Washington Elopement Packages

Elopement Packages in Washington State

Here’s where everything starts! What do you actually need to elope in Washington State? Washington is one of those states where you literally have endless possibilities on both locations and activities you can do, year-round. Washington is also one of the top states we have featured vendors available to help you plan your dream wedding day.

Lucky for you, we have crafted the ideal Washington elopement packages for you below with the help of our amazing Wandering Weddings vendors in Washington State. Take a look at our available packages below and “contact the vendor” to get started.

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Washington State?

Photo by Adventure and Vow

The cost to elope in Washington and the total of your package depends on what your vendor is including. Some vendors include multiple services from themselves or team up with other vendors, while other vendors only include a fee for their services based on the hours of coverage they’ll be adventuring with you. It’s worth noting that some of these categories would be cheaper if you opted for a bundled elopement package, like the ones we feature.

Check out some of the categories you should consider to be priced into your package:

• Location: Free to $3,000
• Permits: Free to $800
• Officiants: $300 to $500
• Photographers: $1,500 to $8,000*
• Videographers: $1250 to $7,000*
• Outfits: $200 to $1,500 per person*
• Florists: $200-$1,000
• Hair and Makeup Artists: $100-$200 per person
• Elopement Planner: $1,000 to $3,000
• Accommodations: $250 to $1,200 per night
• Catering: $80 to $1,200
• Travel: $20 to $500 per person

* Indicates a “spend what you want” category. That means, while we have an average figure listed, you can go far above this average if it is an important vendor to you!!

Extra Costs To Consider When Eloping in Washington

Vendor Travel Fees

While there are tons of amazing vendors in Washington, a lot of them are based in Seattle and your adventurous elopement is maybe 2-3 hours away from their facilities or offices. Make sure you ask about travel fees and budget an extra $150-300 per vendor.

Cold Weather Clothing

If you live in Miami and are planning an elopement in Washington in November, you’re going to want to invest in some cold-weather outdoor gear. Base layers, puffy coats, snow boots, and hand warmers should definitely be on your packing list! Check out REI Co-op for some budget-friendly options on your outdoor gear.

Rental Car

Most of the pretty views in Washington are going to require that you drive at least 2 hours from the airport. You’ll likely need a rental car if you are coming in from out of state. If you’re planning an elopement from October to May, get a car that has AWD or 4WD. Traction laws apply on the high altitude curvy highways that you may need to travel en route to your elopement location.

Altitude Acclimation Period

Altitude sickness is a real downer and is even worse if you’re feeling it on the day of your elopement. If you are considering a mountain elopement in Washington, give yourselves a few days in Seattle to acclimate before you head up into the hills. It will add some money to your lodging budget as you may, but we think it’s worth it not to feel awful on the big day!

Tourist Seasons

There are times of the year when Washington is more expensive than others depending on the various tourist seasons. During winter, the mountain towns (especially ski resorts) are a lot more expensive to stay in since many people are there for ski vacations. The cheapest time to visit Washington State is in late September. In this month, the temperature ranges between the mid-50s to about 71, which is just a little on the cool side for most people. July to September is sometimes tough to navigate because it’s wildfire season. Fires are sporadic throughout the year, so have backup plans for weather and high number of tourists.

When to Elope in Washington

Photo by Emett Joseph

The mountain state covered by forest is beautiful year-round, so it’s no surprise that you can elope in Washington any time of the year. However, Washington State does experience four seasons with drastically different weather and scenery (although some would argue Washington only has a wet and dry season). Here’s what you can expect from the unpredictable Washington weather during each season!

Winter (December – March)

If you’re wanting a truly private elopement experience, then a winter elopement in the Pacific Northwest is your best bet. Moody skies, rain, and gorgeous snow can all be experienced during this season. Eastern Washington can see more blue skies and snow in the lowlands in comparison to the west side, but you can still experience a winter wonderland everywhere in Washington during this time of year. This is a good time to visit ski resorts or rent a cabin to snuggle up together before or after you snowshoe or ski down a mountain. Keep in mind, however, a lot of roads and trails in national parks will be closed due to the weather during this time.

Spring (February – June)

During spring in Washington, the snow will start to melt, roads and trails will become more accessible, but it’ll still be rainy and snowy at higher elevations. We like spring for waterfall and forest elopements in Washington. The change of weather and rain can make it particularly whimsical.

Summer (July – September)

Although Summer is usually more crowded, it is a great time to elope in Washington State if you’re planning during sunrise, sunset, or a weekday! You can expect 70+ degrees in western Washington State and slightly warmer temperatures in eastern Washington. There are little to no rainy days (but still prepare just in case). You’ll be able to enjoy gorgeous hikes and beautiful wildflowers in the mountains. Connect with a vendor to navigate avoiding the bigger crowds at more well-known elopement spots.

Fall (October- November)

It gets a bit rainier in October (especially on the west side of Washington state). If you want to experience the fall colors, then plan for an early October elopement when fall colors are at their peak. Keep in mind that weather can change quickly during this time of year, so expect snow (at higher elevations) and rain. However, we love elopements in the Fall for Washington because there are significantly fewer crowds.

