6 Budget Wedding Tips

By Emma Quinn, Manager of Marketing and Programming - Building Momentum

Budgeting for a wedding sounds like an easy task. Pick a number you’d like to spend and plan your dream day! Once the process begins numerous untold expenses pop up, along with many, “It costs how much?!”, reactions to the reality of event planning. It certainly is no easy feat to create the event of your dreams, satisfy all of your guests, and stick to a budget. Here are some of our budget wedding tips to help you in your wedding journey!

1. Pick a budget and stick to it! 

One of the most important, and the hardest, things you can do to save money for your wedding is to pick a budget and stick to it. Wading through everything from wedding venues, photographers, and florists to custom cake toppers, photobooths, elaborate sweets stations, and endless upgrades there will be an overwhelming list of vendors hoping to sell you on their product. Your goal is to sift through the options and select what is truly important to having a memorable day—and what can be left out.  

2. Have a Friday or Sunday wedding 

Typically, venues have lower rates on weekdays and Sundays, knowing that Saturday is usually the day of choice for big events. Take advantage of lower prices and have your wedding on a Friday; following up with a weekend free for more celebrations. Or opt for a Sunday brunch wedding and enjoy the benefits of lower cost catering options, shorter event times, and a more casual, intimate gathering.  

3. Find a venue that lets you BYOB 

Many venues have strict rules on the drinks allowed and have a narrow set of drinks available. One easy way to save some money and have your favorite beverages on hand is to find a venue that lets you bring your own. This can save you lots of cash and gives you the option to splurge on the “good stuff” for you and your guests. Luckily, a bottle of Dom Perignon from a large discount store will taste the same as one picked from a catering menu.  

4. Borrow when possible 

Something borrowed becomes even more important tradition for a budget wedding. Especially after the wave of weddings in 2021 and 2022, there will be plenty of used wedding gear available on the market. If you have chosen a popular wedding theme, there's a good chance you will be able to find newlyweds reselling décor of the same theme at a discount. Sites like Weedzee, make it easy to buy or sell your new, used, and custom wedding items. Friends and family are another good source for decorations, accessories, and even jewelry for your big day.  

5. Be Your Own DJ 

A big cost to a wedding can be hiring a DJ or a band. While both are great options, no one knows what music is most meaningful to you more than you do yourself. Not a task to be left to the last minute, your wedding playlist should be filled with songs that are special to you and your partner. The music will also set the mood, so make sure you add lots of upbeat tracks if you want to dance and more relaxed tunes if you are looking for a casual vibe. Many venues have overhead speakers where you can plug in a device, making it an even easier option. 

6. Book your wedding at The Garden 

We would be crazy if we didn’t mention that The Garden is one of the most affordable event venues in the D.C. metro area. We make it easy to stick to your budget with hourly pricing, discounted weekday and Sunday rates, overhead speakers, and no restrictions on which vendors or caterers you use. We allow guests to bring in their own beverages with ABC approval and offer a built-in bar area that is perfect for serving.  

We also offer competitively priced add-on rentals such as tents, fire pits, smores station, and arcade games. These add-ons can spice up your event without ballooning your budget. Not to mention, our venue comes fully furnished with 55 cloth chairs, 80 tan folding chairs, 10 farmhouse style 8’ tables, and a beautiful industrial chic interior that requires minimal decoration.  

Learn more about The Garden by visiting our FAQ page!

Jump Start Your Projects With Our Technology and Expert Research & Development Team

Are you planning a new building project that surrounds the world of woodworking, welding, or other mechanically crafted expertise? Then you could benefit from some expert research and development. Luckily, Building Momentum offers just what you need to get your project started inside and out of our state of the art welding and woodworking workspace. 

Research & Development Services Offered by Our Team

The research and development team at Building Momentum helps both solopreneur and craftsmen with their personal builds as well as large companies and startups in need of a custom project built for their entire organization. Some of our research and development areas of expertise include optics, chemistry, electronics, mechatronics, special effects, robots, 3D printing, prototyping, and drones. So whatever your project entails, our team can provide you with the research and development services you need to build it. 

How You Can Benefit from Research & Development from Building Momentum. 

Our research and development team is not only highly skilled and knowledgeable in diverse areas of mechanics and engineering, we are also focused on pinpoint accuracy and efficiency. Hiring our team for your project is a surefire way to ensure that your project is ready for building the moment we are finished with your research and development. 

We get that your project is time-sensitive and you have a budget you need to stay within. We facilitate our research and development to cater to your specific needs. You won’t need to second guess or crunch the numbers on your project - we do that for you, saving you valuable time and money.

Projects We Developed 

We’ve worked on various projects requiring different levels of research and development. Some of our most notable projects include a mobile lab that enables craftsmen to work on the go and the portable student desks we built for our workshop classes that provide a packable, easily assembled, and ultra cost-effective workspace for our students so they could work at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Visit Our Page and Visit Our Shop

The best place to start your next building project is with Building Momentum’s research and development team. You can find more information about our services on our research and development webpage and we invite you to come see us in action at our state of the art workshop inside The Garden in Alexandria, Virginia.

Have specific questions you need answered about your project? Contact our team today.

Support Local Virginia Artists and Alexandria-Made Libations: Creations & Libations

What are your plans for September 5th? If you’re anywhere near Alexandria or anywhere in the DMV, your answer should be Creations & Libations at The Garden.

What is Creations & Libations?

Creations & Libations is a golden opportunity to support local Virginia artists. These creators include both visual artists as well as artists whose creations you can taste and groove to. 

Here’s who’s coming to play at The Garden. 

Carey Marie 

Carey Marie is a visual artist who specializes in both wearable and hanging art. 

From Carey - “Lately, I am inspired by the growing pains of life, the poetry in flowers, and the feelings that can be much better explained in colors rather than words. I would be honored if you would check out my shop and share it with others! 

Charlie Visconage 

Charlie has been performing in the DMV area for years. He started in improv comedy before running his own late-night stage show - the Charlie Visconage show. These days he’s expressing himself through the visual medium of paint.

