7 Chic Elopement Locations in Downtown Seattle
From the scenic waterfront views to the charming cobblestone streets and alluring alleyways, Seattle is full of beautiful places to elope. Whether you and your love are envisioning a quick courthouse ceremony followed by a romantic dinner in the city, or an emotional waterfront ceremony before heading to a public park for portraits in a lush garden, there are endless ways to curate your dream elopement in this marvelous city. This guide will walk you through the important information you’ll need to know to get your marriage license, as well as show you 8 of my favorite chic elopement locations in downtown Seattle. Can’t wait to see which one(s) end up on your itinerary ✨
How to Get Your Seattle Marriage License
Before I share all of my favorite downtown Seattle elopement locations with you, I wanted to give you a brief breakdown of the process of getting your Seattle marriage license. This is something you’ll plan for in advance to ensure you 1) have all the proper documentation, and 2) are able to get married on the day you want to, as there is a required waiting period in Washington State. If you have no clue what that means, don’t worry—I’ll explain it in just a moment!
Note that if you’re traveling to Seattle from somewhere else in Washington, you can actually get your marriage license in your home county & it will still be valid in Seattle. If you’re flying in from out of state, you’ll need to get your marriage license here in King County (or somewhere else in WA)—you won’t be able to use a license from another state. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a Washington resident in order to tie the knot here!
1. Gather the necessary documents
The first thing you’ll need to do to prepare for your marriage license application is compile all the documents you’ll need. In most counties (King included), this will just be a valid, current photo ID such as a US passport or driver’s license. You likely won’t need any additional documentation unless you’ve been married previously, in which case you may need to bring a divorce decree or annulment paperwork.
2. Choose 2 witnesses
You’ll need 2 witnesses present at your ceremony in order for it to be legal, so if you’re inviting a few guests, you can choose who you’d like to be your witnesses. And if you’re trying to keep your elopement private, I can be one of your witnesses and we may be able to find a random person on the streets of Seattle to be your other one (depending on the location of your ceremony, of course!).
3. Apply for your license through King County
As I mentioned before, you don’t need to get your marriage license through King County in order to get married in Seattle; your license can be issued from any Washington county. However, it’s often easiest to do this if you’re spending a few days in the Seattle area and/or if you’re traveling in from another state. To make the process quicker, you can make an appointment at King County using this link—it’ll save you the time of having to wait in the line once you get there! You’ll fill out the necessary paperwork, provide your identification, and pay the $69 application fee.
4. Wait the mandatory 3-day waiting period
Once your license is finalized and issued, Washington requires you to wait 3 days until you can actually have your ceremony—so be sure to take that into account when planning your trip & elopement itinerary! The waiting period starts the day your license is issued and payment for the fee is processed; for example, if you received your license on August 1st, it would be valid on August 4th.
5. Have your ceremony within 60 days
Your license will be valid for 60 days after the 3-day waiting period ends, so be sure to use it within that time frame! Using the example from above, you’d be able to use the license you received on August 1st between August 4th and October 3rd. The King County website has a great little calculator you can use to determine your ceremony date and when you’ll need to get your license by!
8 Chic Elopement Locations in Downtown Seattle
Time to dive into what you came here for, my loves: all of my favorite places to elope in downtown Seattle. Some of these spots may be great for a private elopement ceremony, while others are typically better for couples portraits before or after your official ceremony. It’s totally up to you to determine what the timeline of your ideal day looks like, and as your photographer I’ll be there by your side to help you plan the logistics & bring it all together 🤍
1. Smith Tower
I’ll simply never get tired of taking couples up to Smith Tower on their elopement day; it’s an iconic landmark in downtown Seattle famed for its panoramic views, rich history as part of the city, and its stylish observatory bar. With 100 years of history serving Seattle with unparalleled views and delicious hand-crafted cocktails from 35 stories up, Smith Tower is an absolutely gorgeous place to hit up for scenic portraits and/or celebratory drinks at the highly-rated Observatory Bar. It’s the perfect locale for a romantic elopement evening with your love, sipping on delightful drinks and enjoying scrumptious local bites. The speakeasy-inspired decor fosters such an intimate, fashionable atmosphere to enjoy some of Seattle’s best views whether it’s just the two of you, or you and a few close friends. You’ll need to purchase a ticket for admission before you go, and if you’re planning to have a group of over 15 people, you’ll want to book a Group Reservation. Even the historic Otis elevators up to the bar provide a splendid photo opportunity!