Getting a Marriage License in Washington State

Photo by Emma Studley Photography

If you’re planning to have a legal wedding ceremony at North Cascades National Park, then remember to apply for your marriage license! The license itself is about $69.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Washington has a three-day waiting period, so you can’t get married the same day you get your license.
• You have 60 days to use your license.
• You can apply for a marriage license in any county of Washington State and use it anywhere within WA. However, you’ll need to return it to the same county you first applied.
• You’ll need an officiant and two witnesses to make your wedding ceremony official. Some elopement photographers double as an officiant, and you can always ask some hikers passing by to be witnesses if you want a just-us wedding day.

Remember if you don’t want to stress the legalities during your elopement adventure, you can always plan a commitment ceremony instead of a legal wedding ceremony in Washington. You can deal with the paperwork (officiant and witnesses) before or after your adventure together.

Washington State Permits

Photo by Outshined Photography

If you decide to have your wedding ceremony at any of the elopement locations we mentioned above, then you should double-check to see if that location requires a permit to get married. Please note, that most of these places will require a permit and/or fee.

We suggest going to their websites for the latest permit information. If you decide to have your elopement wedding at one of Washington’s state parks, then you need to get a permit from the state, county, or city. Here are some things to double-check for your Washington elopement location:

• Is your location pet-friendly?
• Does your location have restrictions on where in the park or area you can have your wedding ceremony?
• Are there restrictions when it comes to guests and how many people you can invite? Some places may only be able to accommodate 5-15 people.
• Are there restrictions on decorations such as arches and chairs?
• Does your location allow floral bouquets?
• Is your location accessible during your desired elopement date? Remember, some areas can’t be accessed during parts of the year.
• Is there high traffic at your desired elopement location?
• Have you considered eloping at sunrise, sunset, or during the week?

Places to Stay in Washington State

Photo by Van Gachnang

When it comes to finding the perfect place to stay for your Washington State elopement, you want to keep in mind where your elopement destination is. Once you have considered travel times to and from your adventure, think about who is staying with you at your accommodation. Finding unique rentals is always an awesome option for a more intimate and unique stay during your wedding day.

Check out these places to stay we love:

Check out this 2 bedroom house on Washington’s Coast.

Check out this condo in Seattle!

Check out this house near Olympic National Park.

Check out this cabin near North Cascades National Park!

Check out this cabin near Mount Rainier National Park.

Let’s keep planning your flights and stay in Washington State.

Washington State Elopement Vendors

Videographers

Like photographers, videographers create amazing lasting memories of your adventure elopement that are amazing to share after the fact! It can be so special to share your vows and ceremony with loved ones… or just keep it to yourself and cry happy tears every time you rewatch your highlight reel. Videographers also offer a variety of packages from an all-day hike into the mountains packages to ceremony-only offerings that just give you a simple edit including your audio. Many also offer a short emotional trailer-style hype video of your day that is an awesome addition to a longer video that might have audio or more footage of your adventures! In Washington, videographers range from about $1,200 to $8,000 depending on hours of coverage and deliverables.

Elopement Planners

Planners for your elopement can be a great option if you are planning from another state, need some help creating your vision, or want specific setups at various locations for your elopements. We have seen planners set up amazing picnic sites for our couples while they’re busy saying their I Do’s, and create amazing arch and flower arrangements for ceremony decoration. So, if you want to take your elopement up a notch, consider a planner to help with the logistics. Elopement planners in Washington range between $1,000 to $5,000 depending on scope and location of the elopement day. Check out some of our favorite Wandering Weddings approved planners below.

Officiants

Washington is special because you don’t need an officiant to get married. But, if you would like to have someone help you create a meaningful ceremony and give you some pointers on vows and readings, there are some incredible folks in Washington who officiate elopements. You can find officiants who specialize in a variety of different types of ceremonies, from religious to focused on your dogs and peppering in some quotes from the Office. They range in price from $300 to $800 depending on location and what you want to include in your ceremony. Many planners, photographers, videographers, and florists double as officiants as well. So keep an eye out for vendors who can offer multiple services for you.

Florists

Whether you’re just looking for a quick bouquet or a more elaborate ceremony site decoration project, you’re going to need a florist! Most can work with a wide range of budgets depending on the types of flowers and size of your decorations. Keep in mind that florists will need access to your ceremony site prior to the wedding to set up. Make sure you check the rules of the ceremony site you have rented to make sure you can decorate the space with flowers. National parks and local parks tend to have stricter “leave no trace” rules about what you can bring and decorate with.

Caterers

Catering companies don’t have to be for big parties! There are so many options when it comes to treating yourself to a great meal after your elopement ceremony. Catering companies are a great resource for small private dinners at picnic sites, private rental properties, and farms. Local butchers often offer grazing board packages that elevate your picnic to the next level! If you just want a luxury dinner and don’t want to go out or do the dishes, a private chef would be a great fit for your elopement day!