From Charlie “My name is charlie visconage and I make goofy, funny, bright, dumb, and fun portraits of people and animals. I get up to paint at 5 am most days to paint the silly things I want to see become real. In my world, guns are golden, all faces have frown lines, animals have attitude problems, and my subjects have probably had a few drug experiences they wouldn't tell mom about. “

Charlie’s homebase.

Nicholas Zimbro

Born in Washington D.C. Nicholas Zimbro received his formal education at the oldest museum and school in the U.S. (Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts). He has collaborated on murals and installations with partners such as Metro, Heineken, DC United, and the Hirshhorn Museum.  His passion for art stems from an ambition to help create a world where beauty and visual art informs the progress of humanity.  With an eclectic array of style and approach,  Zimbro believes that art is a leading tool in the graceful development of our natural world. 

Nicholas Zimbro homebase. 

Fierce Sonia

Fierce Sonia is a mixed media artist. She builds layers with acrylic paint and collage. A narrative is constructed by the tension between the lush layers moving to dreamy feminine mindscapes with a bright palette. If you listen closely her work has a soundtrack, a rhythm, a pulse that will give you a magic carpet ride to a fairytale that restates your own heartbeat. 

Fierce Sonia’s homebase. 

Mallory Harrison

Mallory Harrison is a phenomenal photographer, short video director, and poet and her work will be on display at Creations & Libations. Prepared to be wowed. 

Jazzmyn Ellis

Jazzmyn Ellis is a visual artist from Virginia. In her words “Black culture is pop culture.” Enough said. Come check out her work!

Chris Combs

Chris Combs's artworks respond to pressing themes of surveillance, artificial intelligence, and algorithmic failure—and to the viewer, using facial recognition and motion sensing.

He employs a wide range of practices to create circuit boards, software, and enclosures for interactive and time-based wood, metal, and found-object sculptures, which both embrace and question technology. Their custom circuitry is engineered by the artist and hand-soldered with millimeter-scale components.

Chris Combs's sculptures address changes in our built technology environment - changes which often occur before we understand their implications. His artwork makes these macro-scale changes tangible, letting us consider them anew.

Chris Combs homebase. 

Circuit Breaker Labs

Circuit Breaker Labs is the techy-themed brainchild of Amanda Preske. She and her crew of hand crafted artists create jewelry & accessories from retro circuit boards. They call it “Intelligent Gifts for Geeks.”

Do Good Soaps

Beyond the incredibly stimulating visual art that’s going to be on display at Creations & Liberations - there will also be usable art from Do Good Soaps who creates craft soaps that are completely null and void of any plastic or chemicals. 

Also in attendance will be Sean Bostick of Jambosti, Elizabeth Farren of Elizabeth Farren photography, and Juan Carreras.  

Get Down On It 

Come and groove with us to live music provided by Yellow Door Concert Series. 

- The Adrian Duke Project 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

- The Soul Jazz Collective 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Creative Libations

The creative crafts are only part of the event. Enjoy a craft libation from Lost Boy Cider and Aslin Beer Co. And when you get hungry, you can grab a delicious bite from La Cocina. 

It’s all going down on Sunday, September 5th from 2 - 8 pm. We look forward to seeing you at Creations and Libations at The Garden. 

A Unique Event Venue Makes a Memorable Statement

Are you looking for the perfect location for your upcoming event that will have your guests talking about it for weeks? Then you need an unforgettable location. The Garden is that location.

The even space inside The Garden will meet your needs like no other space can. When your guests walk through our doors they will be immediately impressed, welcomed, and taken care of. Whether you're planning a small or medium sized wedding, corporate event, or networking happy hour - The Garden is the place to be. 

Why You Need A Memorable Venue

Since 2018, unique venues and non-traditional spaces have been increasingly in demand. Not all event spaces are created equal and your event should be as memorable and unique as your attendees. If you want to host an event that will leave a lasting memory for your guests then you can’t go with a regular venue. The premier event hosting space inside The Garden will break your guests out of normal, traditional environments, and brighten up the occasion. It’s a creative environment that will keep your guests engaged and entertained. 

That Garden boasts a vibrant, creative, and well equipped space for both intimate events and larger get-togethers. No matter what you need, we can accommodate. Need some help planning your event? The Garden has a full cast of event staff and amenities to make your event dreams come true including a personal event planner. From start to finish, we'll be there to make sure everything goes smoothly so you can relax and enjoy the day with your guests. We have a minimum booking time of only 3 hours and we allow outside food and beverage so you can book your event with confidence. 

Your event reflects your personality, and we want to help you share it with all those who come. Your event should live on forever inside today’s connected and social world. Our event space showcases the most Instagrammable and twitter-worthy, rustic potential that your event can have.

About The Event Space

The Garden’s rustic and industrial event hall is inside a reclaimed warehouse. It features 2,600 square feet of space and can host up to 200 guests. Seating and accommodations for your event and guests including microphones, mic stands, bluetooth speakers with wired connections, TV screens, high-top tables, folding tables, chairs, wifi, and more are included with your rental. 

Looking for enhanced and memorable entertainment for your event?  Upgrade your booking to include welding nameplate stations, laser cutting ornaments, 3-D printing pen station, and s'mores roasting stations. 

The Garden has hosted film and photo projects, team meetings, corporate events, presentations, parties, and weddings, and it’s ready to host your event. 

Need an accessible event venue? The Garden is just a two-minute walk from the Van Dorn Metro station on the Blue Line.

Ready to Host An Unforgettable Event?

Ready to book your unforgettable event space? Contact us today to schedule a tour or to book your event. 

Why It’s Important for Businesses to Acknowledge Pride Month

Pride Month is celebrated every year during the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. This event  was a tipping point in the fight to secure equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. 

Gay bars were illegal at the time and there were very few establishments that accepted openly gay people. One such bar, The Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, was raided by police. In the midst of their attempts to arrest employees and patrons, a growing crowd of onlookers decided they had seen enough of the violence and oppression. The situation evolved into a full blown riot, surprising and overwhelming the police who had never experienced such an upheaval from the gay community. 

Within two years of the riots, the number of LGBTQ+ rights organizations skyrocketed. There were suddenly gay rights groups all over the US, Canada, Australia, and Western Europe. The rioters’ defiance in the face of oppression showed the world that the gay community had a voice, and they were not going to hide in shame any longer. 

