When my wife and I were looking for a wedding venue in the Washington DC area, we wanted a good balance across all the different factors. We wanted a venue with great food and service that is classy, convenient, and affordable. After calling and visiting a number of different places, we found the McLean Gardens Ballroom and our decision was easy. Tucked away in northwest DC, about one mile north of the National Cathedral, the MGB is easily accessible for out-of-town guests with taxis and for local guests with their own cars. We held our whole wedding event at the Ballroom - ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. We hosted 90 people and, while the venue could have easily held 130 people, the setting was still very intimate. The ballroom's fireplaces, paintings, and columns give it a very authentically classic look. The Ballroom works with a dedicated caterer, Washington Parties, that hosts monthly tasting events where you can sample different dishes and consult with their planners to construct the perfect menu. We had three tastings with Washington Parties and they offered helpful advice while we assembled our dual-entree, seasonally-appropriate feast. Washington Parties offers plated or buffet service. We were very relieved that we didn't have to worry about renting anything for the event. The Ballroom handles all of the tables, linens, dishware, and whatever else may be necessary. During the event, the caterers and planners worked like clockwork. Our schedule was planned to 5-minute increments and everything went precisely on time. The Ballroom's main planner was accessible throughout the event, but he let us enjoy ourselves without checking in every other minute. The only criticism I have of the Ballroom is that their planners could be better organized with their client files. In one or two meetings, we had to re-hash decisions we had already made because they weren't recorded in our file. That's a small criticism, though, given the excellent service and attention we received for a very modest price. The McLean Gardens Ballroom helped us host the perfect wedding.