When we got engaged, DH and I each listed one top priority for the reception - everything else was negotiable/disposable/compromisable. My priority was a location with great atmosphere. With a lot of family coming from OOT, I didn't want an anonymous room that could've been anywhere. I'd been to TotT in the late 80s when it was a restaurant and their view has been my first choice all along. Emily Rike has been our contact and she has been great. I can't imagine how many calls she must field yet she recognized my name every time from the beginning. We brought in a band that wasn't on their approved vendors list and all negotiations b/w TotT, the band, and us went smoothly.
Our date was a Friday night which TotT limits to the hours of 7-11 PM, with vendor access starting at 5 PM and out by midnight. The only access is via a single elevator which is why they prefer you use a vendor off their list who is familiar w/ the logistics. The TotT POC on Friday was quite adamant that we clear the building by midnight or we'd be charged for additional hours. (I've been told we made the deadline thanks to our caterer.)
I really felt rewarded by the reactions of family and friends all evening. It felt like a gift we were able to give to our guests who wouldn't have much time to explore DC. They had all of DC laid out for them on a beautiful, warm October night.
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