Whether you’re dreaming of an elopement in front of the Seattle skyline, exchanging vows near the Puget Sound, or hiking to a gorgeous mountain view in one of the state’s many parks, Washington has something for everyone. The question is — how to elope in Washington?

The steps to make your marriage legal, whether an elopement, a micro wedding or a traditional wedding, can feel complicated and tedious. With some planning and a little bit of help, it can be done quickly and stress free! Here, we’ll review:

• How to obtain a marriage license 
• How many witnesses are required
• All inclusive Washington elopement packages
• Top booked venues in Washington on Simply Eloped
• Post elopement: getting a marriage certificate
• Post elopement: changing your last name

How to Get your Marriage License

Your marriage license is the most important part of your marriage process. This is because to get married in Washington, or really anywhere in the US, you need a marriage license. To obtain that, you will need to apply either online, in person or by mail. If you want to apply in person, you’ll want to print out the marriage license application and fill it out except for the final signatures, and bring it to the King County Customer Service Center. If you want to apply by mail, you’ll need to download and print the application and sign it in front of a notary, and then send it with the application fee to King County Recorder’s Office.

The marriage license application fee is $69.00 in Seattle and $72.00 outside of the city. 

Once you receive your marriage license, there is a three day waiting period between getting the license and having your ceremony. Your marriage license is valid for 60 days after you receive it, so your ceremony must take place within 60 days of the end of that three day waiting period.

Obtaining a Wedding Officiant and Witnesses

In Washington state, you will need an officiant and two witnesses. Your ceremony can be performed by:

• Licensed and ordained clergy members or similar officials of any religious organization
• Washington State Supreme Court justices
• Court of Appeals judges
• Superior Court judges
• Superior Court commissioners
• Judges of courts of limited jurisdiction
• Judges and judicial officers of federal courts
• Judges of tribal courts from a federally recognized tribe

Clergy from any state can perform marriages in Washington state, as long as the ceremony is taking place in Washington. You cannot self-officiate your wedding ceremony in Washington. 

All Inclusive Washington Elopement Packages

Simply Eloped offers a number of customizable elopement packages for your Washington Elopement! Our Seed, Simply Photographed, Sprout, Bloom, and Oasis packages are available in Washington. This provides each couple the unique opportunity to build their perfect, customizable elopement package from top to bottom. Here are a few details on each package. To see more information on each of these Washington elopement packages, click here.

• Seed Package Details: Includes professional officiant, personalized ceremony, advice on obtaining your marriage license and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Simply Photographed Details: Covers one hour of professional photography, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Sprout Package Details: Offers a professional officiant, personalized ceremony, one hour of photography, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Bloom Package Details: Includes a professional officiant, personalized ceremony, one hour of photography, a Nosegay bouquet and boutonniere, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Oasis Package Details: Covers professional officiant, two hours of photography, one hour of videography, hair and make up for one person, a Nosegay bouquet and boutonniere and dedicated Elopement Specialist.

Places to Elope in Washington

Kerry Park

Come for the views, stay for the sunset at Kerry Park. This park has amazing views of Mount Rainier on clear days, while the Seattle skyline is always prominent. It’s the perfect spot for an intimate elopement celebrating a relationship with roots in the pacific northwest. This venue is available year round and can accommodate up to 10 guests (including the couple and vendors. This venue does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered—and the permitting process takes two to three weeks, so keep that in mind when planning your special day.

This venue is wheelchair accessible, and does allow for streaming, so you can have guests tune in from afar. Chairs and decor are not allowed, and as it’s in a public park, alcohol is not permitted. Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash and there is a parking lot available on site.

Parsons Gardens

Parsons Gardens is a sweet park with amazing city views in the Queen Anne neighborhood. It’s described as a secret garden for locals with wonderful walking paths, an arbor, and beautiful gardens originally constructed between 1905 and 1956 by Reginald and Maude Parsons. 

This venue does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered—and the permitting process takes two to three weeks, so keep that in mind when planning your special day. You can celebrate with up to 24 people (including the couple and vendors). This venue is wheelchair accessible, and does allow for streaming, so you can have guests tune in from afar. Chairs are allowed as long as they are included in your permit, and as it’s in a public park, alcohol is not permitted. Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash and there is a parking lot available on site.

Washington Park Arboretum

The Washington Park Arboretum is the perfect place to say “I do” surrounded by the beautiful colors of the garden year round. This is a large arboretum so there are plenty of little spots to have a ceremony tucked away from the main paths. This venue does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered—and the permitting process takes two to three weeks, so keep that in mind when planning your special day. You can celebrate with up to 25 people (including the couple and vendors). 

This venue is wheelchair accessible, and does allow for streaming but service can be spotty. Chairs are allowed as long as they are included in your permit, and as it’s in a public park, alcohol is not permitted. Dogs will need to wait at home, but there is a parking lot available on site.

