cathedral seattle wedding reception in ballard

elope in the mountains one year… throw the reception of your dreams in seattle the next. honestly? elite behavior!

k & a already exchanged vows the year before while hiking in the grand tetons in their outdoor clothes. their cathedral seattle wedding reception in ballard was their chance to embrace the other side of their personalities and dress up, feel fancy, and finally get the photos that go on the walls and get sent to family.

getting ready and first look at hotel ballard

for k the day began at hotel ballard and it was so glam! she popped some champagne in the bathtub, with her gorgeous short wedding dress and sparkly heels on, fully leaning into the fun of the morning. 

meanwhile a was getting ready at their ballard home not too far away. he came to meet k at the hotel and share a first look at the hotel rooftop. the rooftop made for the perfect backdrop that with all that daylight and reflections in the glass walls.

wandering ballard before the reception

before heading to cathedral for their reception, we slipped out into ballard to soak in their neighborhood. their first home is here, they live and love here, and also intentionally chose to support their neighborhood by sourcing local vendors.

k and a wanted to participate in their cocktail hour. they wanted to talk to their guests, eat the food they chose and enjoy the evening as it unfolded. so, we took a bit of time wandering the streets before joining the guests at the venue.

and here is something I will always stand by. you can get beautiful photos without disappearing for long stretches of time. the best images come from moments you are actually part of and when you work with a professional photographer, you can great images even in short periods of time.

their cathedral seattle wedding reception

cathedral is one of my favorite gem venues in seattle. it has so much character with all the brick walls, dramatic lighting, and marble bar tops.

k and a made their grand entrance from the staircase and welcomed guests from above. they had prepared a welcome speech, and the room erupted in cheers and joy.

k and a are cocktail bar and brewery people at heart, but they also love any excuse to dress up. so their reception lived right in that sweet spot. elevated gastropub energy with food stations and open seating so guests could flow in and out of conversations and the dance floor.

about planning your cathedral seattle wedding reception

cathedral is an amazing urban wedding venue in seattle.

the exposed brick and marble bar tops give the space a richness that photographs beautifully. the lighting is moody and atmospheric which is my love language, but it does require a photographer who understands how to work with it.

the venue can seat around 120 guests or host roughly 170 for a cocktail style reception. catering and bar service can be brought in as long as everything is licensed. their event packages start at around $3,200 and vary based on season and day of the week.

something I really appreciate is that cathedral donates its profits to charity. it feels good to celebrate somewhere that gives back.

a quick escape onto ballard avenue

k and a had one specific request for the night. they wanted photos outside on the ballard street with all the lights, come what may, “even if it raining or snowing”.

so we slipped out during the reception for a few minutes, and these are some of my favorite photos from their whole day.

the dance floor that never slowed down

after a few formal toasts, their first dance, and a quick cake cutting (their mountain inspired cake was stunning), the dance floor exploded. k loves to dance and have a good time, and she lit up the floor alongside friends and family. the dance floor stayed full and showed no signs of stopping untill the end!

ready to plan your wedding at the cathedral?

reception-only weddings after an elopement are so much fun and a zero stress way to plan your day! mountain love story meets city celebration is pnw perfection. 

k and a created a wedding that celebrated who they are right now, their neighborhood and their people. it was a privilege to document it for them, and I cannot wait to see these images framed on their walls in their ballard home.

if you want photos that actually feel like your day, that’s where i come in. i specialize in documenting intimate weddings and elopements across seattle and the pnw, with a focus on real connection, timeless edits, and making you feel like yourself in front of the camera.

you can check out my seattle wedding packages right here. can’t wait to hear what you’re planning. click here to get in touch. 

vendors: 

photography: @soundandseaphotography

reception venue: @seattlecathedral

day of coordination and floral design: @shineeventdesign

getting ready hotel: @hotelballard

dj: @ldtechniques_djav

catering: @lovelynightseattle

cake: @flourlanebakeshop

hair and make up: @mstimssmakeupartist

dress: @grace_loves_lace