Today, support for LGBTQ+ pride is more widespread than ever. Related celebrations, parades, concerts, and other events attract millions of participants around the globe. 

Companies & Businesses Have Visibility

Bigger organizations have louder voices and their messaging sees broader exposure. Staying out of divisive social issues was once the norm in society. There was no expectation for a company to take any particular stance but this silence allowed a culture of exclusion and bigotry to spread unopposed. Everything from discriminatory hiring practices to outright refusing to serve certain customers was fair game.  

Companies and businesses turned a blind eye to these issues for many years, preferring to say it wasn’t their issue to solve. This created a culture of exclusion. It took decades of slow progress for companies to realize this, but many have turned things around. 

As more companies celebrate and participate in pride events, it puts pressure on the entire ecosystem to do better. Businesses feel the pressure to assure their customer base and hiring pool that they too are an ally to LGBTQ+ community.  

Growing Pride at The Garden

Our community in Alexandria remembers the courage displayed at the Stonewall Inn and the defiance in the face of intolerance and bigotry. Members of the LGBTQ+ community are woven into our culture and they deserve equal benefits and representation in society. Pride flags were recently ripped down from our own city hall and thrown into a fountain. Petty acts of cowardice do nothing to dampen the community’s resolve. 

The Garden, Alexandria Makers Market, and Safe Space NOVA partnered together to create the inaugural Growing Pride at The Garden, Alexandria’s biggest Pride event!

The community came together in our spacious event space on Eisenhower Avenue for a family friendly celebration featuring 15 local LGBTQ+ makers and allies. The event was inside the event space, the state-of-the-art workshop, and outside on the patio. Local food trucks, live music, and kids crafting were available throughout the event. Did you miss Growing Pride? Mark your calendars for June 26th, 2022 and show off your colors when we host the 2nd Annual Growing Pride at The Garden!

An Ideal Location To Host your Corporate Training Event This Summer

Are you tired of the same old same old when it comes to corporate training events? Does your corporate training need an adrenaline shot to jolt your employees awake and into action? Want to really come together as a team this summer? Then plan something new, bold, and exciting inside The Garden’s corporate training even space.

What is The Garden?

The Garden is 2600 square feet of innovative event space that is perfect for your corporate training. Located within a two-minute walk from the Van Dorn Metro station on the Blue line, it has everything you need to run a successful corporate training event. From a seating capacity of up to 200 people, to all the presentation equipment you need to get the nitty gritty done in fashionable manner. Outside food and drink is welcome and The Garden’s professional event planners are ready to assist you with all the details of our corporate training event.

Real Team Building 

The real team building magic happens just outside The Garden’s event hall and inside our welding and woodworking shop. There’s nothing quite like building team dynamics over a hot flame as you and your team learn and work together to create through welding or precise woodworking. 

Want to spark some healthy competition? Come together as individual teams to build a gravity go-kart that you will race head to head. It’ll be sales vs service; accounting vs HR; operations vs tech support. However you divide up your corporate office, The Garden’s unique and innovative team building experience is sure to bring your whole team together in ways you never thought possible.

Some Capacity Rules

The COVID-19 pandemic shook things up around the world, and it was no different here in The Garden. Luckily, our event space is large enough to accommodate 200 socially distanced guests. 

All guests have been required to wear a mask per the state of Virginia and the CDC guidelines. As Virginia’s regulations start to relax, with a tentative end of COVID-19 mitigations set for May 28th, 2021, The Garden will not require face coverings for guests who have been fully vaccinated. Face coverings will still be required for all guests who have not been fully vaccinated, and social distancing will still be required. 

We’re Ready! Are you?

Are you ready for the corporate training event that will bring your team together and have them talking about it for years to come? We are ready to help you make it happen. Contact us today for more information to request a tour. We look forward to seeing you and your team inside The Garden

What Virginia’s Updated Social Gathering Restrictions Mean for Your Upcoming Event

The spread of COVID-19 is starting to slow down in Northern Virginia, and the Governor has updated the social gathering restrictions accordingly. All social gatherings must be limited to 100 individuals indoors and 250 individuals outdoors, which is a change from the previous cap of 50 individuals indoors and 100 individuals outdoors. 

A “social gathering” includes, but is not limited to, parties, celebrations, or other social events, whether they occur indoors or outdoors. This does not apply to religious services, employment settings, or educational settings such as instructional settings, graduations, commencements, and school performances. Capacity at restaurants and retail stores is already governed by social distancing requirements, and are not limited by these restrictions. 

We are excited about these updated restrictions here at the Garden as they mean that you can enjoy your upcoming event at our unique venue safely and with more guests.

It’s important to keep in mind that we aren’t totally in the clear from the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks and social distancing are still required to be worn at all times inside the Garden. We also urge anyone who has experienced COVID-19 symptoms or has been exposed to someone with the virus to stay home.

Here is an overview of Virginia’s updated social gathering restrictions and what they mean for your upcoming event.

COVID-19 Spread in the Community

Not all cities in Virginia have experienced the same level of COVID-19 spreading. Cities with higher populations have often experienced higher levels of transmission of the virus. Alexandria’s transmission rates have begun to slow, but other parts of the state, and the country have seen recent spikes in COVID-19 cases. 

It’s important to keep in mind where your guests may be traveling from - if they do not reside in Northern Virginia - for intimate social gatherings such as a wedding, birthday party, or anniversary celebration. It’s advised to only invite guests who you know have practiced social distancing, have not been exposed to the virus, who do not live in an area where COVID-19 cases have spiked, and who have been fully vaccinated. 

Increased Number of People Approved for Social Gatherings

The state of Virginia has raised the number of people approved for social gatherings to 100 individuals indoors and 250 individuals outdoors. This is great news, but it can also make social distancing more difficult. Luckily, the Garden’s 2,600 square foot venue is well ventilated and can safely accommodate up to 200 guests. We will supply masks for any guests who do not have one, and we have plenty of sanitizer on hand.

