Seattle Arboretum Fall Elopement
At 230 acres, the Washington Park Arboretum is Seattle’s third-largest park. It’s large enough to make you forget you’re amidst a bustling city while you’re wandering its many trails. The grand trees, flowers, and waterfront along Lake Washington make it a lovely place to visit any time of year, but especially in the fall.
Savanna and Nathan planned their elopement here just two weeks in advance. Originally, they weren’t going to hire any vendors, but after doing research, they knew they needed an officiant to make it legal. That’s when Nathan stumbled upon my blog about self-solemnizing. Walking themselves through their vows and hiring me to photograph everything and sign as the ordained minister was the perfect solution.
Riding the train from Centralia, they arrived in Seattle a couple of days before their elopement. Nathan already owned most of his outfit beforehand and thrifted his sweater before they left, but Savanna’s gown had yet to be purchased. She envisioned wearing a purple dress with delicate sleeves that tapered at the wrist. She found it at the second shop they visited: Alexandra’s Designer Consignment. It wasn’t a solid purple gown like she had imagined, but it was perfect, right down to the sheer sleaves!
They also shopped for their rings at Pike Place Market, found a dried flower bouquet, and gloves made from second-hand cashmere sweaters. All this was serendipitously purchased less than 24 hours before they eloped!
On the day of their elopement, it was sunny, beautiful, and not nearly as cold as the three of us expected. The fall colors seemed to be at their peak, and we wandered through the paths to find a spot away from the weekend crowds. When they saw the Maple Garden, they said it felt like the right place for their ceremony.
Tall trees with yellow leaves towered over them while they declared their love. The park seemed to quiet down, and even while photographing from afar, I could see there was so much tenderness, care, and passion in their relationship. After sharing their vows, and a few tears later, they kissed and saved the GPS coordinates to know exactly where they were married.
We ended our time together wandering through the park and taking more photos on our way back to the cars. Somehow, they managed to snag last-minute dinner reservations at Canlis, too! So far, this has been the most spontaneous elopement I’ve had the privilege to be a part of and I couldn’t be happier for Nathan and Savanna!
Vendor Team
Lodging: Westin Hotel
Dining: Canlis
Flowers: Yang Flowers
Rings: Pike Place Market
Gloves: Vintage Creations
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