The 2 best wedding venues in Chevy Chase, ranked and compared

Woodend Sanctuary & Mansion is a historic Georgian Revival estate set within a 40-acre nature sanctuary in Chevy Chase, Maryland, less than 9 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. The mansion was built in 1927 by John Russell Pope, the architect of the Jefferson Memorial and National Archives, and the Wells family donated it to Nature Forward in 1969 with the requirement that it remain a nature sanctuary. The property offers outdoor ceremonies in the tree-lined Hemlock Grove or on the south and upper lawns, with a climate-controlled tent (April-November) complete with drapes, chandeliers, fans, heaters and air conditioning for summer that serves as both reception space and a rain backup linked to the mansion by a covered walkway. Receptions take place in the tent or, in winter, in the Great Hall (up to 80) or library and adjacent room (up to 120), with dancing on the Great Hall's hardwood floors under dimmable sconces. Capacity is up to 150-170 from April to November and 120 in winter. Rental starts at $4,300 and includes the mansion, two staging rooms with restrooms, the Hemlock Grove, surrounding lawns, the tent and parking for ~70 cars; a portion of the rental for 8+ hour contracts is a tax-deductible donation. Couples must use an approved caterer (kosher-certified options available) but may bring their own alcohol at no corkage fee.

Columbia Country Club, established 1898, is a historic private country club in Chevy Chase, Maryland that combines classic elegance with flexible event space for weddings of up to 250 guests in its Grand Ballroom plus an expansive outdoor event lawn. The clubhouse features crystal chandeliers, vintage furnishings, manicured gardens, formal ballrooms and a wraparound veranda with twinkle lights and sweeping views of the golf course used for cocktail hour and sunset photos. In-house catering with customizable menus and full bar service are provided, along with a dedicated event planning team. The club is gated with its own golf course, free parking and wheelchair-accessible parking and entrance.