktail area. Woodlawn works seamlessly with their exclusive caterer, Design Cuisine, to create a beautiful wedding day. We'd definitely recommend Woodlawn to anyone who is looking for a wedding venue!

    Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House's reply:

    Thank you for the lovely review! We loved hosting you and your guests. Come and visit later in the season and stay well
  • Beth
    Beth Sent on 11/18/2018
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    Beautiful Wedding Location

    The Woodlawn was the perfect location for our fall wedding. We had an outdoor ceremony with the beautiful Woodlawn Plantation house as the backdrop, it was truly spectucular as the sun began to set and we said our vows. Our cocktail hour was held in the fountain garden and was just so picturesque with the cafe lighting and guests enjoying their cocktails. The reception tent is truly a beautiful space, it is elegant, classy and versatile for any wedding theme.

    The staff at Woodlawn were wonderful throughout and on the wedding day even offer tours of the house!

    I wish we could have our wedding day over and over again, i couldnt have wanted anything more than what we got having our wedding at Woodlawn.
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    Dana Sent on 09/30/2018
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    We had a great experience with Woodlawn! This place is just about 20 minutes outside of Old Town where we had our guests stay which they absolutely loved. It is a little hidden gem tucked away on the outskirts of town. While the house is old, you won't find yourself doing much inside. It has the quaintest little cocktail garden with string lights and one of the most gorgeous tents! Unfortunately, it rained on our wedding, but somehow Woodlawn was still transformed into one of the most magical places! Keep in mind this s a historical venue, so ask lots of questions about anything specifc you may want (there are some restrictions). Other than that, Rouge Catering (the exclusive caterer) knocked it out of the ballpark too!

    Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House's reply:

    Thank you for your wonderful review of our historic property. We were so happy to be a part of your special day. Please come back and visit!
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    Sara Sent on 07/03/2018
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    Woodlawn was the PERFECT place for our dream wedding. When we saw the venue online we loved it, and when we saw it in person we knew we had to have it! We had both our ceremony and reception at Woodlawn and it was absolutely breathtaking. You can have your ceremony anywhere on the outside property but the backdrop of the house is amazing. The cocktail hour space is so romantic and the reception tent doesn't even compare to other reception tents. Kathleen and her staff did a wonderful job guiding us through the planning process and our wedding day. We had a rain plan in place that we were happy with but luckily did not have to use. I would absolutely recommend getting married at this amazing venue!
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    Charlotte Sent on 06/08/2018
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    This venue was gorgeous and really was a fairy tale setting for our perfect day. I must say that Rouge Catering did an unbelievable job making our wedding day perfect. The food was not only fabulous but the customer service and going above and beyond really set them apart. We would recommend this company to anyone looking to have an amazing wedding!
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    Katelynn Sent on 10/09/2017
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    Absolute perfection. The wedding of my dreams. I loved working with the team at Woodlawn and they made my vision for our big day come alive. The perfect space for that outdoor glam feel, without the fear of a rain contingency. There is so much space to work with here and a fantastic wedding reception venue. I can't imagine our celebration anywhere else.
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    Lisa Sent on 03/11/2018
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    Using Woodlawn Plantation and Pope-Leighey House for my daughter's wedding far surpassed my expectations. From the first time I viewed the property until the last good-bye on the night of the wedding, everyone I encountered was professional, organized, and helpful. The venue is gorgeous and spacious, allowing plenty of room for guests to move throughout the property. As an extra bonus, the crepe myrtles were in full, glorious bloom, creating a lush canopy for the wedding ceremony. The tent is large and beautiful, creating a romantic yet accessible space for dinner and dancing. This gorgeous venue is a perfect setting for both your wedding and reception and i will recommend to anyone I know.
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    Johanna Sent on 03/08/2017
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    Woodlawn is the most beautiful place to get married. You will experience nothing as peaceful as waking up on the waterfront the morning of your big day. The best part is having private access to the estate for the entire weekend, lodging included. You will not be disappointed with the location, the staff, or the amenities.
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    Jessica Sent on 11/04/2013
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    Woodlawn is run by a trust so you don't have to deal with Woodlawn too much. Their dedicated caterer takes care of most of the wedding-related stuff for you.

    The staff at Woodlawn when we did have to deal with them was wonderful. We received great reviews of the tours they held during our reception. The inside of the house was clean and everyone was very professional. We were very glad that we had our ceremony and reception there.

