River Farm - American Horticultural Society
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About This Vendor
About This Vendor
A Haven of Natural Charm
River Farm is a historic wedding venue situated in Alexandria, VA. Guests can immerse themselves in the rich American history behind this venue while enjoying the vibrant colors of the expansive gardens. The bucolic country estate sits just outside of the Washington, DC metro area, combining a convenient location with an idyllic aesthetic. Serving as headquarters to the American Horticultural Society since 1973, this manor-style building’s proud history stretches back over 250 years. In 1757, a small brick house was built on the land now known as River Farm. The property and the dwelling were sold to George Washington in 1760 and so River Farm took its place as the northernmost of Washington's five farms. The property still boasts beautiful Kentucky coffee trees, descendants of seeds germinated by Washington after his trip to the Ohio River. A permanent fixture of this landscape, the Osage orange tree is believed to have been a gift to Washington from Thomas Jefferson in 1806. These iconic plants bring the history of this venue to life while the property itself shows the passage of time gone by. In 1919, Malcolm Matheson took over the estate and converted it into the elegant mansion it is today. In 1971, the Soviet Embassy offered to buy the property to utilize in the Cold War. However, citizens of the United States objected strongly to their first president's farm belonging to the Soviet Union. Matheson did not sell, and instead, the land was purchased by the American Horticultural Society who continue to maintain the American heritage of the land. Surrounding the property, guests are sure to enjoy River farm’s expansive woodlands, views of the Potomac River, and the vivid floral arrangements. This property features a calming garden, an enchanting orchard, and a wildlife garden, home to goldfish, frogs, and turtles. Couples can choose an indoor or outdoor venue to celebrate their special day. The serene gardens create an idyllic backdrop for romantic wedding pictures while the enchanting forests provide a fairytale-style setting for an intimate ceremony. Guests can spend their evening relaxing outdoors on the cozy patio or on the rolling lawns overlooking the meandering river. In the winter, wedding events can be celebrated under the winter tent which features magnificent chandeliers and elegant decor. For smaller events, the extravagant ballroom inside the charming estate can seat up to 50 guests. River Farm has a beautiful country kitchen on site, filled with modern equipment, which is open to any outside vendors serving couples on their wedding day. The doors of this traditional mansion are always open to beloved pets on the big day, meaning no members of the family need miss out. Get-ready rooms are featured on site to allow couples a private space to prepare for their event.
Amenities & Details
Ceremony Area, Covered Outdoors Space, Dressing Room, Indoor Event Space, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet
Guest CapacityUp to 250
Ceremony TypesCivil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony
Venue Service OfferingsRentals & Equipment, Tents
SettingsBallroom, Estate, Garden, Tented, Trees
Business AttributesPricing for River Farm - American Horticultural Society
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| Starting Cost | Moderate |
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Browse River Farm - American Horticultural Society pricing PDF below for sample services and estimates.
View PricesRiver Farm - American Horticultural Society Reviews
Wedding Date 15-10-2022
River Farm has the most beautiful gardens and grounds!! And Leslie, the manager, was a great resource! She is enthusiastic but in a steadying and calming way that kept me and my husband excited and kept my parents calm. Glenna was there on our wedding day and she was organized and kind. There’s lots of free parking, garden and river views, and a totally zen vibe that made our day perfect.
Reviewed on 01-01-2023
This venue exceeded every dream I ever had for my wedding day. The property itself is an absolute gem. The natural beauty of the flowers and greenery that graced the landscape perfectly aligned with our vision for the wedding. And that elegant tent on the grounds? It was like it was tailor-made to complement the colonial-style home, creating a seamless and enchanting atmosphere.My experience working with Leslie, who was our go-to person at the venue, was nothing short of exceptional. Leslie's deep passion for nature and her genuine enthusiasm for every aspect of the venue added an extra layer of excitement to our wedding plans. Her dedication knew no bounds, as she tirelessly worked to fulfill our every need and desire for the big day.As if that wasn't enough, we were fortunate enough to cross paths with the organization's president, who emphasized their commitment to accommodating our wedding. Their dedication to making our day special was evident at every turn.The venue's landscape? Well, it was a photographer's dream come true. Every inch of the property offered a breathtaking backdrop for photos, making it nearly impossible to take a bad shot.If you're in the midst of a venue search, do yourselves a favor and check out this place. I promise you won't regret it. It's a slice of wedding heaven that'll make your special day truly magical.
