Have you been considering skipping the big wedding (and the big expenses)? Love the idea of an elopement, but hate the idea of a hike (I feel that)? Want to have a quick, simple, hassle-free day that’s focused entirely on the two of you? I’ve got great news.
A Seattle Courthouse wedding is one of my favorite ways to celebrate a wedding in the city – and you can customize your experience in a myriad a ways – from where you get ready, what you wear, and how you celebrate afterwards. Whether you have no witnesses or 4, wear stunning couture or just your fashionable sunday best – eloping at the Seattle Municipal Courthouse is the perfect option to make the day feel special, and effectively ditch all the headaches that can come along with traditional wedding planning.
You can get married at the King County Courthouse, but my favorite courthouse location is the Seattle Municipal Courthouse on 5th Ave in Downtown Seattle. It’s in close proximity to a number of swanky hotels, bars, and restaurants, in addition to several gorgeous locations for more photos.
You can still wear your dream dress or suit, you can still have some of your faves in attendance (just on a smaller scale), and you can still make it so so special. You have the choice of two Seattle courthouses, both of which have several ceremony location options, including a Seattle rooftop wedding option. While the indoor ceremonies can be a little less than glamorous, trust me when I say that you will still be able to get all those stunning AF wedding day pics. Downtown Seattle has so much to offer.
Photo by Chelsea Abril Photography
How to pick your courthouse wedding location
You have the choice of not one, but two courthouses in Seattle, both within a short distance from one another. Before making any decisions, I highly suggest heading on over to check them out for yourself. King County and the Seattle Municipal Court buildings both have incredible architecture with so many photo opportunities throughout.
For those of you looking for a simple destination elopement wedding and who don’t have the option of scouting it out in advance, I suggest checking out their websites, as well as contacting each courthouse to ask about their processes. They are both amazing, so just go with whichever one feels like the better fit. It is also worth noting that there are SO many beautiful locations for photos—either pre-wedding or post (or both)—all within walking distance of both courthouses.
Consider getting ready or post-ceremony celebration spaces like Enter The Studio, The Banana Stand, or this Minimal Sun-filled Studio Space. Not only are spaces like these KILLER for photos, they’re also great to have as a backup just in case Seattle decides to be Seattle-y and rain.
Speaking of rain, investing in a clear umbrella like this one from Target, or this one from Nordstrom. Want something a little less #basic? Check out this iridescent umbrella or this gold dot umbrella.
Photo by Chelsea Abril Photography
How to Get Your Marriage License
Just like any other wedding ceremony, you will need to pay for and pick up your Marriage License before your wedding. This is super important because without it, you will not be able to get legally married. The license is $64 at King County and they will only take cash. Note:Seattle Municipal Court is currently shut down until June 1.
A couple of things to keep in mind, especially right now, is that this whole Coronavirus business may cause a delay in receiving your license, so I suggest checking on this early on. In order to be issued a marriage license, you must be at least 18 (or 17 if you have parental consent), you must not be currently married, and you must be able to present government issued photo ID. For all you destination elopers, rest easy, you do not need to be a Seattle resident to be issued a marriage license here.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that your Marriage License has an expiry date. Marriage licenses issued by King County are good for 60 days after issue, so be sure to schedule your Seattle courthouse wedding within that specified date.
Once you are married, return the license to the Records and Licensing Services Division office at King County or Seattle Municipal Court, so it can be recorded. Once this is done, you can do an easy online search to see if your marriage has been certified. If your marriage has been certified, your next step is ordering a certified copy (which can be done online) for a whopping $3.
Photo by Chelsea Abril Photography
How to Book Your Seattle Courthouse Wedding
While the Seattle courthouse is currently shut down as a precautionary measure in response to the Covid-19 craziness, they are currently aiming to start taking wedding reservations once again as of June 1, 2020.
You can book a judge to perform your ceremony through the courthouse or you also have the option to have your own officiant meet you at the courthouse to conduct your ceremony. If you choose an officiant over a judge, I still highly recommend contacting the courthouse in advance to make arrangements for this.
The judges who perform Seattle courthouse weddings are available for a flat rate fee and, because you are going to them, there are no travel fees involved. You can find a list of judges available at King County here.
