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Carlyle House Wedding in Old Town Alexandria

Writer: Mantas Kubilinskas
Mantas Kubilinskas
May 5, 2017
2 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

Michael and Ashley’s Carlyle House wedding in Old Town Alexandria brought an outdoor ceremony, portraits, and a lively tented reception together in a historic garden setting. This gallery follows the celebration through the people, details, and candid moments that made the day feel personal.

For couples considering Carlyle House now, check the calendar before making plans: NOVA Parks currently says it will not book rentals for 2027 because of a planned restoration. The official weddings and event rentals page has the current notice and inquiry details.

Carlyle House wedding venue: current details

Carlyle House Historic Park is in the heart of Old Town Alexandria, about half a block from King Street and a block and a half from the waterfront. NOVA Parks notes that nearby parking garages are available, which makes the location convenient for guests walking from local hotels and gathering spots.

NOVA Parks lists rentals from April 1 through October 31, with events on the tented Magnolia Terrace, in the garden, or on the front lawn. Two-hour ceremony rentals are available, and maximum capacity ranges from 65 to 100 depending on the location. The gardens and terrace are wheelchair accessible. Confirm dates, layout, and current pricing directly with the venue.

Michael and Ashley’s Carlyle House wedding photos

The photographs open with the outdoor ceremony beneath the trees, then turn to getting-ready moments, portraits, and the gathering around the grounds. Later frames pick up the reception: a food truck, a handwritten card, ice cream, and dancing on the brick courtyard.

Michael and Ashley exchange vows beneath leafy trees at their Carlyle House wedding in Old Town Alexandria.

Preparation, portraits, and the ceremony

Friends help each other get ready, the bride pauses over a handwritten note, and the groom reads beneath the canopy. The portraits move between quiet details and the wedding party together, with Carlyle House’s historic facade appearing behind the couple.

Groomsmen help each other finish getting ready in a quiet black-and-white wedding photograph.
A playful black-and-white moment with the groom and a friend during wedding preparations.
The groom stands among groomsmen in matching suspenders and bow ties before the ceremony.
The bride checks her reflection while attendants get ready in the room behind her.
The bride reads a handwritten note as two attendants wait in the room.
A black-and-white portrait of the bride beside framed artwork inside the venue.
The groom reads a note beneath the tree canopy before the Carlyle House ceremony.
Rows of folded illustrated cards wait on a table beneath the reception tent.
A sunlit profile portrait of the bride against Old Town Alexandria rooftops.
The groom and two groomsmen pause together beside a stone wall.
The bride holds her bouquet between two family members in dappled light.
A close black-and-white view of a wedding ring against the bride's dress.
A bridesmaid blows bubbles during the outdoor wedding celebration.
Michael and Ashley smile with their wedding party in front of Carlyle House.
Three men walk up a stone stairway in a candid black-and-white wedding photo.
Two friends strike a playful pose beneath the trees on the wedding day.

A relaxed reception beneath the tent

The reception photos keep the focus on the people rather than a staged timeline: guests gather by the food truck, share a dessert, applaud, and dance. A few playful frames capture the energy as the evening opens up, while the final images return to the couple and their friends together.

Wedding guests gather beside the courtyard as a food truck arrives.
The couple orders from a Peruvian Brothers food truck during the reception.
A hand-drawn congratulatory card for Ashley and Michael at their wedding.
A guest applauds during the reception in a black-and-white candid photograph.
A Universal Studios E.T. postcard rests among travel snapshots and cards.
A smiling guest holds ice cream beneath the reception tent.
A guest dances on the brick courtyard as friends clap nearby.
Two guests dance together beneath the reception tent.
Three guests share an ice-cream break beside the courtyard entrance.
A guest and a man in a vest dance beside the reception tables.
A guest in a red shirt laughs as friends dance beneath the tent.
A guest slides across the brick floor as the wedding party cheers.
A guest laughs while dancing in a black-and-white reception photograph at Carlyle House.
A guest takes a selfie on the brick courtyard while the bride walks behind him.
A wedding guest ties a patterned scarf around another man's head as friends look on.
A guest flashes a peace sign while friends gather beneath the reception tent.
Michael and Ashley dance beneath the reception tent in a black-and-white photograph.
A guest makes a face with a printed photo prop while the couple dances behind him.
Two groomsmen laugh together holding drinks beside the reception tent.
Guests dance on the brick courtyard as the bride raises her arms in the background.

Carlyle House wedding FAQs

Where is Carlyle House in Old Town Alexandria?

Carlyle House Historic Park is in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, about half a block from King Street and a block and a half from the waterfront. NOVA Parks notes that adjacent parking garages are available.

When can couples book a wedding at Carlyle House?

NOVA Parks lists the rental season as April 1 through October 31. It currently says Carlyle House will not book rentals for 2027 because of a planned restoration project. Check the official rental page for the latest dates.

How many guests can Carlyle House accommodate?

NOVA Parks lists a maximum capacity of 65 to 100 guests, depending on the selected location. Ask the venue to confirm the capacity for the exact garden, terrace, or lawn layout.

Can couples hold an outdoor wedding ceremony at Carlyle House?

Yes. NOVA Parks offers two-hour ceremony rentals and lists the tented Magnolia Terrace, garden, and front lawn as event spaces. The gardens and terrace are wheelchair accessible; confirm the plan for your date with the venue.

For another Old Town Alexandria celebration, see this Morrison House wedding gallery or explore Washington, DC wedding photography.

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