How to Create Your Perfect Seattle Courthouse Wedding

When you close your eyes and picture your wedding day, does it look like a big, lively party with all your favorite people—or something a little quieter, more relaxed, and just so you? If you're leaning toward that second one (hi, same!), this Seattle Courthouse elopement is going to be such a vibe. Think: low stress, high love, and allll the joy. I’m breaking down how to plan your own Washington elopement so you can have a day that feels like you x 100. Love that for you.

Abigail and Gavin’s Seattle Courthouse Wedding: 

Abigail and Gavin chose to keep things sweet and simple for their wedding day, and honestly? It couldn’t have been more perfect for them. Instead of a huge party, they invited just their nearest and dearest to celebrate their love in the most intentional, heartfelt way. They were all about keeping things meaningful, laid-back, and sentimental—and that’s exactly what the day turned out to be.

We kicked things off at the Polar Bar for portraits (which, let me just say, felt more like sneaking peeks at the cutest date ever than anything else). I was straight-up giddy behind the camera—these two are so romantic, and the editorial-style photos we got? Chef’s kiss.

Then we wandered through the streets of Seattle, soaking in all the charm on our walk to the courthouse. We made a little pit stop in Pioneer Square, and wow—those portraits? Some of my absolute faves. Every single photo from this day is dripping in love and emotion—you can feel how deeply these two care for each other, and it was the biggest honor getting to witness it all.

When we made it to the Courthouse, Abigail and Gavin were welcomed with big smiles and even bigger hugs from their closest family— it was the sweetest thing. Having their favorite people there added such a special layer of love and excitement to the day! Even though most of the elopement was just the two of them, soaking in all the quiet, sentimental moments, they still wanted a few of their people by their side when they said their vows. It was the perfect mix of intimate and meaningful with a little bit of that “surrounded by love” magic.

Then came the most important (and let’s be real, most tear-jerking) part of the day—Abigail and Gavin saying “I do!” Their ceremony at the Seattle Courthouse was exactly the chill, laid-back vibe they had envisioned. No fuss, no pressure—just the two of them promising forever in the most heartfelt way, right in the heart of downtown Seattle. It was intimate, sweet, and sooo full of love.

Emotions ran high during the ceremony, but excitement ran even higher after. Pure magic was made in that room, and each photo from during and after shows just how joyful this experience was for the couple!

Tips for Planning Your Seattle Courthouse Wedding: 

There is a lot you can take from Abigail and Gavin’s Seattle elopement day. They truly took everything they wanted – a laid-back, intimate, sentimental day – and made it the most perfect elopement imaginable. Their timeline was perfectly planned, opting for portraits before their ceremony to give them enough time to hit the places they wanted and get the editorial wedding photos they wanted. Take these tips from their Seattle courthouse wedding, and make them your own!

• Make it exactly what you want it to be 

When you start dreaming up your elopement, think about how you want the day to feel. Do you love the idea of doing your own thing—like Abigail and Gavin’s little pre-ceremony adventure—then meeting up with your fam to say your vows? Or are you all about keeping it just the two of you all day long, no interruptions, just allll the sweet moments? Maybe you’re vibing with the idea of a tiny reception or dinner after with more of your people—or maybe you’re like, “Let’s sign the papers and grab tacos.”  Whatever feels most you, that’s the magic. There’s no one-size-fits-all here. Lean into what feels right for your love story and run with it.

• Get your Seattle marriage license

Once you get your marriage license, there is a three day waiting period and then it is valid for 60 days, so you need to plan your ceremony date accordingly! You can start the process of getting your marriage license for your Seattle wedding here. 

• Schedule your courthouse ceremony

To get married at the Seattle Municipal Court, Like Abigail and Gavin did, you’ll need to send in your request for a date within 8 weeks. You can request your spot when you click here. Note that you can bring a maximum of 8 people to your ceremony, so make sure that aligns with what you want for your Seattle elopement! 

• Plan your timeline, including any special events

Once you get your ceremony date and time scheduled at the courthouse, start planning your day out. The best part is, your day gets to look however you want it! You can opt to take photos before your ceremony or after, and get to pick where in downtown Seattle you want to celebrate (or not) before or after. Your Seattle courthouse wedding gets to be so uniquely you, which is part of what makes it so special. 

Let’s plan the perfect Seattle courthouse wedding! Click here to inquire if you’re still looking for a photographer to capture your Seattle elopement. Let’s make your wedding dreams come true!