Rainy Day Seattle Courthouse Elopement
If the age-old adage about rain on your wedding day is correct, then Meseret & Sterling are about to live a lifetime of happiness together – because the skies did NOT hold back on us during their Seattle courthouse elopement. Despite the pouring rain that barely let up throughout the day, this sweet couple adapted & rolled with the punches beautifully. We strolled through the streets of downtown Seattle, visited one of my favorite studios for a few indoor portraits, made our way up Smith Tower, and wrapped up the night with a courthouse ceremony. I had so much fun capturing their Seattle wedding memories ahead of their destination celebration🤍
A Rainy Day Smith Tower + Seattle Courthouse Elopement
Rain or shine – the love was all that mattered
Who says you need sunshine and blue skies in order to have a magical celebration of your love? Especially if you’re in the lovely PNW, where rain is basically a given, it is SO important to prepare yourselves for any type of weather. I know there’s nothing like a gorgeous, sunny day in the city, but the last thing we want is for you to set your expectations as high as possible, only to end up disappointed! Meseret & Sterling are the perfect example of going with the flow (literally): I could not get enough of their positivity throughout the chaos of the day. Even when it was raining sideways and when we had to walk through puddles on the street, the smiles never left their faces!
You know what they say: expect the best, prepare for the worst. As long as you do just that in preparation for your elopement, you’re sure to have an incredibly special day no matter what circumstances may be out of your control! Especially if you’re ready to totally embrace the day, rain or shine, like these two did – it’s YOUR day, darlings, so dance in the damn rain!✨
Moody studio elopement portraits at Olive Studio
We kicked off this day with a little time at Olive Studio, a beautiful studio in Pioneer Square run by two fellow photographers. It was such a treat getting to hide away from the rain for a little while in this gorgeous space, decorated impeccably with lush plants, minimalist furnishings, & featuring stunning exposed brick walls.
If you’re having a winter courthouse elopement like Meseret & Sterling, I highly recommend renting a studio space for an hour or two as a backup location for your portraits. Fortunately, there are many studio options available near the courthouse (like Olive!) that offer beautiful spaces for your winter elopement portraits if the rain is just too much to deal with! Olive was the perfect place to snap some moody portraits of these two before the rain could impact their hair, makeup, or outfits.
I absolutely adore Pioneer Square, where Olive Studio is located – be sure to take a peek at Michelle & Kevin’s Colorful Downtown Seattle Elopement in Pioneer Square for some more dreamy inspo in the area!
A rainy stroll through the streets of downtown Seattle
Once we felt like we had enough indoor portraits, we made our way out to the streets of Seattle to brave the rain – and when I tell you that Meseret & Sterling were absolute naturals, I mean NATURALS. The way they ever so casually stepped out into the rain, Meseret carrying her bridal bouquet under a clear umbrella and strutting her stuff in heels along the wet pavement – absolute stunners. There’s something so romantic about Seattle in the rain, especially when paired with the most gorgeous bride & groom. I am obsessed with the glam city vibes that these two embodied out on the streets despite the crazy weather!
Glam portraits inside of Smith Tower
And of course, we had to make a stop at one of my favorite spots in the city for elopement portraits: Smith Tower. Every part of this tower screams style & vintage glam, from the dramatic black couch in front of the massive mirror in the lobby, to the gold-accented elevator that brings you right back to the 1950’s, to the observation deck at the top boasting breathtaking views of the city. As soon as you step into Smith Tower it’s like taking a step back into history, especially if you make a stop at the stylish bar for delicious hand-crafted cocktails & barrel-aged liquors! You bet that Meseret & Sterling absolutely killed it at every spot we stopped at in the tower, and that they fully embraced the observatory views of the rainy city as the sun went down ☔
A private evening ceremony at Seattle Municipal Court
What an incredible elopement day so far – and they hadn’t even gotten married yet! As the clouds turned shades of blue and the daylight slowly faded away, we headed to Seattle Municipal Court for their courthouse ceremony. I adore the intimacy of courthouse ceremonies, with just you and your love tying the knot surrounded by beautiful views of the city, and only a couple of witnesses. Ceremonies at the courthouse are actually limited to a total of 8 people (including the two of you), so they are a perfect option for couples looking to keep it simple + say their vows in private!
What an incredible honor it was to take Meseret & Sterling around the city, and to be by their side as they celebrated their love despite what the skies brought down on us. Congratulations to this beautiful couple!
Seattle Courthouse Elopement Photographer
Hi love, I’m Allie – a photographer and lover of everything creative. I’ll be more than your photographer; I’ll be your personal paparazzi cheering you on every step of the way, making you feel like your best selves and look like the damn stars you are! Take a look at my website for more information about what I offer, who I am, and what types of Seattle courthouse elopement packages I have available for your special day! I’d love to create some magic with you – let’s chat✨
More Smith Tower & Downtown Seattle Elopement Inspo
If you couldn’t tell already, I adore city elopements and exploring the streets of Seattle with my couples more than anything! If you’re thinking of having your own Seattle courthouse elopement, or taking portraits downtown and having your ceremony elsewhere, I’ve got more real-life examples of my past couples for you below, that will hopefully inspire you to create the day of your dreams in this beautiful city🥂