Dunn Gardens

Dunn Gardens is a gorgeous garden designed by the Olmstead Brothers featuring plants and foliage native to the Pacific Northwest. This is the perfect spot for a small, intimate elopement with up to 5 people (including the couple and vendors). This venue does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered.

It is wheelchair accessible and allows for chairs and decor, except for candles or sparklers. Dogs are welcome as long as they remain on a leash, and a parking lot is available on site.

Volunteer Park Conservatory

Volunteer Park is one of the most beloved parks in Seattle, so if you’ve ever walked by the greenhouse and imagined tying the knot either inside or on the lawn, you’re in luck! Eloping in this location requires a permit—but Simply Eloped’s got you covered—and permits are available for ceremonies between January-March and June-August on Tuesdays through Sundays after 4:15 PM. The permitting process takes two to three weeks, so keep that in mind when planning your special day.

This venue is wheelchair accessible, and does allow for streaming, so you can have guests tune in from afar. Chairs are allowed as long as they are included in your permit, and as it’s in a public park, alcohol is not permitted. Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash and there is a parking lot available on site.

Get Your Marriage Certificate

After the ceremony it is your officiant’s responsibility to complete and return the marriage certificate to King County (regardless of what county the ceremony took place in) within 30 days of the ceremony.

After your marriage certificate is received and processed, you can request certified copies of your marriage certificate for $3.00 each, but these copies are not automatically sent to married couples, so if you need proof of marriage, make sure to request a copy.

How to Change your Last Name in Washington

All of your marriage license documents will be signed with your current legal name at the time of applying for your marriage license. To change your name after marriage, you’ll need to send a certified copy of your marriage certificate to any organization you need to notify of your name change. 

Here are the steps to change your name in Washington State:

1. File a Petition for Name Change with the Court and include Proof of ID.
2. The Court will schedule you to appear before a judge. The Court will let you know when and where your hearing is held.
3. You’ll need to bring a photo ID to the hearing, and if your ID does not show that you are a current resident of Washington State, you will need to bring proof of residency in Washington.
4. If a judge grants your name change request, the Court provides you a certified copy of the name change order after your hearing. The Court also records your name change with the King County Recorder’s Office.
5. This whole process should cost $203.50.
6. To change your name on your legal documents after that, head to the Social Security Administration’s website, and fill out the questionnaire. Once completed, the website will tell you whether you can make the request to change your name online, or if you need to go to a local office to make the request in person.
7. After you’ve changed your name with the Social Security Administration, you can head to the DMV to update your driver’s license. Don’t forget to bring your current license, your certified marriage certificate, and an Official US Court Name Change document in order to change your name on your driver’s license.
8. To update your name on your passport, head to the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs website. 

• If it’s been less than one year since your passport was issued and your name was legally changed, you will need to submit form DS-5504, your most recent US passport, An original or certified document showing you changed your name less than one year after your most recent passport was issued like your marriage certificate, and a passport photo by mail. The instructions for mailing these items is on form DS-5504.
• If it’s been more than a year since your passport was issued or since you changed your name, you may be eligible to renew your passport by mail using Form DS-82 or apply in person using Form DS-11.
  • You can renew by mail if your most recent passport is submitted with your application, is undamaged, was issued when you were 16 or older, was issued within the last 15 years, and was issued in your current name (or you can show the name change). If you meet all of these requirements, you can submit form DS-82, your most recent US passport, your original or certified name change document like your marriage certificate, one color passport photo, a fee (which will depend on your age) by mail to the address listed on form DS-82.
  • To apply in person, find a location near you on the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs that issues passports. You’ll need to bring form DS-11, evidence of US citizenship, your original or certified name change document like your marriage certificate, Valid ID and photocopy of that ID, one color passport photo, and a fee (which will depend on your age).

Once you’ve completed the marriage license application and elected to change your name, you’ve done the tallest task of completing your legal name change apart from actually getting married. After your ceremony, you’ll then want to go through your accounts, credit cards, bank accounts, employers and insurance to make sure your name is up to date. It seems like a lot because it is! Take this process step by step, and it should all go smoothly. There’s also many businesses that help with the name changing process.

Eloping is an exciting moment in you and your partner’s life! Though there’s a few steps to get you down the aisle, Simply Eloped is here to support you in the full process. To learn more about our packages and services, chat with one of our Personal Elopement Designers.

This article has been fact checked and reviewed for accuracy by a Simply Eloped Personal Specialist Planner in January 2026.

Written by Hannah McSorley

Hannah McSorley is the Social Media Specialist at Simply Eloped, where she curates real love stories, breathtaking venues, and tips to inspire couples planning their big day. She loves how elopements make space for genuine connection and a celebration that truly feels like you.