Top of the Town

ToTT is a perfect venue for a DC wedding. The view is gorgeous. ToTT will impress your guests - both the visitors and the locals. Kate Markham and Joan Voss gave us great suggestions - and helped us find perfect vendors who really knew ToTT. It is invaluable to select vendors who know the venue - strengths and limitations. ToTT's restrictions were very consistent with our wants. We didn't want jumping or rice throwing - and we appreciated ToTT provided lists of approved vendors. Definitely helped with our vendor selections. AND the large parking for our guests was an unexpected PLUS.

Both the ceremony and the reception were held at ToTT - made for a gorgeous evening as the sun set during the cocktail hour. We saw DC's skyline of monuments in sun, dusk, and evening light. We loved the chairs, dance floor, balcony, and amazing wall of windows. We fell in love with ToTT from the 1st time we saw the venue. We're still in love. Both our children are married - we now need to find another celebratory occasion so we can party there again.

Kate, Joan, and their staff shared a beautiful venue for the evening ... the wedding ceremony and reception were glorious. THANKS!

Top of the Town is a beautiful location for a wedding ceremony and reception. We had a brunch wedding reception after our ceremony and it was wonderful! The location is great and easy to access. The staff was wonderful from the first visit to the last minute of our event. The weather was cloudy but we still had a great view of DC and didn't need any extra lighting for our daytime event. I would highly recommend this venue for anyone who is looking to have an event with a wonderful view. Thank you to all of the staff at TOTT for making our wedding day a great success!

Leah & Joe
March 25, 2012

The view was great and that's what your paying for, They will let you stop in before your wedding to check things out which was nice. I think it worked out okay. One of the facility managers started collecting up the centerpieces during the last dance, it did make guests feel rushed. The communication between morning and night managers was a little off i wanted the seating to be set up differently, the caterer screwed it up i was hoping someone from the venue would have said something. but since i has only talked to the morning person the night people didn't know.

we got married during the low season, which is why we could afford it, but the extra hour to do a ceremony cost us $800 which hurt a little. They have nice chairs and the tables included in rental so getting this place during the low season is defiantly more affordable, and just as pretty. Received security check in 2 weeks after wedding.


yes and it is true if you are the 2nd event (night) on the same day you have to use the first persons caterer even if you signed first, unless you have a certain number of hours in between for...

Top of the Town was fantastic! It has to be the most incredible view in the entire DC area! My husband and I had always loved the area right around Iwo Jima and the Netherlands Carillon so when we found Top of the Town we were pretty certain that's where we wanted to get married. One look at the view from Top of the Town and we were hooked. We booked the space right away for both our ceremony and our reception. The costs were much more reasonable than the other places we looked at in the area. Kate and Joan were very friendly and helpful in planning the details of the venue with us. The only tough part is that they do have specific lists of preferred vendors for certain things, but that list actually made my decisions easier (less choice) and I loved every single one of the vendors we used. So, no complaints here! We lucked out with the most gorgeous day in March and the view was phenomenal. Everything was set up beautifully. We were worried the space might be a bit tight (we had 150 guests) but it was really perfect. It didn't feel cramped to me at all. With the beautiful weather, we were able to put our bar on the outside terrace and use the terrace for the cocktail hour. Boy was that fantastic! People could not stop raving about the view (and still e-mail me about it)! Let me take a moment to also review our day-of vendor managers - Allison McCrae and Deb Prado. Wow, they were AMAZING! They always had smiles on their faces and helped make everything go so smoothly for our day. My family is still talking about how friendly and helpful they were! I highly recommend Top of the Town!

The view is amazing and is one of the biggest compliments we have recieved from people who attended our wedding. Make sure to read their contract since the venue, being above an apartment building, has noise and band rules and also has a list of preferred caterers. They are more than willing to work with you if you want an outside vendor. Also note the venue closes at midnight on Fri/Sat and 10 the rest of the week, so don't expect to go to 1 a.m. or later, but with Arlington in close proximity, the night never has to end!

