Two-Day Adventure Wedding | Seattle + Olympic Peninsula

I had the pleasure of tagging along with Janella & Chris for their two-day adventure wedding, starting at Volunteer Park Conservatory and ending at one of my favorite spots on the Olympic Peninsula. This is the beauty of a two day elopement, that you get the best of both worlds! Your families can join you for a ceremony at a gorgeous venue, and then you and your new spouse can go explore wherever you’d like, all day long🥰

Janella + Chris’s Two-Day Adventure Wedding

A multi-day celebration across western Washington

Natural, joyful, and intimate; that’s how Janella and Chris described their dream wedding to me, and boy if it didn’t turn out to be exactly that. . . and so much more. Natural in that every element of their not one, but two-day celebration felt completely true and intentional to them; joyful in the laughter, smiles, and snuggles that were shared among loved ones; intimate in the gathering of their closest people, and the time they set aside solely for the two of them. Sounds like the dream to me, tbh. 

When asked what the most important thing was about their wedding day, Janella and Chris both gave me the same answer: that every part of it felt memorable and laid-back for everyone involved. The way they managed to preserve a relaxed, low-key atmosphere while still inviting guests, having a formal ceremony, and spending quality time with loved ones was super impressive to me, as somebody who has been part of a LOT of weddings that weren’t quite able to do the same. And rather than solely focusing on the two of them, they made sure to create an environment and experience that everyone would remember. A perfect balance of going with the flow and having a loosely structured timeline, while still being able to set aside moments to be present with each other as well as their guests!

Day 1: An intimate wedding ceremony at Volunteer Park Conservatory

The first day of festivities started off at an Airbnb in Seattle, where Janella and Chris got ready with their wedding party– and a very aesthetic one at that. Natural light, unique wallpaper, thoughtful decor touches, and an urban rooftop for their first look. . . a total dream for getting ready photos! I still can’t get over how adorable the little details of their day were, particularly the stickers of their cats on the front of their vow books. If I weren’t already married, you know I’d be stealing that idea ASAP!

After sharing a sweet-as-can-be first look on the roof, it was time to head to the beautiful venue Janella and Chris chose for their intimate wedding ceremony: the Volunteer Park Conservatory. This conservatory is such a dream, especially for a March wedding where the weather is often chilly, wet, or both. The Victorian-style greenhouse is always toasty and dry, and especially gorgeous with all the natural light the glass building lets in, making the collection of both tropical and desert plants SO vibrant! By far one of my favorite Seattle wedding venues for small weddings if you want that outdoorsy, natural vibe without actually being outdoors.

A few dreamy greenhouse portraits later, Janella and Chris walked down the aisle together and exchanged vows, witnessed by their closest family and friends who could not have been more thrilled to celebrate the couple. One thing I really noticed throughout this day (and the next) was the way that Janella and Chris’s love felt so comfortable, so easy, so natural; so obvious to everyone around them through even the most quiet of moments, the most gentle of hand holds or sweet smiles shared between them. It was obvious that everyone in the room was overjoyed to be there to support the newlyweds, and I’m so glad they set aside this first day to surround themselves with such good people!

Day 2: A moody adventure around Olympic National Park

Onto part two: aka the moodiest and most magical day exploring Olympic National Park! It drizzled on us all day long, but that didn’t dampen our fun, it just set the perfect tone for photos that epitomize the Pacific Northwest in the spring. When you elope on the Olympic Peninsula in the spring (or in any season, for that matter), it’s so crucial that you’re willing to embrace whatever conditions are thrown your way, whether it’s a light mist like Janella and Chris got on their ceremony day, or a constant drizzle like we got on the peninsula. 

Luckily, with my clear umbrellas and their coats on hand, the weather didn’t slow us down for a second. They still laughed, explored, and adventured, seeing some of my all-time favorite locations for portraits in the park; one being a super lush, green, gorgeous rainforest; another a rushing waterfall that was wayyy bigger than expected thanks to the spring runoff. We strolled through the rainforest to find my favorite wall of moss decorating a massive boulder, stood beneath the world’s tallest sitka spruce, and ended the evening with the famous rocky coastline entirely to ourselves. Have you ever seen anything as gorgeous as Janella’s cascading veil paired with the rocks of Ruby Beach and the glow of my lanterns at dusk? Unreal.

These areas are a bit more off the beaten path, and it felt as if we had the entire rainforest and coastline to ourselves. It was so intimate and magical, and even though I should maybe be used to it all by now, I was blown away all throughout the day by how lush and stunning each landscape was. After a wet winter, the rainforest really shines in the spring! Everything is so green and alive, and the waterfalls were bigger than I’ve ever seen them. And while some beaches are meant for sunbathing, I think this is what ours are for: misty, moody, rainy days amongst the jagged rocks and piles of driftwood. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.

If you’ve fallen in love with these enchanting beaches just as much as I have, be sure to pop over to my Washington Coast elopement guide next!

The wedding vendor team

As always, a huge thank you goes out to the rest of the Washington elopement vendors that made this celebration so perfect for Janella and Chris! (oh, and to Trader Joe’s for the beautiful flowers)

Dress: Tacoma Brides for a Cause

Veil & alterations: ValliDRESS

Suit: Emsud’s Clothiers

Washington Adventure Wedding Photographer