Guest Behavior 

It’s important that all guests at your event practice social distancing. This can become difficult when guests are consuming a large amount of alcohol. The Garden offers a full bar area in our venue and we can even supply a bartender if needed, but we will require that you and your guests practice proper COVID-19 safety producers including social distancing and mask wearing while the drinks are pouring. 

Host Your Event at the Garden

We invite you to enjoy the reduced social gatherings restrictions by holding your next event at the Garden. We have no minimum book time required and we welcome outside food and drink. 

Have additional questions or need some help planning your event? Contact our event staff today for a tour. We look forward to seeing and serving you at the Garden! 

Introducing Innovation Academy – Camps and After-school Programs

Building Momentum is pleased to introduce Innovation Academy, after-school clubs and summer camps run through our event space, The Garden. Not the average club or camp, Innovation Academy will teach creative problem solving and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) with students achieving real results and learning skills for life. 

Innovation Academy camps are underway with sparks flying at the After-School Welding Club. Up next is the After-School Electricity Club, and then a camp completely devoted to Building Your Own Gravity Go-Kart. These camps are affordable, offer a fresh take on after-school programming, and are sure to encourage a love of STEAM and creative problem solving.  

No one should have to miss out on the opportunity to learn new practical, life-changing skills due to financial strain. Scholarships are available to anyone in need. If you are interested in one of our camps but need financial assistance, we invite you to fill out a scholarship questionnaire.

Here’s a closer look at each of the programs and camps being offered this spring and summer.

Spring Session: After-School Welding Club

Calling all rising 6th through 12th graders who are looking to learn how to weld, or a how to create using scorching hot flames. Our After-School Welding Club will teach students MIG welding skills through creative projects that require teamwork, communication, and hands-on building skills. Welding is the kind of skill to jumpstart the creative problem solvers of our future. 

Our Welding Club program meets every Tuesday from March 2nd to April 27th from 3:45 to 5:15 PM. Registration is open now and we are accepting students on a rolling basis!

Spring Session: After-School Electricity Club

The electricity club will immerse rising 6th through 12th graders in all things electrical from the basics to Arduino, along with coding and soldering. This club encourages creative thinking, team building, with practical hands-on problem solving and encourages students to create their own electrical projects.  

Our After-School Electricity Club meets every Wednesday from May 5th to June 16th from 3:45 to 5:15 PM. You can register now until Tuesday, April 27th. Registration fees are $260 per student.

Summer Session: Welding Week – Build Your Own Gravity Go-Kart

We invite rising 6th through 12th graders to join us this summer for a summer camp unlike any other. Participants will learn the basics of welding including MIG welding through designing and building a gravity go-kart. Skills learned will be put to the test with a go-kart race as the culmination of the camp. 

Our welding weeks will be available for four summer sessions:

July 5th to July 9th from 9:00 AM to 3:00PM
July 19th to July 23rd from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM 
August 9th to August 13th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM 
August 23rd to August 27th from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM 

Registration Fees are $475 per student

You can register for your summer session welding camps on our Camps Page.

No Trust Falls in this Teambuilding.

"Innovation" without action equals, well, just sticky notes on the wall. 

As we return to work in person, reconnecting and creating teams that sync together and understand the value of collaboration is going to be crucial to success, both internally and client-facing. 

Innovation Elevated is an offshoot of Building Momentum’s (The Garden's owner/operators) cornerstone program: Innovation Boot Camp. The corporate training program provides numerous benefits to employees of all levels and promotes communication and collaboration for optimal workplace success. Innovation Elevated educates teams, and gives them the skills, confidence and permission to work and collaborate more efficiently, while learning new technology along the way. 

Although most people think of training when hiring new employees, some organizations also offer training at the start of new projects or on a yearly basis. This helps ensure employees are equipped with the skill  to handle any challenges that may arise. 

Innovation Elevation is different from traditional corporate training because it exposes employees to a variety of challenges but then provides participants with methods, tools and technology needed to be successful and create solutions to these challenges. The training enhances collaboration and communication between teams and provides staff with a new project they have no prior exposure to – which places all participants on the same playing field. 

We encourage teams to come with open minds and ready to break down silos that have so often gotten in the way of success. CEOs and Associates are going to work shoulder to shoulder, get dirty, and learn how to creatively problem solve in a way they've never had the chance to before.

Corporate Training at The Garden

At The Garden, we understand the nuances of corporate training. We offer a variety of options for organizations looking to improve their training programs, break down silos or simply unite their teams. In addition to providing a gathering space for celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and other events, we also host a variety of corporate events as well, such as seminars, workshops and meetings. Our spacious event hall provides the perfect backdrop for assembly of all sizes. We have recently expanded our outdoor space, allowing for organizations to hold breakout sessions.

Our corporate training options include welding classes, full-day team building sessions and bespoke training sessions based on needs and goals. Our event hall features 2,600 square feet of space, capable of holding up to 200 people. 

The Garden also offers custom event add-ons including laser-cutting, 3-D printing pens, screen printing and drone skee ball. These options provide an exciting opportunity for staff to learn new skills and work together to complete a variety of projects. We also can provide event staff, outdoor tents, tables and chairs, microphones and whiteboards, televisions with laptop hookups, and soda fountain options. Whatever the need, The Garden will bring your vision to life.

Please contact The Garden for more information about our corporate training offerings or to book your next event.

Safety and Thoughtfulness - Key Themes for 2021 Corporate Events

As we begin 2021, businesses are starting to plan events for the year. While it’s unclear how much longer we’ll have to limit our interactions with others, many are hopeful for the opportunity to reconnect with friends and co-workers in a safe way. 

Maintaining and nurturing positive work relationships is critical. Without regular interaction, employee communication and satisfaction can suffer. This can impact work performance and productivity - making employee satisfaction diminish. Planning a corporate event shows that you are invested in your employees. It also helps encourage collaboration and boosts employee morale. 

Finding the Perfect Space 

Planners must choose an event venue that allows for adequate social distancing, ideally with some outdoor space for maximum ventilation. The Garden offers 2,600 square feet of space for events of all sizes. The rustic, industrial-chic event hall provides an ideal space for meetings, presentations, company parties and more. With no minimum booking time, The Garden is a great choice for accommodating last-minute gatherings. This might prove especially beneficial now, as companies navigate the changes caused by COVID-19. 

