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Snoqualmie Falls is one of Washington’s greatest gems, serving up some of the most beautiful and iconic views you’ll find across the state (and that’s saying a LOT, considering how many incredible places we have available to us!). Rich greenery, gorgeous hikes, cozy lodges, rocky outlooks, and a nearly 300-foot waterfall? What more could you want for your adventure elopement in the great state of Washington? 😉 This guide will dive deep into all the key information you need to know in order to plan an epic Snoqualmie Falls elopement, including the best time of year to elope, trail tips, what to wear, and how to access the falls. Happy waterfall chasin’!

Where is Snoqualmie Falls?

Snoqualmie Falls is one of the top attractions in the state, located just under 30 miles east of Seattle, on the Snoqualmie River. It’s super easy to get from Seattle to the falls, just following I-90 E essentially all the way to exit 25 toward Snoqualmie! If you’re coming in from out of state, you can fly into SeaTac and stay anywhere in the Seattle area, though the Snoqualmie area does have quite a few beautiful lodges and Airbnbs—but more on that later!

Now, it’s important to note that there are multiple different areas you can visit at Snoqualmie Falls: there’s the main viewing area, which is open from dawn till dusk and is free to visit, and then there’s the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater & Family Park. The latter is what I’ll be talking about for the majority of this guide, as it’s the best spot in the area for your elopement; however, know that the general viewing area is also absolutely beautiful and definitely a worthwhile spot to visit on your elopement day if you’re driving by!

Why You Should Elope at Snoqualmie Falls

This breathtaking waterfall has easily made its way to the top of my list of the best Washington elopement locations for MANY reasons—the main one being the scenery, of course. Over 1.5 million visitors come to the falls each year, and fortunately it’s very easily-accessible, so the majority of folks can quickly + easily get to witness the beautiful views they came here for! Snoqualmie Falls has a completely free parking lot and viewing area, meaning that as long as you’re able to find a parking spot, you can visit the falls any time of day without paying a dime. A huge pro of this location is that it’s got multiple ADA-accessible paths, and the distance from the parking lot to the viewing platform is wheelchair-accessible—so it’s a great place to visit if you have any children with you who won’t want to go on a long hike, or you/your guests have mobility restrictions. 

While the main viewing area is gorgeous on its own, the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater & Family Park is the area I’d recommend visiting for your elopement. You do need to be a member in order to access the falls like this, but once you are a member (which costs $125 annually), you get a TON of benefits including exclusive 24/7 access to the private property, the ability to rent the venue for your wedding, access to 13 private campsites, access to multiple private hiking trails throughout the park, and unbeatable views of Snoqualmie Falls. It’s also a fantastic place to go stargazing, so we could stay out past dark and do a little night-sky viewing if you wanted to get some epic stargazing photos 🙂

Note that dogs are welcome in both areas as long as they are leashed, so feel free to bring the four-legged members of your family along!

Aside from the stunning views, Snoqualmie Falls is also just SO close to Seattle. You can easily elope at the falls and drive back to the city for a night out on the town, or vice-versa; spend some time in the city, then head to the falls and stay in a cozy lodge in the woods. Whatever your dream elopement itinerary may look like, you have easy access to both the big city and all the natural beauty that the Snoqualmie area has to offer.

One final fun fact: did you know that Snoqualmie Falls was featured in the opening credits of Twin Peaks way back when? In fact, many parts of the TV series were actually filmed in Snoqualmie, North Bend, and Fall City!

Want to see what your elopement at the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater could look like? Rachel and Riley had an unforgettable wedding weekend in the area, starting with a celebration at the theater itself and then an adventure session at the falls the next day.

Important Things to Know About Hiking Snoqualmie Falls

The first thing to know about hiking Snoqualmie Falls is that, like I mentioned previously, you need to be a member to access the falls—and I am! While you can definitely get some great portraits at the general viewing area, there are often a ton of tourists there also trying to get photos, and the viewing platforms don’t have a ton of room. That’s why I recommend eloping at the forest theater & family park area instead; you get unrestricted access to the property year-round, and then you can either view the falls from the base or take a short walk from your car to an overlook. You can even hike directly to the falls, close enough to feel the mist blowing around you, and that’s where I’ll typically bring my couples!

There are actually a variety of trails in the park and neighboring property that you can choose from besides the Lower Trail that ends at the base of the falls, including an Overlook Trail with a distant view of the falls, as well as a Theatre Trail that takes you a short distance down to the forest theater itself. Most of the walk to the base of the falls is very flat and easy, but it does get a bit steep heading down to the falls in the last few minutes from the viewpoint. It can get quite muddy if there’s been rain, so great shoes are a must if you plan on climbing up on any rocks or logs to get close to the falls! The terrain is pretty uneven and will require balance and good tread if it’s slippery, so keep that in mind and make sure you only do what you’re comfortable with + prepared to do safely with proper footwear/gear. 

Venue Info: Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater

You have a couple of options when it comes to using the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater property: you can either use it simply to take portraits at the falls on your elopement day, or you can actually host your entire elopement/intimate wedding there! If you’re interested in using the venue for your whole celebration, this section will be going over all the most important info about getting married at Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater.

Membership info

Like I’ve mentioned already, only members are allowed to use the property as well as rent it for private events such as weddings! I myself am a member, but you’ll also need to become one if you want to take any elopement portraits on the property or rent it out for your wedding.

