Alright my Seattle-lovin’ bb’s, this one’s for you! Whether you’re a Seattle native and wouldn’t dream of getting married elsewhere, or you’re coming from the east coast to make your fairytale PNW wedding happen, you’ve made it to the right place. Having lived near Seattle for the majority of my life, you bet I’m an absolute pro when it comes to not just the Seattle wedding industry, but also just Seattle life in general! That’s why I wanted to put together a whole-ass Seattle wedding guide, filled with all of my top Seattle reccs: the best Seattle wedding venues, engagement session locations, rehearsal dinner restaurants, hotels, packages, & SO. Much. More. Ready to get the inside scoop on alllll the Seattle wedding deets you’ll need to know to get married in this iconic city?!
If you’re a local, feel free to skip this section, since you probably already know all the things that make Seattle so great 😉 But if you’re not from the area, then you may be wondering – why get married in Seattle?
I could literally go on for hours about why Seattle is such a fucking amazing location for a wedding, but I’ll save you a little time and just give you a quick list of the top reasons you should get married in Seattle:
While most of the neighborhoods in Seattle have their own unique venues + activities to offer, the vibes of each neighborhood are totally different and can have a big impact on the atmosphere of your wedding day! So in case you’re not super familiar with the different parts of Seattle, I wanted to give you a quick rundown of the main neighborhoods and a glance at what the vibes are like in each one. That way you know exactly what to expect, and can make sure you pick a venue in a neighborhood that matches the mood/theme you’re going for!
Even if you’ve NEVER been to Seattle, you’re probably familiar with the reputation we have for being one of the rainiest cities in the country 😵💫And while I love a good rainy day & a cozy fall season, not every couple dreams of a romantic wedding day in the rain. While you can never really predict the weather and definitely have to prepare for anything, you CAN increase your chances of sunny weather by picking the right time of year to get married!! So, friends, here’s an overview of Seattle’s weather to give you a peek at what season might be right for you, whether you want to tie the knot under the soft light of an overcast day or you’re crossing your fingers for blue skies & sunshine.
You should get married in the summer if: You want wildflowers, sunny skies, and warm temperatures for outdoor activities
You should NOT get married in the summer if: You want to avoid crowds and higher travel/accommodation costs, smoky skies, and heat waves
You should get married in the fall if: You want gorgeous fall colors & changing leaves, you’re okay with cooler temperatures, you want to hike/explore lower elevation locations
You should NOT get married in the fall if: You want warm temperatures, you want to avoid rain, or you want to hike at high elevation locations
You should get married in the winter if: You want to avoid crowds as much as possible, you love winter sports, you want a magical winter wonderland
You should NOT get married in the winter if: You hate cold temperatures/rain, you want to hike in the mountains
You should get married in the spring if: You want lush greenery & blooming flowers, you’re okay with cooler temperatures, you’re okay with rain, you want to get married at a waterfall, you want to hike/explore lower elevation locations
You should NOT get married in the spring if: You want warm temperatures, you don’t like rain, you want to for sure be able to hike in the mountains without snow
Overall, I’d say that the best months to get married in Seattle are May-October, when you’re most likely to have comfortable temperatures and a low chance of rain! While spring & fall are beautiful in Seattle for sure, it does get rainy & cold pretty quickly, and locations in the nearby mountains will close down once the snow comes in the fall, and until it’s all melted in the spring. But if you’re staying in the city and don’t mind overcast skies, fall is GORGEOUS in Seattle with the changing colors and cozy autumn activities!
Here’s a quick glimpse at the more “extreme” months in Seattle in terms of weather:
Let’s talk money, honey!! If you’ve asked any of these questions during the planning process –
How much does it cost to get married in Seattle? How can you save money on your wedding? How should you budget for your Seattle wedding?!
– then you’re in the right spot. I’ve gotten married in the greater Seattle area myself, and have photographed SO damn many Seattle weddings, so I def have some money tips I can give ya. Keep in mind, obviously, that every wedding and every couple is COMPLETELY different, so your budget may not look like what I describe, or some of the money-saving tips I give you might not apply to your unique wedding – and that’s totally fine! It all depends on your own financial priorities, values, and what you want your day to look + feel like.
According to the Wedding Report, the average cost of a wedding in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area for 2022 was $45,225. This obviously is just an average based on the way that Wedding Report collects data, but it can help give you an idea of what your costs MIGHT look like. You can also get more specific estimates by using their Wedding Cost Estimator!
What might be more helpful for now than an average, though, is a list of potential costs to consider. It can be easy to forget about certain vendors or items you’ll have to pay for when the day comes, and there ARE a few specific numbers I can give you right off the bat – so here’s a list of potential wedding costs you may want to account for in your Seattle wedding budget!
If you saw all those costs and now you’re thinking, “Hooooly shit, how are we going to pay for all that?!”, you’re not alone 😅Traditional weddings cost a LOT of money, and even if you have a smaller wedding or an elopement, costs can rack up really fast, just in other ways (e.g. you might spend more on flowers & a photographer for an elopement, and more on a venue & catering for a larger wedding). But don’t worry – there are a TON of ways you can save money & cut some corners when it comes to your wedding budget, and it’s all about figuring out what your priorities are!
Here are 3 ways to save money on your wedding in Seattle:
I’ll be honest, there are COUNTLESS amazing wedding venues in the Seattle area – so many that it can be pretty damn hard to choose just one. There’s really something for every type of couple, too, from industrial chic, renovated warehouses in the city to elegant rooftop bars to enchanting gardens in the woods!! So I’ve narrowed it down for ya, with a list of the top 20 best wedding venues in & around Seattle, as well as a list of even MORE venues a little further away from the city. We’ve got intimate wedding venues, we’ve got outdoor & indoor wedding venues, we’ve got pet-friendly wedding venues so that your doggos can be part of the party. . . the city is your oyster!!
Location: Ballard
The vibe: Urban wonderland
Max guest capacity: 130 for seated, family-style dinner; 150 for cocktail reception-style
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Take a peek at Natalie & Gary’s Intimate Summer Olympic Rooftop Pavilion Wedding for some gorg real-life inspo!!
Location: Sodo
The vibe: Rustic + industrial
Max guest capacity: 625 (450 downstairs, 175 upstairs)
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Pioneer Square
The vibe: Classy, roaring-20’s-skyscraper
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Downtown
The vibe: Spontaneous courthouse elopement
Max guest capacity: 8, including the couple
Venue highlights:
Location: Belltown
The vibe: Industrial chic
Max guest capacity: 720+ for total building with courtyard
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Want more info on all of these amazinggg venues? Here’s a full guide to the Best Intimate Wedding Venues In Seattle!
Location: SeaTac
The vibe: Northwest charm
Max guest capacity: 200
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Issaquah
The vibe: Woodsy & rustic PNW
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Snohomish
The vibe: Romantic farmstead
Max guest capacity:
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Issaquah
The vibe: Upscale glamping in the woods
Max guest capacity: 80
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Snohomish
The vibe: Enchanting garden fairytale
Max guest capacity: 150
Starting cost: $9,500 for Friday weddings
Venue highlights:
Location: Downtown
The vibe: Elegant + detail-oriented
Max guest capacity: 650
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: North Lake Union
The vibe: Roaring-20’s-Art-Deco
Max guest capacity:
Starting cost: $1,500 venue rate + $4,000 catering minimum for Mon-Thurs weddings before 3pm
Venue highlights:
Location: Downtown
The vibe: Bright, bold, & unique
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Downtown
The vibe: Classy rooftop bar & lounge
Max guest capacity: 150-200 with full buyout; 60-80 with partial buyout
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Fremont
The vibe: Modern & industrial
Max guest capacity: 225 seated, 850 standing
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Pioneer Square
The vibe: Charming, hidden art gallery
Max guest capacity: 250+ seated, 550 cocktail-style
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Downtown
The vibe: Artsy waterfront
Max guest capacity: 350
Starting cost: $4,500+ for ceremony & reception
Venue highlights:
Location: Downtown
The vibe: Urban, waterfront fairytale
Max guest capacity:
Starting cost: $162/person
Venue highlights:
Location: North Lake Union
The vibe: Luxury yacht party
Max guest capacity: 175 seated, 200 standing
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
Location: Sodo
The vibe: Rustic romance
Max guest capacity: 300 seated; 500 cocktail-style
Starting cost: N/A – contact venue for pricing
Venue highlights:
And lastly, if you’re looking to get married a little further away from the bustling city, here’s a quick list of some of my favorite venues outside of Seattle! You can find more details about each one in my guide to the Best Wedding Venues In or Near Seattle 🙂
I personally love it when couples have their engagement session in the same area as their wedding, especially if they’re not local – this creates a great opportunity to explore the area before you actually tie the knot, and maybe even tour some potential venues!! So whether you live in Seattle and you’ll be doing your engagement session AND wedding in/near the city, or you’ll be traveling in for both, here are some of my personal fave engagement photo locations in Seattle 🙂
I’m a big foodie myself, so trust me when I say that I know how important of a factor food is on your wedding day!! Luckily, Seattle has MORE than enough exquisite places to eat no matter your palette or dietary needs/preferences, so you have to take advantage of your options when it comes to having a rehearsal dinner. Here are a few incredible restaurants in Seattle that would be fabulous for your rehearsal dinner with a few family members & friends!!
Now I know we’ve been talking about ALL sorts of fun stuff like locations, wedding vibes, delish food, and drool-worthy cocktails, but we can’t forget about some of the more boring, legal stuff too. This section is dedicated to Washington state marriage laws, licenses, and permits that you need to be familiar with if you’d like to get married in Seattle!
First off, here’s a list of the basic Washington marriage laws you need to know:
Once you have your Washington marriage license, you can use it anywhere in the state! So if you live, say, in eastern WA, you can get your license in your home county, then use it in Seattle.
Here’s the process you’ll need to go through to get a Washington State marriage license through King County:
King County Recorder’s Office
201 S. Jackson St.
Suite 204
Seattle, WA 98104
It depends on where you’ll be having your ceremony!
If you want to get married in a Seattle park or garden, you’ll need to make an Outdoor Ceremony Reservation.
If you want to get married in a state park near Seattle, you’ll only need a Special Activities Permit if your group has over 75 people.
And if you want to get married in a national park near Seattle, you’ll need a Special Use Permit – find permitting info for Olympic NP here, Mount Rainier NP here, and North Cascades NP here.
You know where to get married, where to eat, where to get your marriage license, and where to have your engagement photos taken. . . but what about where to stay for your Seattle wedding?!
Fortunately, Seattle is packed with gorgeous places to stay, from luxury waterfront hotels all the way to unique Airbnbs literally in the trees just 30 minutes outside of the city. Below, I’ve compiled a couple lists of the best hotels in Seattle as well as some unique Airbnbs a little further outside the heart of downtown, in case that’s more your vibe!
Back to a little money talk – if you want more deets about everythingggg I offer to my incredible couples and want to get some numbers, check out my Seattle wedding packages & pricing on my website!! Not only will I capture every little special moment of your day, I’ll also help you craft your perfect timeline, provide you with tips to make every step of the planning process as stress-free as possible, refer you to all of my favorite Seattle wedding vendors, and so much more. Booking is a damn BREEZE once you fill out my contact form – I’ll send you a pricing guide with all the tidbits you’ll need to get started 😉 Happy planning!!
If you’re thinking of planning an elopement instead of a traditional wedding, and you’re considering expanding your options outside of Seattle, then I’ve got just the thing for you: a Full Guide to How to Elope in Washington From A-Z!! This guide goes through literally EVERYTHING about eloping in Washington, from where to elope to the best seasons to pros & cons and sooo much more. Read it here to become a total Washington elopement pro 😉
Join my email list and download my free guide for location ideas for your future session!