To ensure the safety of all guests and staff, The Garden has implemented several safety measures including limited capacity, increased cleaning, and sanitization using innovative technology and they will continue to adjust the number of occupants allowed in the facility in accordance with the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 guidelines.

Childcare is always a factor when planning events outside of regular work hours and The Garden offers a solution. With partnerships that include neighboring businesses, Scramble and Sportrock, event planners can provide a safe and fun activity for children to attend while their parents are at The Garden. Both of these businesses offer kids camps to keep children busy and having fun safely while their parents enjoy their time connecting with colleagues.

Optional Alternatives for Kids

• Sportrock provides climbing walls for children. In addition to being one of the founding rock climbing gyms in the country, Sportrock has the most highly certified routesetting team in the industry. Children that attend Sportrock camp learn problem-solving skills, build strength, stamina, and flexibility, and build concentration, coordination and patience. 

• Scramble offers fun and educational camps for children ages pre-k to 5th grade. Attendees learn through play as they interact with their peers. Kids that attend Scramble camp build social skills, increase their coordination, balance, and motor skills, and learn to deal with tough emotions like fear, frustration, and anger. By encouraging imaginative play, Scramble helps kids form unique ideas and solutions to a wide range of problems.

Corporate Event Venue

In addition to plenty of space and camp opportunities for children, The Garden is conveniently located just a two-minute walk from Van Dorn Metro Station on the Blue Line. The Garden allows event attendees to bring outside food and drink, so catering can be arranged as desired. 

Companies considering corporate events for 2021 should begin planning now. It’s likely that event venues will book fast once the pandemic is behind us.

Please contact The Garden for more information about our partnerships with Scramble and Sportrock or to book your next event.

Everything You Need to Know When Planning a Safe Event at The Garden

New Safety Measures at The Garden

On November 13, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam announced new statewide measures aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 in Virginia. The new safety measures come after a significant increase of confirmed cases of the virus across the state. The new restrictions reduced the number of people allowed to gather at both indoor and outdoor events from 250 to 25. 

In order to comply with state mandates and help prevent the spread of illness, we have adjusted our practices and policies at our event facility. Thinking of planning an event with us? Below are some things to consider as you start planning or adjust your current plans.

Limited Capacity

As stated, at this time we cannot exceed 25 event attendees. This number includes all participants including event planners, guests of honor, children and adults. The Garden event staff is not included in the 25-person capacity count. 

Please keep in mind that we cannot allow more guests to join your event and you will likely need to downsize your guest list. In the event that you cannot or do not wish to downsize your event give us a call and we’re more than happy to discuss rescheduling or another solution.

Air Flow, Contact Tracing, and Cleaning

During events, we leave our garage door open to ensure significant airflow. We keep a guest list for all events to allow for the Alexandria Health Department to conduct quick and effective contact tracing. In addition to regular cleaning using CDC-approved cleaners, The Garden uses Building Momentum’s UVC Robot to sanitize surfaces when there is not twelve hours between events.

Although events look different during the pandemic, we believe that the smaller size allows for a more intimate and personal gathering. Please contact us for more information about our safety measures.

Event Catering

Many of our guests share a meal at their event, which looks different during the pandemic. Guests can enjoy a classic seated dinner or an attended buffet. It’s important that self-serve buffets that share utensils are not used to reduce the spread of germs. Instead, event planners should designate one server to serve each guest. All guests must wear a face covering when not eating or drinking.

In order to observe social distancing guidelines, The Garden ensures a six-foot gap between each table. We ask that guests that do not live in the same household maintain adequate distance from each other. The Garden recently renovated our outdoor patio to allow for additional spacing. 

Dancing & Entertainment

We understand that many of our guests enjoy dancing and entertainment. For weddings, we allow the bride and groom’s first dance as well as the mother/son dance and the father/daughter dance. Limited dancing is recommended to ensure social distancing can be maintained. The Garden has a complete sound system that can support live bands, DJ’s, and even Spotify playlists. Our SONOS speakers can be controlled from your phone through Spotify. 

Décor 

As weddings and other events become smaller and more intimate, we’ve seen a trend in couples and event planners spending less of their budget on food and entertainment and more on décor to offer a more immersive experience than they may have planned previously. We are always amazed by the ingenuity of our guests. Recently, our space was turned into a jungle. It’s this type of creative thinking that turns weddings and other events into a truly memorable experience.  

At The Garden, we’re committed to the health and safety of our staff and guests. Please contact us today to discuss how we can help you create a memorable experience.

The Future of Weddings After COVID-19

Throughout the pandemic, weddings and receptions have been put on hold. As states start to reopen, couples everywhere are excited for the opportunity to finally tie the knot. It’s important to note that weddings after COVID will look a little different. Couples and wedding planners must adjust to state restrictions regarding events. Each state has rules in place to prevent the spread of disease. It’s crucial that everyone works together to keep guests, event staff, and the bridal party safe.

With talk of a second wave, experts speculate that we may have to deal with coronavirus well into 2021. Fortunately, many event venues have already started implementing important safety measures and making accommodations to allow for social distancing. Although wedding planners and couples need to learn and understand state laws, there’s no reason why they can’t start planning their special day.

Virginia is currently in Phase Three of the State’s reopening plan. This phase allows for social gatherings up to 250 people or 50% of the event space capacity, whichever is less. This is good news for couples looking to tie the knot in Virginia.

Keeping Guests Safe

When planning a wedding during COVID-19, event planners must consider the safety of guests and event staff. Wedding planners need to allow for at least six feet of distance between people, tables, and chairs. Having a large, open space allows for adequate social distancing. Another important consideration, couples and wedding planners need to limit the amount of physical contact between the wedding party and attendees. This might mean skipping the money dance or other activities that put guests in direct contact with each other.

In order to keep guests safe and ensure a successful event, The Garden is taking special precautions to prevent the spread of disease. Our event hall features 2,600 square feet of space. The open design of the venue allows for social distancing without making guests feel like they aren’t part of the event. Our event staff has implemented special cleaning procedures. All surfaces are cleaned and sanitized regularly with CDC-approved products. The Garden has hand sanitizing stations available for attendees and event staff.

