Imagine you and your fiancé all dressed up in your gorg elopement attire, on a little jaunt through the halls of a museum in the city with some of the most beautiful art in the state on the walls behind you – that’s precisely what Alex & Alexis’s Seattle elopement at the Seattle Art Museum looked like. And it was every bit as magical, romantic, and dreamy as you’re picturing🤍

A One of a Kind Elopement at the Seattle Art Museum

Alex and Alexis really wanted to shoot in a museum with a romantic, unique vibe – so we did just that, spending the afternoon in the Seattle Art Museum capturing what looked like photos out of an old romance movie. Forever obsessed with creating an entire storyline for your elopement or even your engagement session, designing a date meant to be captured just like these two did.

Cocktails at Ben Paris at the downtown State Hotel

After our time at the SAM and a brief stroll down the rainy streets of Seattle, we made our way to the Ben Paris restaurant, located inside of the well-known State Hotel. I took a backseat and snapped some photos of this beautiful couple enjoying delicious hand-crafted cocktails – and looking like absolute models while doing so. I mean, will you just look at the way Alexis’s gloves carry her glass so elegantly while Alex looks at her in such an adoring way? The pure romance of the bar atmosphere + the effortless vibes between these two were simply unparalleled!

Fun fact: the State Hotel is actually where I got ready for my own wedding! Take a peek at the day I’ll never forget over on my IG 🥹

Alexis + Alex’s charming elopement outfits

You know me: I can’t go one blog post without talking about the fashion choices that my couples make! And I have to say – they all have fabulous taste. 

Now not only did Alexis pick one stunner of a gown, but TWO. For their little date at the art museum, she wore a short, white dress featuring a strapless sweetheart neckline, a gorgeous side-to-back cutout, and, the stars of the show – deliciously ruffled, fluffy sleeves. This dress paired with her simple pearl necklace & a pair of silver, bedazzled heels made this lady shine. Once we found our way to the bar, she changed into a sleek, satin gown that fell just below her knees, held up by thin straps and boasting yet another gorgeous sweetheart neckline.

But my favorite part of Alexis’s outfit was, without a doubt, the custom gloves she had made to compliment her second white dress. Yes, custom white gloves, embroidered with what would soon be their shared last name, and those cherished few words: ‘til death do us part. Ugh, the romantic in me cannot handle it.

Alex was looking handsome next to his stunner of a gal in a classic white button-up, black pants, and a black belt + shoes to match. He started off the day with a black suit jacket and tie, but took off a couple layers once we got to the bar for a slightly more casual look!

I absolutely cannot wait to travel out to New Jersey for Alex + Alexis’s wedding weekend this summer, and to reminisce on this magical day together! Cheers to the loveliest couple 🥂

About the Seattle Art Museum as a Wedding Venue

Whether you’re planning a totally private elopement or photoshoot like Alex + Alexis, or you’re envisioning an intimate celebration with 30-40 of your loved ones, the Seattle Art Museum makes for a phenomenal wedding venue in Seattle! For Alex + Alexis’s special day, we simply explored the halls of the museum to snap some whimsical portraits of the two of them, rather than them holding a large wedding here. 

If you’d like to host your wedding with the Seattle Art Museum, you’ll actually have a choice between the museum’s three locations, all of which are unique to one another: the Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle, the Seattle Asian Art Museum in Volunteer Park, or the Olympic Sculpture Park on the waterfront. All three of these locations are a part of SAM as a whole, but, for reference, the one I shot at with Alex + Alexis was the downtown space. For the sake of time, I’ll only be covering the downtown Seattle Art Museum in this section!

Looking for another unique place to elope in downtown Seattle? Check out Smith Tower, where Heaven & George had their elopement!

Why get married at the Seattle Art Museum?

There are plenty of reasons why the Seattle Art Museum provides such an incredible space to host weddings, starting with the obvious: the one-of-a-kind backdrop that the art collections & exhibits offer. If you’re looking for a totally one-of-a-kind space to take elopement photos or hold your wedding in Seattle, then the museum is a phenomenal option.

You’ll get private access to SAM’s collection and possibly even special exhibitions, as well as a choice between various spaces depending on the size + vibe of your wedding, including the following:

• The Brotman Forum
• Grand Staircase & South Hall Lobby
• Plestcheeff Auditorium
• Simons Board Room
• Nordstrom Lecture Hall
• Arnold Board Room
• Private Dining Room in Taste Café

My personal favorites are the Brotman Forum, which features a massive suspended sculpture & colorful lighting, as well as the grand staircase & the south hall lobby – the Chinese sculptures and marble steps provide a gorgeous, dramatic backdrop that was simply made for a romantic gathering! Each space can accommodate a different group size – you can find the details of each space in this brochure. 

If you’d like some more Seattle elopement inspo to help you plan your dream day in the city, you won’t want to miss Michelle & Kevin’s Colorful Downtown Seattle Elopement in Pioneer Square, or Ryan & Maria’s Smith Tower Elopement ✨