Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Quaker House Living Room and the Decatur Place Room—each work well for groups of up to 45 or more participants. The elegant Living Room is especially lovely for small weddings, office retreats, workshops, and board meetings. Our Parlor/Library room, Carriage House Room, and our Terrace Room are perfect for small meetings of 5 to 20 people.

The Assembly Room can hold more than 100 people in chairs, up to 96 at a sit-down dinner, and 140 for a stand-up reception. This room works very well for all-day retreats needing flexible room setup. It includes two smaller rooms—great for break-out sessions—as well as access to our full kitchen

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 have a required tent rental vendor that we work with who is familiar with our spaces. 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.

Due to noise impacts on our neighbors, our gardens close to guests at 10pm seven days per week.

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. We also recycle extensively across our campus.

Yes! We are open to all couples and welcome LGBTQ weddings!

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.

No, identifying and contracting with an officiant is your responsibility.

You are welcome to select anyone that you choose to lead your ceremony. Our list of preferred wedding and event professionals offers several individuals who we know.

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.

If you choose to be married in the Quaker tradition and go through the process of being married under the care of FMW, we may be able to provide one or more individuals to sit “head of meeting” during your ceremony to lead the worship However, this cannot be guaranteed.

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.

In addition, we do not have a liquor license. Your caterer or bartender may be able to supply the liquor license or you can apply for a one-day liquor license through the District of Columbia Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration (ABRA). Any event where alcohol is served requires proof of license provided to FMW’s office by the business day before the event, or the serving and consumption of alcohol will be prohibited.

A portion of the venue rental cost will be contributed to neighborhood organizations working to counter the sometimes harmful impacts of alcohol on our society.

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.

With a signed contract, renters are also welcome to bring in their own food and beverages — or have food (such as boxed lunches) dropped off by a restaurant.

Other than caterers and tent rental, 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 other drugs is also forbidden. This includes the consumption or sale of cannabis and edibles at events. 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. Refer to the event rental guidelines included with your rental agreement for additional information on what is permitted during your event.

We are located in a residential neighborhood and wish to be considerate of our neighbors. We require that noise levels stay within regulations. Our staff will monitor the noise levels and work with your event coordinator and DJ to ensure that your party is fun without violating noise regulations. Generally, loud music / DJs / live bands can only play indoors. See the Event Rental Guidelines included with your rental agreement for specific decibel levels.

Due to noise impacts on our neighbors, our gardens close to guests at 10pm seven days per week.

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 our staff.

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 Administrator will generally be present throughout the day and serve as the Event Hosts.

Free WIFI is available throughout the indoor and select outdoor spaces on our campus.

Audiovisual equipment available for use during your event on a first come first served basis:

• Video projection — normally our 65″ TV screen + laptop combination if available
• Speakers
• Microphones

You are welcome to borrow our chairs and tables for your events. We have twelve 5’ round tables as well as twenty 6’ rectangular tables. We also have a small number of smaller rectangular tables. We own 150 navy blue banquet style chairs for indoor use only as well as 150 white resin chairs for use indoors or outdoors.

Unless you make prior arrangements with our staff, you must setup and breakdown tables and chairs during your event.

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.

If you are changing the arrangement of benches in the Meeting Room, it may be helpful to take a photo beforehand to remind you of where they are to go. We have a setup chart for the Meeting Room available to follow as well. The benches may be rearranged, but not removed.

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.

If you are renting the Quaker House Living Room, you will have access to a small kitchenette. Other spaces may include kitchen or kitchenette access for an additional charge.

We require you to bring your own serving items—such as linens, plates, cups, bowls, utensils, coffee, coffee pots and filters. Our refrigerators may be used for short-term storage, but all food and beverage items must be removed at the conclusion of your event.

Yes, we are equipped with a business account for Comcast Gigabit Internet service. Free WIFI is available throughout our spaces.

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.

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 include the amount of the security deposit in your check. This amount will be refunded to you 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.