The Ruins Seattle Wedding | A Documentary Perspective

There’s no place quite like The Ruins Seattle. From the outside, this 1909 building in Lower Queen Anne is pretty unassuming. But step inside and it’s like crossing into another world. Whimsical. Historic. A little surreal in the best way.

Think dramatic chandeliers, giant statues, full-wall murals, deep jewel tones, a sitting library, and a hidden speakeasy bar. It’s opulent and eclectic and moody in all the right ways. Glitz, glamour, and just a hint of dark magic.

I’ve photographed multiple weddings at The Ruins Seattle now, and every time I walk in, I’m reminded why it’s one of my favorite Seattle wedding venues to document. It’s layered. It has personality. It doesn’t need to be dressed up to feel special.

As a documentary wedding photographer in Seattle, that matters. This is a space made for emotion-rich storytelling.

Kristen & Chris’ The Ruins Seattle Wedding

From the very first phone call, I knew Kristen and Chris were my people.

When I asked what they were most excited to relive in their wedding photos, they didn’t mention the first kiss or the cake cutting. What they couldn’t wait to see were the in-betweens. The getting ready chaos with all their favorite people. The hype and nerves before the ceremony. The hugs and laughter during cocktail hour in the library.

They were drawn to the small authentic moments and spontaneous reactions. Their people simply being themselves.

Honest Photographer Tips for Planning a Wedding at The Ruins Seattle

After photographing multiple weddings at The Ruins, including Kristen and Chris’s, here are a few of my go-to recommendations if you’re planning your own The Ruins Seattle wedding:

Get Ready On-Site. You’ll Thank Yourself Later.

The getting ready suites at The Ruins aren’t just convenient. They’re beautiful. The library is ideal for a cozy, lived-in vibe, especially if you’re getting ready together. If you’re staying separate, the suites are on opposite sides of the venue, so staying hidden is easy.

Getting ready on-site keeps the day flowing and eliminates travel stress. It also creates incredibly rich storytelling because everything happens under one roof. Kristen and Chris chose this, and those early moments ended up being some of the most meaningful of the day.

Use the Whole Venue. Not Just for Photos

One of the things that makes a wedding at The Ruins Seattle so unique is that every room feels distinct. You’re not just moving from one event to the next. You’re moving through chapters.

Ceremony under the chandelier room’s soaring ceiling. Dinner and dancing in the velvet-draped ballroom. Cake cutting in the lounge. A celebratory drink tucked away in the speakeasy.

Each space shifts the mood.

And yes, if you want portraits in those incredible rooms, we absolutely can. I love taking a 15-minutes-here, 15-minutes-there approach so you can stay present at your wedding and still walk away with portraits that feel intentional.

Want a Breather After the Ceremony?

The library and speakeasy make perfect hideaways. Kristen and Chris slipped away for a quiet moment in the library after their ceremony before rejoining their guests. It was simple. Unposed. And one of their favorite memories.

After the ceremony, emotions were running high and Kristen and Chris went to the library for a few moments alone. With their permission, I slipped in. I stayed back and didn’t direct anything. They were just decompressing — laughing, taking it in. At one point they started airplane-ing around the room together, arms stretched out, celebrating in their own wonderfully ridiculous way. It lasted maybe two minutes before they went back out to their guests.

That’s the beauty of The Ruins. Even though the rooms are grand, there are smaller pockets where you can disappear for a second. Those quick resets often end up being some of the most honest moments of the day.

Bride and groom dance alone in library after the ceremony

The Ruins Seattle Ballroom During the Reception

The Ruins is one of the few Seattle venues where bigger moments don’t feel out of place.

I’ve photographed belly dancers weaving between tables, aerialists performing overhead, and packed dance floors under the chandeliers. And somehow it never feels random. The room can actually handle it.

It already feels dramatic, so when something bold happens, it fits.

If your wedding includes entertainment, surprises, or a celebration that goes beyond dinner and dancing, The Ruins supports that kind of energy without it feeling forced.

Want 100% Documentary Coverage—Plus a Few Portraits?

Their day was almost entirely documentary. I stayed close and let everything unfold as it happened.

We only slipped away once – into the speakeasy for a few quiet minutes – and that was it. No long portrait session. No disappearing for half an hour.

At The Ruins, that’s usually all you need. It’s common to step out for 15 minutes or so earlier in the day, and maybe another 10–15 at the end of the night, just to explore some of the more intimate spaces. Then you’re right back with your people.

You don’t have to choose between being present and having beautiful portraits here. You can do both without it feeling like a production. Everything you need is already inside the venue.

Final Thoughts: The Ruins Is Built for Real Moments.

This isn’t a venue that needs staging. It’s layered. It’s bold. It’s built for moments that feel a little bigger.

My job is to stay close enough to catch them.

If that’s the kind of coverage you’re looking for, let’s connect.

Planning a wedding at The Ruins? Reach out here —I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up. Or if you’re still exploring how documentary wedding photography works, check out this post about my approach or browse my FAQ page to get a better feel for how I work.