Too late to help this year, but I've found that the Pioneer Square scene has the most crowds/craziness. You also get more frat boys than I enjoy partying with, but still. The New Orleans restaurant (114 First Avenue South) always has a great band and some decent food/drink specials. It's been a decade or so since the Pioneer Square crowds got so out of hand people were severely beaten and at least one person died. It was super bad news. The ghosts of that evening still hang around, and police keep crowds from partying in the street now.

If you're just looking for a New Orleans music club ATMOSPHERE, all year round, the Highway 99 Blues Club is fantastic. http://highway99blues.com/ The vibe here is lovely. "Red House" (a local band of artists who have been doing this for years and have the chops to prove it) is always a solid choice. They've even got a Zydeco band coming next week. There are many tables and chairs, a nice dance floor to the side of the stage.

For Mardi Gras celebrations, in general, almost every bar/dance club will try to capitalize on this event (same goes for St Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo, etc). I imagine you'd find beads and masks, and maybe Hurricane drink specials, at most places.

Seattle is too Lutheran. Catholics, being the least Christian of the Christians, can throw it down like no other cult. Not enough Catholics in Seattle. Caliente-Picante Catholics, anyway. Ain't much of a mardi gras in Ireland where it's just a particularly depressing beginning to a particularly depressing month and a half.

Now excuse me while I go flagellate myself.

Here is a list of places around the state that are hosting parties tonight:

http://washingtonunitedformarriage.org/join-us-to-celebrate-history/

Lobby Bar on Capitol Hill is hosting party and are R Place, Neighbors, Diesel, Wild Rose and The Grill on Broadway.

This is not going to be the answer you are seeking, and it does not address the location you are interested in. However, as you are a new registrant here and possibly unfamiliar with Seattle history, you might want to be aware of an event in the recent past concerning this celebratory day. This might help you to understand how police might be carefully monitoring public activity to ensure the safety of citizens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Mardi_Gras_Riots

Mars Hill promotes an interesting brand of macho, misogynistic Christianity in which Jesus is depicted as an uber-manly badass, and women are encouraged to submit to their husbands in everything (pastor Mark Driscoll went so far as to claim that it's "demonic" when a woman won't put out for her husband).

Antioch Bible Church, led by Pastor Ken Hutcherson is one of the most extreme churches in the region. They HATE HATE HATE HATE the gays.

Tierras del Sol is a fantastic place, the very last "hotel" (really just a handful of rooms and a palapa) on the road before you enter the Sian Ka'an nature reserve, but they are tiny and when I checked their prices have gone WAY up since we were there.

Ana y Jose's is probably where most wedding parties head to, but they too are expensive. Really, all the hotels along the strip south from the ruins are fantastic. We saw weddings there.

Oh, wait, you said "all-inclusive". Ergh. I'm not a fan of all-inclusives, because there is so much more to Mexico than steam-table buffets. But I guess if you're going to the Tulum area it doesn't matter TOO much, since the restaurant options along the beach road are somewhat limited.

Do make an effort to get out of the bubble, though -- the puebla or town of Tulum, up on the highway (just past the turnoff to the beach road) is an interesting place to walk around. I STRONGLY recommend taking at least one organized tour, at the very minimum a visit to a couple of cenotes (freshwater swimming holes opened up when the thin limestone crust of the Yucatan caved in). We also did an amazing walk and float through the three lagoons in Sian Ka'an, arranged out of the Weary Traveler hostel in the puebla. Your hotel should also be able to set you up with something.

As I've never stayed at them, I can't recommend one, but when we went I found the forums at playa.info and tulum.info to be extremely helpful. They're the same people; playa.info is for Playa del Carmen, but gets the bulk of the Tulum discussion as well. They have a whole section for All-inclusives. Do a search for "wedding" and dig around a little. Most of the people who post there heavily are American ex-pats or frequent visitors who really know their stuff.

If you're really bored, you can read my entire "Trip Report" that I posted back in 2005, before I knew anything about anything. I don't actually get to Tulum until Page Three. There's not a lot in there that speaks to your needs, but you might laugh.

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carmen-forum/12969-where-i-went-holiday-trip-report.html

Even if this comes off as a "flash mob" for a couple of group photos, you've got some great ideas.

I'd like to see something get planned. You've got about two months to pull this together.

There is an amusement park between Seattle and Tacoma ( it's got roller coasters and a water park) if you're driving from Seattle to Tacoma it's on the left side of the freeway. Don't know if it's open this time of year, but it's the only one I've seen in the area.

Jenny gave you a good list. Here are a couple more to add:

Shaffer Baillie Mansion
Fred Wildlife Refuge
Spring Street Center

Don't know the price at all, but I attended a wedding at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Food and toasts in the main entrance, dancing & ceremony in the lower level/basement area. Catering by Seattle Art Museum ONLY - for art safety reasons.

Guests were able to walk around all the public areas to view the art.

