Did you know that the National Park Service requires a permit for all commercial photographs of the national monuments? 

A bride trying to plan her November wedding and day-after photo shoot asked me this, so I bet there are others out there looking for the answer. For couples married in DC, photographs of the bridal party at the monuments are almost a requirement. If this is on your “Must Do” list, make sure that you and your photographer are prepared.

Q: So, which monuments does this apply to?
A: All monuments and memorials run by the National Park Service. Including:

Jefferson Memorial
{ Save the Date NYC }

Washington Monument
{ Borrowed Blue }

Lincoln Memorial
{ Ryeli }

And others less photographed memorials:
World War II Memorial
FDR Memorial
Korean War Memorial
Vietnam Memorial

There are two ways to solve this problem. The first is to get a permit. More information about the restrictions on taking photoraphs on Natioanl Park Service land are available here and the permit application is available here. Permits cost between $50 and $250 (depending on the number of people in the pictures) and are good for the entire day.

Your second option: visit one of DC’s free locations. It is only the National Park Service which charges for photo privileges, so take the {bridal} party somewhere else! You will have beautiful photographs without the hassle at these locations:

Union Station  

{ Spence Photographics }

The White House

{ NPR }
you won’t get as close as Ms. Nixon, but it would be a beautiful shot

The Capitol Building

{ Ryeli }

And these other great options:
Lafayette Park (behind the White House)
Sculpture Garden
Capitol Hill (quiet little streets, parks)
Georgetown (the Beacon Hill of DC)
Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms (just watch the monuments:)

If you were married in DC, where did you go for pictures?