Our daughter's wedding was September 9, 2011 and TOT handled the ceremony and reception. Everything about this space was amazing. We had 155 guests and were worried about the tightness, but the weather cooperated and we couldn't reel our guests in from the terrace. The view is unsurpassed! We have beautiful pictures as memories of that special day. Kate, Joan, Laura and staff did a wonderful job to ensure we stayed on top of all the wedding details leading up to that day. They all were very responsive as we bombarded them with emails and phone calls coming from bride, groom, Mom and Dad! Excellent work folks! Renting this space is expensive but if your budget allows -- this is the venue for your wedding!!

I absolutely loved Top of the Town for my wedding! Kate and Joan were very nice and very professional; they always made me feel that I could do whatever I wanted for my wedding. The day of my wedding, Allison actually was the floor manager, who I met the day of my rehearsal. She was very outgoing and fit my personality even better than Kate and Joan.

The venue is beautiful, perfect for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot on decorations. My guests all loved the view and spent the majority of the time on the patio when they weren't on the dance floor.

The only reason I marked down responsiveness is because I have not received my deposit back yet, but any time I needed anything before the wedding, Kate emailed me back immediately.

We had our wedding reception here. It couldn't have been more perfect. All our guests raved about the view. The only downside to this venue is that they have a lot of restrictions. You can't play the wedding classics because you can't have synchronized dancing. It stinks, but the view is so worth it. If this place fits your budget, definitely get it!!!

I love love loooooved this venue! This place made our night!!!! Even people from DC were asking us how we found this place. It was a real treat for those who came from Texas, France, Spain and Peru!!! They were in awe! My cousin said "I feel like we are at a party for "The real Housewives of DC". If you are able to splurge I would definitely book this place asap. We were the only wedding scheduled there for that day so I thought that made things run smoothly. Not sure how things would have gone if there was another wedding. Make sure you are aware of all the stipulations (must use their vendors and no jump dancing). The view is worth a million bucks. This is the best venue in the DC metro area hands down!

Top of the Town is a GREAT venue. It' a bit costly but the view is well worth the cost. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful. Kate and Joan were great at getting back to me whenever I had questions. And the day of the wedding the staff was very attentive and made sure we were happy with everything! I would highly recommend you have your wedding at Top of the Town!!

As many of the other reviews have indicated, the most amazing part about this venue is the view over DC. It's just as special for out-of-town guests as people who have lived in/around DC for years. The evening of our event it was fairly cloudy but it cleared away as the lights came on over the city, which was beautiful. As a travel agent, I also thought it was appropriate to see the planes coming in and out of DCA. The outdoor patio/veranda is beautiful and our guests loved having some fresh air even though it got chilly. We had great experiences working with Kate, even making changes such as extending our event time to go an hour later. The entrance is a bit unusual with the one elevator, but we didn't have any problems (partially because our guests arrived at different times since they weren't coming from a ceremony -- we'd gotten married in Jamaica the week before). It's great that the venue has private parking right across the street and it's also only about a 10 minute walk from Rosslyn metro. Great hotel options nearby and it makes a great base area for guests who want to do sightseeing. The venue is very reasonably priced considering the quality of the space and everything that's already included. I have no complaints -- I wouldn't have asked for any more from Top of the Town. Highly recommend!

Top of the Town has it all: a beautiful venue with an amazing view of Washington DC and exceptional staff. I worked with Joan exclusively leading up to the wedding and Allison on the day of the wedding. They both bend over backwards to make sure you get everything you want. I sent so many emails to them trying to get everything coordinated and they always came back with responsive emails with great ideas. They handled the quirks of our event with grace. I can definitely see why it's such a popular venue. I must mention how wonderful Allison is. She is easy going and amazing at her job. I would have been very nervous all day if I didn't have her with me keeping us on track and assuring me that everything was great. She pitched in with everything: setting up decorations, getting beverages, doing make-up. Everyone who was in contact with her had only wonderful things to say. Whatever she's being paid, it should be doubled. If you want an elegant venue with smart, well-trained staff, please choose Top of the Town.