I"m not sure what your budget is, but there are a handful of great venues on the hill:

Sole Repair
Pravda Studios
Century Ballroom
Melrose Market
Seattle Asian Art Museum
DAR Rainier Chapter House

I went to a wedding reception that was catered by Rancho Bravo about a year ago. The wedding and reception were both outdoors and they did actually bring park the taco truck at the party, which was fun. I understand it was pretty affordable compared to more traditional catering, too.

The lines were a bit long, but they moved really quickly so I wasn't bothered by it. This was a very small wedding, though. I don't think the truck would work if you had a ton of people.

We used a song to walk to that meant alot to both of us. there is no need to choose anything that doesnt mean something to you and your fiancee, the tradition stuff is just bullshit.

One word: AQUANET!

I'm only kidding. I was a teen in the 1980's so I felt compelled to say that. It is remarkable any of the girls from then made it out of the girls' bathroom at school alive!

Just wanted to provide a little comic relief. :)

Unlike the other answers, I am not familiar with the different parts of the ceremony itself, but I would recommend the following songs in general for mushy feelings -

David Bowie - "Be My Wife"
Sparks - "Marry Me"
Magnetic Fields - "The Book of Love" (I personally would play "Take Ecstacy with Me")
Phyllis Dillon - "Don't Stay Away" (it is about unrequited love, but it is s beautiful song and the sentiment is sweet)
Betty Wright, "Just You"
Sugar Pie Desanto - "I Love You So Much"
Willie Nelson, "Can I Sleep In Your Arms"
Little Willie John, "Need Your Love So Bad"
Lefty Frizzell, "I Love You a Thousand Ways"
Solomon Burke, "I'm Hanging Up My Heart for You" (he will stop his slipping around for you)
Dusty Springfield, "Make It With You"

Some of my good friends used El Camion for their wedding and it went really well. The food was delicious and everyone loved it! I know they had to call them a few times in the beginning to get it set up, but the day of the wedding there were no problems and it was really cheap.

They didn't roll up with the taco truck, though. It was served buffet style.

http://www.elcamionseattle.com/El_Camion/Home.html

Most food trucks aren't used to handling large parties where everyone must be fed at the same time. Lines can quickly get backed up if the food is made to order and guests become frustrated. They're better used as late night snack options (party people love taquitos!) instead of dinner. If you do find one that will take this large of an event, make sure it has experience and check references.

An alternate option is to have your caterer set up a taco bar with fresh grilled meat and all the fixins.

A round of tequila shots for the table, please.

In additional to the products listed in the other comments, I'd definitely recommend picking up a bottle of Ben Nye's Final Seal to set your makeup. You can get a small bottle for about $6 at most costume/party supply shops. You just spritz it on over your completed makeup and it'll set everything and keep it matte for hours.

I like the Tyee Yacht Club on Lake Union. Their caterer is tops, too. I have been to several receptions there - the view is great, the staff is pleasant, and the space is intimate. Parking is a little less generous, but no worse than any other Lake Union venue (Lake Union Cafe, Skansonia).

I agree that the song should represent you as a couple, but as that song is usually saved for the first dance, I would pick something else that suits the mood you want to create for your wedding. If you are looking for a more reverent and romantic ceremony, pick something that for the two of you conveys that tone. If you more in to a casual, breezy ceremony, choose something that falls in to those lines. I am a huge fan of "non-traditional" songs for processionals because they really personalize the wedding, but they can be slow, sultry, or somber OR upbeat, funky, toe-tappers that everyone knows... whatever you think represents your wedding to each other - and it doesn't have to be a song you've loved together for years - it can just be one you land on that you agree suits your marriage :)

I think it should represent the couple rather than just one of you. The first dance (if you do one) should be the song you two consider to be your song and the walking down the aisle song should be something you pick together that kind of shows the world who you are--whether it's Pachalbel's Canon or the theme from Star Wars or whatever it is that represents the two of you.

I made my own. I picked out a headband-style tiara I liked with a pretty jeweled, wiry design. I think I just got it at David's Bridal.

Then I went to the Galleria/Special Occasion fabric section of Pacific Fabrics (near Northgate, http://www.pacificfabrics.com/locations/4/), bought a few yards of a pretty white gauze, grabbed the center of the fabric, and just whip-stitched it to the tiara.

Turned out great, and was super-easy to do.

Marconia,

Congratulations on finding your perfect Dress!! There is the MOST amazing woman - Debbie Turnbull - she would be a great person to talk to. She makes all different styles of veils and will make sure it goes perfectly with your dress.

Here is her email :: turnbulls@verizon.net

Also - if you want to check out Bravo Bride - they are the craigslist for weddings & have a buy/borrow/share program, it will help you save money and get some fun ideas! http://www.bravobride.com/

Best luck on finding the perfect veil!

Ouch My Eye Gallery in Sodo.

I had my wedding dress made:

http://itsmarkmitchell.com/

He did a great job for me, and I would recommend him to anyone. Every person asked where I got my dress (1920s inspired, black and champagne colored) and I got to tell them I had it made and designed for me! I would totally wear it again, and it was stunning.

He may not be in your style (best to talk with him) or he may be busy, but figured I'd link him cause he is amazing.