If you can use this place for an event, I am going to go out in a limb and say it's cause you have a secure financial status- very secure. The grounds are beautiful, but the view is lacking. With balconies along the perimeter and short walks under foliage among well pruned botanicals to please the eye, the Meridian House is a historical and aesthetic venue that presents a tasteful backdrop for a charitable or celebratory event. The grounds have room for a lawn game of croquet beneath glorious and majestic trees. They flank the verdant lawn with vintage styled couches and armchairs to allow attendees to lounge and relax while viewing the players. The pebble carpeted area just outside the main doors to the outdoor portion is quaintly located beneath more arboreal decoration. These trees are well groomed to allow for beautiful hanging lights and the natural foliage to provide a canopy beneath the stars or daytime sky. The indoors are just as appealing, but in my opinion, much more traditional and expected with the architecture, lighting, stairs, materials and decor. Appropriately decorated for this historical venue, it also provides a charming, romantic and/or sophisticated theme to your event. Fabulous venue! read more

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Went to a wedding here and it was the definition of refined luxury. This beautiful converted mansion and exquisitely maintained grounds make you feel like you're in colonial Europe. I can't imagine hosting an event here is cheap but it was definitely classy and elegant. The ceremony was on the lawn which had ample space for at least 100 guests. Cocktails were in the adjacent balcony which was covered by trees (so plenty of shade on a hot summer day) and had lights strung up which made a nice ambiance when the sun set. Dinner was inside the former dining room and library and dancing in another room so this place had space for everything all in one place without having to hop around to different venues! Definitely one of the better weddings I've been to and would highly recommend for anyone looking for a high-class venue to cover everything. read more

It is no wonder that this place has been voted "Best Venue" by DC and suburb dwellers alike. The Meridian House was built by an ambassador, and years later was acquired by a non-profit organization called The Meridian International Center. On the outside, you can see a perfect example of 18th century French architecture. If some of the house's construction look familiar- they should-- the same guy who built the Jefferson Memorial and the National Archives built this place. Take a stroll through the gardens, the plants and flowers blossom beautifully in the spring. On the house grounds there are 40-plus Linden (a hardwood with cream flowers) trees- there is nothing like this grouping elsewhere. Inside, there are breathtaking tapestries, as well as Chinese jars and Waterford crystal sconces Many of the furnishings are original. read more

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I attended a work event at this gorgeous venue, and left my jacket - Maria was so helpful and responsive, and sent it to me to save me a trip! Really appreciate this "extra mile" service. read more

I stumbled across this place today while exploring Adams Morgan with my friend. The weather was amazing and I was snapping pictures of the classic and modern architecture hiding in this interesting neighborhood. I saw the banner advertising their current exhibit "Metropolis Now!" I was intrigued and walked up the circle drive. 3 huge rainbow-metallic ants greeted us and peaked my interest even more. Inside stately rooms and modern art kept our interest. Their back patio was serene and beautiful, too. Hard to believe we were just steps from the Chaos of Adams Morgan. This museum/mansion is a hidden treasure. Their exhibit was interesting and judging from the lack of Yelp reviews I guess not many people know this place exists. Check it out! read more

I'm sure it's a lovely venue and they do a good job once booked. But communication is remarkably poor. We were hoping to hold our wedding at Meridian House but the events coordinator took several days to respond and only responded after forwarding my original email three business days later. Ultimately we decided if communication initially was so poor, later stages would match. Unfortunate for them, they lost out of tens of thousands of dollars. read more

The limestone facade of Meridian House contains the following inscription: "uo habitat felicitas nil entret mali" - (where happiness dwells, evil will not enter). This is the perfect quotation for the wedding I just attended at the Meridian House. Within the first 15 minutes I thought, "I wonder if anyone has Yelped about this place yet...because I definitely will!" It is, without any doubt or hesitation, the perfect place for an intimate outdoor wedding & reception. The grounds are immaculate and walled off to avoid ever hearing the cars on 16th Street - or any unwelcome noise for that matter. Immediately off the back entrance of the foyer are beautiful linden trees that envelop guests - perfectly framing the space for wine & appetizers before a reception begins. Receptions are perfect with dinner in the library & study and the dancing & drinks situated within the ballroom. The house's design, both interior & exterior, as well as the gardens & fountains are a perfect backdrop for weddings & celebrations. Everything is so well designed & placed - there is little need for additional decorations or prep. I can't wait for other friends I know to get engaged in DC. I want, I MUST, go back to another wedding here! read more