Although we are limiting occupancy in our event space, the large size of our venue allows for a moderately large event. We will continue to adjust the number of occupants allowed in our event hall as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s COVID-19 guidelines allow. Please contact us for up-to-date information about event capacity.

Book Your Wedding Venue Now!

Many couples are finding it difficult to locate venues that can accommodate their wedding or reception during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few months, The Garden has helped facilitate innovative technology to combat COVID-19 through our partnership with Building Momentum. This has enabled us to continue to innovate and develop plans to ensure the safety of guests and event staff.

Our versatile and attractive event space is available for your wedding or reception! Please contact us for more information.

Private Welding Courses for Beginners & Experts

Learning a new skill keeps the mind engaged. This might be just what you need after months of self-quarantine. Although you have many choices when it comes to learning new skills, learning to weld offers numerous benefits. 

When something breaks that needs welding, it can take a lot of time and money to find someone to fix it. If you learn to weld, you can fix your personal belongings yourself. You can even offer welding services to your friends and family for extra income. In addition to the feeling of accomplishment you gain from fixing or creating something yourself, welding offers the unique opportunity to earn revenue as well. Not to mention, all the artistic and crafty projects you could create with your new metal working skills.

What is Welding?

Welding involves heating and connecting pieces of metal together. Although the process seems simple enough, anyone interested in welding should take the time to learn the proper methods and techniques before purchasing a welding machine. While several videos and books on the subject exist, the safest and most effective way to learn is by taking a welding course. Taught by experienced welders, these courses cover the basics of welding and the measures necessary to protect yourself and others.  

Types of Welding

Depending on the application, welders may use a variety of different methods. In fact, welders use more 30 different processes to connect pieces of metal together. The most common welding processes include:

• MIG Welding

• TIG Welding

• Stick Welding

• Flux Welding

• Energy Beam Welding (EBW)

• Atomic Hydrogen Welding (AHW)

• Gas Tungsten

• Plasma Arc Welding

Benefits of Welding

Welding is an important part of many industries including mining, oil, gas, military, and construction. Welders work in multiple jobs. They work as part of race car pit crews, on aircraft, and in military vehicles. Even welders that don’t choose a career in welding often find they make significant income completing odd jobs for friends and family or selling the art pieces they create. 

In addition to the many job opportunities available to individuals that learn this important skill, welding offers numerous other benefits as well. Welders will always be needed. This is not a skill that will go unused. Welders can fix almost any metal object. They can build metal art pieces, work on vehicles, create functional home décor pieces, work on cooking devices like smokers and grills, and much more.  

Welding Courses for Beginners to Experts

Whether you want to weld as a hobby or start a welding business, taking a welding course at The Garden can help you achieve your goal. We offer welding classes for beginners to experts. Working in small groups, participants can choose between building their own metal creation and taking part in a group challenge. During class, beginners learn how to properly use welding equipment and safely fuse pieces of metal together. The level of complexity and challenge increases based on experience. Advanced welding classes offered at The Garden focus on perfecting skills and learning new techniques.

Please contact us for more information or to sign up for welding classes at The Garden. 

Interested in one of our group welding events? Sign up for one of our Wine & Welding nights, a Last Saturday Welding Class, or register your child for one of our many welding camps and after school clubs.

Virtual Tour: The Garden’s Versatile Event Space

As much of the country relaxes stay at home orders, people everywhere are starting to plan events. Because of the warm weather and increased daylight hours, late summer and early fall are popular times for reunions, weddings, and corporate events. This year, in addition to the previously mentioned events, Virginia residents are excited to get together to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and other events that took place during the statewide quarantine. Whatever the reason, it seems like people everywhere are getting excited to get out and spend some time with their loved ones.

While we’re excited to welcome guests back to our facility, at The Garden we understand the importance of continuing to prevent the spread of disease. We have strict social distancing, cleaning, and sanitizing practices in place to ensure our staff and guests remain happy and healthy during their visit. In addition to limited capacity and increased cleaning practices, we also facilitate innovative technology to help combat COVID-19.

Experience Our One-Of-A-Kind Event Space from the Comfort of Your Home

For those considering booking an event, The Garden now offers virtual tours of our versatile event space. Our virtual tours make it possible for residents to view the venue and experience its unique character without having to visit us in person. During a virtual tour, an event specialist walks you through the facility and explains the various offerings available like unlimited soda fountain drinks, welded name plates for guests, laser cutting ornaments, 3D printing station, drone skee ball, event coordinators, and more.

Let The Garden Make Your Next Event a Success!

The Garden features a unique event space where friends and family can gather. Located inside a reclaimed warehouse, our rustic event hall provides a blank canvas for a variety of events including baby showers, birthday parties, weddings, corporate events, team meetings, photo projects, and reunions. Featuring over 2,600 square feet of space, our event venue accommodates up to 200 people. While we may not be able to operate at full capacity at the moment, the extra space in our event hall allows guests to spread out, ensuring adequate social distancing and optimal comfort.

The Garden event venue is located close to Van Dorn Metro station on the Blue Line and offers free parking on-site. The convenient location makes The Garden accessible to guests visiting from all over the country.

The Garden offers everything needed to make your event a success. On request, we can provide chairs, tables, whiteboards, microphones, speakers, television screens, and WiFi.

We strongly encourage Virginia residents and those looking to visit the DC area to contact us to schedule a virtual tour of our facility. We’re positive you’ll see why The Garden is one of Northern Virginia’s premier event venues.

What Does Phase 3 Mean for The Garden and All Other Event Spaces?

On Wednesday, July 1st, 2020, Virginia officially moved into phase three of Governor Northam’s “Forward Virginia” reopening plan. During this phase, capacity limits for stores, restaurants, and bars have been lifted. Phase three also provides some good news for Virginia residents anxiously awaiting to plan their next event. Under phase three, indoor and outdoor event venues can finally reopen at 50% capacity. Several Virginia event spaces have already reopened. 