The staff at TOTT are amazing professionals. You fall in love with the view and the price is affordable in comparison to other wedding locations without the amazing DC skyline view. We had an evening wedding so we had day light, sun set and then the night time view of the monuments - it was absolutely perfect. We had some issues with our caterer during our event and without the TOTT team it would have been disastrous. Only down side is that there is no kitchen so highly recommend using a caterer who is familiar with the site. We hope to use it for our 50th wedding anniversary :)

Top of the Town is an amazing venue for a reception.
Kate and her team were professional and patient with us (we were planning for our daughter and future son-in-law while they were in Iraq and then back in Georgia). We relayed questions and answers back and forth for about 10 months. They endured a few short-fused requests for us to re-visit the room to sort out some of our questions.
We had even arranged for some younger friends of the family to leave the wedding ceremony early to set up our "personalized" centerpieces on the tables. When they arrived to do their job, they were surprised that Kate and her team had already done it for them. After the reception, she was right there to help pack them for us so that we could take them home.
All of our guests felt that Top of the Town was absolutely the perfect spot in the DC area for a reception. They loved looking at the monuments in the daylight, into the dusk and through the evening.
We have already highly recommended Kate and the rest of the staff to our friends who have children marrying in the near future.

A guest summed it up nicely: "I have never been to a classier wedding reception - ever." The Top of the Town dresses up any wedding reception. We even showed up two hours early to our reception in order to get some shots on the roof before the sun went down, surprising everyone (and not in a good way!) and the staff managed the rest of the catering and event staff flawlessly- looking after us and ensuring that we were comfortable. Thank you to the staff - we have received so many rave reviews!!!

Top of the Town may be the most amazing venue in all of the DC metro area. We have a lot of friends who are newlyweds and all of them were excited to see our venue after searching for venues themselves. Everyone was amazed with the location and view. We got married in October and the weather was absolutely perfect. The outdoor terrace is key. Joan and Kate are both very professional and I didn't really have an issue with responsiveness. I typically got a response within 2-3 days. The venue is pretty expensive but if you can fork the bill then go for it! We had about 130 guests and I don't think one more would have fit. I don't see how 180 would squeeze in there. The dance floor is also relatively small and I think it deterred our guests from dancing so they wouldn't be on top of each other. Allison was our day-of coordinator and she was THE BEST. I give her a million stars!!!!!

Top of the Town was the perfect venue for our destination wedding reception. It is a banquet hall that holds up to 180 people on the top floor (12th floor) of a condo building just behind (to the west) of the Iwo Jima Memorial. It might be tight with the maximum amount of people. We had 120 and it seemed the perfect size for the venue. The view absolutely can not be beat! At dusk, you will watch the lights come on all of the monuments - truly breathtaking. On a good day, you can see clear to FedEx Field. There are other venues with a similar view (Key Bridge Marriott, for example), but they are much more expensive. Due to the TOTT being on top of resident condos, they do have a few rules and guidelines that you have to follow and a specific list of caterers and DJs to work with, but they have a wide range to fit within every budget. We did not find this to be a problem. We could not have chosen a more perfect place and would not have changed a thing.

Everybody we worked with at Top of the Town was amazing! They were so helful and made positive suggestions. It was a delight working with them for the reception. We loved it so much, my brother is using them for his wedding next year!

Top of the town has a beautiful view; the cost is well worth it; especially if you have out of town guests. They get a gorgeous view of the DC monuments and buildings without having to go anywhere. Joan Voss was very responsive to my emails and everything went smoothly the night of the wedding. Perfect location!

As everyone else has said, the view cannot be beat. we thought we got a good value because we had the venue on the 4th of july, which was more expenspive, but a pretty unique experience for us and our guests with the fireworks. However, there are a few things: the microphone cut out during our ceremony, and they did not make an effort to remedy the situation. We gave a low flexibility score because there are certain limitations due to them being part of the building such as music ending by 11, and also a limited list of caterers that you must choose from. overall, we had a great wedding, but do not expect the staff to do much beyond watching to make sure that nothing in the venue is damaged. THe money well spent is all for the view.

We had our wedding at Top of the Town July 2010 and it was EVERYTHING we had imagined. Most of our guests were from out of town and we could not have given them a better view of our town. Many of our guests commented that the view at the venue was a "once in a lifetime" experience. From the moment we first met Joan to sign the contract everything moved along smoothly. The staff at TOTT was very accomodating to our needs even when we would stop by to check out the space multiple times before our wedding. Alyssa was our venue coordinator for the day and she worked to make sure that everything was moving along smoothly. We did not have any disasters (that I was aware of) and our guests loved every minute of it. I wish TOTT held more people as we did have to be very selective with our guest list but our numbers were very close to 180 (max capacity) and it did not feel cramped or crowded at all - something I was concerned about. They have a specific way the room is set up when there is 180 people and it did not seem too crowded at all! We had so many great photographs from the evening as there are great photo ops everywhere you look. I can go on and on how wonderful this venue is and the staff...everything was exactly how I hoped it would be on that day. Thank you Joan and Kate you helped make our wedding day just as we imagined.

