A Room-by-Room Guide to the Space, Flow, and Real Moments
From the outside, The Ruins in Lower Queen Anne doesn’t give much away. You’re steps from the Space Needle and MoPOP. It could easily pass as a brick warehouse.
Then you step inside. And it’s completely unexpected. Every room feels different. Some are grand. Some are intimate. Somehow it manages to be both at the same time.
I’ve photographed multiple weddings at The Ruins Seattle – full ceremony-and-reception days onsite, church ceremonies followed by Ruins receptions, performance-forward celebrations, and almost entirely documentary timelines with minimal portraits.
If you’re planning a wedding here, this guide will walk you through the space room by room so you can make intentional decisions about flow, lighting, portraits, and energy.
.
.
The Atrium
Natural Light, First Looks, and Variety
The atrium is one of the most versatile spaces in the venue.
Steel-pane windows. Stone. Foliage. On a sunny day, direct light pours through the glass and creates dramatic lines and contrast. It has a slight industrial edge, but it also feels like a European courtyard.
This space works especially well for:
- First looks
- Private vows before guests arrive
- Portraits with natural light
- Welcome signage or guest activities
- A quiet breather during the reception
.
You can also shoot from inside through the panes of glass for layered, tucked-away frames. After dark, it transforms completely and photographs beautifully with flash.
.
Pop into the atrium during getting ready for some gorgeous lighting and european courtyard feel.
With a little flash magic, the atrium lights up beautifully after dark.
This private and often sun-drenched courtyard is my go-to spot for a first look or private vow reading. Both getting ready suites open directly to the Atrium so coordinating a first look is easy.
A great break away space for games and more intimate conversations and gathering.
The atrium is the first space guests will enter, and therefore makes a great spot for welcome signage, sign in and gift tables.
.
Planning Notes – The Atrium
- Use this space earlier in the day if possible. The natural light in this space is dramatic and stunning.
- If you’re getting ready in the Antler Room (getting ready space just off the Atrium), be open to stepping into the atrium during some of your getting ready moments.
- Both getting ready spaces open directly to the Atrium, which makes it one of the easiest places to coordinate a first look. Just be careful not to step out too soon and accidentally spoil the surprise. Your photographer should help orchestrate the timing so the moment still feels intentional and private.
.
If portraits matter to you, this is one of the strongest locations to prioritize.
.
.
The Getting Ready Spaces: Bright vs. Moody
There are two getting ready rooms, and they feel completely different.
One is brighter and more polished with gold mirrors and lighter walls. I call it the Antler Room.
.
The Antler Room
.
The mirrors in this space make for great documentary photos with layered storytelling.
.
Primarily used as a getting ready space, the Antler Room can also be a great spot to steal away into for marriage license signing and dress prep before the reception entrance.
.
.
The Library
Window lit, sometimes fire lit. It feels like an old smoking room – rich, quiet and Intimate.
.
The library works beautifully for:
- Groom prep
- Emotional pre-ceremony moments
- License signing
- A short reset after the ceremony
.
In the photo below: After the ceremony, emotions were high and these two newlyweds slipped into the library for a few minutes alone. With their permission, I followed quietly and stayed back. No directing. No posing. They were just decompressing – laughing, and letting it sink in. “We’re married!” 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 headed back out to their guests. You can see how this real full wedding day at The Ruins Seattle unfolded here.
.
The groom opens a surprise gift from his bride-to-be, hand-delivered by a bridesmaid just before the ceremony.
.
Planning Notes – Getting Ready
- If you’re getting ready together, choose the library. It photographs in a richer, more dramatic way and feels intimate.
- If you prefer a lighter look during prep, the Antler Room is a better fit.
- Staying onsite keeps the day cohesive and simplifies logistics.
.
.
The Piano / Bar Room
Cocktail Hour and the post ceremony congratulations
This space has a grand piano, bar access, and fireside seating. It’s often where couples step into after leaving a private post-ceremony moment or license signing in the library.
