Outdoor Wedding Venues in Washington ANYONE can Afford
Photographs by Sea to Summit Photography
Are you dreaming of a magical small outdoor wedding in the state of Washington but dreading the cost of a wedding venue? Look no further! In this article, I’ll share 7 stunning outdoor wedding venues that are both affordable (as cheap as $18! No, I’m not joking) and will make you want to have an outdoor wedding in Washington!
From beautiful locations in the in the lush forests to waterfront locations with breathtaking mountain views, Washington offers a diverse array of stunning settings for your special day. Whether you envision exchanging vows under a hiking trail, or along one of your favorite parks, I've got you covered.
So, whether you're a nature lover and want a true Pacific Northwest wedding, these outdoor wedding venues in Washington that are perfect for smaller and more intimate weddings will make your dream day come true. Get ready to see how you can save literally THOUSANDS of dollars by getting married in these venues!
Benefits of Having an Outdoor Wedding
Outdoor weddings allow you to immerse yourselves in the natural beauty of your surroundings for a fraction of the cost of booking a traditional wedding venue. Whether it's the lush greenery of the rainforest, the peacefulness of a lakeside, or the stunning views of a mountain range, you can have a beautiful outdoor wedding venue that can cost you as little as $18. REALLY! This setting can be a place you and your partner can re-visit in the years to come.
Outdoor wedding venues also offer a sense of peace, romance, and connection that is hard to replicate indoors. The fresh air and natural lighting will create a more intimate and authentic ambiance, especially for us PNW lovers out there trying to chase that perfect moody lighting!
Factors to Consider When Choosing an Outdoor Wedding Venue in Washington
When selecting an outdoor wedding venue in Washington, there are several key factors to consider to ensure that your special day is everything you've dreamed of and more. First, be sure to plan your wedding day for a day when the roads will be open, snow will be melted (unless you want some snow!), and based on the type of weather you’re looking for. If you want a more comprehensive guide of the best times to get married in Washington, click on my Washington adventure elopement guide where I cover the pros and cons of getting married during each of the 4 seasons.
Another crucial factor is the venue's amenities and accommodations. Look for a location that offers not only a stunning backdrop but also practical considerations such as ample parking, accessibility if that is something that is needed for you and/or guests, and closest lodging accommodations. Additionally, consider the venue's ability to accommodate your guest count and any special needs or accessibility requirements. All of these venues do have a guest limit as they will be on National Parks, Forests, and state parks, making these venues ideal for more intimate weddings.
Finally, the overall value and cost-effectiveness of the venue should be a key consideration. While these stunning outdoor settings have a tiny price tag, it's essential to find a venue that aligns with your wedding vision and dream. If you’re looking for a big outdoor wedding, then this guide may not be for you. But if you’re looking to share your wedding with your closest loved ones (or maybe just the two of you!) then keep on reading.
7 Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venues in Washington You Can Get Married At!
Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venue 1: [Mount Rainier National Park]
Having your outdoor wedding venue in Mount Rainier National Park offers a breathtaking backdrop that elevates your special day to extraordinary heights. Imagine exchanging vows surrounded by towering evergreens, vibrant wildflowers, and the majestic presence of “The Mountain” herself, providing an jaw-dropping location for your ceremony. The park is full of diverse landscapes too: from lush meadows to serene lakes, this will be a unique and personalized wedding spot that you and your partner can return to each year! Mount Rainier is a true gem among outdoor wedding venues in Washington. If you are looking for a comprehensive guide on the best places to get married in Mount Rainier, head over to my Mount Rainier elopement guide.
Cost: non-refundable **$250 application fee + $30 day pass to enter the National Park
Guest limit:
1-12 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include select trails, picnic areas, roadside locations, and campground amphitheaters.
13-24 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include picnic areas, roadside locations, and campground amphitheaters.
25-60 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include roadside locations and campground amphitheaters.
60 + participants: may use campground amphitheaters.
Dogs allowed: No, but are allowed on designated campgrounds only.
For more information, check out the permits for weddings section for Mount Rainier here.
**Many elopement photographers will actually pay for all permits needed to get married in national parks (such as myself!), so be sure to ask your photographer if this is something they do!
Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venue 2: [Olympic National Park]
Olympic National Park is easily one of my favorite outdoor wedding venues in Washington as you can truly get so much diversity and can target multiple wedding “venues” along the way! Imagine waking up and meeting your friends and family at Hurricane Ridge, surrounded by mountains as you say your vows. You later go back to your cabin where you have a breakfast picnic with your friends and family before heading back out to the Hoh rainforest, or perhaps to the Washington coast. If you’re more of a lake person, Crescent lake is by the heart of Olympic National Park, making it a perfect location for sunset and dusk photos to wrap up your wedding day. Sounds like a dreamy place to have a wedding, right? If you want a more comprehensive guide of places to get married at Olympic National Park, click on my Olympic National Park elopement guide for more information!
Cost: A nonrefundable processing fee of $50-$100 + a $30 day pass to enter the National Park
Guest size: Maximum group size is 12 people
Dogs allowed: No. Dogs are only allowed on the following places:
Peabody Creek Trail (Olympic National Park Visitor Center in Port Angeles)
Rialto Beach parking lot to Ellen Creek (1/2 mile)
The beaches between the Hoh and Quinault Reservations (Kalaloch area)
Madison Falls Trail (Elwha)
Spruce Railroad Trail (North shore of Lake Crescent)
July Creek Loop Trail (North shore of Lake Quinault)
For more information, check out the permits for weddings section for Olympic National Park here
Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venue 3: [North Cascades National Park]
If you want your wedding to scream mountain views, jagged peaks, and photos that will make your friends and family think you went to Europe to get married in, consider the North Cascades for your outdoor Washington wedding venue! There are so many incredible locations to get married in North Cascades National Park. If you want to become a true adventurer, check out my blog post about how to have a hiking wedding in Washington.
