Linda & Navin’s elopement at the Seattle Municipal Court rooftop in downtown Seattle.

Court elopements have quickly become my favorite type of wedding to capture in recent years. I just love the overall intimacy of the day along with a more relaxed schedule. It is truly the most special time spent with just the couple and maybe a family member or two. In this case, Linda & Navin chose to have their elopement in the presence of their immediate family members on the rooftop of the Seattle Municipal Court. The couple opted for an elopement instead of a traditional wedding as the bride’s father was not in the best physical health. The most memorable part of this elopement was Linda’s father proudly signing as a witness on the couple’s marriage certificate!

If you are planning to elope at the court, sign-ups are based on a first come, first serve system. I recommend arriving to the courthouse about 30 minutes before 4:30 PM when sign-ups open in order to be one of the first in line. Once it is your turn, the judge will call you in to sign the marriage certificate before officiating the ceremony. You can then choose either to have the ceremony on the rooftop (if it’s open that day) or indoors. The court is closed on weekends and holidays.

After hanging out at the courthouse for a bit, we also took some couple portraits at the Lotte Hotel and Seattle City Hall. These locations are super close to where the court is located! Please head to my Inquire page if you are searching for a photographer to capture your elopement!