Destination Wedding – Seattle Wedding Officiants

Waterfall Elopement

October 31, 2017/0 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Elope or Last Minute Wedding, Elopements, Most Recent, Small Wedding /by MissElaine

One of the things I love about elopements is that the sky is literally the limit as to where, when, and how I get to help couples create something magical for their special day. Just because it’s a small wedding doesn’t mean you have to go to the courthouse. Couples who want something special contact me for ideas and suggestions. Sometimes they want a beach, sometimes they want a park. Bianca and Tony expressed an interest in having a big wedding feel for their elopement. This is what they shared with me:

“We were originally planning to have a destination wedding in February. We decided we didn’t want to wait to get married so we were going to get married at the court house. I felt a little disappointed because I wanted flowers, a dress, and pictures. We looked up eloping in Seattle and found you!”

In our initial consultation we decided on a mid-week early morning elopement with Franklin Falls as our destination. The trail is beautiful and well groomed with tall evergreen trees on every side. The Snoqualmie River runs parallel to the trail and creates a soothing sound of rushing water below. It is a fairly short hike and very enjoyable.

On the day of the wedding, we all met in North Bend, which is a short drive from the trail head to the falls. We drove up in a caravan with their photographer, Jeanne Phinney Photography and me in one car and the couple in the other. They brought along their hair and make-up artist, Shannon Mercil, as an additional witness and to do touch-ups along the way.

Bianca and Tony both brought wedding clothes to change in and hiked up the trail looking lovely. Bianca also had a flower crown made along with a gorgeous bouquet from Woodinville Florist.

It was a pleasant surprise to arrive at the falls and see that we were practically by ourselves. This location can get uncomfortably busy in the summer. Even though it’s less crowded in the fall, weekdays are still best if you want to have the falls to yourself.

We began with some fun pictures in front of the falls and then had their sweet ceremony. They shared a few tears but mostly they were both smiling from ear to ear. Jeanne took some more pictures and then we hiked out.

When we arrived at our cars, Bianca and Tony produced a cake they had brought with them. Jeanne took some fun pictures of them eating cake and having a little toast.

Below are some great photos of Bianca and Tony’s waterfall elopement. Enjoy!

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Elopement Concierge

November 2, 2016/0 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Elope or Last Minute Wedding, Elopement Concierge, Elopements, Last Minute Wedding, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding /by MissElaine

Welcome to Elopement Concierge!

Elopement Concierge was loosely developed in 2012 when Washington passed Ref 74 for same gender marriage. The Seattle wedding industry experienced a huge increase in weddings that year with dozens and dozens of couples traveling to Seattle, WA to enjoy marriage equality. Many of my couples didn’t know a thing about Seattle. As a native of Seattle, I was able to share epic location ideas for the ceremony. In addition, couples made special requests for flowers, cake, champagne, hair/make-up, and photography.

Even though Elopement Concierge casually began in 2012, it has grown into something that I am deeply passionate about and proud of. I love helping couples experience the glamor and excitement of a large wedding but with a small wedding cost. We will begin with the location or venue and add services provided by a hand-picked team of vendors. I will, of course, craft a ceremony you will love and remember.

Is this you:

You want to elope or have a very small wedding with just family and a few friends
You have 10 days to put together something really special and you don’t know where to begin
You are traveling from out of town and can’t wait to get married in Seattle, but you need help with a great location
You want to add a few extras such as flowers and photography to your wedding day but don’t know who to call

I can help you with all of this and I’ll even advise you on how to get your marriage license. I am a licensed notary and can take care of that part too! (Visit this page: Washington State Marriage License to find out more).

Please enjoy a few of the locations I have suggested for my couples. If you are coming to Seattle or you already live here, I would love to hear from you. Elopement Concierge is here to help with all your elopement or small wedding needs.

Space Needle

Elopement Concierge, Seattle Wedding Officiants, Elope Seattle, Jeanne Phinney Photography, Last Minute Wedding, Wedding Officiant, Small Wedding, Volunteer Park Conservatory

Volunteer Park Conservatory

Sorrento Hotel

Discovery Park Lighthouse & Beach

Snoqualmie Point Park

Franklin Falls

Lower Snoqualmie Falls

Be sure to check out my Small, Elope or Last Minute Wedding page for more information!

Franklin Falls Elopement

October 7, 2016/0 Comments/in Elope or Last Minute Wedding, Most Recent, Small Wedding /by MissElaine

Vanessa & Roxanne contacted me in May to discuss having an “epic falls wedding” at Snoqualmie Falls. In other words, they wanted to be right down in front of the falls to exchange their vows. What they didn’t know is that it isn’t that easy to get down to the base of the falls any longer. You can do it but only if everyone is a gymnast, including the photographer, and you have some sort of utility ladder. So instead, I recommended Franklin Falls around the same area for their June elopement. They liked the pictures I shared with them and we began to plan their Franklin Falls elopement.

Franklin Falls is about a 90 minute drive from Seattle and then there is a little hike into the falls. We decided to meet halfway and then caravan to the trail head. Once we got out of the city and close to our destination we discovered some great photo opportunities and took time to stop and capture some beautiful shots of the couple.

We arrived at Franklin Falls and set out on the trail. It was so beautiful with Northwest evergreens all around us. The trail is very well maintained and there is a river running below all along the trail. What an incredible little hike. We stopped along the trail to get more photos of Vanessa and Roxanne, and their excitement grew every step of the way.

We arrived to the falls and there was only one other couple there. So we basically had the falls to ourselves. The ceremony was lovely and afterwards Vanessa and Roxanne popped a bottle of champagne that they had hiked in with to celebrate with their friends.

All in all I would highly recommend this little day trip for your Franklin Falls Elopement. It’s well worth it and not far from Seattle. I hope you enjoy the fabulous photographs that Jeanne Phinney Photography captured for Vanessa and Roxanne!

Seattle Wedding Officiants, Franklin Falls Elopement, Elope Seattle, Small wedding, Elaine Way, Jeanne Phinney Photography

Book Your Officiant Early!

November 18, 2015/0 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Large Wedding, Most Recent, Same-gender Marriage, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding, Wedding Planning /by MissElaine

In this post I will explain why it is so important to book your officiant early. This is a note I received from a bride last July:

“My fiance and I are looking for a last-minute officiant for our wedding. We’ve actually been wedding planning for over a year but kind of put off getting an officiant until this last minute. If you are available for this date please let me know!”

Well, I wasn’t available and I’m not sure if any of my trusted colleagues were either. Couples, if you are beginning the planning process, please book your officiant early. It has been my experience over the past nine years that based on the popular engagement dates below, January is the heaviest booking month in the industry. In fact, most of my high-season Saturdays (May-October) will be booked by early February. I would like to share a few facts with you regarding booking your officiant:

Although weddings take place year-round, 76% of weddings occur during the Summer and Fall months. In fact, 25 dates make up 50% of all weddings in 2015. (You guessed right, they are all on a Saturday!).

Snoqualmie Falls Wedding

September 4, 2015/0 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Most Recent, Small Wedding, Small Wedding Packages /by MissElaine

Last December I was contacted by Barbara and Timo from Germany regarding their Washington State destination wedding. We e-mailed and Skyped for several months and I learned that they wanted a woodsy, bohemian feel for their August ceremony. Based on their wishes, it was easy for me to recommend a Snoqualmie Falls Wedding at the Salish Lodge and Spa. Barbara and Timo also wanted the ceremony photographed so they could share these memories with their families back home in Germany. I brought in my dear friend and colleague, Jeanne Phinney of Jeanne Phinney Photography to help me plan a creative timeline for the ceremony and photography. About half-way through the process the bride e-mailed me a picture of her dress and asked if I could match her dress to a wedding bouquet. I sent the photo to my go-to florist, Molly Snowden at Metropolitan Market and she created a lovely bouquet that matched Barbara’s dress perfectly. Timo got a matching boutonniere too!

We decided to start with the ceremony in the woods and then take the couple down to the river and falls to capture some moments in this beautiful natural setting. What follows are the amazing pictures from that day — including the couple opening a gift that their sister in Germany sent to me to be opened after their ceremony. Thank you Barbara and Timo for contacting me to be your officiant and help you plan your Snoqualmie Falls Wedding. The day was magical!

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Elope Wedding Seattle

February 17, 2015/0 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Last Minute Wedding, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding, Small Wedding Packages /by MissElaine

This is an e-mail I just received from a couple who live in Idaho and want to have an Elope Wedding Seattle style:

“We have been scouring the internet for an officiant that would fit the uniqueness of our wedding plans and our relationship. We came across your website and what you posted really jumped out at us.”

In many cases, couples who want to elope have chosen to have their wedding day be an intimate event with just the two of them. It could also be a personal or financial decision — or maybe they have never been to Seattle and want to combine a vacation to the Pacific Northwest with a small wedding. Whatever the reason, I can help!

Just because you are eloping doesn’t mean you have to fore-go the extra touches

I love every wedding I officiate. Whether it’s a small elopement or a large event with 200 people, I always bring my passion and enthusiasm to the wedding process. Elopements are extra fun for me because I often get to act as an ambassador of Seattle — offering my expertise on different ceremony locations, restaurants to celebrate at afterwards and of course — crafting a ceremony that reflects the love between the couple. So far in 2015 ceremony locations have included the list below:

Private suite at the Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland
On a dock at Greenlake in Seattle
Private suite at the Seattle PanPacific Hotel
Private home on Queen Anne
Space Needle Observation Deck (2)
Washington State Ferry
Seattle Waterfront-Myrtle Edwards Park/Beach

These locations are just a handful of the many beautiful indoor and outdoor possibilities for your Seattle elopement. If you want to add a photographer for an hour or two I can help with that also. My photography packages can be tailored to your needs and they include my officiant services. I also offer Wedding Packages for your Seattle elopement.

Below are some of the photographs from an elopement that took place this past weekend. This lovely couple had planned on having a large wedding in California but at the last minute decided to elope to Seattle. I helped them get an upgrade on their room at the Edgewater Hotel so they could have a water view with a balcony on their wedding night. I also arranged for flowers and champagne to be delivered to their room upon arrival. The bride had a custom-made bouquet and the groom had a matching boutonniere that I obtained through Metropolitan Market. They dined at Aqua after the ceremony where I arranged for them to have a table with a view of Puget Sound. And the best part is that all of this was photographed by the amazing and talented Nicole Bischel of Orange Anchor Photography.

If you are planning to elope to Seattle, please contact me. I would love to be your officiant AND your Seattle hospitality expert. Enjoy!

San Juan Islands Wedding

November 1, 2014/2 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Most Recent /by MissElaine

Each year I choose a handful of destination weddings to officiate. I am usually so busy in town that it’s difficult to get away so I only choose two to three. One of the destination weddings I said yes to was the San Juan Islands wedding of Annica and Drew. Drew’s family has a house on Decatur Island – one of the smaller islands in the San Juans – and that is where I officiated one of the funnest weddings of the summer.

Annica and Drew thought of everything for their outdoor summer wedding in the islands. Decatur Island is unique because it doesn’t have a ferry system to take people over from Anacortes. No problem. Annica and Drew chartered a private boat, which picked us up in Anacortes, delivered us to the island and then brought some of us back before dark. I rode over with Sean Antonius of Seattle Wedding DJ.

Looking back, I think it was one of the most Northwest themed weddings I have officiated. The couple used a few of the rustic cabins to get ready in where they were joined by their cat who got to come along for the festivities. The ceremony was held on the beach where the guests sat on blanket-covered driftwood. Surprise guests included bald eagles who joined us from above in the trees. After the ceremony we were treated to hangar steak, planked salmon, a bruschetta bar with steamed clams and grilled prawns prepared by the very talented Gail Dupar and her crew. The yummy cakes (three!) were supplied by Celestial Catering. Bridal bouquets, bouts and corsages were done by local Anacortes florist Donatello’s Flowers.

Everything about Annica and Drew’s wedding was simply wonderful. The Pacific Northwest sites, sounds, smells and tastes of that day will long linger in my memory.

