Washington Adventure Elopement Guide
Are you Considering a Washington Adventure elopement?
Washington has so many AMAZING locations for an adventure elopement or intimate wedding. From incredible granite peaks in the North Cascades to the rugged beaches of the Olympic Washington Coastline you cannot go wrong eloping in this state! Do you want to stay and elope in a cute Airbnb like this charming A-frame elopement right by Mt. Rainier? Or would you rather a backpacking elopement in a fire lookout? How about a Washington desert and sand dune elopement? Washington truly has it all and I believe there is a perfect elopement location for every couple.
Where and When should you have your Washington Elopement?
Winter Washington Elopements (Nov-Mar)
Most of the iconic mountain spots for eloping in Washington are off limits during the winter months, but don’t get me wrong you still have some great options!
If you’re down for some snow shoeing (or skiing) you can find beautiful Washington elopement locations within 1-3 hours. Places like Picture Lake at Mt. Baker, Gold Creek Pond and Franklin Falls on Snoqualmie Pass, and Paradise on Mt. Rainier offer beautiful snow covered elopement locations.
If you want to avoid the snow, you can stick to lower elevation locations, like Rattlesnake Lake on the i90 Corridor, which is just 30-40 minutes outside of Seattle. One of the most popular locations for a winter elopement is on the Olympic coastline. If you’re willing to brave the cold and possible rain, places like Ruby Beach and the Hoh Rainforest make for stunning elopement locations! Check out this Ruby Beach Elopement for reference! Another great option is to head to Central Washington, where you have a beautiful Washington desert elopement and you can often score a sunny day when it might be raining everywhere else.
There are plenty of other lesser-known areas that make for great winter elopement locations as well. Part of my elopement packages includes location scouting assistance, where I help you find a location that works for you and your partner’s vision! If you are wanting a romantic and beautiful winter elopement we can definitely make it happen!
Spring Washington Elopements (April-June)
Spring Elopements can be incredibly unpredictable in Washington! You might get 70 degree sunny evenings or you might get rain and lower 40 degree weather. The high alpine mountains are often still covered in snow, so your elopement options are pretty similar to the winter options discussed above! The benefit of eloping in Spring instead of Winter is the higher likelihood of better weather and the closer you get to June, the better chance you will have less snow on trails!
Summer Washington Elopements (July-early September)
Okay, this is Washington’s sweet spot for adventure elopements! Think high alpine lakes, fields of colorful wildflowers, mountain lookouts, epic backpacking trails, mountain goats, and so much more. Most of trails have opened up and you will have minimal snow to travel through. Places like Artist Point, near Mt. Baker and Sunrise at Mt. Rainier are now open! If you’re wanting epic mountain views, whether it be at places like Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics or the lesser traveled Mount St. Helens, this is the time to elope in Washington! You’ll be treated with beautiful wild flowers and a higher likelihood of clear mountain views!
You truly have so many options throughout the entire state of Washington!
Fall Washington Elopements (Mid-September - Early Nov)
Think fall foliage with beautiful orange, reds, and yellows! Fall elopements in Washington can be incredibly beautiful, but they are also unpredictable. Depending on the year fall can quickly be turned into a full blown early winter in the mountains. If you plan a Fall elopement in high alpine areas it is smart to have a backup location and be prepared for unpredictable weather! That being said, you still have so many beautiful options! Places like Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, the Olympics, and Mount St. Helens are often still open and if they end up closing early, you can still find lower elevation areas close by!
Meet Your Washington Adventure Elopement Photographer
Hey, I’m Sierra. I’m an elopement photographer, engineer, wife, animal lover, outdoor enthusiast, and occasional camper-van converter based in Seattle, WA. I’ve spent the last 8 years exploring the outdoors surrounding Seattle, so I can definitely help you find the perfect location that meets your elopement day needs!
But I’m not just a photographer. I’m your sounding board for dreaming up your perfect day, I’m your logistics planner, windblown hair fixer, tie adjuster, and so much more.
I’m an adventurer through and through and I’m here to help guide you through the process of planning and executing whatever day you and your partner dream up. From the moment you book me as your photographer I am there for you to help create an experience that you will remember and cherish.
My goal and hope is that by the time your wedding day comes along we already feel like close friends.