    It rained A LOT days before our wedding. It was drizzling a bit the day of and the back stairs were wet and since they are marble, they were a bit slippery which I heard later was an issue for one of my guests but that comes w/ the venue I guess.

    Overall, everything was beautiful and the service that was provided was excellent. Not to mention, we get to go back to our venue.
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    Andrew Sent on 09/15/2011
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    Loved the venue! Perfect outdoor ceremony and reception. Gorgeous weather! Zero bugs. Star Catering and staff really helped make the day perfect!
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    Maggie Sent on 08/12/2009
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    Woodlawn is an amazing site. It is locating on top of a hill with beautiful trees and gardens. The house is historical and offered a tour to guests before the reception began. It was enchanting evening, almost like being at an English manor. Stacey Hawkins is extremely easy to work with and did an outstanding job. She was professional and worked well with other vendors. I would highly recommend this site!!
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    Marie Sent on 06/13/2009
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    Woodlawn was an AMAZING venue. We really wanted to stay away from hotels and golf courses and have our reception at a place that would celebrate Virginia history and was a bit more unique, Woodlawn was it! It was the second place we checked out and we fell in love with it. The house remains opens for tours during the reception which is really a nice touch especially for out of town guests. The grounds are open just for your guests as well to walk around. We had our cocktail hour in the garden with the fountain and the tent in the nearby lawn. The staff was incredibly helpful, Stacey was SO great to work with and everything ran without a hitch the day of. They do have a list of recommended vendors which was useful so you weren't searching aimlessly for vendors and the ones they recommended were familiar with the site so there no worries about them finding it, how to set up, etc.

    FYI: I think they book up pretty far in advance, especially for spring and summer. We booked it a year and a half before the wedding.
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    M Sent on 09/02/2008
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    The venue was gorgeous but it was the staff that really made our wedding a success! Everyone was so helpful and pleasant to work with - they went above and beyond! I highly recommend Woodlawn to couples who are looking for an outdoor venue.
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    Alex C. Sent on 11/30/2022
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    Amazing Venue

    Woodlawn is such a magical place to get married. The grounds are gorgeous and well-maintained, the multiple options for ceremonies are all breathtaking, and the house is such a special place to be in during the day. Although the fee and rentals are a little higher than other venues around, it felt worth it. We also felt great that half of our fees went to the non-profit that runs Woodlawn. Woodlawn is so beautiful that we did not need to add a lot of flowers or other decorations, the venue is perfect as is! Our guests remarked that it looked like “a movie set”.

    Woodlawn requires you to choose between one of two caterers, but this actually made the process super easy for us and the catering team we chose (Main Event Caterers) were fantastic, especially as they knew Woodlawn inside and out. As a historical home, there are quite a few rules that you should be aware of and plan for (such as no candles/sparklers), but they go over this on the tour before you book and the tradeoff is well worth it.

    The permanent tent they have set up has great lighting with beautiful chandeliers and is a good size for big weddings and even smaller ones (we had ~70 guests and the tent still felt full). The cocktail hour space is incredibly cool and guests loved walking around the house and gardens. We loved getting to take wedding portraits in the house as well as on the grounds. We would highly recommend this venue!
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    Michael Sent on 05/08/2018
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    Rouge was fantastic! The quality of food was stellar, and all our guests raved over how good everything was. Maykala and crew were there when we needed them, without having to ask. That says alot. Couldn't be happier with them and how everything turned out. Thank you Rouge!
  • User1785065 Sent on 08/28/2014
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    Woodlawn was an amazing venue for our September wedding! We had 215 guests and wanted an outdoor wedding. From the beginning, the wedding coordinator, Meredith, was responsive, helpful and friendly. The back story of the property is fascinating, and it fit perfectly with our desire for a unique location that celebrates Virginia and American history. The mansion itself and the surrounding grounds are beautiful and very well maintained. The particularly interesting part of a wedding at Woodlawn is the ability to use all the different areas around the mansion - We had guests come through the house when they arrived, were married on the back lawn overlooking the valley and Potomac River, had our cocktail hour in the fountain court yard, and then dinner and dancing under a tent by the trees. Our guests said they loved moving from area to area, as if they were at a garden party at a private estate, and absolutely raved about the beauty and history of Woodlawn. The facilities accommodated our large group well - there weren't any bugs, the restrooms are clean and adequate, and there's two large suites in which the bridal party can get ready. I'll also add that the docents, who gave our guests tours of the house before the ceremony and during cocktail hour, were so sweet and helpful.