I took portraits of Heaven and George at Smith Tower on their elopement day and my god, was it the definition of luxury, fashion, and style. Take a peek at their Luxury City Elopement for Smith Tower inspo! Fair warning, though—you may leave wanting to wear a sparkling pearl headband & buy a bright pink Coach purse to carry around on your elopement day, just like Heaven did 👛
2. Volunteer Park
Volunteer Park is a must-visit during any newcomer’s trip to Seattle, but it’s also a favorite of locals thanks to its stunning landscapes, idyllic conservatory, and an atmosphere that really feels like a lush fairytale forest in the middle of the city. Throughout the park you’ll find all sorts of vibrant blooms, gorgeous greenery, lily ponds, pavilions, and much more if you decide to visit the Volunteer Park Conservatory (which I highly recommend doing). I can just picture the two of you having a romantic little picnic atop the grass (like Hannah and Robert did for their engagement), then heading into the conservatory to admire the abundance of both native and tropical foliage. You can even have your permit inside of the conservatory by booking through Seattle Parks & Rec—there’s nothing dreamier than being surrounded by endless greenery as you tie the knot!
3. Fairmont Olympic Hotel
With a prime location just off the Seattle waterfront and only a 10-minute walk from Pike Place Market, the Fairmont Olympic is a hotel that’s pretty hard to beat for your elopement day. I personally recommend using the hotel as your home base to get ready for the day (you could even have your ceremony here if you’d like), then hosting your post-ceremony celebration at their elegant restaurant, The George. This brasserie-inspired dining room will leave you and any guests you invite craving more, more, more, with their fresh seafood, artisan cheeses, dry aged meats, and overall their menu that focuses on using local ingredients. The warm, inviting ambience will cultivate connection, community, and memories among you and your loved ones, and you’ll have a lovely suite to go right back to at the end of the night if you book your accommodations at the hotel.
See more of my favorite hotels for getting ready in downtown Seattle here.
4. Seattle Art Museum
Looking for a more unconventional place to elope in downtown Seattle? Consider spending an afternoon at the Seattle Art Museum! This is exactly what I did with Alex and Alexis on their elopement day; we took a slow stroll through the halls of this breathtaking museum before heading out for a celebratory dinner & drinks. Watching these two walk around in their chic city elopement attire, admiring the beautiful variety of art that covered the walls of the SAM was such a unique and memorable experience; creating art with the help of other art is pure magic. I adored the way we created a one-of-a-kind storyline for their elopement day, starting with this romantic art museum date followed by dinner at the State Hotel—it felt just like an elevated date night.
5. Seattle Waterfront
If I had to pick just one area of Seattle to recommend to first-time visitors, it would be the waterfront, without a doubt. The Seattle Waterfront boasts some of the most recognizable landmarks of Seattle including the Great Wheel, the aquarium, and Pike Place Market just up the hill, where you’ll find even more iconic hotspots such as the original Starbucks and the world-famous fish market. There’s no shortage of things to do, places to visit, shops to check out, or dishes to eat along the waterfront—plus, the views of Puget Sound are simply spectacular. How sweet would it be to spend a couple of hours after your ceremony exploring the waterfront together, finding a couple of souvenirs to buy and a delicious place to eat, then heading to the Great Wheel for a sunset ride? A dream!
Hannah & Gunnar’s Romantic Seattle Waterfront Engagement is to-date one of my favorite sessions, thanks to the marvelous views and their chic bridal-inspired outfits.
6. The State Hotel & Pike Place Market
For couples picturing a classy elopement in a contemporary hotel, with easy access to all the best happenings in Seattle, the State Hotel is a fabulous option. Located just steps away from Pike Place Market, this hotel built in 1904 offers a warm, modern feel focused around creating an unforgettable city experience for both locals and visitors alike. This is a fantastic location to hold your ceremony and/or elopement reception especially if you have guests coming in from out of town, as they’ll be able to stay in this beautiful hotel & experience everything that Seattle has to offer—including Pike Place, the Great Wheel, Post Alley, and the waterfront as a whole. You’ll even have the opportunity to dine at Ben Paris, the hotel’s restaurant on the corner of 2nd & Pike serving unique cocktails and elevated American fare—a great place for post-ceremony drinks! 🥂
7. Pioneer Square
Finally, I wanted to mention Pioneer Square as a lovely place to visit on your elopement day; best for portraits around the city or simple, private ceremonies. This quaint neighborhood is packed with trendy bars & restaurants, adorable local shops, charming streets, and quirky alleyways—all of which are such fun spots to stop for elopement portraits. I explored Pioneer Square with Michelle and Kevin on their elopement day and we had a grand time strolling through the trees, running across the road, and enjoying the lively spirit of Seattle!
Downtown Seattle Elopement Photographer
As a Seattle-based elopement photographer, I’ve got plenty more locations up my sleeve—including a collection of secret spots that I’ve discovered over the years and love to share with my couples. I’d love to spend a day with you, exploring this stunning city that I love so much; inquire now for your downtown Seattle elopement and we’ll make it happen 🍾
Searching for more Seattle elopement inspiration to help get your ideas flowing? Below are three days I absolutely adored:
