a quirky wedding at the ruins in seattle

the ruins is one of those venues that has so much personality and the best weddings here are the ones that lean into it. here you’ll find hand-painted murals, dark little rooms, ornate furniture, old fireplaces, giant windows, a secret library, an enormous antique elephant, and more. 

erica and tom understood the assignment. their inspiration was “places indiana jones would visit during one of his adventures,” but the goal was never to turn the wedding into an indiana jones theme party. instead, they pulled from that feeling with old-world objects, rich jewel tones, mysterious little details, tarot cards, sea glass, goblets and candles everywhere. things that looked like they could have been found on a shelf in some wonderfully strange room halfway across the world.  it was quirky, stylish, moody, fun, and VERY them. 

getting married at the ruins in seattle 

the ruins is tucked away in seattle’s lower queen anne neighborhood and originally operated as a private club known for dinners and parties before becoming an event venue. and honestly, you can still feel that slightly secretive energy when you walk through it. 

the current venue is unapologetically maximalist, with hand-painted murals, fireplaces, a private library, moody lounges, ornate furniture, and rooms that feel completely different from one another. the ballroom can host up to 120 guests for a seated reception, while the property can accommodate larger celebrations using multiple spaces. 

if you want a neutral white room that disappears into the background, this is probably not it. but if you want the venue itself to become part of the visual language of your wedding? that is where the ruins gets really fun. 

i have photographed several weddings here now, and they have all looked completely different. you can see more of the venue in my previous Ruins Seattle wedding here, or this very different whimsical celebration at The Ruins. 

the unique details of this quirky wedding day

erica and tom were inspired by the kinds of places Indiana Jones might stumble into on one of his adventures. the collected goblets were one of my favorites. guests chose their own goblet as they arrived, which was a quiet reference to choosing wisely while also giving the cocktail hour this eclectic, collected-over-time feeling.

tarot cards were used throughout the wedding, including as place cards and part of the table design. and the ruins is such a good venue for this! between the candles, dark murals, saturated colors, old furniture, and rooms that already feel slightly theatrical, the tarot imagery complemented the aesthetic. the lovers appeared throughout the decor, which felt very appropriate for a wedding day.

and all the sea glass was probably the most personal part of their wedding details. collecting sea glass is one of erica and tom's hobbies, and tom proposed to erica on a beach known for it. so they incorporated those colors into the wedding and turned pieces they had collected themselves into gifts for their wedding party and parents. 

tom's dad helped transform the glass into necklaces and earrings for the bridesmaids and mothers, plus cufflinks for the groomsmen. i love this so much more than buying everyone a generic “wedding party gift.” 

getting ready + first look at the ruins 

both erica and tom got ready at the venue. tom got ready in the newer green room upstairs, and apparently I was the first photographer to get to shoot in there. which I am taking as a very important historical achievement. :)  the deep green walls, warm light, vintage artwork, and furniture fit the wedding so well.

once everyone was dressed, we did their first look and then moved through several of my favorite spaces for portraits. this venue really shines for photography. however, the ruins is not an easy venue to photograph. one room has huge windows and hard directional sunlight and the next is dark. another has colored uplighting bouncing off murals. and i absolutely love that! the venue rewards a photographer who can work with whatever light is actually there rather than needing everything to look the same. 

the ruins wedding ceremony + quirky wedding reception 

their ceremony took place in the main room  and was officiated by a close family friend of erica’s. 

the reception in the ballroom is where the ruins does what it does best. the murals of deep cobalt blue, painted animals and botanicals glow beautifully under candlelight. erica and tom's sweetheart table sat in front of the lovers card flanked by tall taper candles, and the whole scene was the right mix of dramatic and warm. 

we stepped out for a few minutes and photographed erica and tom walking with the space needle glowing behind them, and then we went right back inside. 

erica and tom wanted mostly candid, documentary coverage with guidance when we were intentionally creating portraits, which is pretty much my sweet spot. during portraits i can place you somewhere interesting, give you enough direction that you do not wonder what to do with your hands, and then let the two of you interact. and then capture the rest of the day as it unfolds naturally without pulling you away from your guests.

are you planning your quirky wedding at the ruins?

it's genuinely one of the most photogenic venues in Seattle, and i say that having photographed it enough times to know its corners. the lighting is moody and layered and requires a photographer who actually knows what to do with it. 

want to chat about your wedding at the ruins? click here to get in touch. 

and if you’re looking for other amazing urban wedding venues in seattle, check out some more of my favorites for ideas.

p.s. special shoutout to elena leigh for helping make this day happen!