I’m not sure there’s anything more romantic than whisking yourselves away into the mountains to tie the knot, exchanging your vows amidst some of the most spectacular landscapes you could dream of. Fortunately, those breathtaking alpine landscapes are exactly what the Pacific Northwest is famous for, making this part of the country the perfect place to have a mountain elopement! In this guide, I’ll be taking you through the most important parts of planning an epic, unforgettable mountain elopement in Washington, from how to choose the right location for you to exactly what you should add to your packing list. I hope you’re ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
Why Elope in the Mountains?
No matter how much I may love a good trip to the beach, the mountains will always, always have my heart. Thank goodness, seeing as though I live in Seattle—aka one of the most incredible places to live if you love the outdoors! Washington is home to a wide range of glorious alpine landscapes and snow-capped summits (nearly 3,800 named peaks, in fact!), from the Olympics to the Cascades.
These sprawling mountain ranges and iconic peaks offer not only some of the best hiking opportunities in the country, but some of the best places for adventure elopements, too! When it was time to plan my own elopement, I couldn’t think of anywhere else I’d want to elope other than among the otherworldly alpine landscapes of Washington—somewhere we could feel the crisp mountain air as we said our vows; somewhere we could stare in awe at the scenery as we stood next to our loved ones. It was my absolute dream day, and you can take a peek at it here if you’d like!
In my opinion, one of the BEST parts of eloping in the mountains (besides the calm, serene atmosphere) is simply the diversity you get in your locations. When you elope in the mountains, not only do you get some obviously amazing mountain views—you also get shimmering blue alpine lakes, lush forests and verdant greenery, vibrant wildflower meadows, and the opportunity to explore it all to your heart’s content. Even with other hikers around, there’s truly nothing that can disturb that sense of peace you get when you head into the mountains, and are surrounded by this unbelievably beautiful scenery. Plus, the mountains look gorgeous at literally ANY time of day, from golden hour to blue hour to the harshest of daylight!
How to Elope in the Mountains of Washington
Now, let’s talk about how to actually plan your dream adventure in the mountains to ensure you have a laid-back, worry-free day!
1. Choose what kind of scenery you want
I know what you’re thinking: “Marla, obviously we want mountain scenery or else we wouldn’t be here.” Yes, you may know you want to elope in the mountains—but what does that look like to you?
For some, a mountain elopement looks like climbing up to the summit of a dramatic peak and enjoying 360-degree, panoramic views of the landscapes around you. For others, you may be envisioning tying the knot at the base of a mountain, with the peak showing off in the background during your ceremony rather than actually being on top of the peak itself.
Decide whether you’re picturing eloping at the base of a mountain/amidst a mountain range, or you actually want to hike to a summit for a mountaintop ceremony, a sunset picnic, etc. Neither option is wrong or right, but whichever you choose will determine what kinds of locations are available to you, as well as what time of year you’re able to elope!
2. Hire an experienced mountain elopement photographer
Am I biased? Totally. But I really do believe that hiring your photographer should be one of the first things you do when planning your elopement, simply because you’ll be able to rely on them a TON to help you pick your location, time of year, accommodations, etc. as well as creating your timeline. You definitely don’t want to be doing all of that on your own, because who needs all that stress when they’re planning their dream day? That’s why I always recommend finding your perfect photographer fairly early on in the process—they’ll be by your side to support you, encourage you, and provide their professional experience + expertise. If you’re looking for a mountain elopement photographer with years of experience guiding couples on once-in-a-lifetime alpine adventures, I know a gal 😉
3. Pick a location that works for you/your guests
Next up is probably the most fun part of the entire journey (besides maybe actually getting engaged): choosing your mountain elopement location! I’ll be recommending my personal favorite locations a little later on in this guide, but for now I wanted to talk about the process of actually picking the right place for you.
There are a few key things you’ll want to consider when looking through locations + figuring out what’s best for you:
- Scenery: Like I said earlier, do you want to elope with the mountains behind you, or on an actual mountain top? Do you want panoramic views of a mountain range around you as you stand atop a peak, or to be exploring wildflower meadows at a lower elevation location with a mountain towering behind you in the background? Do your best to choose somewhere that’s fairly diverse in terms of scenery, too, so that you have plenty of places to explore + variety in your elopement gallery.
