How Much Does It Cost to Elope in Washington State?
If you’ve landed on this blog post, you’re probably weighing out the options of eloping versus having a larger, traditional wedding. And let me tell you this: you’re in the right place!
I’m going to break down what you could be spending on your elopement if you choose to wed in Washington and what costs are fixed vs. what costs are pretty variable depending on how you want your day to go.
The most important thing you’ll read in this article:
The overall cost of your wedding or elopement doesn’t define your worth.
I’m serious - I know the pressure from friends, family, and even strangers on social media to have the perfectly curated, beautiful, never-been-done-before wedding, and I’m here to tell you to throw that idea out of the window. Throw it off a cliff if you prefer. The sooner you can get that idea out of your head, the sooner you’ll start to create the perfect elopement for YOU.
Did you know that the average cost of a traditional wedding at a venue (including a reception) is around $28,000 in Washington? This is based on info gathered by The Wedding Report and really puts into perspective how much big events can cost.
Here’s the thing - an elopement can cost anywhere from the cost of the wedding license to tens of thousands of dollars. It truly is allllll about what you want, where you want to go, and what’s important to you. Some couples will spend $5k on flowers alone because they adore how they make an event feel! Other couples might rent out a super chic AirBNB to get ready in that can cost upwards of $1k per night. Or (and this is my fave part) some will choose to plan a really special, indulgent activity like a helicopter tour or boat rental, and that can cost a few thousand dollars in itself.
If you take one thing away from reading this post, it’s this:
Your elopement costs as much as you want to spend. That’s it.
Now I know that might not be super helpful if you’re looking for a quick answer, but I’m here to help break things down a little further!
First, let’s take a look at what a traditional wedding costs where you would book a venue, invite 100+ guests, and plan a whole day around your guests attending the ceremony and reception.
Typical cost for a traditional wedding in Washington:
Venue: $10,000 - $20,000
Photographer: $3,000 - $8,000
Wedding attire: $3,000 - $5,000
Hair and makeup: $300 - $400
Catering for 100 guests: $7,000 - $10,000
Wedding planner: $2,000 - $3,000
DJ + Officiant: $2,000 - $3,000
Flowers for wedding party + reception: $3,000 - $6,000
Gifts for wedding party: $200 - $500
Wedding favors: $200 - $500
TOTAL: $30,700 - $50,400
Typical cost for an elopement in Washington state:
Let’s compare that to the costs of an elopement in Washington and what other things you might spend your money on:
Venue: In most cases, $0
Permit for wedding to take place on public/national park land: $50 - $300
Photographer: $5,000 - $10,000
Wedding attire: $3,000 - $5,000
Hair and makeup: $300 - $400
Catering for you and your guests (if you even have any!) $300 - $700
Flowers: $300 - $500
Officiant: $200 - $300
Travel and accommodations: $1,500 - $2,000
Adventurous activity: $500 - $1,500
TOTAL: $11,150 - $20,700
See the difference? With an elopement, you’re paying less for other people and spending more on the things YOU want to do. You can be as conservative or lavish with things like flowers, travel, activities, etc., which will change the end cost anyway!
Consider what’s truly important on your wedding day.
If you really do value being surrounded by tons of friends and family, you might still want to consider the traditional wedding route! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that and I’m not here to shame you.
If you’re feeling drained trying to invite everyone (even folks you never see or don’t even know), are exhausted from trying to plan the table decor and seating charts, or if you’re ready to ditch the tradition and do something that’s 100% authentically you - eloping is a great option!
Eloping means planning a day that’s all about you two
You have permission to do exactly what you want on your elopement day. Whether that means hiking 5 miles, taking a mid-day nap, stopping at a brewery for drinks, or taking a day trip down the coast, this day is one you likely won’t get to recreate, so make it a good one!
I’m all about taking some time to think about what you want your day to look like before you even pick things like flowers or who will be there. Once you can focus on each other and what you love together, the rest is easy.
Indulge on at least one thing on your elopement day
That could be taking a seaplane tour over the mountains or having your favorite restaurant send their best chef to make you dinner. Something that you’d normally say “we’d love to, but it’s too expensive/too much work/too hard to plan”. Take that idea and run with it. If there’s one thing I love doing, it’s planning elopement days around all the key things that you’ve told me are important.
Need ideas? Here are 9 Fun Ways to Make Your Elopement Unforgettable to get you in brainstorm mode!
Hire someone who knows how to help you plan the PERFECT day!
If you want an experience from start to finish that’s centered around you, your needs, and what you’re hoping for, hire an elopement photographer with experience! Not only should they be able to get great photographs of you, but they should know how to put together a timeline that won’t stress everyone out, how to help you apply for the correct permit to have your ceremony in a certain spot, and what to bring along to make sure everyone is comfortable.
If you didn’t know already… I can do all of those things for you! I’m an experienced elopement photographer that will craft an unforgettable experience for you. I’m all about keeping things low-stress, getting insanely beautiful photos, and keeping everyone fed and hydrated. I put together elopement days that are just steps from the parking lot and elopements that are in the mountains with no service and a long hike ahead of us.
Ready to do this?
