Nondenominational Minister – Seattle Wedding Officiants

Rose Garden Wedding

Janee and Raheem contacted me from California in March inquiring about a good spot for their Seattle June elopement. I love it when I get inquiries from out of town because I am a Seattle native and always have great ideas for ceremony spots for out of town couples. Their guest count was small — they had invited less than 10 people, which is a factor when I choose a ceremony location. I originally suggested a sweet spot among the trees at Volunteer Park in Seattle’s Capital Hill neighborhood. I refer to this particular spot as a “Woodland Cathedral” because the trees are tall and wrap around a small group for an intimate outdoor ceremony in a forest like setting. A few months into our planning, however, Janee advised me that their numbers had now grown to 20 people! The original spot was just too small for 20 people. So I shifted gears a bit and came up with the Woodland Park Rose Garden. They were thrilled with this idea and got on board with me to re-direct their plans to their rose garden wedding.

The rose garden at Woodland Park is an exquisite place to get married. In June, the gardens are in bloom and full of color and romance. Janee and Raheem exchanged their vows amongst dozens of varieties of roses with beauty all around them. They were beaming and their family looked quite happy even though there was a tiny bit of raining coming down. It was romantic, intimate and everything they had hoped for.

Please enjoy the following photos of Janee and Raheem’s rose garden wedding courtesy of Jen Sanders Photography. Flowers courtesy of Metropolitan Market, Queen Anne.

Seattle Wedding Officiants, Elaine Way, Woodland Park Rose Garden, Jen Sanders Photography, Last Minute Wedding, Seattle Elopement, Rose Garden Wedding

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

Seattle Pop-up Wedding

January 19, 2016/0 Comments/in Destination Wedding, Most Recent, Small Wedding, Small Wedding Packages /by MissElaine

Alyssa and Jesse contacted me from Ohio in early December regarding their destination Seattle wedding. They had never been to Seattle and were not sure about very much other than the fact that they wanted a nice shot at Kerry Park. They hoped to capture a nice wedding shot there so they could make copies to send to friends and family for Christmas. We met at Kerry park and got the shot but the weather was cold and windy so we headed out in my Kia to scout a location for a Seattle Pop-up Wedding . First stop Pike Place Market!

The Pike Place Market at Christmastime is fantastic! It is so festive with all the sites, sounds, and smells of Christmas. After finding a great parking spot we set out to find the perfect spot for our Seattle Pop-up wedding. The courtyard at the Inn at the Market came to mind and everyone followed me as I kept my fingers crossed. This spot ended up being the perfect location for our Seattle Pop-up Wedding.

The courtyard was decorated with Christmas trees and lights. It was open yet intimate, festive yet private. We tucked ourselves into a nice little spot among the trees and had our ceremony. The ceremony was intimate and lovely, and we even had some shopkeepers peeking through their windows as Alyssa and Jesse exchanged their vows. After the ceremony we all headed back to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel where the couple was staying and finished with some more shots inside this grand hotel.

On a side note, Alyssa requested that I customize one of the bouquets I offer on my website to include her favorite lavender colored “ocean song” rose. With only one week to go before the wedding, my go-to florist, Metropolitan Market was able to accommodate Alyssa’s request. Her groom, Jesse, also got a matching boutonniere.

I couldn’t be more happy with the way this wedding unfolded. All in all, we visited three locations, had a Seattle Pop-up Wedding and the couple got their wish of having a lovely photo to share with their friends and family for Christmas. I hope you enjoy the pictures below provided by Jeanne Phinney Photography.

Seattle Wedding Officiants, Elaine Way, Seattle Wedding, Elope Seattle, Seattle pop-up wedding.

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!).

Small Seattle Elopement

June 22, 2015/0 Comments/in Last Minute Wedding, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding, Small Wedding Packages /by MissElaine

In May I was contacted by Yi via my Seattle Wedding Officiants Facebook page regarding a small Seattle elopement she needed help with. She and her fiance Binyan did not have a location and wanted to pull something together in two weeks. She had a small group of about 15 friends which is the perfect number for a small Seattle elopement.

We met for my free consultation and I shared some nice ideas with them that would provide a lovely backdrop for their early summer wedding. As I was dealing out options like cards in a deck (I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve), they mentioned that they had a friend who had offered his rooftop deck at his downtown Seattle condominium. I said, “wait a minute! A downtown Seattle rooftop?” I could hardly contain myself. Being a native of Seattle I have seen some pretty sweet views from atop Seattle’s tall buildings. You simply cannot go wrong from any rooftop in downtown Seattle, and this rooftop just happened to be 40 stories up with a 360 degree view of our fabulous city. I immediately suggested we scrap my ideas and use theirs instead.

