Are you looking to elope in Washington? I’m jealous of you—just know that. But that’s not what you’re here for. You’re here for the logistics of eloping in the state of Washington. Well, friend, you’ve come to the right place.
Let’s skip the specifics of where you want to elope—although if you’re interested, I have another blog all about the best spots and my top recommendations that you can hop over to read as well.
What I will note is this: the location doesn’t actually matter when it comes to your marriage license. You don’t have to get married in the same county you get your license from. Every county charges the same $169 fee. So what’s the difference? Honestly, whichever office is closest to where you’ll be staying is usually easiest. But another fun difference is the design of the marriage license itself. That pretty certificate you can frame and display? Each county has a different design, so you can choose your county based on your favorite one.
Some popular county choices include:
• King County — for the Seattle/Snoqualmie area
• Clallam County & Jefferson County — for Olympic National Park
• Snohomish County — for Mt. Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest
• Skagit County — for North Cascades or Puget Sound
• Pierce County — for my Mount Rainier couples
Step One: Getting Your Marriage License
There are three ways to obtain your license:
1. By Mail
Fill out the forms online, then print them out—do not sign them yet. Take them to a notary and sign in front of them. They’ll sign and seal the application.
After that, mail the completed, notarized forms to the county you choose. For example, if you choose King County, you’ll send them to:
King County Recorder’s Office
RE: Marriage Application
201 S. Jackson St., Ste. 204
Seattle, WA 98104
Include a check, money order, or cashier’s check made out to that county.
Once they receive your application, they’ll mail your marriage license back to you, and your 3-day waiting period will begin. After that, you have 60 days to get married before the license expires.
2. In Person
You can walk into any county office, apply, sign, pay, and begin the waiting period immediately.
3. Online + In-Person Pickup
You can start your application online before you travel, then bring your transaction number to the county office once you arrive in Washington. They’ll finalize everything once you pay (cash, card, check, etc.—always verify each office’s accepted payment methods).
What Is the 3-Day Waiting Period?
Once payment is processed, the 72-hour (3-day) waiting period begins. Your license becomes valid after those 72 hours. From that point, you have 60 days to get married.
King County has a great calculator that helps you determine the best date to apply based on your wedding day.
Day of Your Ceremony — What’s Required?
On the day of, you’ll need:
1 Licensed or Ordained officiant
This person cannot also act as a witness.
I’m not ordained, so you’ll need to book an officiant, but I have great recommendations.
2 Witnesses
This is something I can help with. I’m always happy to be one of your witnesses, and a friendly passing hiker or a nearby park ranger can often be the second.
(And although your pup can’t legally sign, I do carry an ink pad if you want to add their paw print to your keepsake copy.)
After the Ceremony
Your officiant is responsible for returning the signed marriage license to the county—either by mail or in person. They have 30 days to do so before the license becomes invalid.
Once the county processes it, you can request certified copies for your records.
And that’s it.
One More Important Part
You deserve a photographer who will not only document this once-in-a-lifetime adventure but also be a grounding, calming presence throughout the day.
My name is Bonnie, and I’m your adventure planner and storytelling photographer all in one. I’ve been photographing love stories for around four years, but art has been a passion my entire life. Traveling, art, and reading sum me up well. So who better to capture your unique love story than a wandering, hopeless romantic with a talent for storytelling?
My Elopement Packages Start at $3,000 for 4 Hours of Coverage
All packages include:
- A minimum of 4 hours of elopement photography coverage
- All travel fees covered
- Unlimited access to me and my planning support
- Extensive elopement timeline planning (with backup plans)
- Vendor recommendations (florals, bakeries, coffee stands, etc.)
- A full gallery of high-resolution images
- A personalized online gallery available for 1 year
- A custom print shop for easy ordering of tangible memories
(Prints purchased separately)
