After The Micro Wedding: Intimate Restaurants in DC and Baltimore For Your Tiny Wedding Reception
While a micro wedding has fewer guests than a grand-scale regular-sized wedding, there are still a lot of moving parts to consider like…
Finding a tiny wedding venue (Check out our favorites here!)
Deciding how many guests to have (or maybe you choose to elope!)
Deciding on a cake flavor and color palette for your flowers (Don’t worry; we will match you with only the best local DC and Baltimore wedding vendors!)
Deciding on live music, a DJ or just playing music from a Bluetooth speaker
And finally, choosing what to do or where to celebrate after your ceremony! For some couples, their reception is equally as important as the ceremony itself. If this is you, we can help you find the perfect location!
Finding a Wedding Reception for Your Micro Wedding in DC and Baltimore
“So, where are the best micro wedding reception venues in Baltimore and DC?”
Whether the reception is simply for you and a small group of close family and friends or if you’re looking for something a bit bigger to host your tiny wedding guests, we've got a few Baltimore and DC favorites to share with you.
Our favorite small, intimate wedding reception restaurants in Baltimore and Washington DC:
Lapis - one of our all-time favorite restaurants in DC located in the heart of Adams Morgan. It’s a modern, Afghan bistro offering a cozy, soul-nourishing menu in a dimly lit, romantic space.
Iron Gate - located in Dupont Circle, Iron Gate is one of the district’s oldest continuously operating restaurants. It is split between a dining room with a cozy fireplace, a wisteria-covered patio, and an enclosed carriageway that houses the bar.
Officina - an Italian-inspired restaurant with views of the Potomac, a bustling indoor bar, and a rooftop!
Little Pearl - a gorgeous glass-encased conservatory with a rotating tasting menu with wine pairing.
Artifact Coffee - a cozy, stone-walled coffee shop with a private space offering seasonal menus and hand-crafted drinks.
The Bygone - atop the Four Seasons sits Baltimore’s most elevated dining experience with breathtaking city views.
Woodberry Kitchen - if local ingredients and community impact are important to you, then Woodberry Kitchen is the perfect location for your micro wedding in Baltimore.
Looking For a Little “After-Party” Fun Post-Micro Wedding?
TRY THESE after-party locations in DC and Baltimore:
The Wells - an upscale cocktail bar located in the heart of Capitol Hill. Perfect for a small group looking for one last cocktail before calling it a night.
Crown and Crow - this super casual, basement bar is where our founder and her husband had one of their first dates! Modeled after a London pub, this is a great place for a large group to grab beer and wine after their reception.
Silver Lyan - located in the old bank vault of The Riggs Hotel, this super swanky spot is perfect for our bespoke cocktail lovers.
All Souls - a neighborhood corner bar located in Shaw, it has both indoor and outdoor space and is perfect for laidback after-party fun.
The Bluebird - a cozy, beautiful cocktail bar located in the Hampden neighborhood.
The Whiskey Pub - a candlelit, underground pub for whiskey lovers.
And if your guests need some recommendations for places to eat and drink over the wedding week…
Some favorites for your weekend DC and Baltimore Tiny Wedding guests to enjoy after the wedding day:
Le Diplomate - a local favorite and a must-eat in DC. Our favorites include the warm shrimp salad, the seafood tower, and French onion soup. (And don’t skip out on the bread basket!)
The Dabney Cellar - a casual wine bar offspring of “The Dabney” located at the end of a hidden stairwell in Shaw. We recommend the oysters!
Moonraker - make a dinner reservation here and catch the sunset on the rooftop for beautiful views of the Potomac located in Baltimore’s Sagamore Pendry Hotel.
Yellow - a casual but happening Middle Eastern lunch spot that’s not to be missed! Our favorites include the coconut cardamom iced coffee and the chicken shawarma pita
Chiyo Sushi - there are a few great sushi restaurants in Baltimore but most locals will pick Chiyo as their favorite!
Here are four things you want to consider when it comes to your ideal micro wedding restaurant reception:
1. Location, location, location! You’ll want to consider parking, distance from the micro wedding ceremony, and any accessibility needs for your guests.
2. Ambiance and Style: Make sure the restaurant you choose fits your vision. If you want modern and bright or dark and rustic, make sure to look at photos or if you are local, visit a few locations on your shortlist. Need help with decoration ideas for the reception? Here are our tips for decorating your small wedding in DC and Baltimore.
3. Micro Wedding Menu: Choose a restaurant with food that both you and your partner love! You’ll also want to think about any dietary restrictions you and your guests may have.
4. Service: Make sure the restaurant you choose not only has delicious food but a service staff that cares about the experience, as well! We recommend popping in during regular business hours for a meal to check out the ambiance and vibe of the space.
The DMV area has some of the most gorgeous, intimate, and fun micro-wedding locations that your guests will be talking about long after the reception is over. Whether you’re eloping and wanting to end your day at a special restaurant or you’re planning a bigger celebration with loved ones, the Tiny Wedding Collective is here to make your day as special as we can. We're ready to help our DC and Baltimore tiny wedding couples build the micro wedding of their dreams. Contact us today and let’s start planning your perfect tiny wedding day.
The Tiny Wedding Collective is a Washington DC-based all-inclusive elopement and intimate wedding planning service for DC and Baltimore, Maryland. A Tiny Wedding is for couples who want to celebrate their commitment in a thoughtful, stylish way but don’t want the stress and fanfare of a big, expensive wedding. Not all couples fit inside the same traditional box and it’s time that we make space for inclusivity, diversity, and creativity. To find out more about what it’s like to work with us, please fill out our contact form here.