For a perfect event, look into the past

Built by Martha Custis Peter, granddaughter of Martha Washington, and her husband, Tudor Place hosts events on the smaller side from teas to weddings with 70 or fewer guests, and it prides itself on being both accommodating and appealing to all ages.

{mosads}The home stayed in the same family for six generations, a history that is reflected in the different rooms — each room reflects in its furnishings a different generation. With so much to explore, events incorporating history can be tailored to the interests of clients and visitors.

For weddings, couples most often choose to tie the knot in the home’s beautiful gardens.

“We are small enough and not well-known enough that people can come at the last minute, and not always can we help them, but usually we can. We’ll find a way,” said Jeralynn Graham, director of visitor services. “Some of the weddings are really cute because we’re getting a lot of the people who are being deployed now, so their weddings are fast.”

In addition to being a grown-up venue, the historic home touts summer camps and birthday parties for children and teens. The house offers a half-day summer camp for 3-to-9-year-olds, and a curator camp for teenagers.

“We’re trying to make it as accessible and engaging as possible,” said Talia Mosconi, director of education.

Though the house once had a view of the Potomac and was itself visible from the river, today the site can hardly be seen from the roads adjacent to it. The seclusion only adds to the atmosphere, blocking out the distractions of the city down the hill.

And if you are still unsure about wedding china, take a look at the six generations of place settings that are a fixture on the tour for a few ideas.

For larger gatherings, Dumbarton House is a safe bet, accommodating up to 200 guests. The House is well prepared for the bustle of a wedding, from the walk down the aisle to the reception in the House’s lower level’s modern, renovated ballroom and patio. As a venue, it is the complete package of historic charm and practical accommodations.

Dumbarton House was purchased and named by the Colonial Dames in 1928. The name has sometimes caused confusion with the research library and gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. The name Dumbarton comes from the old name for the area, the Rock of Dumbarton, given to it by Scotsman Ninian Beall when he settled there in 1703.

Today, Dumbarton House is open to the public as a museum and for event rentals.

As far as life’s beginnings and endings go, Georgetown has seen it all in its storied history, and it still has so much to offer. Whether you are looking for a quick tour destination or the venue for your next garden party, try looking into the past for some of the most fascinating and charming places in Georgetown.