The first word that come to mind when we think of our wedding reception at Top of the Town was "wow"! We honestly cannot think of a better place to have a wedding reception than at Top of the Town. The view was spectacular and we constantly heard from our family and friends how amazed they were at the panoramic view of D.C. It was particularly enjoyable to see the look of amazment on the faces of those who aren't from the immediate area. However, Top of the Town was more than just a great view, the staff was just as amazing. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and flexibility made them a joy to work with. They took it upon themselves to make sure our wedding reception was just perfect. The guests at our wedding still talk about what a great venue it was and really just made our day that much more memorable. If your looking for a place to hold your event that will keep your guests raving, Top of the Town is it!

You really can't beat the view if you want a DC wedding. It can be a little pricey, but we decided that a beautiful venue was where we were going to splurge a little. I'm glad we did! Doing it during the day instead of the evening also helped with the cost. The entire staff at Top of the Town was so professional and helpful throughout the process. I highly recommend!

I had my wedding at Top of the Town this past May and let me just start by saying it was A-Mazing! The view is incredible and my family and friends could NOT stop raving about it!

The lists they provided for catering and music vendors were absolutely awesome. I found exactly the caterer who fit what I needed and I felt like it gave me a wide range of flexibility on food and costs. Also, it was absolutely imperative that I had an open bar and TOTT let me bring in ALL my alcohol (and my place cards/favors) the day before which was soo helpful.

There were a few rules about the dancing -- we weren't allowed to jump which I was a little worried about but it ended up not being a problem at all because I realized that A. I didn't want people "Cotton-Eyed-Joe"ing all over the place, B. "Jump Around" went out of style in the 90's, and C. I think "Congo Lines" are tacky :) Plus, once I asked out it, I realized they are located over condos and that it's really nice of them to be thinking about their neighbors enough to care whether their pictures are vibrating or not.

Everything turned out better than I had even imagined - Kate and Joan were super friendly and helpful and my event managers really went out of their way to make sure we had a great night - they even had the caterer bring up some apps and drinks to the TOTT office while we waited to be introduced!

I love love love this place and I ABSOLUTELY reccomend it! If nothing else, take a tour, you can't miss this view!

The venue was beautiful and all of the staff were very friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this venue for a reception

There are many rules to abide by in order to use this facility but the view is a fantastic trade-off...especially when you have lots of out of town guests.

I had my wedding here and it is truly the best view of DC. You cannot find another place with this view. Most of my guests, myself included, have lived in the DC area all of their lives and have never seen such a phenomenal view of the city! The view made my wedding pictures even more beautiful! How many people have the view of the DC cityscape as the background while cutting their cake?!?!

However, aside from the view, if your guest list exceeds 160+, this venue is certainly not big enough. I had roughly 150 guests and it was just perfect. I think if there were more people, it gets tight and cramped. This venue does make you pick your caterer, DJ and valet service from their own preferred list. I had no problems doing this because the list they provide for each are all wonderful!

Aside from the staff and logistical dealings, you will not find a better venue to have your reception. It truly is the best view of the city hands down. You pay for the view, not the service. And the service is a big part of it. We luckily had an amazing evening due to a couple of good friends who stepped up and volunteered to miss my wedding to get everything delivered and decorated just prior to our reception. The staff is totally unorganized, impossible to get in contact with to work out any issues, and very unresponsive. They're forgetful, not very professional and most of all not very flexible. You are forced to use their vendors (two of which were also disasters for us). Kate Byrne is the most unorganized person I think I have ever met and in this line of work, you cannot afford to be be anything but. Three major issues we had: 1) you will never get anyone at ToTT on the phone. Foreget it, dont even try. I don't even know why they have phones. Nor will they return your call in a timely manner. If you want to talk to them, you have to go in person and pretend you're dropping off a payment to get any response. (I had to fake payment drops off twice to get just the basic questions asked) 2: Read the contract in great detail and make sure you are the first reception instead of the second. They purposely don't tell you that during your visit cause they know it will scare many people away. If you're the second event of the day, you have to use the same caterer even if you booked your event before the other. 3) The maid of honor spent 3 months working on a slide show to show during the cocktail hour. Well that never happened, because the staff forgot set up the projector and screen. It really was a nice detail that was omitted and a lot of feelings were hurt. A memory that can't be taken back just because of the poor quality of staff at ToTT.