Phase 3 Reopening Guidelines

When planning an event, it’s important that residents understand the measures being taken to reduce the spread of disease. Until further notice, social gatherings around the state are limited to 250 people or 50% of the event space capacity, whichever is less. Phase three requires venues to ensure at least six feet between organizers, staff, volunteers, and patrons at any event. Event venues must also take precautions to ensure guests do not bunch up in lines and can exit venues easily without creating bottlenecks.

Another requirement under phase three, hosts should not plan any activity that requires close contact between organizers, staff, and attendees. For example, hosts shouldn’t plan to have face painting, temporary tattoo applications, or audience members participating directly with performers at their event. 

In order to prevent the spread of disease and keep patrons safe and healthy, event venues must follow CDC reopening guidelines regarding routine cleaning and disinfecting of all high touch and hard surfaces.  Businesses and residents must also continue to adhere to the state’s mask mandate. 

Although these changes might take some getting used to, residents around the state are excited to reconnect with their loved ones. At The Garden, we’re looking forward to helping residents host their next event.

Choosing the Right Event Venue

Although weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and reunions might look a little different this year, choosing the right event venue can make a big difference in the overall success of your event. This year, it’s important to make sure you choose an event space with plenty of room to allow for social distancing. Consider the layout of the event venue you choose. Make sure there is plenty of open space and not a lot of obstacles or structures that could prevent guests from spreading out comfortably.

Another important factor, make sure the event space you choose matches the style or theme of your event. You can always add decorations to light-colored or natural surfaces. It’s not as easy to cover up brightly colored walls that clash with the color theme of your event.

DC Area Event Venue 

The Garden provides a rustic and original setting for a variety of events. Our event hall features an impressive 2,600 square feet, making it the perfect choice for both small and large events. We have no minimum booking time and provide all of the tables, chairs, and presentation equipment needed to ensure your event runs smoothly.

Please contact us to learn how we can help make your next event a success.

Co-Working is the New Normal

The global pandemic has caused professionals to reevaluate the way they do business. During quarantine and forced closures, several businesses made the shift from a traditional office environment to working from home. While many enjoyed the freedom and flexibility offered by working remotely, most are excited to return to a more traditional work environment. 

Although several large corporations will probably return to a modified version of business as normal, many are making adjustments to reduce operational costs to make-up for lost income. Another factor, many small business owners can no longer afford an expensive private office. Although working from home isn’t expected to become permanent for most workers or business owners, many are starting to realize the benefits of co-working spaces.

In addition to rent, business owners often spend a considerable amount of time and money maintaining their office space. This is one of the main reasons co-working spaces have become so popular in recent years. Shared workspaces eliminate the upfront and maintenance costs involved with a traditional office setting. Pricing is generally all-inclusive, allowing business owners to focus their energy and resources on growing their business. Because of these factors and more, co-working spaces increase earning potential and improve employee satisfaction and morale. 

Co-Working Spaces Provide an Affordable and Flexible Option for Businesses of All Shapes & Sizes

Co-working spaces provide an affordable, flexible, and convenient option for small businesses and entrepreneurs. These spaces may even benefit large corporations looking to downsize or move part of their workforce to complete special projects. Companies can also utilize co-working spaces to limit the amount of staff in each location. The style and design of co-working spaces inspire innovation, collaboration, and productivity. 

Despite lifted restrictions, many companies will continue operating remotely. Companies that allow staff to work from home could benefit from meeting once a week or bi-monthly. This allows organizations to maintain company culture and collaborate as a team. 

Co-working meeting rooms provide the perfect option for team meetings. These affordable and flexible spaces allow for a variety of team meetings without the overhead of a traditional office location.  

Co-Working Spaces Quickly Becoming the Preferred Working Environment

Co-working spaces were gaining popularity prior to the pandemic. In 2019, there were an estimated 35,000 flexible workspaces worldwide. This number is expected to grow significantly over the next few months as co-working spaces become the preferred working environment. 

Keeping Employees Safe 

As workers return to the office, it’s important that employers ensure their health and safety. Employers should look for a co-working space that offers a safe, comfortable, and secure environment.

Co-Working Space in Northern Virginia

The Garden offers a variety of flexible co-working plans for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations. In addition to meeting rooms and office spaces, The Garden offers corporate members full access to our 4,000 square foot workshop which features laser cutters, woodworking, and metalworking areas and tools. Corporate members also receive access to a large office capable of holding up to eight people.

Please contact us for more information about our co-working spaces and flexible membership plans.

Black Lives Matter.

We denounce systemic racism and social injustice. As a team and also individual human beings, we stand firmly that Black Lives Matter. In every disaster zone, battlefield and community we work in, we know that actionable change is all that matters. Talk is, even if from the heart and profoundly felt, easier than doing the hard work to make a difference.

Building Momentum is a company of action, and we intend to do the following to support our rhetoric. Effective immediately, Building Momentum will:

• Offer use of The Garden free to Black community members who want to use our workshop for change - whether it be protest signs, protective gear, works of art, or other media in response to social injustice

• Provide our space in Alexandria, The Garden, for free to community organizations for moderated discourse and discussion for community members to gather and have the difficult conversations around race

• Commit to providing diversity and inclusion and de-escalation training for our team by the end of 2020.

We will continue to research ways Building Momentum’s actions can affect community change and release an updated statement detailing these actions soon. At Building Momentum and The Garden, we believe in being thoughtful, honest, flexible, respectful, balanced and passionate problem solvers. We believe that Black Lives Matter.

Why The Garden is Ideal for Intimate Events Post-Quarantine

As businesses start to reopen and restrictions get lifted in cities and states across the nation, many people are excited to get together with friends, family, and co-workers. Although it’s important to ensure the continued safety and protection of your loved ones, many people are starting to plan small, intimate gatherings. 

Small events hosted by family members and friends provide the perfect opportunity for everyone to reconnect and catch-up after the quarantine. These intimate gatherings often involve a close-knit group of people getting together to celebrate a special occasion such as a graduation, birthday, or reunion. Whatever the reason, these cozy events could be just what many of us need to boost our morale and feel a little more normal. 

