Elopement Guide for Shafer Baillie Mansion

You have found the love of your life and you’ve decided to elope! Or you’ve been happily married for years and want to renew your vows. In both situations, congratulations! For a beautiful experience that is simpler than a full wedding, but fancier than just going to the courthouse, you can elope here on Capitol Hill at Shafer Baillie Mansion. With a gorgeous property, beautiful location, experienced staff, and simple planning process, we can help you create an unforgettable and stress-free experience for your special day.

Experienced Wedding Guide

If you’ve stayed with us before you’ve likely had the pleasure of meeting Brenda, our lovely innkeeper and event planner here at Shafer Baillie Mansion. She has worked for 13 years at the Mansion and in that time has led and organized over 200 events. Hailing from Georgia, she is a remarkably sweet lady who exudes southern hospitality and will weave that compassion and courtesy into all parts of your special day - from initial planning all the way to the ceremony. She has made a variety of connections with people in the wedding industry throughout the years and would love to share her network, and wisdom, with you. For those needing help with writing their vows, Brenda can even help craft those special words on the phone with you! 

Simple and Sweet 

Everything about an elopement at Shafer Baillie has comfort and ease as the top priority. We want to make this process as low-stress as possible for you. Say you already have a best friend that wants to officiate the wedding- perfect! Or your sister is a photographer - no problem! You can even bring your own favorite alcoholic beverages to have with the cake (just be sure to get a Banquet Permit from the State of Washington!) With our simple choose-your-own-adventure flexibility, you can pick and choose what you want with ease. And if you are in a hurry, all you need is a 7 days notice for us to get the place ready for your special day! Depending on availability, we can make just about any day of the week and time of the day work for you!

The Venue

The Tudor Revival 14,000 square foot mansion is a beautiful space that finds the perfect balance of luxury and comfort - an ideal place to have your ceremony. Spacious, with gorgeous design, the elegance of the main floor day rooms will be the perfect backdrop for the event and photographs. With Siberian white oak flooring, baroque fireplaces, Oriental rugs, stained glass, and hand-carved oak and mahogany woodwork, it is simply an experience that seems like it’s out of the movies. And afterwards, you can stay on the property in one of our beautiful rooms for accommodations and have a one stop shop experience - no need to jump in the car after the ceremony. And of course, included with your stay is our delicious extended breakfast, so you can keep the party going into the next day!

The Location

Essentially in our backyard, Volunteer Park is only a block away. With it’s gorgeous natural backdrop you can bring your party over and take before or after photographs, enjoy a stroll together as newlyweds, or find a bench to enjoy the fresh air and rest. Shafer Baillie is also perfectly located to enjoy the city of Seattle. With other gorgeous parks to add to the list such as Discovery Park, Seward Park, and Green Lake Park, plenty of world-renowned restaurants for a fancy dinner (Monsoon & Altura are a few favorites in walking distance) and access to many other fun things to do, choosing Shafer Baillie Mansion as your elopement destination comes with many perks.

The Ceremony

Here at Shafer Baillie we create a close-knit, intimate elopement experience. Our Elopement Package includes up to 10 people for a 1.5 hour service on your special day. We also partner with some premier Seattle businesses to bring you a top-notch experience. We order flowers and boutonnieres for you from the lovely Flowers on 15th, which always has a fresh, gorgeous selection. For cakes, we order through the famous Bakery Nouveau, which is able to provide a gluten-free cake option, if necessary. In addition to renting the space, Shafer Baillie Mansion offers a number of other add-on services. Firstly, Brenda is an ordained minister and is happy to officiate the ceremony for you, tailoring her words to your own specific spiritual viewpoints. We are also happy to provide photography services to capture the smiles, music, a portable PA system, and a microphone. We offer in-house catering to feed your group and add to the memories. You can also choose to indulge in delicious appetizers or a full meal through Gourmondo, a premier catering company that creates gourmet masterpieces with fresh, local ingredients. Here at Shafer Baillie Mansion, we truly want to help you create a special experience that is unforgettable. 

Ready to elope or renew your vows with your beloved? Check out our Weddings Page and choose your own unique plan for your special day. Feel free to call Brenda directly with questions or to schedule a tour of the property at (206) 322-4654.