Ugh! Weird hours for this place! Hard for a working person to ever find time to see this place. I found the person I spoke with on the phone to be nice and I had a brief email correspondence (possibly with a different person) who was informative as well. But boy, the lady at the desk, when I decided to visit in person, was either messing with me or does not understand basic spoken English because I had to repeat myself every time I asked a basic question about potential tours, etc. She was somewhat rude, I found, and I would have liked more information, which I never got. Otherwise, I would really like to see this house and I am sure it will rate higher once I get to, someday. I ended up going to the Meyer house next door and upon exiting, found some gardens which I think extend behind the Meridian House, which are quite nice. 2 star for now with the potential to rate 4 or more (just a hunch). read more

Literally a luxury house atmosphere. You are welcomed by a grand foyer with a winding red carpet staircase. The only thing downstairs are the restrooms (surprisingly not large, only 2 stalls). The upstairs is prepared for events. I attended a holiday party here. One room dedicated to networking and dancing. Other side split with buffet in a room filled with bookshelves and the other a dining space. The outside is adorned with trees and opens to an area designed for weddings/ceremonies. A nice place but not overly luxurious as the name appears. read more

A mansion converted to a space for a non-profit organization that according to its website is "unique in its dedicated role to non-partisan public diplomacy and offers a wide array of outreach, exchanges, and arts programs. Proven through almost 50 years of experience, we educate people of all ages about global issues, connect professionals from different countries and enrich the cultural perspective of audiences across the United States and abroad." They periodically showcase exhibitions in the mansion, and their current show "Life at the Edge: The Big Thaw" is a collection of photographs taken for a recent National Geographic issue showcasing how the Arctics are being affected by global warming. http://www.meridian.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=152 It was amazing, huge photos of the different animals living down there, and their vulnerability to the rapid changes occurring in their habitat. The shows run from 2-5pm Weds to Sun and is a little hard to find. Just go to the mansion off Crescent that is closest to 16th St and open the door (there are no signs on the mansion except for the one on 16th St). I'm definitely bookmarking their webpage for other events... read more

Beautiful Event Space! Please note, the rental rates for a wedding begin at $12,000 for the high season. If you are A) on a budget and/or B)not independently wealthy, look elsewhere. read more

I used the Meridian House for both my wedding ceremony and reception. It is, in my opinion, the most beautiful event venue in DC. Maria is a pleasure to work with - friendly, professional, responsive, and reasonable. I wish I could have my wedding at the Meridian House all over again!! read more

Gorgeous place. DJ'ed a wedding here. historic and very upscale venue to host events. Their staff is super helpful. Outside seating area w/ the fountains, and private garden is idyllic for weddings. read more

This was the perfect setting for my wedding and reception. The garden was blooming and leafy, and the linden trees were spectacular. The house was gorgeous and it was the perfect setting for a floating style dinner. Working with Maria was amazing, she was very helpful and responsive--I would highly recommend Merdian House as a venue! read more

The perfect venue. A few weeks ago my daughter was married at the Meridian House, and I must say the venue lent itself to a stunning landscape and the variety of room styles let people meander to find the right environ for an intimate conversation, or to dance the evening away. It's hard to express how lovely this place is. When I and the two other members of the "Wedding Venue Selection Committee," or as the groom's mother, my aunt and I called ourselves, walked into the Meridian we were floored. It was a done deal. Very much worth it, in every respect. 5 stars. read more

We were so pleased with our experience! Maria Canellis, Alison Grace, and Juan Fonseca and the events staff ensured that every detail was taken care of. Maria was very responsive initially and once everything was confirmed, she was on hand to provide general guidance and field frantic questions and requests. I didn't hire a wedding planner and I didn't need one. Maria made it easy, fun, and low-stress. All our needs were met and I would recommend Meridian International Center as a wedding venue to anyone without hesitation. We felt like royalty and we weren't worried about a thing! read more

