Get married before the end of the year and start the next one right.
You can get legally married on New Year's Eve in Seattle at Shotgun Ceremonies, in a pink shipping container chapel or an outdoor gazebo in Georgetown. There are openings every day from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., holidays included, and ceremonies are $500. Apply for your Washington marriage license by Monday, December 28 for a Thursday, December 31 ceremony.
There’s something about the last few weeks of the year that makes everything feel clearer. The noise quiets down. The pressure lifts. And the question gets simpler: No good reason to wait.
Every holiday season, couples find their way to Shotgun Ceremonies for the same reason. They want to make it official without turning it into a production. No seating charts. No family politics. No year-long planning cycle. Just the two of them, a legal ceremony, and a moment that belongs entirely to them.
The Time Between Now and the New Year is One of Our Most Popular Times to Elope
The holidays already come with meaning. You don’t need to manufacture it. Couples choose this time of year because:
They want to start the new year married.
They need legal benefits in place before January.
They’re done waiting for the “perfect” wedding moment.
They want something intimate while everyone else is going bigger and louder.
A holiday elopement isn't rushed. It's intentional.
Married Before the Year Ends
Some couples want December 31 for the date. Some want it for the paperwork. The IRS uses your marital status on December 31 for the whole tax year, which is why the end of December fills up. Ask a tax professional what that means for you. We'll handle the ceremony.
What a Holiday Elopement at Shotgun Ceremonies Looks Like
This isn’t just a courthouse appointment. Your ceremony is:
Fully legal, licensed, and handled from start to finish.
Personal and relaxed, not transactional.
A 10 to 20 minute ceremony, with up to an hour in our spaces.
In our pink chapel or outdoor gazebo.
Witnesses provided if you need them.
Complete with music, vows, and room to breathe.
Add Elvis if that is your thing. Keep it to the two of you if it is not. Bring the dog and a few close friends if you want them there. You get the meaning without the madness.
The Things Couples Sometimes Worry About (And Why They Don’t Need To)
Marriage license? You can apply online or in person at any county in Washington State.
Each county has a recorder’s office where wedding licenses are issued. In King County, you’ll need to apply for your marriage license through the King County Recorder’s Office. (You can apply at any office in the state.) There is a 3-day waiting period, and then you’re good to go.
In King County, you can do this:
In person at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204 in Seattle.
Or start online, then finish in person at the same office. Both of you need to be there.
Pro tip: Applying online only starts the process. The three day countdown begins once you’ve both finished in person and paid the $169 fee.
Witnesses? We provide them if you need them.
Timing around the holidays? We book Christmas season and New Year’s Eve every year. Availability is limited, but we still have openings.
When to apply for your license
Christmas Eve is Thursday, December 24. Apply by Monday, December 21.
New Year's Eve is Thursday, December 31. Apply by Monday, December 28.
The three day wait starts when your license is issued, and the King County licensing office closes on county holidays. In 2026 that means Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26 and the Friday after it, and Christmas Day. Count backward from the date you want and leave a day of buffer. If you're looking for a simple guide to getting your license, look no further... we've written it and we'll send it directly to your inbox.
Paperwork stress? We handle filing it for you after the ceremony so the day stays yours.
Why Couples Book Last-Minute Holiday Ceremonies
Because life doesn’t pause for wedding timelines. We see couples elope at the end of the year for real reasons:
Health insurance.
Immigration timelines.
Taxes.
Medical decision-making.
Simply wanting to move forward together.
This is marriage without judgment or performance. Just clarity and your own personal reasons.
A Different Kind of Holiday Memory
While everyone else is navigating crowded dinners and expectations, you could be:
Saying your vows.
Clinking souvenir shot glasses, which are our gift to you.
Walking out married.
Starting the new year with nothing hanging over your head.
No cleanup. No drama. No regret.
Booking Christmas or New Year’s Eve
Holiday dates fill quickly, and availability is limited. If you’re even thinking you might want to get married before the end of the year, this is your sign to check the calendar.
For Christmas Eve and the rest of December, start with our Seattle holiday elopement guide.
End the year married. Start the next one grounded, clear, and legally official.
Questions Couples Ask
When should we apply for our license for a New Year's Eve wedding?
Apply by Monday, December 28 for a ceremony on Thursday, December 31. For Christmas Eve, apply by Monday, December 21. The King County licensing office closes for county holidays, so a day of buffer helps.
When is Shotgun Ceremonies open?
There are openings every day from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., holidays included. Book any open time online.
Do we need witnesses to get married in Washington?
Yes. Washington requires two witnesses to sign the marriage certificate along with the couple and the officiant. If you don't have anyone to bring, Shotgun Ceremonies can provide witnesses.
Can we get married the same day in Seattle?
Yes, as long as your marriage license is already valid. Shotgun Ceremonies offers same day ceremonies when the calendar has an opening, so check times when you book.
Does a license from another Washington county work in Seattle?
Yes. A license from any Washington county is valid anywhere in the state, including at Shotgun Ceremonies. The signed certificate goes back to the county that issued it.
How much does it cost to elope in Seattle at Shotgun Ceremonies?
A legal ceremony in the chapel, the gazebo or off-site within 15 miles of Georgetown is $500. An Elvis wedding is $750, the pub crawl wedding is $575 and vow renewals start at $375. The marriage license is separate and paid to the county.
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