Top of the Town is truly a lovely venue. All of our guests loved the view - and that's what we chose it for! The decor is very quaint and everything worked out wonderfully. The only thing is that responsiveness for us was very hard to come by, especially in the beginning, but closer to the wedding I will say that it was a little easier to get in touch with them! Also, beware that they do have a lot of rules because they are in a condo building where there are tenants right below the room; however, if you can get past the no line dancing, etc. rules, it really is worth having your wedding there!

We had our reception here and are very glad we did. The view is unmatched -- which makes it a superb reception site. Our guests adored it. I will say that it is expensive, and they have a strict list of rules. We often had a hard time getting ahold of the site's staff during our planning. But in the end, we would not have had it anywhere else. It was beautiful.

Great choice and venue for our reception-- beautiful views and really a great and unique option for the quintissential DC wedding! :)

Great views, cannot be beat in the DC area. A little strict about rules and regulations regarding music and vendors, but do offer a substantial list to choose from.

We thoroughly enjoyed our reception at Top of the Town. The event managers were extremely professional and helpful. My interaction with all of their staff was nothing but positive from start to finish. The fee for the site is steep but the views are the best. The room isn't the most attractive and may clash with some color schemes. Top of the town has some specific restrictions that you will want to think about before booking them including music/dance restrictions. They are also only open during business hours so trying to make an appointment to see the facility can be difficult if you have a standard 9-5 day. Also they say that 180 can fit in their space, but we had about 100 guests and it felt packed so keep that in mind.

Overall we had a wonderful experience and the pros outweighted the negatives. The view and location is second to none and it really made for an elegant city wedding.

The view was AMAZING! We all had such a wonderful time. Everything was perfect. We had around 165 people and it was perfect. I had to cut out 2 tables in order to get the arrangements that I wanted but it was not a problem. Sometimes they are a bit slow to respond to emails but if you call them they will help you and answer your calls right away.

we loved it! Thanks so much!!!!

Top of the Town was a fantastic venue for our wedding. We wanted to have a "Wow" factor and the view of DC was it. As soon as I walked into the reception room at TOTT, I knew I had to have our wedding there. It has floor to ceiling windows with panoramic views of DC. This however does not come cheap, but it is well worth every penny. I think it something our guests will always remember about our wedding. They have a number of rules and restrictions (no group dancing, mandatory valet parking over 100 guests, etc.), but it's definitely worth it. We had 120 guests and a buffet dinner and it was very comfortable space wise. Great wedding reception venue, go check it out for yourself.

Top of the Town was perfect for our reception. The view is amazing and is the only decoration needed, but the chandeliers and fixtures add an elegant touch. We were able to negotiate a lower rate by booking a Sunday night and having fewer than 100 guests. Joan was always quick to respond to my emails and phone calls and they had no problem with us dropping off items for the caterer two days in advance of our reception. Highly recommended!

This was the most amazing view in DC. It was worth the 40 minute drive from Maryland to have our reception here.

Great crew who works with their brides. Top of the Town is a little expensive, but has the most beautiful view of the DC skyline and was definitely one of the things that made our wedding reception memorable. Our guests loved the site!!

Top of the Town is an amazing venue. It's not cliche, the view is literally the best in the city and your guests will be blown away. It is a family operated business and Kate and Joan are fantastic. They ensure quality with each of your vendors and you can rest assured that everyone they recommend to you is top quality. The only slightly negative thing is the flexibility of visiting the venue. Once you have booked, it's a little difficult to get out there for follow-up with your vendors. Unless your work schedule is flexible, there's is not. Saturday is really the only time you can go out there and that's only if there isn't an event happening. Inspite of this, I highly recommend this venue.