Please enjoy the following photographs by Kristen Marie of I Am Kristen Marie Photography. Love supplied by Annica and Drew.

Small Outdoor Wedding Seattle

September 25, 2014/2 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Last Minute Wedding, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding /by MissElaine

Frequently I am asked by couples for recommendations for small outdoor wedding Seattle locations. This past May I was contacted by Josh and Crystal who were on a six-week road trip beginning in Vancouver, B.C. Their wish was to have an intimate wedding while stopping in Seattle before heading down the coast. I was thrilled to be a part of their planning. Being a native of Seattle I get really excited when couples make the Emerald City their destination wedding location. I love to introduce people to the city I grew up in. In addition, I get the pleasure of meeting people from all parts of the country.

We started talking about locations for their elopement and decided on Golden Gardens Beach. One of the reasons for this location was that I had arranged for a bed and breakfast for Josh and Crystal that was literally right up the street. Sunset Hill B&B is a 100-yr-old renovated farmhouse. The proprietor is a friend of mine and it is with joy that I refer guests to her urban retreat. Read more about Sunset Hill B&B.

On the day of their wedding, I drove to the B&B and captured pictures of their “first look.” Crystal looked charming and beautiful in her vintage gown. And Josh beamed as he saw his bride for the first time. The sunflowers in Crystal’s bouquet were even smiling!

Next we drove down the hill to the beach where our photographer, Jeanne Phinney of Jeanne Phinney Photography was waiting for us. The following photographs are a beautiful reminder that even small weddings can have huge feelings.

Pike Place Market Wedding

June 11, 2014/1 Comment/in Destination Wedding, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding, Uncategorized /by MissElaine

Leslie and Shelby contacted me from Plano, Texas in December of last year. They told me that they had never been to Seattle before and that they wanted to get married here. What a treat for me because I am a native of Seattle and I love helping people find their way around our city. In addition to being somewhat of a tour guide I have the added pleasure of officiating weddings for these Seattle newbies.

I was excited to begin the process of working with Leslie and Shelby which meant finding a fun, private venue for just the two of them to exchange vows. They also wanted to utilize one of my small wedding packages which included a photographer for one hour, a beautiful bouquet for the bride and a matching boutonniere for the groom.

We decided on the Goodwin Library at the Pike Place Market for their intimate ceremony. I met them at the market with flowers from Metropolitan Market and Huoy Chen of Huoy Chen Photography took care of the photos.

Please enjoy the pictures below of this beautiful destination wedding.

Seattle Glass Blowing Studio Elopement

March 31, 2014/0 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Elopement Concierge, Elopement Style wedding, Elopements, Same-gender Marriage, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding /by MissElaine

I was first contacted by Tammy and Patrice in early 2014. They live in South Carolina and wanted to have their destination wedding in Seattle, Washington. I asked them what they had in mind for a venue — indoor? outdoor? They expressed a love of nature and I assured them that we had many beautiful parks and beaches that they would love. They also expressed a love of glass blowing. I immediately recalled a glass blowing studio that I often pass on my way through downtown Seattle. I contacted the Seattle Glass Blowing Studio and inquired about doing a small wedding ceremony within the studio and adding a glass pouring ceremony. They were enthusiastically on board for a Seattle Glass Blowing Studio elopement.

If you are familiar with the traditional sand pouring ceremony in which two different colors of sand are poured by the couple into one vessel — imagine pouring two different colors of glass crystals (referred to as “frit”) into a center vessel, which is then later blown into a beautiful sculpture. Tammy and Patrice were on board and I worked out all the details with the operations manager at the studio.

We had the studio to ourselves for approximately 30 minutes at which time we had the ceremony. The ladies poured their frit and I got to sign my first Ketubah – a Jewish wedding tradition. I brought in my friend and colleague Jeanne of Jeanne Phinney Photography to shoot the wedding and what follows are the lovely pictures of two very happy ladies. Congratulations Tammy and Patrice!

Seattle Wedding Officiants, Elaine Way, Seattle Glass Blowing Studio Elopement, Jeanne Phinney Photography, Elope in Seattle, Seattle Elope