I recently paid the $10,500 reservation fee to have my wedding at the gorgeous Meridian House. We were not so lucky due to the fact that it rained the entire day of our wedding. We were unable to take advantage of the beautiful garden and linden grove (the whole reason we decided to get married there in the first place). My family and I were incredibly disappointed when we had to have the entire event inside. We were even more disappointed when we were told by one of the event chaperones that the house was not updated with a proper air conditioning unit to cool the building with that many guests inside (we had around 175 guests). It was so hot that evening, two of our elderly guests ended up in the hospital due to the heat. I wasn't even able to enjoy my own wedding because it was so incredibly hot inside the building. Because of the humidity and rain, opening the doors was not an option. The event chaperone brought 3 industrial sized fans (a hideous sight) upstairs (after we begged her to do anything for the heat) but it still wasn't enough to cool any of the rooms. Although the Meridian House is absolutely gorgeous, and the garden and linden grove are to die for...the historic building is not meant to hold that many people without the proper AC. They should take some of the $10,500 they charge to host your event and use it to update their AC unit. read more

We had our wedding and reception at the Meridian House in October. We could not have asked for a more beautiful venue for our wedding. Many of our guests said it was the best wedding venue they had ever been to. Maria, who coordinates events at the Meridian House, was wonderful to work with. She was very responsive to our questions and extremely accommodating. We hesitated a little before selecting the Meridian House due to the high rental fee, but we are extremely happy with our decision. read more

This is a delayed reaction (my daughter was married in October 2011), but Meridian House was the picture-perfect-magical reception venue...I'm still getting the stardust out of my eyes. The event-manager (Maria Canellis) was ultra-competent and a delight to deal with at every step of the way...kept me calm when I thought my head would explode. And most important, my daughter (a New Yorker who is ultra-stylish-picky) said the event was more beautiful than (even she!) could have imagined...her "dream wedding" and then some. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but one cannot put a price on eternal memories...worth every penny and more. read more

We had our daughter's wedding and reception here on Labor Day weekend. The venue was exactly what my daughter had hoped for. The events manager, Maria, was extremely helpful and knowledgable. She was always very quick to respond to any and all questions we had during the months leading up to the big event. This historic mansion was one of the most beautiful places that we looked at in the DC area. The Linden Grove, with it's magnificent trees provided the perfect spot for the wedding ceremony. Later, it served as a comfortable spot in which to enjoy cocktails and conversation. Inside, although the evening was very warm, there were several areas in which to move around, depending on what the guests wished to do. It was truly like we were having the wedding in a grand old home. We have had nothing but positive comments from our guests. Some of whom told us that it was the most beautiful wedding they have ever been to. (and this came from some very seasoned wedding goers!) The fact that the evening was very warm, was outweighed by the beautiful surroundings, by far! May is the BEST time of year to get married in the DC area, since everything is in full bloom, and that held true for the Meridian House. I would highly recommend this great venue! read more

Meridian House was a great venue for my wedding reception! Everything looked beautiful, and went off without a hitch. Maria was very accommodating and helpful when dealing with other vendors. It was everything I had ever dreamed of and more. read more

Storngly recommend that this venue not be utilized for weddings during the window of approximately 15 May - 1 October. Went to a wedding on Saturday 28 May and there is a totally nonfunctional A/C system. Once the ceremony was finished outside, everyone went inside and cooked. Senior adults were almost to the point of passing out and guests actually left early. Sure, it's beautiful but as always it's the bride and bride's mother that review these places and fail to consider that a historic location will lack any adequate environmental controls. Plus they will usually looka these places in the fall for a late spring wedding...what a strategic error!! Consider this place only during the proper weather window. To do so otherwise and you will regret it as your top dollar venue will be a bust. We had our wedding at 2941 in Falls Church and it's a modern venue with the proper A/C, etc. It was so sad to see women will running eye makeup and dripping hair and mens suits totally soaked through as though they were in the rain. read more