End the Year Married. Start the Next One Right.

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: Why 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 actually feels like it's ALL about them.

Why the time between now and the New Year is One of Our Most Popular Times to Elope

The holidays already come with meaning. You do not need to manufacture it. Our couples choose this time of year because:

• They want to start the new year married

• They need legal benefits in place before January

• They are 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.

What a Holiday Elopement at Shotgun Ceremonies Actually Looks Like

This is not a courthouse appointment. Your ceremony is:

• Fully legal, licensed and handled start to finish

• Personal and relaxed, not transactional

• About 30–45 minutes, 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

Want Elvis? Done. Want just the two of you? Perfect. Want to bring your dog and a few close people? Absolutely. You get the meaning without the madness.

The Things Couples Sometimes Worry About (And Why They Don’t Need To)

Marriage license? You apply online (or in person at any county in Washington State).

Each county has a recorder’s office; this is 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 are good to go.

In King County, you can do this:

• In person at 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204 in Seattle.

• Or online, then finalize by phone and pick it up (or have it mailed).

  
  

Pro tip: Even if you apply online, the license IS NOT VALID until you’ve paid the fee and gone through their quick confirmation process. Once that’s done, you’re officially in the countdown! (There is a 3-day waiting period and then you are good to go.)

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!

Paperwork stress? We handle it after the ceremony for you so you can actually enjoy your day.

Why Couples Book Last-Minute Holiday Ceremonies

Because life does not 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 (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 are even thinking about eloping before the year ends, this is your sign to check the calendar.

👉 Book your holiday ceremony here: https://www.shotgunceremonies.com/book-online

End the year married. Start the next one grounded, clear and legally official.