Woodend Sanctuary & Mansion — Attraction in Chevy Chase

This venue was exactly what we were looking for -- an indoor/outdoor mix of beautiful scenery. Because all their spaces are excellent, it came with a "Plan B" for bad weather built-in for our ceremony, and allowed for us to have both the ceremony and the reception there with total confidence. All night, our guests drifted from the indoor setting to the portico or walked the grounds; it was great to see everyone so pleased no matter what the setting.

The surroundings were simply stunning the day of the wedding and provided the perfect backdrop for photos. A deer ran through a field when the audience clapped for us, and guests remarked on how neat that was. The venue was beautiful enough on its own that it didn't need much additional decor.

While we didn't make use of it, they do offer birdseed to be thrown during the send-off (sparklers, rice, etc. aren't allowed out of respect to wildlife). They also allowed red wine which was not always the case with other historic houses / venues we looked into.

The Woodend day-of staff was great and kept things running smoothly. Everything was dusted, the outdoors was well-manicured, and the bathrooms were clean & stocked the entire night.

One thing to be aware of is the tent -- they are very protective of the tent and only one company is allowed to interact with it. We wanted to string up some simple bistro lights and were told it would be $1700 to do so because that's what the one monopoly charged. The day of the wedding, we were informed that even though we'd requested all of the tent flaps to be up, one of the flaps was stuck down because of the way the company had secured it. We ended up having to make the best of it. It was okay in the end but frustrating at the time.

Also, no chairs are included for the ceremony -- they had to come from the caterer, which was an additional cost for us.

Beatriz was great throughout the process. Woodend was a great pick for the best day of our lives!

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We had our wedding at Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion in Chevy Chase, MD, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. The venue is a perfect combination of an elegant historic mansion surrounded by lush woods and a stunning nature preserve. The natural beauty of the property is unmatched, and it created the most magical atmosphere for our special day.

The staff at Woodend was absolutely incredible to work with. Beatrice, in particular, was so informative and patient, answering all of our questions and ensuring that every detail was considered during the planning process. They were excellent at helping us bring our vision to life while ensuring the property protocols were followed. On the wedding day, the day-of staff went above and beyond to make sure everything ran smoothly, giving us peace of mind to fully enjoy our celebration.

We got married in October, and the greenery and landscaping were simply perfect. Our ceremony took place in the grove, with the meadow serving as a breathtaking backdrop. It was a scene straight out of a dream. The layout of the venue was also a standout feature—it allowed our guests to take a journey through the mansion, experiencing its charm and elegance at every turn.

Woodend Sanctuary and Mansion is truly a one-of-a-kind venue, and we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect place to say “I do.” If you’re looking for a wedding venue that combines natural beauty, historic elegance, and outstanding service, this is the place. We’re so grateful for the incredible memories we...

Despite growing up in the area, we did not know about this beautiful place until searching for wedding venues. While planning from out-of-state, we booked Woodend after watching their website video tours and sending our moms to scout it out before we even saw it in person, and we had no regrets. The venue is expensive, but it is so elegant with multiple ways to use the various beautiful spaces, indoors and outdoors. We had two ceremonies on our wedding day, a tea ceremony in the Great Hall and a chuppah ceremony in the Hemlock Grove, and had two receptions, one in the conference room and portico and one on the tented terrace. The tented terrace as a backup plan for rain (which we thankfully did not need to use) and with the option of heating on a cold fall evening was key. We had some precious moments with our wedding party in the staging rooms and on the balcony, and had some romantic portraits in the meadows by the grove.

Beatriz, the site manager, was easy to communicate with. Woodend provides a select list of approved caterers who are also very costly, but know the venue well. In order to preserve the mansion and grounds, there are some rules to follow with noise and decor, which Beatriz will outline. Overall, it was a big investment, but the natural beauty of the setting enhanced our wedding in so many ways and made for beautiful wedding day photographs...