RUST MANOR HOUSE WEDDING VENUE – A HIDDEN GEM

Rust Manor House is a wedding venue in Leesburg, VA. The beautiful manor house, the surrounding gardens, and their wonderful team make it one of our favorite venues. As a Northern Virginia wedding planner, we love working at Rust Manor House. If you are considering a wedding here, below are a few questions that their Facility and Event Sales Manager Alexandra Gordon answered for us about their venue.

1.      Who does your venue serve? Is there a type of client/wedding style you love working with the most?

We serve couples who have a love for nature and a flexible approach to the planning process. We particularly enjoy working with clients who appreciate and embrace various layout options available at our venue. Our ideal clients are budget-conscious, know what they like, and are enthusiastic about collaborating to bring their vision to life. We are excited to guide them through a seamless and stress-free planning journey.

2.      How did this venue become a wedding venue? When and why did you start working there?

The venue originally hosted a nature program for children. In 2013, the manor house transitioned into a wedding venue. We are now part of NOVA Parks, which operates five wedding venues in Northern Virginia.

3.      Can you talk about your team and yourself?

Currently, the breakdown is one facility and event sales manager, two-venue coordinators, one maintenance, catering captain, event supervisors, bartenders, and servers. Our small but mighty team has worked together for close to three years. 

My love affair with events started back in 2010 while working at Hyatt. During my time there, I worked at multiple properties and held various roles including lead bartender, event sales and planning manager. While working at Park Hyatt in Washington, DC, I helped curate recipes for the cocktail menu at Blue Duck Tavern. Being creative is a huge part of who I am. After leaving Hyatt I worked for a local florist for two years. I was managing the shop and helping with huge luxury wedding installations.  My background set me up to hit the ground running when I joined Nova Parks.

Outside of events, I am taking care of my little zoo – two Australian shepherds (Hazel and Rosie) and cat named Tuna. I always have a trip planned that I am counting down to. Later this year, I’ll be traveling up and down the west coast. When on vacation, I’m devouring the books that have been piling up on my nightstand and crossing off restaurants from my bucket list. 

4.      What sets your venue apart – what’s unique about it?

Aside from being a hidden gem in Leesburg, VA. The team at Rust cares deeply about the client’s experience. Customer service has always been a top priority of ours. 

I love that Rust’s process is stress-free for our clients. We start off with a tour, hold their hands at the tasting, clean up the details at the walkthrough, and then finish with an effortless event.

I have been focusing on renovations since starting at Rust Manor. I started with the library first and then moved upstairs to the hospitality suites. Making the manor feel cohesive is my goal. I wanted these rooms to feel iconic.

Our social media is filled with photographs highlighting the library wallpaper or the saturated navy walls in the hospitality suite. Most of our clients and vendors can point out Rust photos before seeing which venue was tagged.

5.      What do most of your couples say is the reason they fell in love with your venue?

Most of our couples say they fell in love with our venue because of its charming flow and character, numerous photo opportunities, and beautiful ceremony grounds. The moment they open the door to the back portico and see the stunning scenery, they are captivated.

6.      What are you most excited about for the future of your venue?

For the future, we are excited about renovating the boardroom to serve as an additional space for bridal parties or to host corporate meetings. We also plan to renovate the cottage to provide a dedicated area for bridal parties, couples who want to bring their dogs, parents who need a place to get ready, or as an after-ceremony space for pictures.

7.      What are some of the best features included in your wedding day packages? 

Our wedding package includes full access to the manor house, grounds, and tent. One of the best features is we only host one event per day. The hospitality suites are yours for the entire day of your wedding for a nominal fee. The package also includes the use of our ceremony and reception chairs, a ceremony arch, the dance floor, tent lighting, etc.

The blank canvas of Rust allows couples to envision their own dream event in our spaces, but also beautiful enough to stand on its own. Our ceremony locations have so many evergreen elements, so no matter when you tie the knot there will be something lush as your backdrop. The tent is temperature controlled by 6 units – this was a major improvement and not to be overlooked! Whether you’re getting married in March or August, we have you covered and your guests comfortable. 

8.      Any advice for brides that are looking for a venue.

Start by setting a realistic budget. Once you have your budget and priorities in place, focus on creating an event that truly reflects you as a couple. Discuss what elements are most important to you and allocate your budget to make those aspects memorable for your guests. Spend your money wisely and trust your vendor team. Choosing the right vendors is like dating—you should feel confident and comfortable with them.

RUST MANOR HOUSE WEDDING VENUE AT A GLANCE

• Location: Near Downtown Leesburg, Virginia
• Address: 802 Childrens Center Rd SW. Leesburg, VA 20175
• Phone: 202-306-9127
• Website: Rust Manor House
• Instagram: @rustmanorhouse
• Capacity:
  • House & Grounds: 65 guests
  • House, Grounds and Tent: 200 guests
• What’s Included:
  • Access to three Ceremony Spaces, Manor and Tent.
  • Reception and ceremony chairs (up to 200 guests).
  • Round and Rectangle Banquet Tables.
  • 18’x18′ Dancefloor.
  • Parking for 100 Cars.
  • On-Site Storage.
  • Portable Bars.
  • As for décor they have antique Mirrors and Crystal Chandeliers, Ambient Lighting in the Tent, card Boxes and Easels, Wooden Arch.
• Exclusive caterer: Great Blue Heron.  They have a caterer on site which helps to streamline the process. They offer a tasting where you can try their full menu.
• Events: Ceremony + Reception space.
• Dining Styles: Station, plated, buffet, cocktail-style service.  

Photo credit:

Photos 1-2: Jennifer Nolan Photography

Photo 3: Rachael Mattio Photography

Photo 4: Megan Bennett Photography

Photo 5-6: Rachael Mattio Photography

Photo 7: Rebecca Theresa Photography

Photo 8: Jackie St.Clair Photography

If you’d like us to help you plan your wedding…

If you are ready to plan a Warrenton wedding in this beautiful venue, we’d love to hear from you. Send us a message on our contact page or send us an email at hola@VVweddingplanning.com! We can’t wait to hear about your wedding! 🤗💕

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