How to Elope in Washington State
How to Elope in Washington State
Pick a general time of year (spring, summer, fall, winter), but be aware that the time of year does impact where you can go in the state.
Choose an elopement photographer that really knows the state and what it has to offer and work together to find a date that works best for what you’re looking for. Dates matter a lot in Washington State. It can make all the difference between having a snow covered trail, wild flowers, fall colors, etc.
Work with your photographer to find the perfect location(s), vendors, etc
Get your marriage license and make a plan for your ceremony
When and Where to Elope in Washington State
Washington is gorgeous all year round, however the best time to elope in Washington State is in the summer and fall. Unless you’re really wanting snow, I highly recommend going with a date that has the best chance of good weather and warm temperatures. Trust me, it’s hard to have fun during your elopement if you’re freezing your butt off. I could write pages and pages about the best times to elope in specific locations and what the weather is like, but to keep things simple below are some general tips based of Washington’s most popular elopement locations.
Mt. Rainier National Park is probably Washington’s most popular and well known National Park. Mt. Rainier or Tahoma (her original native name) is huge and majestic. There’s really no angle of Mt. Rainier/Tahoma that isn’t absolutely breathtaking. This national park features the main mountain view, alpine meadows, wildflowers, distant jagged peaks, old growth trees, rivers, lakes, fire towers, berries, and so much more!
Best Times to Elope at Mt. Rainier NP
Mid-July through Mid-October
Mid July: Intermittent snow on trails, certain trails may not be accessible yet. Lowest risk of wildfire smoke
August: The perfect month— warmer temps, wildflowers galore! Low risk of wildfire smoke
September: The it’s a toss up month— sometimes it’s really nice, sometimes it’s smokey from fires, sometimes it’s rainy/snowing and freezing. Medium-high risk of wildfire smoke—just depends on the year and wind patterns.
Mid-October: Fall colors, higher possibility of snow and rain, but it can also be really lovely and extremely beautiful! Medium risk of wildfire smoke.
Olympic National Park is extremely unique! There aren’t not many places in the world that offer beautiful mountain peaks, temperate rainforests, large lakes, hot springs, waterfalls, and rugged coastal beaches all within a few hours of each other. Olympic National Park is also an amazing option for those who want to elope in Washington during the off season.While Mount Rainier National Park and the North Cascades National Park are less accessible in winter, the Olympics still offer beautiful and accessible locations for winter and spring elopements. The Olympics have a lot of popular locations that are stunning, but it’s not very difficult to venture away from the crowds and get some solitude.
Best Times to Elope in Olympic National Park
June through October
June: Intermittent snow in the mountains, can be warm or chilly
July: Nearly all mountain trails become accessible, usually warmer weather, but the mountains can always be chilly, some wildflowers (not as plentiful as Mt. Rainier)
August: Warmer temps, a beautiful month! I don’t typically book a lot of Olympic NP elopements in August, because it’s the best month to be in Mt. Rainier and the North Cascades. Towards the end of August the mountain areas start to look more dry and less green.
September: The beginning of September is usually pretty nice still. The mountain areas and meadows are very dry and brown. Mid-September and on you may see rain and colder temps. Medium-high risk of wildfire smoke—just depends on the year and wind patterns on any particular day.
Mid-October: Some Fall colors, higher possibility of rain and cold temps, but it can also be really lovely and extremely beautiful! Medium risk of wildfire smoke.
The areas surrounding Mt. Baker has some of the most incredible panoramic views in Washington State. From alpine lakes, to views of Mt. Shuksan, to fire lookouts, mountain goats, rugged peaks, and so much more! The North Cascades and Mt. Baker area is one of my all time favorites for elopements.
While there are some incredible places to elope in North Cascades National Park, it’s a lot more regulated and harder to get permits in that area. The North Cascades above the National Park are just as beautiful if not more beautiful, more accessible, and even allow dogs! It’s an amazing place to have guests join you for your elopement because there are several very accessible areas that make for a great ceremony location and then you can venture off on your own to another location for an adventure with just the two of you. This is another favorite for my sunrise and sunset or 2 day package because you can visit two very unique areas at the best times of day.
Best Times to Elope in the North Cascades/Mt. Baker Area
August through Early October
August: The perfect month— minimal snow, warmer temps, wildflowers in certain areas! Low risk of wildfire smoke
September: The it’s a toss up month— sometimes it’s really nice, sometimes it’s smokey from fires, once mid- September hits you often see rainy/foggy days. It can get very* cold in the mountains, especially if it’s windy too. End of Sept. you usually start to see fall colors! Medium-high risk of wildfire smoke—just depends on the year and wind patterns.
Early to Mid October: Fall colors, high possibility of snow and rain, but it can be extremely beautiful! low/Medium risk of wildfire smoke. You have to be prepared with backup locations in case roads/trail close.
Other Washington Elopement Locations to Consider
How To Make Your Washington Elopement Legal
Marriage License: You need to apply for a marriage license within 3-60 days of your date. You can apply anywhere in the state of Washington regardless of where in Washington you decide to elope. I like using King County’s site, because it is well organized and you can apply online.
Officiant: You are required to have an officiant to officially declare you married. If you have guests coming, it’s easy for one of them to get ordained so they can officiate. If you’re having a “just us” elopement, but you really want someone to walk you through your ceremony then you can hire an officiant. There are some awesome officiants who are willing to hike with you or even wake up 2 am so they can officiate your sunrise ceremony! More often than not, my couples have me officiate (yes, I’m ordained!). I give my couples space to walk through their own ceremony and then I say the legal words to make it official!
Witnesses: Washington State requires you to have two witnesses to become legally married. If you don’t want to have guests come with you, it’s usually easy to find people on the trail to sign as witness! It can be a really fun part of the day and a way to connect with other folks!
And that’s it! You’ll fill out your marriage license and send it back in to make everything official!
Your Washington state Elopement Photographer
I’m an elopement photographer based out of my campervan with my videographer husband (yes, we offer elopement videos!), Garrett, and our pup, Oso! I help down to earth couples plan and photograph epic elopements all over Washington State. We’ve both spent the last 8 years in the Seattle area and we absolutely love exploring all that this beautiful state has to offer.
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 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.
