Okay, so maybe the wedding party with hundreds of people, hours of getting ready, and inevitable stress of planning isn’t really your thing. Or maybe you’re saving that for until the pandemic actually calms down and you can truly celebrate. Or possibly you’ve always been an intimate person and tying the knot secretly makes your heart flutter more — whatever it is, you’ve come to the right place.

As a seasoned photographer of courthouse elopements in Seattle, I am very familiar with the Seattle Municipal and King County Courthouse options the City of Seattle offers! Along with the best locations to take your bridal portraits after your intimate ceremony!! And of course I have my own tips and tricks to divulge that will make sure you get the most out of your Courthouse Elopement!

How-To Have a Stunning Seattle Courthouse Elopement:

01. To pick your location:

There are two main locations (a third that I’ve only shot in once so I won’t offer that option) for you and your partner to seal the deal in front of a judge in downtown Seattle; King County or Seattle Municipal Courthouses (linked above).

>>> Walking into the King County Courthouse is like traveling back in time to the 1930s. The 4th Ave entrance, through the security check, brings you onto the second floor, where most of the rooms you will be vowing forever in are located. It won’t look aesthetically pleasing to you until you go down one level though, so don’t be too disappointed when you first walk in! Check-in with your judge by arriving 30 min early and leave about 15-20 min to run around and snag some pictures! Take the elevator down one flight and beautiful speckled floors and high ceilings adorned with wonderful detailing will reveal themselves to you. This is why I tell my couples to never count out the King County Superior Courthouse for an Elopement!

>>> Seattle Municipal Courthouse is the real show-off of courthouse elopements in the city, though, any wedding photographer can admit to that. The option to get married overlooking the sound and Mt. Rainier on a clear day, along with the floor to ceiling windows that just *ahhhh* (angels singing) give the most perfect lighting, have my couples jumping to choose this option. With more “photo locations” to choose from and 3 ceremony locations inside the building along with it being such a popular elopement destination, I recommend arriving at least 30 min early if you’re wanting to tie the knot here! We’ll check-in with the judge, head to the stairwell and the windows near the elevators, and then circle back to head to either the library, the jury room, or the rooftop when it’s ceremony time. Check out the view from the 10th floor rooftop deck:

02. The Marriage License, Baby!

Thankfully you can start the process of getting all the paperwork you need online! Head to the website of whatever courthouse you choose and get to filing! You’ll have to pay a fee of $69 and wait 3 days and no more than 60 days before you can sign that thing and make it official!

A few things to keep in mind if you’re marrying anyone from outside the United States: from the King County Website: “Both applicants must have current photo ID: U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, U.S. military ID, permanent resident card, driver’s license or state photo ID card issued by the Department of Licensing (DOL), or foreign government issued passport.” And! If one of you does not have a United States Social Security Number, THAT’S OK! One form requires this number, but a signature to the fact that you don’t have one will suffice!

03. Book! That! Judge!

Follow this link to book a Seattle Municipal Judge and this one to book a King County judge. Keep in mind that most judges are available for appointments at 430pm every weekday.

04. Photographer, Bridal Portraits, Timeline!

Now that you have the boring stuff out of the way, you can get into the creative aspect of planning your Seattle elopement!! My top tips for eloping while still capturing a full wedding narrative:

• Choose a photographer that has knowledge of the area and that you feel comfortable with! It will be important for everything to flow smoothly as well as help you feel more relaxed on your big day!

• Create a timeline and plan with the main people that will be there, they will be your point of contact. There can sometimes be a rush with courthouse weddings, especially since the pandemic, so it’s smart to have 2 or 3 people who are looped into the situation to help you out!

• Take Bridal Portraits on location! Have photos of your ceremony as well as an intimate & gorgeous separate moment between the two of you. For ideas for post or pre ceremony portraits read my blog on it here. Below is an example of what your elopement photographs could look like:

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05. Day of:

Courthouse eloping is easy! Now that everything is laid out in front of you, I know you know, you’ve made the right choice. You’ll have essentially, nothing to worry about but yourself when the wedding day rolls around, and that’s just glorious. Don’t forget: you need two witnesses to sign the marriage certificate (you can rent one from the courthouse if you need) and soak it in! You’re getting married!

Ready to Elope and Need Someone to Photograph it?!