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I may be biased, but there is no better place to tie the knot than Washington state. Eloping in Washington is extremely easy. You have endless variety of backdrops and locations- from stunning summits to the tranquil coast your elopement can be anything you want. Thinking eloping in Washington might be right for you? Check out these tips on how you elope in this beautiful state.
- Choose the right time of year
- Find that Perfect Location
- Build your team
- Get your Marriage License
Choose the right time of year for you.
Washington has stunning foliage colors in the fall and bright beautiful florals in the spring. Snow covered mountains in the winter and long warm days in the summer. The unique thing about Washington is how different the weather is on one side of the Cascade mountains compared to the other, us Washingtonians consider this Eastern and Western Washington.
With Seattle averaging 38 inches of rain per year and Spokane averaging 17 inches of rain you can see how Western Washington has its lush green rainforests compared to the rolling hills of Eastern Washington. Depending on the location you choose the weather can have a big impact. I recommend June and July as the best times to elope, the weather is warm, but not too hot throughout Washington and the days are long so you can fill them with a ton of activities!
Having lived on both sides of the state I am more than happy to help you accommodate your elopement with your desired weather. Although nothing can be promised with mother nature, we can ensure the odds are in your favor!
Location, location, location…
this is a very important piece for you and your boo to decide together. Things to consider are:
- how much you want to hike/venture into the wilderness,
- what activities you want to fill your day with and
- what backdrop would be your favorite.
It is extremely important you figure out what you are comfortable hiking, Washington has stunning locations no matter if you walk 100 meters on a paved trail or hike 10 miles up a mountain, you will be more than pleased with the natural beauty that constantly surrounds you. So if you don’t want to break a sweat on your special day, or you want grandma to be present as you say “I do” don’t fret. We can find the beautiful view you desire without a strenuous hike.
A way to turn an elopement into an incredible weekend is to find a location that offers everything you want. Are you looking to take a helicopter ride after your vows? Or maybe you just want to relax in a campsite? Ready to party hard at a venue? Anything and everything is possible, you just need to figure out what activities and experiences would give you the best elopement experience ever.
And finally think of your backdrop. After we narrow down the strain you want to commit to and the activities you look forward to we can find the perfect backdrop for your vows. Because Washington has incredible beauty around every corner we are sure to find the perfect location for your elopement.
Build your team
An elopement can be as big or as small as you want it! You can have a secluded flower arch where you say your vows followed by a catered celebratory dinner with the entire family or you can hike to a private location in your jeans and enjoy exchanging vows surrounded by mother nature’s beauty. No matter what dreams you have for your special day I am here to support you, and the bigger your team of support the smoother your entire day will run. I can not recommend booking your planner, florist and any other vendors sooner rather than later (yes, even if you’re eloping you still deserve to have a stress free day planned to perfection!)
The most important part, your Marriage License!
You can obtain a marriage license through the King County Marriage Licensing department and the ceremony must occur between 3 days and 63 days of the application. It will cost just under $70 to get your license. You as well as the officiant and two witnesses will sign the license after your marriage. The officiant is usually the one in charge of returning the license to the county office following your elopement.
I hope that helped answer some of your basic questions about eloping in Washington! Check out some of my other blogs that may be of interest to you!
