Hidden Gems: The Corson Building Revisited

This is a repost from 2017, revised to highlight some of the changes and improvements that the Corson Building has made in the ensuing years. But one thing that hasn't changed is the quality of the experience you will enjoy at this exceptional venue.

The Corson Building is one of our very favorite places. It has an intimate, rustic French Provincial vibe in an urban setting, right in the heart of of Seattle's Georgetown district, for an overall effect which can perhaps best be described as "gritty French Provincial". Your hosts, the husband and wife team of Matt Dann and Emily Crawford, make magic working together to create your dream event. They are assisted by event coordinator Angela Lopez, who is most folks' first contact and is absolutely the best in the business at keeping everything running like a fine Swiss timepiece.

The building itself was originally built as a private home in 1926 (yes, it's turning 100 this year!!) and while the city (of Georgetown) grew up around it, its elegant vibe has survived. You walk into a beautiful garden through iron gates. Picture a waiter standing with a tray of champagne flutes to greet your guests as they wander through brick pathways of beautiful formal gardens. To your left is the south patio where most couples choose to have their wedding ceremony, an intimate, triangular space where a bar is set up for your guests to enjoy as the music floats through the air, with sounds of the urban environment in the background, while you are preparing for your special ceremony upstairs. This venue provides enough chairs for all your guests, although some may choose to stand, informally absorbing the beauty of the gardens and the historic building. The inside of the building is breathtaking and romantic! It feels like you have picked up your whole wedding party and transported them to the French countryside. In fact, at a recent wedding we did there, the bride, was, in fact, from France... C'est la vie!

After the ceremony, your guests will most likely migrate. If you have a small wedding, the indoor capacity can handle 32 guests year round, and up to 80 guests during warmer months by extending the celebration onto the covered north patio. This area has been improved in recent years by adding transparent PVC rollups around the perimeter, keeping guests out of the wind and rain should the weather turn foul, and creating a "hothouse" effect, which only adds to the intimacy. After dinner, everyone usually returns to the south patio for dancing, cake cutting and toasts. Since 2022, improvements to the grounds also include a superstructure over the south patio, which renders it weatherproof, and a full brick tile floor replacing what had been a lawn, improving the overall quality of the experience, both by allowing a full complement of chairs to be set up for wedding ceremonies, but also eliminating the need to have a dance floor installed between your ceremony and your dance party. "Out on the tiles!" I've been known to declare when folks return for the dance party.

Well, as if the venue itself isn’t enough to convince you, lets talk about the food, as this is where they really excel! You will be treated to culinary delights from beginning to end-- I would normally not dive right into the salad, but in this case we should! Emily is a salad aficionado par excellence! (notice how I used French to describe her level of expertise). I had a hard time moving on to dinner because the salad was so tasty. And it makes it even more special that the ingredients are sourced from their own farm on Vashon Island and their friends’ farms in the surrounding areas. Your dining experience will be utter perfection from the exquisite hors d'oeuvres through dessert. Emily and Matt and their amazing staff work with each client to create a perfect menu; they even place quaint, hand written notecard menus on each plate. Here is a sample of one from their website: Pork Rillettes with Apricots, Cherries, pickled Red Onions & Sourdough, A Salad of Lettuces, Fennel, Radish, Pistachios & Parmigiano, Smoked Mussels, Peas Sungolds & Cucumbers, Roasted Black Cod with Morels & Creamed Spinach, Grilled Hanger Steaks & Braised Brisket with Grilled Onions & Tomatoes, New Potatoes, Kale & Yogurt, Peach Crostada with Vanilla Ice Cream! If you would like to sample their delicious offerings, they provide different special cuisines throughout the week. Check their website for days and times. You will not be disappointed! http://www.thecorsonbuilding.com/reservations

IF YOU WANT A ROMANTIC FEELING VENUE, THIS COULD BE THE PLACE FOR YOU!

RESERVE: events@thecorsonbuilding.com

The Corson Building, 5609 Corson Ave. So, Seattle, WA 98108,

206-762-3330