Every once in awhile there comes a time when you feel fascinated by a place so beautiful, that you start envisioning your wedding there. It strikes the right chord with your heart-n-soul and becomes the ‘it’ place that’ll mark your entry into the magnificent world of marital bliss. St. Francis Hall in Washington DC has that kind of an effect on everyone. 

St. Francis Hall offers a unique experience of intimate celebrations, right in the heart of Washington DC, but away from the hustle and bustle of the city. And that’s one of the biggest attributes of this vintage wedding venue in Washington DC. It gives an away-from-the-city kind of vibe. It was built in the year 1931 with the eloquence of glorious Renaissance architecture, and later on, immaculately blended with contemporary facilities, to offer a phenomenal wedding experience. 

For any newly engaged couple, deciding how to celebrate the day they start their life as one family is one of the most important decisions ever. There are so many things that go into planning a wedding. From the date and time that suits not just you both, but your family and friends as well, that perfect invite which will set the tone for your wedding, and deciding about little and big things for your special day, to finally the big day itself. The decor, your bridal gown, the bridesmaids’ dresses, and the food are just a few of the most important things to be considered. Making a wedding checklist is a great way to start with it. 

The wedding venue is one of the most crucial things to be considered for your wedding day. Finding the perfect wedding venue not only makes your wedding dreams come alive but also says a lot about your personality as a couple. When in a city that’s so rich in history, our Washington DC photographers love to incorporate it into your DC wedding photography to make the photos unique and soulful. And St. Francis is a wonderful place to transform the magic of romance, wedding celebrations, history, and the soul of your love story into the most precious wedding keepsake of your big day - your wedding photos. Looking every bit like a work of art, your St. Francis wedding photography would be your portal to hop back into time and relive your wedding day. 

St. Francis Hall is located adjacent to the Franciscan Monastery and in close proximity to the Catholic University and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in northeast Washington DC. Imagine a DC wedding venue that gives you the historic-city feel, is conveniently located in the heart of the city, is an epitome of romantic celebrations, and sets a spectacular backdrop for your wedding photos. All this, while offering you complete tranquility that’ll make you feel as if you’re in a little hamlet in some countryside. That’s St. Francis Hall for you. This historic wedding venue in Washington DC is a favorite not only among the newly engaged couples of this city, but also couples from its neighborhoods and suburbs like Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Annapolis, Stone Ridge, Brooklyn, and many more. 

Let’s shed some light on the event spaces that this amazing Washington DC wedding venue has to offer. 

Leaving you spellbound as you enter, St Francis houses beautifully manicured gardens which are great for wedding portraits and even better for your wedding ceremonies and cocktail hours. Before you proceed with the wedding ceremony, how about getting some bridal portraits, along with wedding portraits with your besties? This is the best you’ll all look on your wedding day - absolutely fresh! Before any more touch-ups are required, you might as well capture all the beauty in one frame in its freshest form! Strike a pose with your girlfriends who have been looking forward to your wedding just like you were. Indulge in some fun-filled candid shots to remember your wedding shenanigans! It could be in your bridal attire and bridesmaids’ dresses or getting ready robes (they also have a huge bridal party space available). Have you decided on getting-ready robes for your bridal party yet? If not, check out our blog to explore some totally unconventional getting-ready robes. 

You could have an outdoor wedding ceremony in the lawns as the blooming gardens and brick archways make the most breathtaking backdrops for an ethereal outdoor ceremony. You could design your wedding arbor in a way that would blend in with the surroundings. Imagine walking down the aisle with your father, as your man waits for you under the wedding arch, with a tear trying to roll out of his eye. The beauty of the surrounding natural elements coupled with your stunning bridal look with that heavenly-braided hairdo creates fairytale magic for your outdoor DC wedding photography. Nature becomes a legendary witness to your wedding vows and the first kiss as spouses and it feels surreal. This wedding venue is an ideal place for a couple who wants to have their own personal touch in everything. If you wish your creative edge to take charge with plenty of DIYs, this is your place. Be it the seating, wedding arbor, name-tags, and whatnot, you get plenty of options to play with here, after all, it is your wedding day! Outdoor weddings ensure an abundance of natural light and the sun’s warm glow provides angelic touch to your wedding photos. The verdant lawn and arched windows and entryways make classy backdrops for your post-wedding ceremony photos as well. The outdoor lawns are great for a cocktail hour as well, with a tented look that is comfortable and elegant. And if it rains on your wedding day, do not be disheartened. Rain is synonymous with romance and our DC wedding photographers just know exactly how to transform your rainy wedding day into an epitome of romance in the form of artistic romantic photos, Take a cue from our blog. 

The Hall is the showstopper of this spectacular DC wedding venue. If you have always dreamed of a vintage themed wedding, then your search ends here. And if you are a Hogwarts fan, you would love to get married here once you lay your eyes on it! St. Francis Hall is a gorgeous building whispering stories of history in every corner. The hall features high vaulted ceilings, exposed wooden beams, and two stories of stained- glass windows. The hall is a match-made-in-heaven for those couples who wish to add a vintage theme to their wedding. The theme looks stunning on your wedding photography and transforms the wedding photos into timeless and classic images. To give your wedding a vintage feel, you could use various elements in it in the form of wedding accents. Check out our blog for more ideas. The hall is ideal for both wedding ceremonies and receptions. To match the rustic interiors of the hall, you could opt for a naked wedding cake. Click here for ideas. You could also try out a unique wedding seating that suits your style, check out our blog to explore more. The red velvet-draped stage is where you could have your wedding ceremony or it can serve as a stage for a live band at your reception. The rustic chandeliers make you feel like you have time-traveled to a different era, and the string lights bring in subtle glamor to the entire ambiance. The soft glow all around takes the romantic setting a notch higher and the hardwood floors tempt you to forget about the world and lose yourself in your BAE’s embrace as you both indulge in your first dance. It’s this moment when you want these romantic moments to pause and our Washington DC wedding photographers know that pretty well. Trust our professional wedding photographers to capture these precious once-in-a-lifetime moments while you revel in the celebrations of your big day. Let that feeling of being newlywed sink in. 

