Who Can Officiate My Washington Elopement?

Once you've applied for and received your marriage license, your ceremony must take place within 60 days after the date your license was issued. The license is not valid until three days after it was issued. This waiting period cannot be waived under any circumstances, including court order. If your ceremony does not take place within this time period, the license becomes void and you will need to apply again.

Your ceremony can be performed by:

• Licensed and ordained clergy members or similar officials of any religious organization

• Washington State Supreme Court justices

• Court of Appeals judges

• Superior Court judges

• Superior Court commissioners

• Judges of courts of limited jurisdiction

• Judges and judicial officers of federal courts

• Judges of tribal courts from a federally recognized tribe

• Clergy from any state may perform marriage ceremonies in Washington State, provided they are permitted by their religious organization to perform ceremonies outside of their state. However, the ceremony itself must be performed in the state of Washington. Neither person getting married may perform the ceremony.

(A judge performing your ceremony can be active or retired. Washington state law specifies who can perform a marriage ceremony. To have a judge perform your ceremony, contact them directly. A fee may apply.)

Immediately following the ceremony, the couple, the officiant, and two witnesses must sign the Certificate of Marriage. It is the officiant's responsibility to complete and return the certificate to King County within 30 days after the ceremony.

WITNESSES

Anyone can be your 2 witnesses. A park ranger, friends or even me- your elopement photographer.

How To Make Your Olympic National Park Elopement Legal

from your Marriage license to National Park fees. Your guide on the permits you needed for Olympic National Park elopement.

National Park Service information

PERMITS NEEDED

You’ll need these 3 Permits for your elopement in Olympic National Park:

ABOUT THE WA STATE MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Application: Both parties must apply and provide valid photo IDs.

• Cost: Clallam County, $62 | King County, $169

• Waiting Period: There is a mandatory three-day waiting period after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place. Plan to arrive in the state accordingly. (PA + Seattle offices closed on weekends)

• Validity: The license is valid for 60 days.

• Officiant & Witnesses: A legal officiant and two witnesses (age 14 or older) must be present to sign the license. A your elopement photographer I can act as a witness if needed.

• Return: The completed and signed license must be returned to the same county office where it was issued within 30 days of the ceremony.

• Clallam County (Port Angeles) Auditor Office | $62

  You must obtain a marriage license from any Washington county auditor's office.

  Clallam County is the closest to the park

  Cost: $62
  Address: 223 E 4th St # 1, Port Angeles, WA 98362
  Hours: 9:30A - 4:30P | closed weekends
  Phone: (360) 417-2568

• King County (Seattle). Auditor Office | $169

  King County offers a convenient online application process.
  Cost: $169
  Address: 516 3rd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104
  Hours: 8:30A - 4:30P | closed weekends
  Phone: (206) 477-1033
  ————————————
  Officiants should send the completed marriage certificate to:

  King County Recorder's Office
  RE: Marriage Certificate
  201 S. Jackson St., Ste. 204
  Seattle, WA 98104

ABOUT THE OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK SPECIAL USE PERMIT

• Application: Download and submit the application to the park's permit coordinator via email. It's recommended to apply at least 4 weeks in advance, but earlier is better, as processing can take 3-4 weeks.

• Cost: The nonrefundable application fee is $50. | Wilderness or Backcountry Camping, ideal for multi-day elopements cost an additional $8 per person/per night + $6 flat permit fee.

• Rules: The permit will outline rules to minimize impact on the park's natural resources and other visitors (e.g., no blocking trails, no elaborate setups, follow Leave No Trace principles). Not to worry since I am a Leave No Trace certified photographer.

• Park Entrance Fee: The permit does not cover the park entrance fee. A 7-day vehicle pass is $30, or you can use an "America the Beautiful" annual pass for $80

Learn more about who can officiate your wedding + what to include in your ceremony.

30+ Airbnb Listings- Where To Stay | Olympic National Park

Lake Crescent Lodge

All the heavy lifting has been done: A qualified list of Guest Favorite + Super Host options for your most common elopement needs

• Multi-Day Elopements

• a “home base” | especially helpful if traveling to different areas of the peninsula

• a back up/emergency plan | should there be any extreme weather pending

• a “getting ready” location | Turn on some 90’s throwbacks or turn up the Taylor Swift as you bejewel yourself.

• a crash pad for the friends / family attending

• Your morning after cocoon. | Kickstart your lives together and your honeymoon in the Olympic National Park. Views of fog in between the trees.