About this venue
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, our meeting house was constructed in 1930 during the administration of the Quaker president, Herbert Hoover. It was built to serve as a house of worship and a gathering place for those wanting to “seek peace and pursue it.” The building was enlarged in 1950. In 1970, we acquired the red brick Quaker House, Carriage House and garden at 2121 Decatur Place NW. Built in the 1920s and also on the National Register, these buildings today house a number of nonprofit organizations and small businesses as well as additional event spaces. With multiple interior spaces and gardens, we can accommodate events of various sizes and layouts, from 2 to 300. We host individuals, non-profit organizations, and for-profit entities. Our event rental prices are affordable, with discounts offered to non-profit organizations in alignment with our values. Whether you are planning a wedding, celebration, a corporate meeting, we can accommodate you.
Our event spaces
- Meeting Room
- Assembly Room
- Quaker House Living Room
- Decatur Place Room
- Bridge Room
- Library and Parlor
- Terrace Room
- East Gardens & Terrace
- Lower West Terrace and Gardens
- Upper West Terrace & Gardens
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Available services that can be provided by Friends Meeting of Washington
Services & amenities
- Dressing room / Bridal Suite
- Event staff
- Set up
- Wheelchair accessible
- Wifi
Transportation & access
- Wheelchair accessible
Rentals
- Sound / AV
- Standard Chairs
There is some on-the-street parking available nearby, with a strictly monitored two-hour limit during the week and no limit on the weekends. There are parking garages within easy walking distance of the venue, including two garages at the Universal building located just east of the Meeting House across Connecticut Ave NW.
With our recent renovation, our campus is almost completely accessible by persons with disabilities or other accessibility challenges.
We have a number of different rooms, and they each work for different sized groups. Our large, simple Meeting Room works well for weddings, memorials, or lectures for up to 300 guests.
Absolutely! We have three gardens—a terraced space in front of our main Meeting Room, and a large, spacious private garden on two levels behind our buildings. All are available as event venues and may be rented separately from our indoor spaces for exclusive access. Many groups enjoy taking their breaks there, or conducting team-building exercises in the outdoors.
If you choose, you may rent a tent to avoid inclement weather on the day of your wedding. We are happy to work with you on selecting a reputable vendor familiar with our venue. Tent rental is not included in the cost of your wedding package and will require rental of the gardens from the time tent setup begins to the time it is completely removed.
All of our spaces are well served by restrooms in the immediate vicinity.
Yes! Reflecting our commitment to sustainability, our building includes solar panels, a green roof and a zoned HVAC system. Renewable cork floors cover three of our largest rooms and our kitchen is set up for composting most foods. Following our renovation, our gardens are more attractive and accessible while also slowing the flow of stormwater runoff from our property into DC’s sewer system
You are welcome to select anyone that you choose to lead your ceremony. As Quakers do not have clergy, we are unable to provide you with an officiant for your wedding, although a few of our members and attenders may be licensed to perform weddings.
Absolutely! Our community has celebrated same sex weddings and commitment ceremonies for decades. We welcome couples of all genders and orientations to celebrate their weddings in our spaces.
Our spaces are available for rent during the following times: Monday-Thursday: 8am to 10 pm, and cleanup must end by 11pm. Fridays and Saturdays: 8am to 11pm, and cleanup must end by midnight. Sundays: Due to our Quaker worship and related activities, our facilities are unavailable to outside space users until 1pm (at the earliest) and may be rented until 10pm, with cleanup finished by 11pm.
Rental fees are determined by the space(s) used and the time frame in which they are used.
Unfortunately, at this time, FMW is unable to offer the use of any space free of cost. We do however offer a non-profit discount rate, and upon proof of non-profit status, are happy to apply that to the total rental fee.
Yes, we do. We offer a discount to registered non-profit organizations, Quaker organizations, and social justice groups with missions in line with Quaker values. Please ask about discounts when you inquire about space.
We will hold your space of interest for a reasonable amount of time. If we receive another request before you sign a contract, we will notify you.
