Twenty-five years of officiating, ten of them here. From courthouse weddings in Clarendon to rooftop ceremonies in Rosslyn, from Yards Park to the Iwo Jima overlook — I know this town and the venues that make it beautiful.
I moved my family to Arlington a decade ago, raised my children here, and the County has been home ever since. The dog gets walked in Lubber Run. I know which side of Wilson Boulevard the parking is friendlier on and which Metro stops are walkable for elderly guests in dress shoes. None of this matters for the ceremony itself — but the small things help when you're planning a wedding.
For couples marrying in Arlington, the practicalities are different than they are elsewhere in Virginia. Outdoor ceremonies on County land require coordination with Arlington Parks. The Air Force Memorial overlook is gorgeous but requires its own permits. Courthouse weddings at the Arlington Justice Center work but need the right paperwork in advance. I've done this often enough to know the difference between what couples assume is possible and what actually is.
If you're getting married in Arlington and want an officiant who knows the town as a resident rather than an outsider — let's talk.
A few of the places I've officiated ceremonies in Arlington — and the things worth knowing about each.
Le Méridien Arlington and the Hilton Arlington Rosslyn both offer ceremony spaces with sweeping views of the Potomac and the Georgetown skyline. The Le Méridien Terrace in particular is hard to beat for couples who want a city-meets-river feel.
Indoor backup is built into both — useful in March or November when Arlington's weather is unpredictable.
Lyon Park Community Center and similar neighborhood venues offer something the big hotels can't — the feel of a real Arlington neighborhood, often at a fraction of the cost. These work especially well for couples who want a daytime ceremony followed by a relaxed reception.
Most have outdoor garden space alongside indoor halls. Capacity tends to top out around 100–150.
The grounds around the Marine Corps War Memorial and the Air Force Memorial offer some of the most striking ceremony backdrops in the DMV — Washington's skyline laid out across the river. Both require permits and timing coordination, but the effect at golden hour is unforgettable.
I've officiated several here and can help with the logistics.
Some of the loveliest Arlington weddings I've officiated have been in backyards — twenty guests in a garden in Lyon Village, a deck overlooking Donaldson Run, a quiet ceremony beneath a magnolia in Ashton Heights. Home weddings carry an intimacy hotels can't quite manage.
I bring the same care to a fifteen-guest backyard ceremony as I do to a hundred-fifty-guest reception.
For couples drawn to the Scottish & Celtic tradition — handfasting, the quaich, oathing stones, Celtic blessings — I officiate every such ceremony in full Highland dress. Arlington's tree-lined parks and historic venues turn out to be unexpectedly beautiful settings for Highland ceremonies.
A short call, in person if you're nearby, or over Zoom. We talk about who you are, what you imagine, and whether we feel like a fit. No pressure either way.
Two unhurried meetings — often over coffee in Clarendon or at a café near your venue — to shape the ceremony around your story. I draft, you respond, we refine until it's right.
I attend the rehearsal the evening before. On the day itself, I arrive early, manage the small logistics, officiate the ceremony as written, and stay calm if anything wobbles.
The completed marriage certificate is filed with the issuing Virginia Circuit Court within the required five days. You'll receive a copy for your records.
Coming from DC or Maryland?— Many of the couples I officiate live across the river, and choose Arlington for the ceremony itself
Arlington is often the easier answer.
Often, yes. Virginia marriage licenses are valid statewide regardless of which county issues them, there is no waiting period (you can apply and marry the same day), and a Virginia officiant can perform ceremonies anywhere in the state. Many DC couples find it simpler to drive across the river, get a license at Arlington Circuit Court, and marry that same week. I am happy to walk you through the logistics.
Yes — couples often want a small ceremony at or near the Arlington Justice Center after collecting their license. I can meet you there, perform a short ceremony (typically ten to fifteen minutes), and file the certificate the same day. This is a popular choice for couples who want something legal and dignified without a full wedding day.
Probably. I have officiated at most of the larger Arlington venues — Le Méridien, the Hilton Rosslyn, Lyon Park Community Center, Top of the Town — and at many private homes, gardens, and parks across the County. If your venue is somewhere I have not been, I will visit it before the rehearsal so we both know the space.
Arlington County Parks & Recreation issues permits for ceremonies on County land — at parks like Bluemont, Lubber Run, Quincy, Glebe Road. Permit applications generally need to be filed weeks in advance, and there are restrictions on amplified sound, chairs, and arches. I am familiar with the process and can advise. The Iwo Jima and Air Force Memorial grounds are National Park Service property and have their own (more involved) permitting.
Civil ceremonies start at $375 and include everything needed for a legal marriage in Virginia. The Signature Wedding (a fully bespoke ceremony with two planning conversations, a written script, rehearsal attendance, and certificate filing) starts at $1,200. The Scottish & Celtic package — officiated in full Highland dress with handfasting, the quaich, and other traditional rituals — starts at $1,500. Travel within Arlington is included; further travel in Northern Virginia is also included up to 60 miles.
For weekends in May, June, September, and October — the peak Arlington wedding months — six to nine months is typical. For weekday ceremonies, courthouse weddings, and the less busy months (January, February, August), a few weeks is often enough. Elopements and same-week ceremonies are possible if my schedule allows; ask and we will see.
Yes, across all of Virginia. Travel within 60 miles of Arlington is included in the package — which covers Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and into the northern Shenandoah Valley. The Loudoun vineyards and the Blue Ridge are particularly beautiful settings for ceremonies if you're open to driving a bit. See all packages on the main page.
There is no pressure and no obligation — I would simply love to hear your story and see whether I might be the right person to stand at the front of it.