Seattle Sets World Record for LGBTQIA+ Vow Renewals Aboard ‘Love For All Boat’

56 couples gather in Seattle to retie the knot, as city celebrates 50th anniversary of Pride 

SEATTLE – As Pride season ramps up, Seattle reaffirms its commitment as a destination that celebrates LGBTQIA+ love and belonging, year-round. Visit Seattle  – the destination marketing organization for Seattle and King County – welcomed LGBTQIA+ couples from all over for a vow renewal extravaganza aboard one of Argosy’s famed cruising ships. Dubbed the Love For All Boat, the vessel hosted 56 LGBTQIA+ vow renewals during the May 30 celebration, setting a new world record. RuPaul’s Drag Race icon and Seattleite BenDeLaCreme emceed the festivities, with Justice Mary Yu officiating the ceremony. Proceeds from the event benefitted the GSBA Scholarship Fund, which supports LGBTQIA+ and allied students residing in Washington state.

More visuals can be downloaded here (credit: Ventrait/ Visit Seattle) 

“There is something magical about celebrating LGBTQIA+ love through a shared experience like this – knowing that Seattle, and this occasion, will have a lasting spot in the stories of so many couples is something our organization will always treasure,” said Michael Woody, who participated in the vow renewal with his husband of three years, Kevin, and is chief communications officer for Visit Seattle. “This experience was about our city proudly affirming its vow to the LGBTQIA+ community as a place that they can always feel welcome to love openly and be their authentic selves.” 

To honor the occasion and the city’s commitment to inclusivity, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell declared May 30 as Love For All Day in Seattle. The announcement was made aboard the boat by Deputy Mayor Greg Wong. Several iconic city landmarks lit up for the occasion, including Seattle Great Wheel, T-Mobile Park, Lumen Field, Rainier Square, 1201 Third Ave, and Seattle Convention Center’s Arch building.  

“It is a privilege to proclaim May 30 as Love For All Day in Seattle,” said Mayor Bruce Harrell. “We honor LGBTQIA+ love in Seattle, and we are proud to be a place where residents and visitors alike can celebrate who they are, and who they love, with the support of the community. Seattleites have a strong history of uplifting their LGBTQIA+ neighbors, leading the country when it comes to both rights work and Pride celebrations. Congratulations to the couples renewing their vows on the Love For All Boat, and to Seattle Pride on 50 wonderful years.” 

The celebration was aboard Argosy Cruises’ Salish Explorer, which was decked out for the occasion. The vessel traveled around the Puget Sound at sunset – treating attendees to views of the Olympic Mountains and Seattle’s lit up skyline. Passengers enjoyed Pacific Northwest cuisine and Washington wines, among other Seattle touches. Event emcee BenDeLaCreme (of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 and RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 3) treated the guests to one of her iconic performances and led a celebratory cake cutting.  

At the pinnacle of the evening, Justice Mary Yu, Washington’s first openly gay Asian American and Latina justice led a vow renewal ceremony for 56 couples, which was declared a world record by RecordSetter. Among the attendees she led through the vow renewal were Sara and Emily Cofer, the very first couple she married in 2012 (and Washington’s first same-sex couple to legally wed).  

Visit Seattle worked with 13 of its hotel partners to create special packages to welcome couples in for the occasion. Couples who stayed in one of the participating hotels received free admission to the event.  

The Love For All Boat experience carries on Visit Seattle’s proud legacy of creating destination marketing campaigns that are inclusive to and honor the LGBTQIA+ community. This year will mark the tenth anniversary of the organization’s landmark ‘Marry Me in Seattle’ campaign. Developed to celebrate the passage of marriage equality in Washington state, Visit Seattle hosted four Seattle dream weddings for LGBTQIA+ couples from out of state. One of those couples, Zac and Sam Baker, ended up falling in love with Seattle and moved to the city following their dream wedding. They were also one of the couples who participated in the vow renewal ceremony.   

Seattle is home to one of the largest LGBTQIA+ populations in the country, with 17% of adults in the Seattle Metro Area identifying as community members according to Census Data. The Love For All Boat leads into a number of celebrations that will be happening around the city for the 50th anniversary of Pride in Seattle. The theme for the celebration is Now! — in honor of the original rallying cry for gay rights and queer visibility. 

People looking to experience Pride and Seattle’s vibrant LGBTQIA+ culture can enjoy LGBTQIA+ Pride-themed packages from several Seattle area hotels, with benefits ranging from free room upgrades and dining credits to romantic extras, like spa coupons and in-room chocolate and bubbly. 

More info on Pride-related events in Seattle can be found below and at Visit Seattle’s Pride page: 

• Seattle Pride 
• PRIDEFEST 
• TransPride Seattle 
• Queer Pride Festival 
• White Center Pride 
• Fairmont Pride Drag Brunch  
• GSBA Events 

More info on Seattle’s LGBTQIA+ Community: 

• Intentionalist directory of Seattle’s LGBTQIA+-owned businesses 
• Visit Seattle’s LGBTQIA+ Guide 
• Educational Booklets | PFLAG Seattle 
• Community Resources | Seattle’s LGBTQ+ Center 
• LGBTQ Youth Resources — Lambert House  
• weSEAlove campaign celebrating LGBTQIA+ stories  

About Visit Seattle:
Visit Seattle has served as the official destination marketing organization (DMO) for Seattle and King County for more than 50 years. A 501(c)(6) organization, Visit Seattle enhances the economic prosperity of the region through global destination branding along with competitive programs and campaigns in leisure travel marketing, convention sales and overseas tourism development. Visit visitseattle.org.

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