Outdoor Ceremony Reservations
Important Notes:
Please submit applications as early as possible. All applications must be received at least 30 days prior to your event. Please allow 14 business days to process applications.
Emails and calls will have a delayed reply. If you have questions not related to availability, please email sprevents@seattle.gov.
Event Scheduling Office is not open for walk-ins.
Seattle's parks and gardens make lovely and inexpensive outdoor venues. Surround your ceremony with the elegance and beauty of nature. Read on for info about how to make your reservations. Choose from an array of quiet gardens, picturesque viewpoints, open meadows, and intimate natural settings. You can schedule an outdoor ceremony in almost any of our 400 parks. See some of our favorite outdoor ceremony sites on Flickr.
Reserving Your Ceremony Site
Complete an online application for an Outdoor Ceremony
If you hire an on-site caterer or bring special equipment, please complete the online application and download the Insurance Requirements. Sit-down meals are only allowed at reservable picnic sites.
Complete an online Catering/Special Equipment Form
Outdoor Ceremony Sites
Click or tap to open this interactive map in a new window, showing suggested locations for outdoor ceremony sites.
Quick Facts About Ceremonies
- Permit - A permit is required to hold a ceremony or special event in a public park. Ceremony Permits guarantee that no other ceremony or event is scheduled at the same time in the same location. The park remains open to the public at all times during a ceremony. A permit does not guarantee exclusive use of a park area for a private event. We issue ceremony permits on a first-come, first served basis.
- Parking - Vehicles are not allowed onto park grounds. We cannot reserve parking for your ceremony, although parking lots and street parking are available at many sites.
- Services - We can schedule a site for you, but we cannot provide wedding planning services. We highly recommend that you visit your preferred locations prior to making your reservation. We may require that you hire a Parks Attendant to monitor the park from start to finish.
- Alcohol -The Park Code (Seattle Municipal Code chapter 18.12.257) prohibits alcohol in Seattle parks. All outdoor ceremony sites are alcohol-free. Ceremonies which normally use wine must substitute with a non-alcoholic beverage.
- Equipment - You must complete all delivery, setup, and cleanup during the time of your ceremony permit. We do not provide setup. You must arrange through a private vendor for equipment such as chairs, canopies, or catering gear. You may have one canopy of up to 20 feet by 20 feet in size. Canopies must be open with no walls, and secured to the ground using weights and not stakes.
- Sound - No electricity is available. Battery powered amplification systems are allowed only in specified areas. Amplification systems are limited to microphones, CDs and digital music players. Amplification is allowed for the ceremony portion only, not the entire event.
- Decorations - Please keep the environment in mind with your decorations. Do not put nails into trees, or stake anything into the ground. Equipment such as canopies must be free weighted. Confetti, seeds, and rice are not allowed to be scattered; try flower petals! All decorations must be removed by the completion of your permit time
- Photographs - Photography is included during the hours of your Ceremony Permit at your reserved park only. Each additional park requires a separate Photography Permit good for up to 4 hours of use. Photo permit applications can be submitted between 3-14 days prior to the date requested.
- Refunds - Reservation fees are not refundable. This includes inclement weather conditions.
Additional questions? Please review the brochure at the top of the page.
How to Schedule an Indoor Ceremony Site
Many of our centers offer professional kitchens, and convenient parking. In addition many of our parks and indoor event spaces offer stunning views. Please visit Indoor Event Rentals, Community Center, or Picnic Shelter & Table Reservation websites for more information about the locations we offer. Make sure you visit the locations first before choosing a park or facility.