Brides & Weddings Magazine
By Dominique McIndoe
Sponsored by Chantilly National Golf and Country Club
In the Centreville area of Fairfax County lies a 214-acre oasis so close to the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C., yet so comfortably and conveniently tucked away. As one of Northern Virginia’s premier private country clubs, Chantilly National Golf and Country Club has been a haven in the Centreville community since its founding in 1959. Their standard of excellence and charm have made them the perfect place for couples to host their dream weddings.
Vintage Barn to Country Club
Prior to becoming Chantilly National, the country club’s structure operated as a functioning dairy farm. The current barn-like features help add to the aesthetic—rustic, romantic barn weddings have been all the rage these past few years—with potential members and spouses-to-be, says Natalie Eisenberg, private events director for Chantilly National. Whether a wedding is intimate or extravagant, Chantilly National’s trained wedding planners are ready to help couples to coordinate, set up décor, finalize timelines and make sure that every detail is flawless and highly personalized.
“Chantilly National’s mission is to help everyone celebrate their milestones both safely and hassle-free, no matter the size of the event,” says Eisenberg. Weddings, bridal showers, engagement parties, and baby showers are few of the many private events that members and non-members alike can host and enjoy. “The ballroom space is very flexible and can fit a multitude of events comfortably, whether big or small.”
In addition to the beautiful ballroom with a cherry wood dance floor, Chantilly National wedding amenities include an outdoor ceremony site with convenient clubhouse access; complimentary cake-cutting services; setup and breakdown of the ceremony and reception space; vendor setup access at least three hours prior to a wedding; and access to the lush and rolling golf course to take photographs. Wedding parties have the option to choose a full-service, sit-down dinner or a lavish buffet presentation for their event.
Chantilly National only holds one wedding a day so that the sole focus is each couple’s special moments. The club is just eight miles from Dulles International Airport, making it convenient for family members who may be traveling for a wedding. The easy location makes it appealing to couples who live as close as Washington, D.C. or as far as Colorado and California.
New Year, New Weddings
The beginning of 2021 has been a fairly slow start for Chantilly National as far as weddings go, but ceremonies that were postponed in 2020 have a renewed chance to take place this spring. So, the latter half of the upcoming year is promising. The country club kept flexibility throughout 2020 and tried their best not to turn away wedding requests. At the same time, they followed the guidelines set forth by Governor Northam. Instead of the usual 200-person-maximum capacity, guest sizes decreased to 50 percent—100 people or fewer.
“During the [height of the] pandemic, despite all the hardships during 2020, we still were able to bring joy to those couples and families,” says Eisenberg. “We ended up with ten weddings last fall. There’s still celebrations to be had, despite the ongoing pandemic.”
Golf at Chantilly National is at the heart of the club experience, and fortunately, during the past year, golf never “closed,” Eisenberg recounts. They continue to offer an outstanding and affordable experience with amenities including tennis, swimming and first-class dining headed by a renowned chef. Several private rooms are available throughout the year for non-wedding entertaining—corporate meetings, high school reunions, anniversaries, holiday parties, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Christenings, charity gatherings, or any occasion to celebrate under the sun.
“We want to continue to provide a space for couples and families to celebrate,” says Eisenberg, and their goal moving forward is, as circumstances allow, “to create memorable experiences for every couple and guest this year!”
For all wedding and event questions for Chantilly National Golf and Country Club, contact Natalie Eisenberg at natalie.eisenberg@clubcorp.com. For those seeking membership, contact Kris David at kris.david@clubcorp.com.
(Lissa Ryan Photography)
Dominique McIndoe (mcindoe@princewilliamliving.com) is an assistant production editor at Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, a lover of weddings and a longtime writer.