The wedding venue also houses a covered terrace, overlooking a scenic fish pond, which serves as a perfect location for a cocktail hour. There is ample free parking within the premises which makes things very convenient for all your guests! 

You could walk down to the beautiful gardens of the Franciscan Monastery, that’s right across the street from St. Francis Hall for stunning post-wedding photography. In fact, you could even begin your wedding day at the garden indulging in the first look with your partner here. The cultivated gardens are luxurious and vibrant, especially in spring-summer and offer dynamic backdrops for your wedding photography. You could even have your bridal portraits or family portraits here as the garden beams with color and joy! You can explore the formal upper garden, natural lower garden, and the vegetable garden as well as the bee apiaries behind the monastery to capture different tones in your wedding photos. 

If you wish to explore other areas in Washington and suburbs for your DC post-wedding photography, there are various options for you. These places also serve as ideal locations for Washington DC pre-wedding photos. The Rock Creek Park, Sugarloaf Mountain, National Harbor, Potomac River, Meridian Hill Park, and Hains Point are just some of the places you could go up to for romantic DC engagement photography.

Apart from these, we have curated a detailed list of places where you can hop to for a classic Washington DC post-wedding photography or pre-wedding photography. Read on to know more. 

Gateway Park

Located about 21-minutes from the wedding venue, the Gateway Park is all tranquil and serene. The park is wonderful to spend quality time with your husband after a busy wedding day. As you both try to catch a breath in the solitude, revel in the glorious feeling of being newly-married, our professional wedding photographers would try to capture the most romantic and soulful shots of the evening during golden hours! The serene greens provide a perfect balance to your roaring love for each other and calm your senses, and hypes from the blissful events that unfolded during the entire day. The lush greens coupled with subtle blooms also make for vibrant backdrops for your DC engagement photography. 

Harbor View

Once you are done with your wedding reception and have a great wedding exit, hop to the Harbor View, which is around 36 minutes away from St. Francis Hall. The sunset and waterfront come together to give some of the most breathtaking shots in the entire city. Couples looking for some romantic DC engagement photo session, the waterfront at the Harbor View is your place. This serene riverside makes for a great location for a romantic Washington DC pre-wedding photo session. If your doggo wasn’t able to attend your wedding, you certainly include him on your wedding day by letting him be a part of your Harbor View post-wedding photoshoot or your Harbor View engagement session. You could even have a food-inspired engagement photoshoot, click here for more ideas. 

Meridian Hill Park

Just a 12-minute drive from St Francis and you reach this beauty which is known for its scenic backdrops. The cozy winding roads, cascading fountains, and pebble stone walls form iconic backdrops for a classic Washington DC post-wedding photography at the Meridian Hill Park. The lush greens coupled with vintage architecture at this park, also make for a great backdrop for some romantic DC engagement photography. The staircase calls for intimate sit-down portraits, so you get a vibrant rug as a prop! Make sure you aim for golden hour photography as that makes the photos light up with subtle hues of a heavenly amber. This 12-acre urban park also features statues that can play great props for your post-wedding photography and engagement session in DC. 

National Portrait Gallery

This one is among the closest post-wedding photography locations for you to reach from St. Francis Hall. Located just 15 minutes away from it, the National Portrait Gallery is for those couples who want to garnish their wedding photography with a touch of classic Washington DC history. The entry to the gallery is free and if you don’t have much energy left after your hectic day, that might just be enough! Our professional wedding photographers in Washington DC absolutely love the grandeur of the exteriors and glamor of the interiors that reside in this gallery.  Those newly engaged couples who wish to include a little bit of American history in their Washington DC engagement photography, they could also head to the National Portrait Gallery for some of the most vibrant and artistic backdrops for unique engagement photos. And the glittery connection between the East and the West wings - absolute favorite of our Washington DC engagement photographers. 

Lincoln Memorial

Located just 20 mins away from the wedding venue, you could head to the Lincoln Memorial, for a stunning golden hour post-wedding photography. In case you are visiting this place for your engagement photo session, make sure you stay till the sunset. The changing hues of the sky reflect beautifully on the water behind and form the most romantic background to capture your love. The nearby attractions like the Tidal Basin and the Aquatic Gardens are also great for romantic photography. The Tidal Basin is the best place for classic romantic engagement photography in DC. But, it's the best during spring when the entire place is lit up with gorgeous cherry blossoms all around! The dreamy cherry blossoms coupled with a unique depth added by the water in the background is what dreams are made of! The Aquatic Gardens, on the other hand, basks in the glory of blooming lotus and water lilies all-around and during the winters. 

Whether you get your post-wedding photo session at one of these locations or the wedding venue, our professional wedding photographers will create magic with their lenses. Your love story and wedding day will be captured as things keep unfolding throughout your big day and St. Francis Hall is the perfect place to experience the magic of your wedding. Trust our Washington DC wedding photographers to capture all the nuances, raw emotions, every little tear, every joy accompanied by smiles and laughter of your wedding day, and relive your happiest day anytime you want! 

We at George Street Photo & Video provide an exceptionally talented wedding photography team and highly competitive packages, starting from USD 1,500. Click to know more about our wide range of wedding photography and video packages by scheduling an appointment with us!