  1. Fill out the membership application at the bottom of this page
  2. Pay the $125 annual membership fee
  3. Allow up to four weeks for your membership to be approved
  4. Wait for your gate access card to be mailed to you
  5. Purchase any additional access cards here

Once you’ve got your membership and gate access card, you’ll be all set to visit the property and request a rental for your elopement or wedding!

Available ceremony & reception venues

The main facility at the park available to be rented for weddings is the open-air theater, which is a beautiful spot in the forest that includes bench seating, a stage area, and plenty of space to set up & decorate for your ceremony. There are also a variety of hiking trails and dreamy woodland spots you can explore for your portraits, including the falls area, of course!

Rental information

Guests: Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater & Family Park can host weddings of up to 350 people total.

Dates: The facilities at the forest theater can be rented out on the weekends when there are no other events planned, but keep in mind that you can’t rent the facilities in August as that’s their busy theater season!

Decor: Decorations are allowed as long as you bring them yourself, set them up, and clean them up at the end of the day! No open flames, tiki torches, candles, or sparklers are allowed, and you’re not allowed to decorate the access gate with any balloons/signage.

Venue access: If you’re getting married on a Saturday, you’ll be given time to set up on Friday and clean up on Sunday—so you won’t have to add in setup and cleanup time the day of, which is a huge relief. 

Timing: The entrance gate to the property will be open up to 2 hours before the start of your wedding, and can stay open for up to 8 hours. But don’t worry—even if your guests stay after that time is up, they’ll still be able to exit by simply driving up to the gate!

Rates: The forest theater has a full rate breakdown here, where you can find fees for using the property, damage deposits, and more. For reference, renting the venue for an elopement or small wedding of up to 25 people will cost you around $1,000.

Best Time to Elope at Snoqualmie Falls

When is the best time of year to elope at Snoqualmie Falls?

Spring is definitely the best time of year to elope at Snoqualmie Falls, since that’s when the runoff from the mountains is at its most, and the flow is strongest! The weather will be warming up from March-May as well, so it’s usually a great time frame for hiking and starting to venture outdoors after a few long winter months! Winter gets even higher water due to the rain, but it’s pretty chilly and isn’t very pleasant to hike to the falls. 

The weather is at its warmest & sunniest during the summer, from around June through September, but the water is much less intense and won’t be flowing over the granite rocks like you’ve seen in all the pictures.

As far as weddings go at Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater, you can rent the venue facilities on the weekends as long as there aren’t any theater events going on—keeping in mind that no rentals are available due in August since that’s their theater season. 

Want some more insight into when you should elope at certain locations in the Pacific Northwest? Head over to my guide to When to Elope in the PNW + Best Locations by Season!

When is the best time of day to elope at Snoqualmie Falls?

You technically could elope at any time of day since your membership grants you 24/7 access to the property, but I would say the best time lighting-wise is the late afternoon going into sunset. This is when you’ll get the rainbows at the falls, and sunset lighting is so beautiful! Plus, you might even get a really dreamy alpenglow if you’re lucky. Sunrise is also amazing at the falls, but the sunlight does get pretty harsh once the sun is up and can cast some wonky shadows around the park.

No matter what time of day you elope, the most important thing is to try and go on a weekday if possible. The area tends to get super duper busy on weekends, especially if it’s nice out and all the Seattle-ites are trying to bask in the sunshine! 

What to Wear for Your Snoqualmie Falls Elopement

As I briefly mentioned earlier in this guide, it’s going to be crucial that you wear proper footwear when you hike to the falls. If it’s been rainy out, it’ll get super muddy and the rocks will be pretty slippery, so make sure to wear shoes with good traction and that you feel comfortable walking along rocks and logs in! Because you’ll be climbing, you’ll also want to wear clothing that isn’t too tight or restrictive, either a dress or suit/pants of some sort that has enough room for you to move freely (aka climb over wet rocks and walk along steep, uneven terrain comfortably). Be prepared for your clothes to get dirty and wet along the way, especially if you get up close to the falls—it’s just inevitable and is all part of the adventure!

Where to Stay Near Snoqualmie Falls

Snoqualmie has plenty of amazing lodges and private Airbnbs in the area that would be great for your elopement; which type of place you choose just depends what type of vibe you’re looking for. Below is a list of the best lodges and Airbnbs near Snoqualmie Falls, and I’ve also included a few places in North Bend, which is just a 10 minute drive from Snoqualmie Falls!

Hotels/Lodges:

Airbnbs:

To see more of the cutest, coziest Airbnbs in the PNW, check out my guide to Washington’s Best Airbnb Rentals for an Elopement.

If you’d rather go camping than stay in a lodge or Airbnb, there are multiple campsites on the Snoqualmie Falls Forest Theater property!

Snoqualmie Falls Elopement Photographer

I’m Marla, a Snoqualmie Falls elopement photographer who’s ready to guide you on the adventure of a lifetime in this picturesque area of Washington—or any area of Washington, for that matter. Exploring this park is magical, and it would be my honor to document your special day whether it’s by the falls, amidst the lush greenery, or at the forest theater itself.  Reach out to me here and let’s get to planning!

Now that you’ve got the inside scoop on Snoqualmie Falls, I’d love to direct you to another relevant blog post that I think would be helpful to read next: Your Guide to a Waterfall Elopement in WA. This guide walks you through the logistics of planning a waterfall elopement, as well as some fun activity ideas!

If you’d like to browse through additional elopement planning resources, I highly recommend visiting my blog—or feel free to read some of my recent favorites below:

How to Get Your Washington Marriage License + Wedding Permits

How to Plan An Epic Post-Elopement Reception

4 Tips for a Breathtaking & Photogenic Elopement Day

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