Intimate PNW Wedding Ideas for big style
There are so many options in Washington for intimate PNW wedding planning! With the small number of people you can basically do a “pop-up” wedding wherever you want. The fewer people that are attending, the more options you have for locations. I’ve gathered a few of my favorite ideas below!
A really neat AirBNB
I once had the honor of photographing an intimate PNW wedding at a tiny house in Gig Harbor. The Tiny Farmstay at the Chittle Homestead made for the perfect intimate location, and Tessa, one of the homestead owners, was kind enough to put a delicious home grown snack spread together for after the ceremony. One quick tip: Be sure to check with the owner of the AirBNB before booking to make sure they’re ok with hosting intimate weddings on their property. Check out Murphy and Dustin’s Tiny Farmstay Elopement for some AirBNB elopement inspiration.
A historic site
While it may sound a bit on the crazy side, I actually have an entire blog post about King Street Station as a location for an intimate PNW wedding. This historic Amtrak station is gorgeous with floor to ceiling marble and gold framed doors. Check out the entire blog post here. Another incredible historic site in this area would be Smith Tower, which holds a similar vibe. Jazmin and Dominic used both of these historic sites for their intimate Seattle Elopement.
A beachfront with an awesome view
Snag some early morning PNW vibes with a view of the Seattle skyline or the sound as the ferries cross. Seattle has several great beaches, or if you’re up for a quick weekend getaway, check out Westport and Ocean Shores. Dawn and Jamie’s romance session was done at sunset in Lincoln Park; a beautiful waterfront park in West Seattle. Ashly and Rick’s anniversary elopement was shot early morning near Salty’s on Alki (also in West Seattle). Both spots would make great locations for an intimate PNW wedding.
A ridge with a view over a valley or water views.
Deception Pass and Rattlesnake Ridge are two gorgeous areas that are perfect for an intimate PNW wedding. Both have areas you can hike to (though Rattlesnake is a bit steeper than Deception Pass) for the ultimate privacy during your vows. I’ve hiked both (Deception Pass while pregnant even!), and they’re both totally different hikes. Google Rattlesnake Ledge for some stunning inspiration and check out this adventure engagement from Deception Pass.
A farm or garden near you
Whether it’s a formal wedding venue or just your friends farm/garden, this is a super special way to include those you love most in your wedding day. Gina and David had their wedding hosted at Farm Fare & Floral, a beautiful garden wedding venue owned by one of their best friends. They served dinner buffet style which allowed them to have one great big table for everyone to sit at. Be sure to check out their Farm Fare & Floral Garden Wedding for more inspiration.
Waterfront property that you or a friend owns
While this may border the backyard wedding, many homes are just as gorgeous as their wedding venue counterparts. It becomes a bit more intimate when you’re celebrating in your family’s residence, or one owned by a close friend. Lesley and Sean’s Lake Tapps Waterfront Wedding was hosted at a family members home, and made the perfect venue for their intimate PNW wedding. If you don’t know of anyone with an awesome home on the water, this is another spot where checking AirBNB may help out!
The best part about the Pacific Northwest is that the number of location possibilities is infinite. If you love a specific location, it’s worth checking into using it as your pop-up elopement or intimate wedding spot. Some places may charge a small fee, so be sure to check ahead of time, but feel free to let your imagination run wild!