    There are only two downsides to Woodlawn to consider: 1) There aren't really any options for an indoor ceremony in case of rain; and 2) it's on the National Register of Historic Places, so there are some strict rules about what is allowed - for instance, no open flames at all on the property (which meant no unity candle for sparklers for us, although we were able to have a cigar bar!) and limited photography inside the mansion. Nevertheless, we found Meredith and the Woodlawn staff to be very flexible and willing to work with us to find alternatives, and none of the rules detracted from our wedding what so ever!

    Bottom line: get married here! Don't even think twice!
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    Emily K. Sent on 07/02/2022
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    Overall, great venue!

    We fell in love instantly with Woodlawn when we first toured and overall would recommend this venue!! It checked just about all of our boxes (free parking, good location near DC, beautiful / outdoorsy feel with a tent, history, beautiful places for photos, etc.). Overall, we had a positive experience. The rest of this review just has some (hopefully helpful) notes for couples considering the venue!

    They had some staffing changes, which is to be expected with the pandemic, etc, but that meant we were regularly being redirected and/or corresponding with what felt like a new person each time we had a question. Thankfully our day of coordinator was a stud and took over communicating with Woodlawn so we didn't need to worry about this too much. I think they also have a more long-term staff person in place now for events.

    The venue itself is so beautiful and as someone who isn't really into decor/was NOT looking for a "blank canvas" venue, this was perfect for us. We went with simple decor and flowers since the venue kind of speaks for itself.

    One hiccup we encountered was regarding transportation. Initially, we planned to use large shuttles (50-55 people per shuttle). It wasn't until about 3 months before the event did we learn that the venue cannot accommodate that size of a vehicle with the way the parking lot is set up. We scrambled a bit (mainly for cost reasons), but ultimately ended up using trolleys (30-36 people per trolley) instead and that worked great!

    One other thing to note: the bridal suite is likely not conducive for most brides to get ready in. It is quite small and old. It worked perfectly for taking breaks throughout the night, having a private (but very small) bathroom, etc. but overall this is not a typical "bridal suite" you might find in a hotel. Just something to be aware of!
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    Erin Sent on 07/14/2019
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    Beautiful, Historic Venue

    Woodlawn is absolutely stunning and I'm so glad we had our wedding ceremony & reception here. The house and grounds are truly breathtaking and there are so many different great outdoor ceremony options. For cocktail hour, our guests were in the charming fountain garden decorated by lovely twinkle lights. During this time, there are even 2 docents available to tour guests through the historic property. The tent where the reception is held is elegant with fabric draping, chandeliers, and twinkle lights and can accommodate a lot of guests comfortably. There's also plenty of parking available.

    Overall, this is a breathtakingly beautiful property with so many different spaces -- our photographer had so many locations to choose from -- and it was nice that the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception were all in unique places. Keep in mind this is a historic property that gives tours on the weekend so there are a few restrictions to be aware of (no flames, older restrooms, bridal party arrival not before 3 pm) but the staff is so accommodating and did a great job of making everyone comfortable.

    The only stressful part was that their previous exclusive caterer, Rouge, required a minimum guest count to place a catering deposit to actually secure the date at the venue. Now that Design Cuisine has taken over as the exclusive caterer, the booking process seems much more client-friendly, which is great for future couples!

    We absolutely loved our wedding at Woodlawn and highly recommend it to any other couple. We hadn't heard of it before we were researching venues, and I really think it is a hidden gem not far from DC that was the perfect place to make wonderful memories.

    Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House's reply:

    Erin. Sorry for the late reply- have had some platform issues. Thanks so much for the review and we are glad that the transition to our new caterer went well. We were so delighted to host you at Woodlawn and hope you are both enjoying your married life!
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    Sarah Sent on 11/06/2011
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    Woodlawn was a beautiful setting for our late September wedding ceremony & reception. All of our guests raved about the estate. We signed the contract with Woodlawn before the venue signed an exclusive catering contract with Star Catering and the multiple changes in points of contact while that change went through was a bit frustrating. Thankfully it all worked out in the end and we liked working with our final event managers, and they honored and worked well with our caterer and other vendors. I think the new relationship will work well for anyone who signs contracts going forward. The only big con is that Woodlawn doesn't really have any indoor space in case of rain- we had a reception tent and ended up with a backup tent for the reception & lots of umbrellas since it looked like rain right up until that day. We lucked out, but it would've made for a soggy evening if it had indeed rained.
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