It’s a great spot for a champagne dress moment if your wedding includes some theatrical elements – the bar backdrop and natural gathering of guests make it work well. Larger performances and big production moments are better suited for the ballroom.
.
.
This room is where a lot of big emotion happens. After the ceremony and a few minutes decompressing in the Library, it’s where the couple walks straight into the love waiting for them – the hugs, laughter, and friends crowding in with congratulations.
.
For family photos, smaller family groupings work well here. Larger extended family portraits are usually better suited for the fireplace room or ballroom.
Groom and groomsmen gather before the ceremony.
.
A favorite nook for couples portraits. Warm golden light, mirrors, cozy seating, and a grand piano make it feel intimate and incredibly photogenic. Just note that it gets busy during cocktail hour and often stays that way after the ceremony, so plan for portraits here before guests arrive or much later in the evening once the dance floor fills up.
.
.
The Fireplace Room
Ceremony or Cozy Warm Dinner
The fireplace room can function as either ceremony or reception space.
Even though it’s large, it feels more intimate than the ballroom. Fireplaces anchor either end. There chandeliers overhead and a clear central aisle.
Earlier ceremonies feel brighter with some window light. Later ceremonies lean moodier.
If you love a darker aesthetic, lighting matters. Intentional off-camera lighting can preserve the drama without flattening the room.
.
.
This space works well for:
- Ceremony with a softer energy
- Dinner reception
- Cake cutting
- Family portraits
- Area for extra tables, mingling or a late night snack
.
Some couples use this room for dinner and transition to the ballroom for dancing, Moving from space to space keeps the energy building naturally.
.
Featuring a belly dance performance by Mariana Belly Dance
.
The two images above show this space photographed two different ways: off-camera flash on the left and natural light on the right. A photographer’s lighting choice can completely shift the mood and overall feel of a photo. I tend to photograph the space using a mix of both for more variety and dynamic storytelling.
.
.
The Fireplace Room often turns into a late night hangout once the party is in full swing. While guests are dancing next door in the Ballroom, this space becomes perfect for late night bites, a photo booth, or a fun backdrop moment. Some couples even choose to cut their cake here instead of the Library, which is a great way to create a little movement and visual variety throughout the evening.
.
.
.
The Grand Ballroom
Drama, Performance, and Celebration
The room is expansive. Murals everywhere. Chandeliers glowing. A dark ceiling that makes candlelight and stage lighting actually pop. It feels grand, layered and alive, especially once guests are in it.
If you want to do something bold, this is the place.
.
Featuring spotlighting Crimson Haze
.
I’ve photographed:
- A Halloween ceremony with candlelit jack-o-lanterns lining the aisle
- A belly dancer weaving between tables
- A masquerade-inspired first dance with dramatic smoke drifting across the floor
- An aerialist suspended above the dance floor refilling champagne from the air
- A mariachi band grand entrance leading the couple straight into a packed dance floor
- Traditional dances and lifted chair celebrations like the Vibora De La Mar and The Hora
.
This space truly was made for the big, grand moments.
.
.
An aerialist refilling champagne mid-dance floor is exactly the kind of energy this room supports.
Adding a theatrical element like an aerialist, band, or belly dancer feels right at home in a space this grand. It doesn’t feel over the top. It feels like it belongs.
.
.
Pro tip: step inside for a private viewing before guests arrive. Take a quiet moment to soak it all in. Maybe even practice your first dance. And don’t forget to invite your photographer along to capture the moment.
.
Grand entrance featuring La Guadalajara Mariachi
.
.
Pro tip: go for the grand entrance. This room practically begs for it. You have options too. Slip through the hidden door tucked into the mural wall or make your way in through the velvety curtains for a dramatic reveal.
.
.
Pro tip: have your speakers come up close for toasts. Speeches are especially strong here when the speaker stands close to the couple instead of across the room. When you’re all in the same frame, the photos are way more dynamic, intimate, and tell the full story, reactions and all.
.
Featuring spotlighting and smoke effects by Crimson Haze
.
