It’s always a challenge to find that right wedding venue that fits your style. If you’re looking at unique wedding venues in DC, Union Market has a pretty unusual warehouse event space called Dock 5 that just might be exactly what you’re looking for. To make it even more special, the convenient downtown location offers you the opportunity to take your wedding party photos beforehand at some of DC’s best iconic historical sights.

A DC Unique Wedding at the Union Market Venue

I had the pleasure of photographing Angela and Hassan’s wedding ceremony and reception at Dock 5, located on the second floor of Union Market in the heart of NOMA.

To start her wedding day, Angela got ready at Camden NOMA apartments, conveniently located just a few blocks away from Dock 5 while Hassan and his groomsmen got ready at The Morrow Hotel.

Their Wedding Photos at the Capitol

Since both of them work for the U.S. government, it was important to them to take their first look and wedding party photos on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

It’s one thing to want to find a unique wedding venue in DC, but it’s icing on the cake when you get to have the city’s iconic historical buildings as your backdrop.

The photos continued as Angela and Hassan made their way across Constitution Avenue to a Mercedes convertible that was decorated by a family member to escort them to Dock 5 for their ceremony and reception.

Wedding Ceremony and Reception at Dock 5

Unique wedding venues in DC rarely offer the chance to have both your ceremony and reception in the same space. Dock 5 has more than 12,000 square feet of blank-canvas warehouse space with glass garage doors, providing the opportunity to add any kind of decor you want inside within its 22′ high ceilings and the room to expand into the outdoors.

Angela and Hassan used the middle of the reception space for their ceremony with an elaborate stage for their altar. Ceremony seating was removed to make room for the dance floor and their cultural Zaffa, a traditional procession featuring a live drum and bagpipe Arabic band that paraded down the aisle. There was plenty of space for their 200+ guests to parade around them and do the traditional Dabke foot dance.

Their first dance was epic with a dry ice effect and Angela had plenty of room to run into Hassan’s arms for her big leap.

The massive warehouse space was also ideal for Angela’s sorority sisters to form a huge circle around her and sing their alma mater together.