Curator’s statement
When planning a destination wedding, couples often imagine popular places in the Caribbean on a beach or a vineyard in Napa. The Pacific Northwest has a lot to offer couples looking for gorgeous outdoor weddings with mountain backdrops, ample lodging options and diverse activities for guests to make a vacation out of your wedding! As a Travel Advisor and Wedding Coordinator based in Seattle, I want to highlight some of the venues, hotels and unique experiences that make Seattle a great wedding destination. If you’re planning or attending a wedding in the Pacific Northwest, reach out to me for help planning your travel!
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Seattle Waterfront Wedding
If you’re looking for a wedding with a view, Seattle has several wonderful venues!
For an elegant all-inclusive wedding venue that has great views and superb lodging for your guests, the Four Seasons Seattle is the perfect choice. Located steps from Pike Place Market just above Seattle’s historic waterfront, the Four Seasons has ballroom spaces with sweeping windows that give you views of the ferry boats coming in and out of the port and the mountains beyond. This location gives your guests a five-star experience and walking access to some of Seattle’s best tourist attractions.
A summer wedding up the hill at The Admiral’s House showcases all the best Seattle has to offer while being right in the city. You could host your guests at any hotel in the Downtown area and they’ll have a short ride to this elegant destination which not only gives them water and mountain views on a clear day but also a sweeping view of Seattle’s skyline and the space needle.
Image 1: PNW Wedding- Salish Lodge overlooking Snoqualmie falls ; Image 2: PNW Wedding- Admirals House Wedding Seattle Skyline
For more of a resort feel, just across the lake in Kirkland is the Woodmark Hotel & Still Spa. This suburban retreat has a platform overlooking Lake Washington perfect for wedding celebrations. The hotel is just 20 minutes from Downtown Seattle and gives guests access to great shopping and dining. The hotel has spacious rooms, great for getting ready before the wedding.
Snoqualmie Falls Wedding
Less than an hour from Downtown Seattle is Salish Lodge and Spa. An elegant resort set right on top of Snoqualmie Falls. Talk about a dramatic grand entrance! This venue is great for smaller weddings who want mountainside and waterfall views with great access to hiking trails.
Crystal Mountain Wedding
For a truly unique PNW destination wedding, Crystal Mountain Resort is the perfect choice. In the winter, this resort is a hot ski spot, but in the summer their mountaintop platform can be rented out for weddings. Guests ride up the Gondola from the resort below to sprawling views of Mount Rainier. What a backdrop for a wedding! There are great affordable accommodations in the resort below where you can extend the celebration for the whole weekend. The resort is two hours outside of Seattle, so if your guests are all flying in you can opt to bus them to and from the resort.
Image 1: PNW Wedding- Woodmark hotel wedding Kirkland 2 ; Image 2: PNW Wedding- Crystal Mountain Resort Ceremony
Bainbridge Island Wedding
If you have a thing for ferry boats like a certain McDreamy doctor… getting married on Bainbridge Island is ideal. The Manor House at Pleasant Beach is a spectacular venue with water views located just 10 minutes from the ferry terminal and it has an Inn attached to the property perfect for guests to spend the weekend. Bainbridge Island has a great downtown featuring local artists, restaurants and nature walks. Guests can stay on the island or stay in downtown Seattle and enjoy amazing views from the ferry to and from the wedding.
Image 1: PNW Wedding- Manor House at Pleasant Beach ; Image 2: PNW Wedding- Admirals House Seattle Skyline
Recommended Activities and Day Trips for Wedding Guests
If you’re a guest attending a wedding in the Pacific Northwest, I have several recommendations for you to make the most of your trip! You can take a day trip to Olympic National Park, ride the clipper up to Victoria, BC, spend a day wine tasting in Woodinville or escape to the Bavarian-style mountain town of Leavenworth.
Need to know
For couples who love the outdoors or are looking for spectacular views, the Pacific Northwest has a lot to offer as a wedding destination! Mountainside resorts, waterfalls and waterfront views are all easily accessible via a major international airport. If you’re looking for a destination for your wedding that is cost-effective for your guests, doesn’t require travelers to have a passport and will create lifelong memories, look no further! Whether you’re a couple considering getting married here or a family or friend attending a wedding here, reach out to me for help planning your travel and for vendor recommendations.
This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Pacific Northwest, Canada. In need of further inspiration?
Travel Advisor
Alicia Anderson
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