posted in: Weddings

May 30, 2023

A Washington DC Venue for Your Luxury Wedding

The Bellevue Conference and Event Center is a great choice if you’re looking for one of the best Washington DC venues that offer elegance and grandeur.

Why the Bellevue is One of the Top Washington DC Venues

Located just 40 minutes from Washington, DC and minutes from Dulles Airport, the Bellevue Conference and Event Center offers four massive ballrooms:

  • The Grand Marquesa – This large-scale ballroom with Mediterranean decor includes 11,200 sqft of event space with 26-ft ceilings, exotic marble floors, and 24-ft arched windows that welcome natural light beautifully. There are also 25 towering, Corinthian limestone columns and 23 crystal chandeliers. Couples can use the private staircase to make a grand entrance into the tremendous ballroom to greet their guests. The Grand Marquesa Room can accommodate up to 1,100 guests in a reception setting.
  • The Bolour Room – This ballroom is more cosmopolitan, offering a modern sophistication for your reception. It is one of the most versatile settings that can be customized for any themed reception. There are impressive 30-ft ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that create an expansive dance floor space. The Bolour Room accommodates up to 410 guests.
  • The Milan Room – As the smallest space that can accommodate up to 330 people, The Milan Room offers a blend of contemporary and traditional decor with 3300 sqft of crystal white marble that glows under the three stunning, smoke chandeliers. This is a wonderful option for a mid-sized wedding reception.
  • The Vero Sky Lounge – This amazing rooftop lounge offers 8,000 sqft of open sky that provides scenic views of the Blue Ridge Mountains for your wedding guests, a great option for your cocktail hour. The Vero Sky Lounge can accommodate up to 780 guests.

Asmaa and Salim’s Wedding at The Bellevue Conference and Event Center

Asmaa, originally from California, moved to Washington, DC for her career in healthcare policy. She met Salim on a dating app and the two fell in love. And although they had previously had their wedding ceremony in California, she didn’t consider herself “officially married” until her wedding reception took place at The Bellevue.

We started the day first doing a portrait session at two iconic DC locations, The U.S. Capitol Building, and the Jefferson Memorial. Asmaa looked nothing less than stunning in her gorgeous gown and veil.

Couple get ready before their wedding at The Bellevue one of the Washington DC venues
Washington DC Venues - Bride leaves for her wedding
Bride at Groom at The US Capitol
Washington DC wedding venues - Couple pose outside the US Capitol
Washington DC bride and groom at the US Capitol
US Capitol is backdrop for Bride and Groom portraits
Washington DC Venues - Bride and Groom
Bride and groom walk outside the US Capitol in Washington DC
Washington DC wedding couple outside the Supreme Court
Washington DC couple walk along the Tidal Basin, Arlington is in the background.
Bride portrait on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC
Portraits at The Jefferson Memorial before their wedding at one of the Washington DC venues
Couple look at each other before wedding - Washington DC venues
Wedding couple at The Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC
Wedding couple near Monument in Washington DC

When Asmaa arrived at The Bellevue Conference and Event Center and entered the Grand Marquesa, she was overwhelmed with emotion as she looked at the beautiful decor.

Tables inside The Grand Marquesa at the Bellevue - one of the best Washington DC venues for weddings.
Washington DC venues - The Bellevue in Chantilly, VA

A Muslim and Moroccan Wedding at One of the Washington DC Venues

Asmaa and Salim’s wedding featured parts of both their Muslim and Moroccan cultures making their reception quite unique because it was divided up into two parts. The first reception was held only for female guests and their immediate families because Asmaa did not wear her hijab. After the first grand entrance down the staircase, Salim walked across the foyer to The Milan Room, where he joined his male friends and enjoyed a live Morrocan band in a separate reception.

When it was time for all to be joined together, the men joined the ladies inside the ballroom to have dinner and welcome Asmaa and Salim again as they made their second grand entrance (this time Asmaa wore her hijab.)

Wedding couple make grand entrance at The Bellevue, one of the best Washington DC venues.

After dinner was served, they changed into authentic Morrocon wedding outfits. In the Moroccan wedding tradition, the bride is typically placed on the Amaria. The Amaria is an elegant, roofed platform that is carried by a group of 4 to 6 men, known as the Amaria bearers. The groom leads the walk with the Amaria bearers, and the bride is carried on the platform, often accompanied by her female relatives and friends.

Bride is carried in an amaria during Moroccan wedding reception at The Bellevue Event Center

Moroccan Wedding Music

Moroccan weddings are known for their vibrant and festive atmosphere, with music playing a central role in the celebrations.

Asmaa and Salim changed back into their original wedding clothes and cut their beautiful cake at the top of the stairs for all of their guests to see.

Their extraordinary night ended with a bubble send-off.

Bride and groom exit with bubbles at the Bellevue Conference and Event Center in Chantilly, one of the Washington DC venues.
Bubble send off at one of the Washington DC venues for weddings

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