In Seattle, picturesque wedding venues abound

Somewhere over the rainbow, the Emerald City is emerging as an up-and-coming gay wedding destination. In December, Washington state legalized gay marriage by popular vote, and Seattleites celebrated with a series of group wedding ceremonies, a large-scale reception for the newlyweds at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, and other free parties around town.

Seattle is home to one of the largest LGBT communities in the country, with a number of gay-friendly businesses throughout the city, particularly in neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Fremont and Queen Anne. With a quirky sensibility and a picture-perfect landscape, this gem of the laid-back Pacific Northwest makes for an ideal destination to tie the knot. Here are four gay-friendly ways to say “I do” in Seattle.

Come out on top

In June, the Space Needle made a bold statement to the world when it hoisted the red-and-pink marriage equality flag during Seattle Pride. “We raised the marriage equality flag to help celebrate this amazing time in our history of civil and human rights,” says Karen Olson, vice president of marketing for the Space Needle. Built for the 1962 World’s Fair, the iconic 604-foot structure is synonymous with Seattle, and couples can complete their fairy-tale nuptials with Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and downtown Seattle as their backdrop.

“At the Space Needle, our mission is to transform moments into memories of a lifetime, and many of those memories are around love,” says Olson. “Now, with marriage equality legal in our state and supported by our federal government, we are excited to host weddings that are truly memories of a lifetime.”

Nature lover

Bad weather can put a damper on any wedding, especially in Washington, where it rains about 150 days out of the year. At the Pacific Science Center, couples can get married inside a 4,000-square-foot greenhouse filled with more than 500 tropical butterflies, lush greenery and blooming flowers.

“In Seattle, where an outdoor wedding can be a risky plan, the Tropical Butterfly House gives couples the feel of an outdoor or a destination wedding right in the heart of the city,” says Jenny Cornish, sales and events director at the Pacific Science Center.

A historical event

Modeled after George Washington’s Mount Vernon home, the 1925 Rainier Chapter House originally served as the meeting place for a local Daughters of the American Revolution chapter. “This historical building has its roots in the American Revolution,” says manager Peter Michaels. “It’s a stunning beauty of a home with a gated yard and three large elm trees.”

Couples can choose between having their special day in the bright and spacious ballroom, a large reception room with a fireplace and a grand piano, or the dining room with period furnishings. “Since we’re located on Capitol Hill, where many gays and lesbians live, work and play, it’s an ideal wedding location for same-sex couples.”

Offbeat and casual

Opened five years ago, Shotgun Ceremonies offers an unconventional wedding experience in a Vegas-style chapel. Couples can have Elvis or Michael Jackson officiate their wedding, and they can exchange their vows under a metal altar adorned with twinkling Christmas lights.

“We attract a lot of same-sex couples who have been together for a long time, have already had commitment or partnership ceremonies, and want their legal wedding to be a fun, party-like, non-stressful event with friends and family — or just the two of them,” says Shotgun Ceremonies co-owner Bronwen Stevenson.

“We also perform a lot of out-of-state wedding ceremonies and provide witnesses at no additional charge,” adds co-owner Sara Qureshi.

—Rachel Ng, Brand Publishing Writer