If you are not bringing along your own witnesses to sign your marriage licence, you can ‘rent’ some from the courthouse for a fee. In order to make your marriage legal, a witness MUST sign, so make your arrangements in advance.
How Long Does a Seattle Courthouse Wedding Take?
Some things to keep in mind when planning a Seattle courthouse wedding is that it’s actually a pretty popular option, which means there’s a very good chance you won’t be the only ones getting married on your special day.
While you can reserve a time, it’s strongly encouraged to arrive at the courthouse at least 30-45 minutes early just to ensure everything runs smoothly. There are some days where there could be anywhere between 5 and 15 couples getting married and only a handful of judges available. This means there may be a few small delays and, if you arrive late, you risk being pushed to the back of the line.
While your ceremony will most likely run less than 30 minutes (more often it’s about 10 in total), I recommend giving yourself at least 1.5 hours of wiggle room in case your wedding date turns out to be a popular one.
Photo by Chelsea Abril Photography
How to Plan Your Seattle Courthouse Wedding
Splurge on flowers if you love them, maybe even boutonnieres or corsages for your guests of honor.
Photo by Chelsea Abril Photography
There are infinite ways you can spruce up a Seattle Courthouse wedding day and still make it feel every bit as special as a full day soiree. Many couples choose the courthouse setting because it 1) is more affordable, 2) is incredibly convenient, and 3) is far less stressful. However, a common worry is that it might not feel special since it’s “just a bit of paperwork”. To counteract that worry entirely, I love helping my clients build thoughtful day of courthouse wedding timelines, incorporate meaningful details, and create a visual recap that makes every second feel special.
Photo by Chelsea Abril Photography
How Long Should I Book A Photographer For?
You can choose for your photographer to be present just for the ceremony itself, or we can turn it into a half or even full day affair following you from getting ready, ceremony, and a frolic through the city. Maybe we end on a rooftop, maybe we stop at your favorite bar – the possibilities are endless. Not sure where to go or how to plan? I’ve got you covered. I help all my clients with planning and logistics with suggestions on where to get ready and where we can go for the best wedding photos in downtown Seattle.
My current photography packages start at $1800 for a 90-minute sessions at the courthouse, with my most popular option being a three-hour photography package for $3000.
The 90-minute package is perfect for couples who want to be in, out, and on their way, AND get stunning photos to capture their day (so it doesn’t feel like an afternoon of paperwork or a fancy way to pay a parking ticket).
The 3-hour package is perfect for couples who want to make an event of their courthouse elopement day. The three hours usually splits roughly to an hour pre-ceremony, an hour at the courthouse, and an hour for more portraits post “I Do!”. This is, of course, a very basic framework, and I often customize it depending on my couple’s plans or preferences. *more below
This might be your first rodeo getting married at the courthouse, but it is certainly not mine 😉 I meet with every client individually to discuss your personal preferences and personalities, and build your custom timeline and day of recommendations from there. If you’re big on photos and want to feel like cover models for the day, we can build out a super fun, multi-location shoot timeline that gives you all the joyful, candid, feelings-forward moments your heart can bear. We can head on over to Occidental Square or Pioneer Square, pop into Pike Place Market and get photos with the florals or the big sign, take the elevator up to the Sky View Observatory, or quietly mosey through the Seattle Municipal Library with all its architectural splendor – all these locations are a 10-20 minute walk, or 5-7 minute uber from the courthouse! Other fun options include the heading down to the Seattle Waterfront, including the Seattle Great Wheel, taking a ride on the water taxi or ferry, or walking through the Olympic Sculpture Park.
Moral of the story: if a traditional wedding isn’t your thing, or just isn’t in the cards for right now, a Seattle courthouse wedding or downtown Seattle elopement can be just as special. You and your spouse are who matter most, and whether or not this is the only ceremony or just the beginning, I will be there beside you to freeze frame every moment.
Planning a courthouse wedding and want to know more? Head over to my contact page and fill out the contact form to get in touch!
Check out my Pinterest for some Seattle elopement and wedding inspiration. But, if you’re ready to see what I can do for you, head to my Instagram or my contact page for more information. Let’s rock your wedding day and make it a day you won’t forget!
Wanna see more? Check out these blogs for more Washington Elopement and Seattle Wedding inspiration:
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