North Cascades Elopement

This North Cascades Elopement was one for the books! Gina and Zach wanted to elope in the North Cascades for the beautiful mountain views and dramatic vistas! When we saw smoke in the forecast I was nervous they wouldn’t get to see those beautiful views. We talked through options and plan Bs, but ultimately decided it was best to go forward with the date and location we originally planned for. On the day of, we knew it was likely going to be smokey, but thankfully the visibility cleared up enough to still take in the incredible beauty of where they chose to elope. And one bonus that came with the smoke? Fewer people. In some moments it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves despite the fact that this area is easily accessible and the views attract a lot of people.

We started off the day getting ready at G & Z’s airbnb. Gina and Zach shared a first look and then we took advantage of the beautiful ferns outside of their lodging for some portraits. Then we headed up to the mountains for the rest of the day. Stacy (@outshinedelopements) officiated a beautiful ceremony and also gave G & Z room to have some privacy for their vows. After their ceremony we headed up to a rocky spot for a quick game of cribbage (something G and Z love to do together) and drinking Negronis. Then they had a first dance to Maggie Rogers (which is one of my favorite artists to joyfully dance to, so it was a great choice G & Z!). Then we headed up to another trail for some different mountain views. The smoke made Mt. Shuksan look so mysterious and it really was a unique and beautiful way to see the area! The moon even came out, so we of course got a few shots of that!

Gina and Zach enjoyed their elopement to the fullest and I’m so thankful they showed up ready to enjoy their day to the fullest without letting the weather get to them. They had an incredible day! Thank you Gina and Zach for trusting me with your day and for bringing the best* attitudes despite the conditions that were definitely not what you were expecting ❤️

Vendors:
HMU: @mstimssmakeupartist

Florals: @tangledrootsfloral

Officiant: @outshinedelopements

How the day went and a review from Gina herself:

“Sierra is fantastic, full stop! We are in awe of the work she turned around from our North Cascades elopement. Our photos look like they belong in a magazine. Beyond her status as an incredible artist and visionary, Sierra is so communicative and thoughtful. There was wildfire smoke in the area, which we ended up embracing since the air quality improved greatly day of, but had we opted to change course, she was armed with backup plans for us days in advance and was transparent about how the day might play out should the smoke not clear. Leading up to and on the day itself, Sierra truly listened to us and kept our wishes in mind as she planned out the itinerary. She was also excellent at finding spots that didn’t have too many people around, and giving us space to pause and take in the scenery as she pointed out neat things about our surroundings like the names of mountains and types of plants, all of which made the day feel like “ours” — a tough feat for what was largely a non-hiking elopement at a popular scenic area. Sierra is as kind as she is talented. You’ll feel immediately comfortable around her. If we did it all over again we’d book her in a heartbeat. 10/10!”

Your North Cascades Elopement Photographer

Hi, I’m Sierra. I’m an adventure elopement photographer based in the Pacific Northwest. I grew up in Hood River, Oregon until I moved to Seattle for college. I’ve spent the last 7 years exploring all the amazing outdoor areas around Seattle. The North Cascades holds a special place in my heart because my husband and I chose to have a backpacking elopement in the North Cascades! I know what it’s like to plan an elopement in this amazing area, so I’m here to help you with all the logistics. I’ve hiked hundreds of miles throughout Washington and I would love to help you find, plan and capture the perfect North Cascades elopement for you!