Beer, wine and champagne (no spirits or liquors) are allowed for celebratory events such as weddings, memorial events, and fundraisers. Alcohol is welcome at these events with prior approval by FMW’s office, but must be served by a licensed bartender. Some events, including weddings, may have an additional charge payable to the venue in order to serve alcohol.
Please see our preferred vendors list that includes caterers. We ask that you use one of these preferred caterers, particularly if your event includes alcohol. If you wish to use another caterer, please contact us before you sign a contract with them. A fee may be charged for using a non-preferred caterer.
Other than caterers, you are welcome to use whoever you prefer. However, we recommend a few vendors we have worked with before on our preferred vendors list.
We do not allow weapons of any kind on our campus, including for event security. Use of tobacco, vaping, or all other drugs (including marijuana) is also forbidden. Alcohol (beer, wine, and champagne only) may be served only with the permission of our office and after obtaining a District of Columbia alcohol license.
We are located in a residential neighborhood and wish to be considerate of our neighbors. We require that noise levels stay within regulations. Our Event Host will monitor the noise levels and work with your event coordinator and DJ to ensure that your party is fun without violating noise regulations. See the Event Rental Guidelines for specific decibel levels.
Yes, if your space(s) are still available when you make the request. Please let us know as far in advance as possible and we will let you know the additional cost. Changes made on the day of may be subject to an additional charge above and beyond the hourly rate.
Follow our event guidelines, catering and alcohol guidelines, and leave the space as you found it when you leave. We understand that accidents happen. Please report any damage to the Event Host(s).
The doors will be open to you at the start of your reservation time as indicated on your event rental contract with us. We ask that you not arrive prior to the start of your reservation time.
Yes, your reservation includes the cost of one or two FMW staff people — called Event Hosts — to be on site to open and close the space, and answer questions. Event Hosts act as the Building Manager during your event. For weekday events, the Event and Rental Manager and/or Administrative Secretary will generally be present throughout the day and serve as the Event Hosts.
We have a projector and a screen you may borrow, as well as a Bose sound system and two hand-held mics.
You are welcome to borrow our chairs and tables for your events. We have 12 – 5’ round tables as well as 18 – 6’ rectangular tables. We also have a small number of smaller rectangular tables. We own 150 navy blue banquet style chairs as well as a selection of metal folding chairs.
You are free to set up FMW’s inventory of tables and chairs up in any way you choose, but your group (and/or your caterer, if in your agreement with them) is responsible for all setup, tear down, and cleanup unless you make prior arrangements with our office. Please return the furniture to where you found it when your event ends.
You, your caterer, or other person(s) you designate are responsible for breaking down and removing anything that you brought in. All materials must be removed from the venue by the end of the reservation.
We have a full kitchen in the main Meeting House, included if you are renting the Assembly Room or otherwise by prior arrangement. The room contains a large island that is very handy for serving meals. We are not licensed for commercial cooking, so you may not cook in the kitchen. However, you may reheat food and make final preparations for your meal. Your caterer may also work in the kitchen.
Yes, we are equipped with a business account for Comcast Gigabit Internet service. Free WIFI is available throughout our campus.
We supply the easels; you must supply the flip charts and markers. We appreciate the “sticky” kind which adheres to our walls without peeling the paint.
Yes, but be careful about damaging the paint. If you need to use tape, please use only blue painter’s tape. We have some or you are welcome to bring your own. Any paint damage will be charged against your security deposit. Due to past damage to the Meeting Room’s floor, we do not permit anything to be adhered to the floor, regardless of the type of tape used.
A non-refundable deposit, which is half of the total rental fee, is required to reserve your date. The balance is due at least two weeks before your event. Once we have received the total payment, that amount is considered non-refundable as well. If a payment is declined, there is a $25 processing fee.
You may either write a check made out to Friends Meeting of Washington, or make your payment online with a major credit card or a checking account. If you pay with a check, we will ask you to write a separate check for the security deposit that we will return to you uncashed after your event if there are no additional charges.
The initial deposit is non-refundable. The balance becomes non-refundable once received by our office. If you wish to change the date of your event or the spaces on our campus that you use, you may do so within our current fiscal year (ending June 30th), subject to space availability. A fee may be charged for date changes.
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