Beautiful view - all my guests and family loved it. The staff was helpful, both in advance and on the day of. They have strict rules about all sorts of things (they require valet parking attendants, only certain bands and caterers) but it's all stuff you can deal with. The one thing I wish I had known in advance is that if you want to have a buffet and a dance floor, it doesn't hold the 180 people they claim - we had 160 and it was pretty crowded.

Beautiful venue but expensive. Event staff is not very flexible. Lots of strict rules (e.i. Their way or the highway)

I am so conflicted about this place. When we walked in, we fell in love with the view, but they turned into a nightmare for a period of time.

We signed a contract for a Saturday evening from 6-11p. I moved forward with my wedding planning, hired my cater, florist, purchased invitations, etc. About 6 weeks before my wedding they called to ask if I had canceled my wedding!! What???

It seems there was a small clause in the contract that if you are the second reception to sign up for a day, you need to use the first person’s caterer. By six weeks before my wedding, I had signed up with someone else. AND they had never told me I was the second event to sign for the day or who the first event had picked. They demanded that I either break my contract with my caterer (who already had a $3500 deposit) and go with a caterer that was $5000 more expensive OR I could just push my wedding back by an hour and they would be kind enough not to charge me the additional fee. How nice of them.

The ladies that run the place seem nice, but one plays the pitbull and the other plays clueless (they’re twins so the good guy/bad guy routine is a little cliché). They ended up pushing me off to their lawyer (their brother) who sent me a threatening email and then never returned the three calls/emails asking to speak with him. They actually had me crying.

They told me over and over that this had never happened before to them. I went onto weddingwire.com and it seems it has happened at least once before (very similar story).

We ended up caving and having to send out postcards to all of our guests to change the time. Our 12 nieces and nephews were mostly asleep before the cake was cut (the main reason to have an earlier wedding).

However, the view is amazing! Our guest loved looking out over the monuments. It's an impression that really seemed to stick with everyone. And they did seem to have a lot of staff on hand the day of the wedding. I guess it was worth it in the end. They have a monopoly on the view, and pretty much treat you like that once you are in the contract with them. It left such a bad taste in my mouth.

Also – don’t listen to their promises that they are updating the place. I understand they have been telling brides for years that they plan to paint the room, paint the deck and get new carpet. None of it happened while I was signed with them. They did get new chairs, which dressed up the room considerably. Just don't count on the early promises. If you take the place, like the way it is when you see it.

Two other things to consider: 1-Top of the Town says they can hold 180 people in their room. The place is crowded at 150 people. That's a significant difference in the size of a wedding which we sweated out a bit as we waited for rsvp cards to come back in. 2-They have a "caterer's kitchen," which means it has a counter and sink. The caterer needs to bring in ovens, which usually means the food is either going to be a little cold or dry. No matter how expensive/good your caterer is... a caterer's kitchen is not ideal for food.

I really did love most of my vendors so I'm not just complaining for complaining's sake. I guess, go in with your eyes open and a magnifying glass on the contract.

I almost didn't consider TOTT when I was looking for a reception venue, but I'm so happy that I did. You have to go see this place to understand how amazing it is. It was perfect for me because I wanted something unique, and a great place to have an evening wedding. I also love DC, and you can see all of it from TOTT! I was worried about the restrictions on noise (read the contract), but we didn't have any problems, and we were pretty rowdy. I thought the music was plenty loud enough. The AC worked great - we needed it. Consider putting candles along the window sill if you get married here - the room looked so beautiful.

Drawbacks: the blue chairs - we had to bring chairs in (they should have new gold ones by now - ask to see those); the fake trees with Christmas lights (I had them removed for my wedding - TOTT gave me a hard time about this, so I gave them 3 stars for flexibility); responsiveness (they aren't the greatest at customer service after you've signed the contract); the wait for the elevator ride up/down (but it's totally worth it!).

Despite the drawbacks, I would definitely have an event here again. My guests loved it!