Reviewed on 16-09-2023
I hosted my daughter’s bridal shower at River Farm. The setting set the tone for a perfect event. Being the end of April, the landscape was lush green with blossoming plants as far as the eye could see and the Potomac River as the backdrop. It rained the day before. It was too cold and wet to be outside. I was pleased with River Farm’s flexibility to allow for last minute decisions such as having the event indoors in the ballroom or outdoors under their tented patio. The ballroom with its colorful paintings by local artists was ideal. The room seated 30 people comfortably and would have been fine for more guests. We decorated the marble fireplace and mantle with flowers. It was the perfect backdrop for photos. I rented their tables and chairs which was more cost effective than the caterer. The foyer, living room and parlor were a pretty space for drinks and hors d’hoeuvres. The beauty and history of River Farm will make any special event even more special.
Reviewed on 07-05-2023
Wedding Date 08-10-2022
In spite of the threat of rain, the gardens at River Farm were lovely, the draped tent was gorgeous and having the ballroom as a Plan B was exactly what we needed. Our manager Leslie was reassuring and had lots of ideas about how to handle the weather. The house is historic from the 1700s and still has a historic feel to it. It’s also on the Potomac River and the views are amazing. And the vendors Leslie suggested were excellent. Our wedding was perfect!
Reviewed on 01-01-2023
Wedding Date 01-07-2022
Our wedding at River Farm was truly our dream wedding. Not only is River Farm a gorgeous venue with river views and amazing gardens, but the staff there was incredibly helpful. Leslie, the Rentals Manager, is enthusiastic and had so many great suggestions to help us! She was also really flexible with our vendors which everyone appreciated. Glenna also helped during our wedding and was great about keeping us on track.
Reviewed on 28-12-2022
Wedding Date 07-05-2022
We are so happy we had our wedding at River Farm. It is a gorgeous venue with lovely gardens, and a really flexible and supportive staff who are just as excited about your wedding as you are. Leslie was so helpful, particularly when we realized the week before the wedding that we would probably have to prepare for rain, cold, and wind (in mid-May!). Our guests absolutely loved the grounds and the house and we all had a wonderful time. Highly recommend.
Reviewed on 02-10-2022
Wedding Date 28-05-2022
This is absolutely the best wedding venue. It was beautiful and honestly if you don’t get married here you’re missing out. The gardens are breathtaking and so is the Waterview. Working with Leslie was great she was there every step of the way and provided so much support. We loved it
Reviewed on 29-05-2022
Wedding Date 27-04-2019
Absolutely gorgeous! We cannot wait to have our wedding here. Janet is extremely helpful and gave us great vender suggestions as well as decor ideas for the reception and cocktail hour. Also, there’s ton of parking which is hard to find around old town.
Reviewed on 22-03-2018
Wedding Date 09-09-2017
We could not have asked for a better venue than River Farm. When we first visited, we were struck by the natural beauty of the location on the banks of the Potomac. The gardens, the meadow, the estate house, and the terrace all added to this beauty. We wanted a venue that was striking enough that it wouldn't need a lot of additional decoration, and River Farm absolutely fit the bill. Additionally, all of the distinct indoor and outdoor spaces available made it very easy to have the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception on-site, and our guests all loved strolling around and exploring the property on the wedding day. Janet and the rest of the River Farm staff were so easy to work with, and were always friendly and available when we had any questions in the months running up to the wedding itself, and on the wedding day itself. We would highly recommend River Farm as a wedding venue.
Reviewed on 24-10-2017
Wedding Date 12-08-2017
Our guests can't stop raving about the beauty and elegance of River Farm. It is definitely a hidden gem that many Alexandrian's aren't familiar with. We had a fabulous time at our wedding and had a great time working with the River Farm staff. Don't hesitate to book this venue! You won't be disappointed!!
Reviewed on 22-08-2017
Wedding Date 28-05-2016
River Farm is an absolutely gorgeous place to get married! It is so beautiful but also down-to-earth and not overly manicured. It had the perfect low-key garden party vibe we were aiming for. Janet and the staff were very easy to work with and helped make our planning easy. We highly recommend the venue to anyone looking for an outdoor wedding near DC.