Cost: $50 for non-refundable Application Fee
Guest size: maximum group size is 12 people
Dogs allowed: No. Dogs are only allowed on leash on the following places:
Within the Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas.
Pets are also allowed on most surrounding national forest lands Such as Mount Baker Snoqualmie National Forest (Artist Point area).
Pacific Crest Trail and within 50 feet of roads. Service animals are allowed for those with disabilities.
For more information, check out the permits for weddings section for North Cascades National Park here
Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venue 4: [Deception Pass State Park]
Deception Pass State Park is a special place to get married in as my wife and I had our outdoor wedding here when we got married in 2022. Deception Pass is one of Washington’s most visited and popular state park for a good reason! With a towering bridge that connects Anacortes to Whidbey Island, a beautiful view of the San Juan Islands, endless miles of hiking trails, this place has it all. Bonus, this location is close to major cities such as Seattle and Everett, making it very easy for friends and family who live in town or are flying into Washington to attend. If you want to learn more about getting married at Deception Pass State Park, check out my Deception Pass State Park elopement guide.
Cost: $45 for non-refundable Application Fee + $10 a one-day Discover Pass to enter the park
Guest size: maximum group size is 75 people
Dogs allowed: yes on leash!
For more information, check out the permits for weddings section for Washington State Parks here.
Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venue 5: [Discovery Park in Seattle]
If you are looking for an outdoor wedding venue in Washington that is closer to Seattle, then you have to consider having your wedding at Discovery Park! Discovery Park is one of Seattle’s most popular city parks. Nestled just south of Ballard in the neighborhood of Magnolia is a beautiful city park filled with wide open fields, endless trails, stunning bluffs, cliffside views of the olympic mountains and a beautiful beach. Regardless of where you want to have your wedding photos taken, you’ll be sure to get beautiful photos here! If you’d like to learn more about weddings at Discovery Park, check out my Discovery Park wedding guide.
Cost: $148 per hour with two-hour minimum
Guest size: maximum group size is 35-75 people
Dogs allowed: yes on leash!
For more information, check out the permits for weddings section for Seattle City Parks here.
Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venue 6: [The Ballard Locks]
Another incredible location for your outdoor wedding venue that is both affordable, and close to Seattle is the Ballard Locks aka the ship canal. This location is at the heart of Ballard and is filled with 5 beautiful lawns and stages that you can reserve to have your outdoor wedding in. If you time it right, you might be able to see the bridge in action, see the salmon jumping, or see some seals swimming.
Cost: Ranges from $192 to $367 depending on which of the 5 lawns you’d like your wedding ceremony to be in + an $8 application fee. Reservations can be made at Recreation.gov. Click the link here to reserve your date!
Guest size: maximum group size is 35-75 people
Dogs allowed: yes on leash!
For more information on application for permits and learn more about weddings at the Hiram M. Chittenden Ballard Locks, click the link here.
Affordable Outdoor Wedding Venue 7: [Abord a Washington State Ferry]
Some think that the Washington State Ferry system is solely for commuting purposes. But why not make the ferry be your outdoor wedding venue? This takes the trophy of the cheapest outdoor wedding venue in Washington as the cost is solely contingent on the price to either drive, bike, or walk on the ferry. Imagine saying “I do!” as you cross the Puget Sound into downtown Seattle, or while you go to a getaway vacation to the San Juan Islands. Although you may have to brave some of the wind, many couples are able to have an incredible outdoor wedding as they travel to an incredible location.
Cost: is really your ticket to get on the ferry. Vehicle ferry costs start at $18 and really depend on which ferry terminal you’re departing from and arriving to. For more information on Ferry fares click the link here. Keep in mind some ferries such as Anacortes going to the San Juan Islands require reservations well in advance, whereas others you cannot make reservations.
Guest size: no maximum group size, but recommend no more than 35 people
Dogs allowed: Outdoors only. Uncaged pets are not allowed to remain in interior passenger areas for the duration of a voyage. In some cases, leashed pets may transit through interior areas in order to access exterior passenger areas. See more of the WSF Pet Policy here.
For more information about having your wedding at a Washington State Ferry click the link here.
Outdoor Wedding Photography Washington
Now that you have some amazing locations that you can have your outdoor wedding in Washington, it’s time to find your photographer that will help you capture your wedding day. That’s where I come in! My goal for all of my wedding couples is to have a wedding day that is authentically you and is an experience that is stress free. I firmly believe getting married should be an exciting thing, not a hassle or stressor to plan. Click the link below to learn more about my Washington wedding and elopement packages and see how your wedding day could look like!
As you continue your search for the perfect outdoor wedding venue, remember to consider the factors that are most important to YOU. Remember that it is your wedding after all, and by saving thousands on a wedding venue, imagine all the other things you can potentially invest in! Whether that is an epic honeymoon, putting a down payment on a house, or treating yourself to an epic wedding day by doing something you haven’t even done before (e.g. hot air balloon, helicopter flight, going whale watching)! By choosing a venue that aligns with your personal style and vision, you can create a day that truly reflects your love story and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
If you’re ready to get married and want that moment perfectly captured and documented, simply email me at info@seatosummitphotos.com or fill out the questionnaire below. I cannot wait to hear from you and learn more about your dream wedding and plans!