Choosing the Perfect Event Space 

Families, organizations, and individuals planning an intimate event will want to make sure they choose a central location where everyone can meet. Although tempting to hold this type of event in your home, doing so can put the health and safety of others at risk. It’s important to choose an event space that takes all necessary precautions to help slow the spread of disease. Event spaces like The Garden ensure proper cleaning of all surfaces using CDC-approved products. 

In addition to location, it’s also important to make sure the event space you choose can accommodate the size and needs of your event. Before booking an event space, make sure there’s plenty of room for all of your guests to move around. Keep in mind that most people will expect to eat at your event. Choose an event venue that allows you to bring your own food.

Organizing Your Event

Even though planning an intimate event doesn’t require the same level of attention as planning a large party, it’s still important to keep things organized. Before the event, create a master list of all the tasks that need to be done and a shopping list of all the things that need to be purchased. Make sure you keep this list up-to-date especially as you get closer to your event.

Most people find they can be a little more creative with the food they serve when planning an event for a small group of people. However, it’s important to consider the dietary requirements and preferences of your guests. You might want to ask in advance if anyone has any allergies or aversions to certain foods. 

Northern Virginia Intimate Event Space

The Garden can help make your event a success! Our industrial-chic event hall provides the perfect location for a wide range of intimate events like weddings, graduations, birthdays, reunions, team meetings, corporate events, and more. In addition to our large event space, parties can utilize our tables, chairs, TV screens, whiteboards, microphones, WiFi, and full event staff.

Our event staff will work hand in hand (wearing gloves of course!) with you to create an even that is intimate, memorable, fun and most importantly, safe. The Garden has been undergoing a number of renovations to allow for easier physical distancing, disinfection of items and hands, and ease of celebration. 

Although we have no minimum booking time, we do recommend parties’ book their event space soon. As restrictions lift, we are seeing an increasing number of people starting to plan these types of events. 

Please contact us to learn more about our event space for intimate gatherings. 

Cosplay at Work

“I made it at work,” was a phrase Laurel used many times to describe the Mass Effect 2 costume she created to wear to the Cosplay Convention she attended in the fall of 2019. Encouraged by her manager, Allen Brooks, to explore her creativity and flex her master-maker skills, she decided to take on the project of fashioning black foam workout mats into the N7 armor that the main character wears. 

Laurel, an associate and robot specialist at Building Momentum, used a pattern to get the main pieces of the costume drawn up. She created the initial version with paper to ensure sizing was correct. Once she felt comfortable with the pieces, she began to cut the black foam mats using a heat gun to bend and mold the foam, cut it using a Dremel band saw and glued them together with contact cement. Another special feature of the costume was the small Arduino nano light panel that was attached to the back. The flashing lights covered in frosted plastic gave the costume the realistic robot feel that was especially eye-catching and impressive on the convention floor.

The trickiest part of the process was the arm shield. Made with a thin acrylic, it kept breaking with even the slightest bit of pressure. After many attempts at fashioning the arm shield in various ways, Laurel came up with a solution using break-points that bend easily and could be fixed using nylon screws if something were to break while she was wearing the armor. One of the main tenets of cosplay is to be sure you can quickly fix any aspect of your costume yourself - quickly and on the fly!

The entire process of completing the N7 armor was crammed into two weeks and posed many challenges that resulted in a lot of trial and error. The ethos at Building Momentum is to find solutions to problems quickly and efficiently using tech tools at your disposal. Laurel’s adventure in cosplay costume fabrication is just one example of how the skills taught at the Garden and in Innovation Bootcamp can benefit many other areas of our lives. Additionally, when you work in a space like the Garden where using Dremel saws, laser cutters and welding equipment are the norm, it makes sense to use spare time to flex your creative muscles and make wearable art. Self-expression and pursuing hobbies are integral to the culture of the Garden, and Laurel’s N7 armor costume project is just one example of how employees are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work each and every day.

Allen Brooks Honored with 40 Under 40 Award from Alexandria Chamber of Commerce

Allen Brooks, the Chief Operating Officer of Building Momentum, is recognized with a 2020 Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Award for his professional accomplishments, scholastic achievements and community impact. This prestigious award, given by the Chamber’s Young Leaders Network celebrates leaders and innovators whose efforts serve the greater Alexandria area. Brooks will be honored alongside the other 2020 40 Under 40 class memberås at the annual ceremony on Thursday, October 29, 2020, at the United Way Worldwide.

Brooks, born-and-raised in Alexandria, leads a team of creatives and engineers in his role at Building Momentum, a company that teaches and practices innovative problem solving using high-tech solutions. They also develop and conduct corporate and military leadership training programs.

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized with an Alexandria Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Award. I have so much pride in this city, and to be recognized for my efforts feels surreal,” said Allen Brooks. “Alexandria is a beautiful, diverse city with a historic background and I feel fortunate to have grown up here and come to work here each day. I hope that my efforts will continue to lift this city up and inspire others to do the same.”

Under Brooks’ leadership at Building Momentum, the team has grown from four employees to over 20 and revenue has grown from less than $1 Million in 2017 to over $5 Million in just three years. He is responsible for the creative vision behind The Garden, the company’s training and events space that has become a meeting place and beloved location in the Alexandria community and beyond. Allen has been involved in a number of civic, Alexandria-focused organizations including the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce, Board of the Eisenhower Partnership and the Eisenhower West/ Landmark Van Dorn Implementation Advisory Group.

 Prior to joining Building Momentum, Allen worked at the Kennedy Center building their arts education online content through the Center’s ARTSEDGE program, where he developed digital arts integration content and games-for-learning platforms. To date, thousands of classrooms across the country have used this platform, thus, exposing students to the arts in a time where arts education is incredibly important.

From a community perspective, Brooks has been a catalyst for positive change in the Alexandria City Public Schools as well as the office of Christopher Newport University Alumni Relations office where he developed the Alumni Endowed Scholarship. He has worked with CNU to charter the TheaterCNU Alumni Chapter of the Alumni Association, as well as been elected to serve on the Christopher Newport Alumni Board of Directors. 

For more information about Allen and his community contributions and professional achievements, visit BuildingMomentum.us and TheChamberALX.com