We had a lot of guests coming in from out of town for our wedding, so we fell in love with the view at Top of the Town the first time we visited. But in addition to the view, I was amazed at how friendly and helpful the staff was. Any time we had a question, they got us the information either on the spot or within a very short amount of time. Further, they were willing to let us make site visits whenever we needed. I noticed one of the reviews made a comment about there vendor list - and actually they had quite the extensive vendor list. They provided you with a "preferred vendor list" when you booked with the site, which had at least a dozen caters and multiple florists, bands, etc. that many brides used at the site. This was very helpful because vendors on the list only remain on the list if they do not receive any negative feedback from any user of the site. Thus, I felt the list was a pretty reliable source. Beyond that, we actually found a guitarist that was not on this preferred list, but was on the numerous other lists they maintain of vendors (seemed very extensive) - so all we had to do was ask. The day of the event, they were very kind and helpful. The staff assigned to our event paid attention to every small detail to ensure the event flowed smoothly. Further, when the event ended, our guests lingered at the site well beyond when the music stopped, with no rush by the staff. I have been to many venues in the DC area where when the event ends at 11, the lights are on and you are pushed out the door - this just was not the case. Everything was managed on their end with class and kindness. I highly recommend this site for a wedding - the view is spectacular, but the staff was also second to none.

I had an engagement party and planned a corporate event at Top Of The Town, in addition to attending multiple events at this BEAUTIFUL facility. Kate and her team always do an exceptional job, whether it's a small intimate event or a big blow-out! The view is unlike any other in the DC area. What more could you ask for?? A beautiful facility, wonderful staff and the best views in town! It's the perfect place for an elegant party or a "down home" July 4 party!
~Amber

Top of the Town has gorgeous views, but the hassle of planning your wedding there is not worth it.

The staff is very manipulative and assures you one thing then all the sudden you get hit with an extra fee etc...

You can only work off an approved list of vendors from them (which is hard if you are on a budget), and their fees are ridiculous.

I am so upset with the whole experience that I cannot even begin to describe it. You never deal with the same person, and all they are concerned about is your check.

Beautiful view, but thats it.

This venue has a completely amazing atmosphere. We were blown away the first time we visited, as my fiance and I had never seen such a great view of Washington, DC. The venue also has beautiful features, such as chandeliers, mirrors, etc. Our initial impressions were correct: our guests had an amazing time. Many guests told us it was the "most beautiful wedding they ever attended," or "the coolest venue." It felt very special, and different. Additionally, the price to rent TOTT is in the middle range in Washington, DC. This was unbelievable to us because the venue offers so much more atmosphere than other venues with much higher prices. With all of this said, the staff of TOTT was friendly and helpful. However, we did have a date mix-up with them. If one of our other vendors had not noticed that two brides called with the same date for TOTT, it would never have been caught until a few weeks before our wedding. Fortunately, it was resolved in plenty of time. We still highly recommend this vendor, but make sure that you have everything confirmed and confirmed again.

The staff at Top of the Town (TOTT) were extremely friendly, professional, and provided great quality of service. Although sometimes difficult to get a person on the phone, TOTT provided a great venue for my ceremony and reception. I got so many comments from my guests that I couldn't have chosen a better place. The view was spectacular and the ballroom perfect. I would highly recommend this venue.

There is no doubt that Top of the Town in Arlington, VA is absolutely beautiful! But the staff and rules are quite difficult to deal with in my opinion. Some of the rules were out right silly and made our reception not as fun (example; no group dances could be done!). They are VERY strict. But they know people will pay the outrageous prices because the facility truly is one of a kind. Overall, I would recommend them with caution to the bride about all of the other “stuff” but I love my photos and was happy my wedding was there. It also took way later than it was supposed to and should have to get our deposit back. But again - you can beat that view that Top of the Town has to offer!!!

I really enjoyed our reception site. The view was beautiful and everything went so smoothly. Make sure you read their contract carefully there are several restrictions, etc. because of the location. We did not mind the restrictions, and everything went well for us. We really loved them!

ITS A GREAT PLACE WITH A BEAUTIFUL VIEW. THE TERRACE WAS NICE A LITTLE SHAKY. THE ELEVATOR WAS NICE GOING UP BUT SMALL. SOME FOLKS GOT MIXED WITH THE CATERERS. DEFINITELY MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR UGLY CHAIRS. I HAD TO RENT THE REAL PRETTY ONES FROM THE CATERERS AND THEN GOT CHARGED FOR NOT HAVING THEIR UGLY CHAIRS FOR THE REMOVAL OF THEM. THE STAFF WAS NICE AND A BIT HARD TO GET A HOLD OF AND A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION ESPECIALLY ON THE SECURTIY DEPOSIT WHICH WE COMPLETELY DIDN'T GET ALL OF IT BACK. SO!