Reviewed on 13-08-2016
Wedding Date 14-09-2013
So Gorgeous! Get married here if you want a stunning outdoor wedding only minutes from DC
Reviewed on 01-10-2013
Wedding Date 29-06-2013
This venue is absolutely fantastic. Expensive but totally worth the cost. It is so beautiful with incredible well manicured grounds and a lot of space and hidden places for guests to wander too. It was so beautiful that it took a while for people to start dancing! They loved the venue so much that they wanted to explore more than dance. It has a great rain substitute in the ballroom, tent included, and parking for all guests. My husband and I had a wonderful time and incredible pictures to show for it.
Reviewed on 25-07-2013
Wedding Date 06-10-2012
We fell in love with River Farm on our first visit there. We hosted 120 guests and had our ceremony outside in the garden area, dinner under the tent, and dancing in the ballroom. The grounds are beautiful, with a lovely garden area and a meadow that leads down to the Potomac River. Because it is an historic site and in a residential area, there are several restrictions (noise limitations, no open flame) but it didn't get in the way of us having a good time. We are looking forward to visiting again soon.
Reviewed on 23-10-2012
River Farm is a hidden gem, and one that you and your guests will LOVE to explore!! The website has a ton of useful information, including photos of the garden during each season, recommended vendors, all rental agreements and regulations, pricing, etc. If you still have questions, the onsite managers are very helpful and prompt in returning calls and emails. The house on the property has useful spaces for smaller ceremonies or to use as a backup incase of rain. There are restrooms, and a decent sized kitchen for the catering staff to use. At the rear of the house is a large slate patio, where the tent is found during the season. The tent is included in your rental fee, as is the house, and all of the gardens!! This is not the case at other venues!! The grounds are impeccably maintained by the volunteer staff. The photo opportunities are limitless!! We had a Sunday morning wedding with a brunch reception immediately after. We set up croquet and bocce ball for our guests to play, and they were able to walk the grounds and gardens as well. \rThere are a few limitations, which are all spelled out in the agreement...guests cannot exceed 200 people. Once you hit 160 people you will be required to provide a bathroom trailer and valet. Amplified music cannot be played outside. \r\rWe highly recommend River Farm!!
Reviewed on 14-07-2012
Wedding Date 01-06-2012
We had our outdoor ceremony at River Farm. River Farm is an amazing venue. The grounds are gorgeous!! Our contact at River Farm was great and very helpful. It poured the day of our wedding but we were still able to finish our ceremony right before the rain started! :) River Farm was the reason we decided to have a local wedding. We couldn't of asked for a better ceremony site!
Reviewed on 27-06-2012
Wedding Date 27-04-2012
We fell in love with River Farm the moment we saw it and the staff was incredibly welcoming and helpful as we planned our reception there. It was everything we hoped it would be, and live close enough to visit and enjoy the flowers and peaceful atmostphere anytime!
Reviewed on 14-05-2012
Wedding Date 12-11-2011
This was a beautiful venue - bald eagles even made an appearance during the ceremony. Janet Daniels was a pleasure to work with.
Reviewed on 18-12-2011
Wedding Date 01-01-1970
River Farm was the perfect location for my daughter's wedding. My daughter and her fiancee wanted a historic site, her fiancee wanted a site near water, and they both wanted an outdoor garden wedding and a tented reception, with a ballroom for dancing. River Farm offers all that and much more. If you are looking for a wedding venue that has it all, then River Farm is the place for you. You need to book this site at least one year in advance, so walk, don't run!
Reviewed on 16-08-2011
Wedding Date 05-07-2008
Beautiful garden for ceremony. Lovely historic home for getting ready and entertaining guests. Gorgeous views. Romantic setting but not overly formal.
Reviewed on 10-05-2010
Contact Info for River Farm - American Horticultural Society
| Contact | Value |
|---|---|
| https://www.facebook.com/riverfarm/ | |
| X (Twitter) | ahs_riverfarm |
| amhortsocietygarden-wedding-river-farm | |
| rvrfarm | |
| Website | www.ahsgardening.org |
| Phone | (703) 768-5700 |
| Address | 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA, 22308 |
| rentals@ahsgardening.org |
River Farm - American Horticultural Society on the map
Meet the River Farm - American Horticultural Society Team
Leslie Bauman (Manager) Leslie has worked in the hospitality industry for over 20 years managing weddings and social events. She would love to work with you at River Farm to help you have the special wedding of your dreams! She has a secret love of lists of questions and looks forward to helping couples have a fantastic event. A switch-hitter, Leslie bats for both Team Cat and Team Dog, there isn't a pet that comes to the property that doesn't get some snugs! Yes, we are a pet-friendly venue!!
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