Washington State Capitol Engagements: Elegant & Classic Engagement Photos
Growing up in Colorado, we made a trip to the state capitol in elementary school. I can remember seeing the ornate doors, the intricate details inside, and the overall opulence that took my breath away. When my brother went to grad school in Utah, I remember visiting the Utah state capitol and again being overwhelmed with the beauty of the marble pillars, expansive staircases, and the murals. Now fast forward to 2025, where Tushara, Michael, and I were trying to find a location for their engagement photos. Our first choice was the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, but they have a strict policy for portraits that only allow couples getting married at the hotel to use their space. In my search, I started seeing photos of city halls and capitol buildings, which prompted my interest in traveling to Olympia to use the Washington state capitol as our backdrop. After emailing with someone from the capitol building and discovering no permits were required, we decided on Washington state Capitol engagements.
Similar to the other state capitols I had seen throughout the years, the Washington state capitol was just as ornate and spectacular. There were marble pillars, gold plaques, balconies, chandeliers, and staircases on all sides. I knew that Tushara, Michael, and I were about to capture some stunning portraits, taking advantage of the capitol’s architecture and drama. And to sweeten the deal even more, there is a well manicured garden just outside the capitol with blooming trees in the spring that we were able to utilize at the end of our shoot when Tushara changed into her lehenga. (Interested to see other Indian wedding attire? Check out the reception photos from Thomas & Ashley’s Fairmont Olympic Hotel wedding).
If you are looking for an elegant backdrop for your engagements, I would highly recommend making the trip down to Olympia for your own Washington state capitol engagements. Click here to learn more about visiting.