This venue is great for the money, the view the staff and the location is outstanding. The staff was available for questions and was willing to show the venue everytime I needed to show someone and they were knowledgeable about the area and provided helpful do's and don'ts. But I would recommend that if you are interested in this place please put your deposit down ASAP because they can book up to 2 events a day and its first come first serve for the time and cater. I was lucky enough to pay my deposit first, so the wedding party behind me had to use the same cater I did. I wasnt told this during the contract process. I learned about this when I was approached by the other wedding party wedding coordinator who wanted me to switch caters at the last minute. Which was definitely out of the question since there cater was charging 150 a head!

Most amazing views in DC... Price is very steep. Would book at TOTT again. Little slow on respones from the contacts there. All in all my night went fairly smoothly there. Check out the dance floor they supply as it is very old and worn. You might want to rent your own.

The view is spectacular. The space was perfect for my ~100pp wedding. They let you come in and view the space as often as you want as long as it does not interfere with other events (but you can look at setups before guests arive). They have tables on site in various sizes. Carpet and chair backings are blue. Very pretty chandeliers and votives available to line the windows - very pretty. The dance floor they have is yucko - but affordable if you can deal with it (I didn't). There is a nice size little patio off of the main space. You must stay within pretty specific time guidelines and because it is on top of a residential building, there are some restrictions about raising the speakers up off the floor and "coordinated jumping". But that didn't really impinge on our plans at all. They have a restricted caterers list, and only have a "heat it up" kitchenette on site, but all their approved caterers are capable of dealing with hot hors d'ouvres and whatever else. There is a single, dedicated entrance on the side - a nice little foyer on ground level and a glass-walled elevator for 10 people or so at once - great spot for a guest book or table cards, but not great if all your guests arrive at the same time. They have parking around the corner, but insist you hire a valet service for cars. Lots of nearby hotels in Rosslyn. Very professional and easy to deal with. On the pricey side, but really - the view is breathtaking and you don't have to do much in terms of decorating.

Ceremony and Reception Location: Top of the Town, Arlington, VA. Contact - Emily Rike. DH and I of course fell in love with the view from ToTT immediately. Despite it's hefty price tag, we had to have it. Luckily we held our wedding on a Sunday night and saved a few $$. Overall the staff was excellent to work with. Both Emily and Kate were very responsive and helpful. On the day of the wedding all of the staff were awesome and really helped both the ceremony and reception flow. Alana (LanaBean) was the event coordinator and she was awesome! She even let us sneak in one last song, which was a huge hit with the crowd. Our guests couldn't stop raving about the view and especially the terrace. Luckily the rain had stopped and we were able to enjoy the outdoor view. Grade: A+

This venue is gorgeous!! The room overlooks the mall (Pentagon, Reflecting Pond, etc.) in Washington DC. Absolutely stunning.

Top of the Town was a great place to have a wedding reception if you are hosting around 100 to 120 people. If you go beyond that, the space is really too small and the logistics is hard because there is only one elevator. They have a lot of strict rules about the vendors because of the elevator use. The view is really amazing for out of town guests who aren't used to seeing the DC landmarks.

Top of the Town is one of the preeminent event spaces for not only weddings but any type of event where you want to "WOW" your guests. Nothing tops the view at Top of the Town!

In my opinion one of the most amazing venues in the Mid-Atlantic Area. Top-notch staff as well.

As a wedding planner, I suggest many different types of venues to my clients based on their needs. When someone says to me they want a view of the city, my thoughts go directly to Top of the Town. What a fabulous and breathtaking view, but most of all, what fabulous people to work with towards making your day a special one.
The staff is available, accommodating, knowledgeable as to what does and does not work at their venue, and cordial . They offer a comprehensive list of qualified and vetted caterers, musicians and others with whom they have worked and who they know will do an outstanding job for you. How much easier can it get?
I highly recommend Top of the Town for a uniquely beautiful and memorable wedding experience.