These small elopements are so much fun for me. I collaborate with my couples to pull together some wildly fun and imaginative plans for their special day. A small wedding can feel like a big wedding when you get to Skype the ceremony to your family back home, add an hour of photography courtesy of Jeanne Phinney Photography, 15 of your best friends, and sushi from I love Sushi. Enjoy!

Fairmont Hotel Seattle Wedding

March 17, 2015/2 Comments/in Most Recent, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding, Small Wedding Packages, Uncategorized /by MissElaine

Paul and Susan contacted me just after the first of the year to brainstorm ideas for their small wedding. After some thought they decided on a small Fairmont Hotel Seattle wedding. I love the Fairmont! I actually worked there when it was the Four Seasons Olympic as a hotel Concierge. This hotel is luxurious with an over-the-top attention to detail.

Paul and Susan’s group was small, consisting of Paul’s daughters and their husbands, me and our photographer, Jeanne of Jeanne Phinney Photography. Metropolitan Market provided Susan’s lovely winter white bouquet with a matching boutonniere for Paul. They reserved a beautiful corner suite for the ceremony and a small celebration afterwards. Later they all went to the Georgian Room for dinner. Talk about an elegant way to celebrate an intimate wedding. Jeanne captured some lovely moments between Paul and Susan before, during and after the wedding. Congratulations Susan and Paul!

Space Needle Observation Deck Wedding

March 5, 2015/0 Comments/in Most Recent, Seattle Wedding, Small Wedding, Small Wedding Packages /by MissElaine

Serena and Michael contacted me in December to inquire about a Space Needle Observation Deck wedding. They explained to me that they had enjoyed their very first date there approximately two years ago. They now wanted to come back and celebrate their nuptials with their blended family on Valentine’s day.

I have officiated several weddings on the observation deck and it’s never a dull moment. You can always guarantee you will have wedding crashers but they all have the best intentions. Who wouldn’t want to be visiting one of Seattle’s favorite icons and have the opportunity to suddenly be in the middle of a wedding? If you have a Space Needle Observation Deck wedding expect a lot of cheering from people you have never met before in your life!

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

Seattle Wedding Officiants is proud to offer photography and flowers for small weddings under 20 people. Serena and Michael requested two hours of photography so they could get some family photos AND of course the cherished “first look” photo, which was done at Peace Garden. Side note: That’s the family in the background of their first look picture pretending to be paparazzi. I arrived an hour before their ceremony and brought a beautiful customized bouquet for Serena and matching boutonniere for Michael. In addition, I provided a smaller boutonniere for Serena’s son and wrist-let for Michael’s daughter (flowers provided by Metropolitan Market).

This small group had huge smiles from beginning to end. In fact, right after I pronounced Michael and Serena husband and wife at the top of the needle, their 7-yr-old son burst out in tears and exclaimed, “it’s too exciting.” Congratulations Serena and Michael and lots of love to your new lovely family!

Enjoy the following photos by Jen Sanders Photography.

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!

Historic 1625 Tacoma Place Wedding

February 14, 2015/0 Comments/in Large Wedding, Most Recent /by MissElaine

I met Emily and Anthony about five months before their October 2014 wedding. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had officiated the wedding of Anthony’s sister and brother-in-law a few years previously. I love it when this happens because I get to celebrate with the new couple and catch up on the family too. Emily and Anthony chose Historic 1625 Tacoma Place for their fall wedding. Historic 1625 is a 6,000 square foot venue with high ceilings and separate rooms for both the ceremony and reception. It was a perfect location for Emily and Anthony’s 175 guests.

Everything was elegant about this wedding. From the black tuxedos on Anthony and his groomsmen to the beautiful black gowns on the bridesmaids — everyone looked amazing. Emily was gorgeous and elegant in her gown and veil, and she sparkled from head to toe. The tables were beautifully decorated, and Emily and Anthony even made some home brew. This couple beamed with love through the entire ceremony, which included a wine box and love letter exchange. With 175 of their family and friends around them, a good time was had by all. Please enjoy the beautiful photography of Vail Studio. Congratulations Emily and Anthony!

Christmas Wedding at the Falls

February 3, 2015/0 Comments/in Small Wedding /by MissElaine

Sandra and Matt contacted me last summer to discuss plans for their December wedding at the Salish Lodge and Spa. The Salish is always such a beautiful venue to have a wedding. Whether you are indoors or out, the falls with their rich history can always be heard – reaching out with their soothing roar to everyone at the lodge. Sandra and Matt’s Christmas wedding at the falls fell on their 3-year anniversary of their first date, which added special meaning for them. With friends and family around them, they celebrated in the beautifully decorated and festive Terrace Room. Enjoy the pictures below of Sandra and Matt’s Christmas wedding with all the trimmings. Photos courtesy of Ian Grant Photography.

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.