Elopement Chapel & Small Wedding Venue in Tacoma, Washington
Wed Small. LOVE BIG.
Have a beautiful, meaningful wedding without months of planning or the big-wedding price tag. Choose a simple package, bring your favorite people, and we’ll take care of the details so you can focus on each other.
Maybe you don’t want a ballroom, or a year of planning or a guest list filled with people you barely know. You just want to marry your person in a cheerful space with the people that matter most.
This is what Elope 253 was built for.
We combine the ease of a courthouse wedding with the warmth of a private ceremony. Our downtown Tacoma chapel is decorated, the officiant and ceremony are ready, and the flow of the day has already been thoughtfully planned.
You choose a package, bring your people, and show up ready to get married. We’ll guide you through the rest.
Because simple can still feel personal.
And small can still feel like a very big deal.
A decorated, inclusive downtown Tacoma Chapel
An experienced officiant and meaningful ceremony
Marriage-license signing and filing
Package options with photography, flowers, treats and livestream options
A Wedding That Feels Like You Without Planning Every Detail
Is Elope 253 Right For You?
Elope 253 is a great fit for couples who want a real wedding day without turning it into a major production.
Our packages are thoughtfully prepared rather than endlessly customizable. That is intentional.
Fewer decisions mean less stress and more room to laugh, breathe, and take in what is happening.
If you want to invite a small group, trust an experienced team, and keep the focus on the ceremony, you will probably feel right at home here.
If you are hoping to recreate a large, traditional wedding in miniature, we may not be the right fit. But if you want a warm, joyful wedding that is beautifully uncomplicated, welcome.
Why Couples Choose Small Weddings
A small wedding is not simply a scaled-down version of a big wedding.
It is a different choice—one that lets you keep what matters and let go of what doesn’t.
You are more excited to be married than to plan a wedding.
You want your favorite people there—not a room full of obligations.
You want a beautiful ceremony without a year of decisions.
You would rather spend thoughtfully than build one very expensive day.
You want to feel present, relaxed, and genuinely happy.
You want a Tacoma wedding venue that is already prepared and ready to welcome you.
At Elope 253, small is not the compromise ~ Small is the whole point.
Popular Wedding & Elopement Resources
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![Couple kissing in a green garden after getting married in Washington State]()
How to Get Married in Washington
A simple guide to Washington marriage licenses, witnesses, waiting periods, and what you need to make your marriage legal.
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![A couple eloping in Tacoma and walking in front of the 11th Street bridge for photos]()
What is an Elopement?
Modern elopements can include guests, photographs, traditions, and a real celebration. Here is what eloping means today.
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![Couple celebrating their small wedding ceremony inside Elope 253’s Tacoma chapel]()
Elope 253's Tacoma Wedding Chapel
Take a look inside our decorated downtown Tacoma chapel for elopements and small weddings with up to 16 guests.
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![Tacoma waterfront view for small wedding reception restaurant ideas after an elopement]()
10 Tacoma Restaurants for a Small Wedding Reception
Local places for brunch, dinner, drinks, or a small reception after your Elope 253 ceremony.
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![LGBTQ couple by Elope 253’s yellow doors for wedding song playlist inspiration]()
Wedding Love Song Playlists
Processional, recessional, and wedding-song ideas for every kind of couple and every kind of celebration.
Real Little Weddings. Really BIG Feelings!
The chapel may already be ready, but every wedding is still its own.
Your people. Your style. Your laughter, nerves, happy tears, and all the little moments in between.
That is what makes the day feel like you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Every Elope 253 package includes an ordained officiant and a meaningful wedding ceremony.
We will guide you through the ceremony, sign your completed Washington marriage license, and file it after the wedding.
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We love last-minute elopements.
If you already have a valid Washington marriage license and we have an opening, we may be able to marry you right away—even on the same day.
If you still need to obtain your license, Washington requires a three-day waiting period before the ceremony.
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The "Just Elope" package #1 was created to be the simplest and easiest weddings we offer; similar to a court house wedding. This smaller package is available Sunday through Fridays.
We save Saturdays for our elopements that need a little more time and have a few more guests.
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Booking is easy! Simply fill out our contact form and our team will let you know ASAP if your date is available. Then we’ll send you customized proposal that you can review together and book right online if it feels like a good fit.
To secure your date and time, sign the provided contract and make your non-refundable 50% retainer payment online. The remaining 50% payment is due 2 weeks prior to your elopement.
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Absolutely!
Our packages include a Zoom livestream, and you may invite up to 100 virtual guests to watch your ceremony live.
Still have questions?
Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
More than 1,300 couples have trusted us with their wedding day.
Here is what a few of them had to say about getting married at Elope 253.