Ever wonder what a Seattle courthouse wedding would be like in the winter? As a Seattle based wedding and elopement photographer, I am well versed in the infamous weather this city bestows upon us. While Seattle can be sad a dreary in what I call “The Dark Months”, you can always brighten it up a little bit by having a winter elopement at a city park and finish off tying the knot with a Seattle courthouse wedding! Not to mention, your anniversaries to come can bring some love and happiness to the inevitable annual winter months.

Volunteer Park

P & L were split on how they wanted to do their Seattle courthouse wedding. He was leaning more on the outdoorsy vibes of an adventure elopement, while she had en eye for classic, vintage inspired city backdrops with an emphasis on editorial style wedding photography. So we made the best of both worlds!

We started off at the water tower at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. We meandered through the park on a chilly Valentines Day afternoon. These two chose February to get married so that they could have special memories during a notoriously dark, cold and difficult time of year for many people living in the Pacific Northwest. How sweet is that?

Volunteer Park Water Tower

Burke Memorial

After the water tower, we ventured over to the Burke Memorial and the abundance of greenery surrounding it. Even in the dead of winter, Seattle parks still remain rich and colorful, perfect for your elopement photos.

Much like most city parks, Volunteer Park requires a permit for professional and commercial photography. You can obtain one by submitting a small fee and filling out an application.

Here is a link to an application as an example:

Photography Permit Application

Seattle Courthouse

After we had enough of the cold, it was time to rendezvous downtown at the Seattle Courthouse for their wedding! This is a classic building with pillared hallways and floor to ceiling windows, perfect for that classic romantic city look. There is also a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the city and the water where you can have your ceremony, which I recommend for warmer and drier days.

If you’ve been thinking about having a Seattle courthouse wedding, here’s my recommendation…DO IT! Its honestly just as lovely and intimate as a traditional wedding ceremony (once you get through the metal detector) and the judges at the Seattle Municipal Courthouse are experienced AND fun. For more information on eloping in general, be sure to read my blog on how to elope in Washington State.

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind if you’re doing you’re having a Seattle courthouse wedding:

• Yes, you have to make an appointment to get married at the courthouse.
• You are allowed 8 guests in your wedding party, which include yourselves and your photographer.
• The ceremonies begin at 4:30 Monday through Friday and are performed on a first come first serve basis. However, you must schedule your date with the court no more than 8 weeks before your desired date. You can find out more information about requesting a here:

Marriage Ceremony Request

After the Ceremony…

There are many renowned restaurants in Seattle. Let your special day linger into a romantic evening at Canlis restaurant, or book a charming Airbnb on one of Seattle’s adjacent islands. Here are some of my favorite AirBnbs:

‘Magical’ Mid-Century Estate (Kingston, WA)

Vashon Beach House (Vashon, WA)

WaldHaus (Brinnon, WA)

As someone who has shot elopements at the courthouse, and yes, even eloped there myself, I can’t recommend it enough. In addition to that, pairing the courthouse wedding with a city park photoshoot is a seamless option that gives you more variety to your day and will most certainly turn it into a sweet and romantic elopement that you will cherish for years to come.

Be sure to reach out and see how easy it is to book your Seattle courthouse wedding!