There is something so special about a wedding that feels unmistakably like the couple who planned it. A day built around the places they frequent, the people they love, and the little things that make their relationship theirs. For Gillian & Conner, that meant getting married on a ferry. They started their Seattle ferry wedding day with getting ready at home, with their dog watching intently. After private vows, we headed off to the Seattle Bainbridge ferry terminal for their intimate ceremony.
Getting Married on the Seattle Ferry
The weather was doing its very Seattle thing, raining off and on throughout the day. We were watching the clouds closely and hoping for a little break, and luckily, we got one at exactly the right time. The couple held their ceremony on the back of the ferry with the Seattle skyline stretching out behind them.
And then came one of those completely unplanned wedding moments that you could never recreate if you tried. After they officially tied the knot, the captain came over the PA to announce their marriage and congratulate them. Everyone on the boat started clapping and cheering as Gillian & Conner embraced.
A Little Celebration on the Water
After the ceremony, we got off the ferry at Bainbridge Island and immediately re-boarded to head back toward Seattle. We all walked to the cafe, grabbed beers, settled into a booth, and Gillian & Connor with their witnesses signed their marriage license while we made our way across the Sound. Once we got back to Seattle, we meandered around the ferry terminal and Pioneer Square for photos, and then headed to
Celebrating at a Place They Already Loved
Their reception took place at a restaurant in Ballard called Brimmer & Heeltap, one of their favorite spots, which made the evening feel less like going to a “wedding venue” and more like bringing their wedding into a place that was already part of their story.
They had a few speeches, shared drinks, and settled in for dinner with the people closest to them. It was simple, personal, and full of the kind of moments that make an intimate wedding feel so meaningful. Because ultimately, your wedding does not have to fit into a particular mold. You can get married on a ferry. You can celebrate at your favorite neighborhood restaurant. You can drink beers while signing your marriage license. You can invite only the people who feel like home. You can build a wedding day around the places and experiences that already mean something to you.
If you’re planning an intimate Seattle wedding or elopement and want your day to feel genuinely like you, I’d love to document it. Whether that means exchanging vows on a ferry, wandering through your favorite neighborhood, or gathering around a table at the restaurant where you had your first date, your wedding can be whatever you want it to be.
