King County Courthouse Elopement + Lotte Hotel Reception
I am still not over Anyith & Renato’s romantic, downtown Seattle elopement from this past spring! We spent the day wandering through Seattle, starting with a King County Courthouse elopement ceremony and then ending the evening with an intimate gathering at the Lotte Hotel. It was the loveliest celebration with their closest loved ones before the larger wedding they’ll be having abroad, and I am so, so glad I got to tag along to take these two through the city I love so much.
Anyith & Renato’s Elopement Day in Downtown Seattle
A King County Courthouse ceremony with just friends & family
There’s something so charming and nostalgic to me about courthouse elopements – I think it’s because they remind me of those crazy-in-love couples in old movies & TV shows who spontaneously run off to Vegas to elope, trading in expectations for a day of wild romance. The romantic inside of me just adores when couples opt for intimate ceremonies with only the people who mean the most to them, releasing the pressure to have a grand, intricate celebration for the sake of tradition. And that’s exactly what Anyith and Renato did for their special day in Seattle🥂
They held their elopement ceremony at the King County Courthouse, surrounded by their families as they held hands & exchanged their vows. Fun fact about Anyith and Renato: 3 different languages are spoken between the two of them and their families! It was such a pleasure getting to witness not only the two of them promise their lives to one another, but also be so loved & supported by their people. Nowhere is there a rule that says you have to have a large wedding in order for it to be special – as long as you’re surrounded by the people who mean the most to you & your day revolves around your unique, authentic relationship, you’re in for a pretty dang incredible day ✨
If you’re considering a courthouse elopement, take a look at Heaven & George’s Luxury City Elopement for more stunning inspo!
Old-timey elopement portraits & gorgeous architecture
Fair warning: if we’re wandering around taking portraits on your elopement day and we find a spot with any sort of beautiful architecture or unique interior design, I WILL have you stop for a few photos. If you know me at all then you know I take so much of my inspiration from all mediums of art, and living in a city like Seattle provides seemingly endless opportunities for creative elopement portraits, be it as we meander through the streets of downtown or while you’re in the elevator in an old building!
We took full advantage of the beautiful interiors of the courthouse, snapping a variety of portraits of Anyith and Renato in pure newlywed bliss – and looking absolutely gorgeous in their elopement outfits! Anyith picked out a beautiful floral headband to go with her lacy gown, while Renato kept it just as classy with a clean gray suit & dark pants. Standing in front of the elevator doors, they looked like they were plucked right out of one of those old, eloping-in-Vegas-trope romantic comedies that I was talking about earlier!
Speaking of beautiful interior design – Smith Tower has to be one of the best spots in the city when it comes to stunning architecture, featuring sparkling marble walls, gold-rimmed lighting fixtures, and old-timey elevators. Check out Ryan & Maria’s Smith Tower Elopement for all sorts of luxury city portrait inspiration!
An intimate evening reception at the Lotte Hotel
After traipsing through the city streets and stopping in front of every single colorful door + intriguing alleyway we could find, it was time to head to the Lotte Hotel for Anyith and Renato’s evening celebration. I loved that these two made their day completely their own, combining the simplicity and ease of a courthouse ceremony with the intimacy of a small celebration at a local hotel restaurant!
Emily & Matt curated their wedding day in a similar way to Anyith & Renato, with a ceremony at the UW Horticulture Center and an intimate reception at the Metropolitan Grill downtown. Scroll through their elegant fall wedding gallery here!
We spent a bit (okay, quite a bit) of time in the Charlotte Restaurant & Lounge taking portraits of the stunning bride and groom in front of bookcases, lounging around on gorgeous couches with a giant poster of of Audrey Hepburn in the background, and dancing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city before they sat down for an intimate dinner with their families.
I will never stop being thankful for this “job” that allows me to venture through the city with the most incredible, in-love couples – what a dream come true. Congratulations to Anyith & Renato on a beautiful day and an even more beautiful life together!
Don’t stop now – browse through a few more of my recent Seattle elopements below to gather more inspiration & ideas for your own special day!