Planning Notes – The Ballroom
- If possible, place your sweetheart table in front of the mural wall rather than on the stage. It photographs beautifully and gives guests something rich to look at all evening.
.
- If you’re hosting your reception here, plan a true grand entrance. Enter from the curtain farthest from your table so you walk the full length of the space while everyone celebrates you. It builds energy and creates the strongest full-room images.
.
- Consider intentional lighting during ceremony. A focused spotlight or abundant candlelight can completely transform the mood of this room.
.
- If you’re bringing in performers, consider booking directly through The Ruins. They have entertainers who are experienced in this space and understand how to use it well.
.
- During dancing, keep the chandeliers dimmed instead of turning them fully off. They create depth and atmosphere (and allow me to create more fun images like this!)
.
.
.
The Speakeasy
Portrait Resets and Champagne Moments
The Speakeasy (sometimes called the Elephant Room) is ideal for short resets. Ten to fifteen minutes is usually enough.
Before sunset, natural light filters in through small windows and creates something special. After dark, it becomes moodier and dramatic.
At one wedding, the couple came straight from their church ceremony and ducked into the speakeasy for a champagne toast before joining their guests. They clinked glasses, took a few portraits, and let themselves actually pause for a moment. A quiet “we’re married and this is for real” moment before the night picked up speed.
A few minutes later, the doors opened, the mariachi band started up, and they walked straight into the ballroom for their grand entrance.
.
.
Planning Notes – The Speakeasy
- The speakeasy is an operational bar with set hours. If portraits here are important, coordinate early with The Ruins team and your photographer to ensure timing works.
- If possible, step in before sunset to take advantage of natural light. If not, it photographs beautifully either way.
- Don’t make it just about portraits. Make it a moment. Grab a cocktail or glass of champagne and set aside 10 mins to sneak away and just soak it in. Make a toast that just the two if you will remember. The best photos (and memories) come from real intention and interaction.
.
.
Work with a planner who knows
The Ruins has a lot going on. Multiple rooms. Big transitions. Performances. Lighting changes.
When it’s structured well, it feels effortless. When it’s not, it can feel chaotic fast.
I’ve worked here alongside Victoria of VEvents, and what stood out to me was how smoothly she moved the night from space to space. Guests always knew where to go. The couple never felt rushed. Big moments actually landed.
In a venue this layered, having a planner who understands how the rooms work together makes a real difference.
.
.
More Ideas & Real-Life Recommendations
Here are a few things I’ve seen work really well at The Ruins:
.
Lean Into the Vintage Feel
This venue already feels like another era. Don’t fight that.
Structured dresses. Gloves. A sharp tux. Velvet. Satin. Real candles. Jazz during cocktail hour.
When couples lean into that timeless energy, it just feel right in this space. It doesn’t need to be modernized. It already has personality.
.
Step out for a late night reset
Cigar if that’s your thing. Fresh air. The Space Needle glowing right there. Or slip into the speakeasy for a quick champagne toast.
You don’t need long portrait time here. Just small, intentional resets. Then you’re right back in it.
.
.
Be intentional with light
Lighting makes a big difference at The Ruins.
Use candlelight. Keep the chandeliers dimmed instead of turning them all the way off. Consider a focused spotlight if you’re having your ceremony in the ballroom.
This space is meant to feel a little moody. When the light is intentional, it photographs really well.
.
Hire a food truck
If you’re looking to keep the night moving and create a more relaxed, roaming reception vibe, bringing in a truck adds energy and gives guests something interactive to gather around.
.
.
The venue is layered and dynamic, but it works beautifully when you understand it. If you’re planning your wedding at the Ruins Seattle wedding venue and want someone who knows the space and shoots in a true documentary style, I’d love to connect.
.
.
And if you’re new here, Hi – I’m Jess! If you’re curious how I approach an entire wedding day, from getting ready through the last song, you can explore more on the blog. I’ve written in depth about how I work, how I move through a timeline, and what it actually looks like to document a celebration as it unfolds.