- Weather: I’ll be touching more on weather next, since this is a huge part of planning your mountain elopement. Eloping in the mountains isn’t quite as easy as eloping on the coast, or in the city, since you very much have to take weather conditions into account!
- Accessibility: How far are you/your guests willing/able to hike? Would you rather find a place where you can just park your car and immediately get gorgeous views, or somewhere that requires a longer, more challenging trek?
- Permits: What permit (if any) do you need to get for the location you’re considering? How much will it cost, and how long will it take to obtain? More on this in a bit, too!
- Timeline: Does the location you want make sense with your timeline? Will you be able to easily travel from your ceremony location to your Airbnb/accommodations? How easy is it to get there, and how long will driving take?
Picking the right location is super exciting, but can also be a little hard. How are you supposed to choose from all the incredible options that Washington has to offer? Don’t worry—this is something I’m happy to help you with, since I’ve got tons of experience under my belt documenting elopements at manyyy locations, and throughout every season.
Best Mountain Elopement Locations in Washington
Real quick, I wanted to throw in a few of my all-time favorite Washington mountain elopement locations to help you get started! You truly cannot go wrong picking any one of these places; the vibes are absolutely immaculate and a dream come true for adventure elopements.
—Mt. Baker: Without a doubt one of the most spectacular mountains in the entire Pacific Northwest. Rising over 10,000 feet in northwest Washington, Mt. Baker is just close enough to Seattle to make it a doable day trip, but far enough that you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into your very own alpine oasis. Check out my full Mt. Baker Elopement Guide for all the details!
—Mt. Rainier: Rainier is probably what you envision when you think of a mountain in Washington, right? This iconic glaciated peak is famous for its colorful subalpine wildflowers, glistening lakes, lush meadows + forests, and, of course, the majestic mountain itself. The hundreds of miles of trails provide endless opportunities for an incredible elopement adventure, whether you want an easily-accessible location like Tipsoo Lake or a longer trek to a super cool fire lookout, like the one at Tolmie Peak!
—Olympic National Park: Olympic National Park may be most known for its stunning beaches + lush rainforests, but it’s also home to a vast mountain range that’ll take your breath away. Hurricane Ridge is a personal favorite spot of mine, as it’s super easy to get to and offers extraordinary panoramic views of the entire mountain range!
—North Cascades National Park: Last up are the North Cascades, which span across over 500,000 acres of northern Washington. Among this vast wilderness you’ll find dramatic peaks, bright blue alpine lakes, 360-degree views, cascading waterfalls, and all sorts of phenomenal trails for every level of hiker.
4. Choose a time of year
If you’re dying to elope in the winter, I’ll tell you right away that a mountain elopement probably isn’t for you! Due to the high elevation of these gorgeous alpine landscapes, you are somewhat restricted as far as the time of year for your elopement goes: most PNW mountain elopements happen in the summer or early fall. Any other time of year, the mountains will have too much snow to be accessible, and many roads/trails will be closed. The best months for a mountain elopement in the PNW are typically July and August, but you can get away with eloping in September or even early October, depending on the location you choose (and as long as you’re willing to be flexible). It’s important to have appropriate expectations early on in the planning process so you’re not disappointed if you can’t elope at a certain location/during a certain time of year; adaptability is key, and is a huge part of the “adventure” aspect of adventure elopements!
For more info on what it looks like to elope in the PNW through every season, check out my guide to When to Elope in the PNW + Best Locations By Season.
5. Invite your guests
You’ve probably been thinking about this ever since you first got engaged: who do you want to have by your side on your elopement day, if anybody? Every couple is completely different, and there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to having/not having guests at your elopement. The beauty of eloping is that there are no rules, except for the ones you create! If you are going to invite guests to be a part of your special day, make sure they’re people you really, truly want there to share in this celebration with you; people who will love, support, and cherish you 100% and who you couldn’t imagine getting married without.
Logistical tip: make sure you know how many guests your ceremony location can accommodate before sending out your invites!
6. Hire your vendors
You’ve booked your photographer, you’ve chosen your location, you’ve invited your guests—now it’s time to build out the rest of your dream team. The vendors you pick can make or break your day, whether you’re keeping it simple with just an officiant and florist or are going all out with an intricate setup—so it’s incredibly important to hire people who you wholeheartedly trust, connect with, and can comfortably afford. As your photographer, I’ll have plenty of recommendations to send over of all my favorite people that I trust and have loved working with!
7. Do your research ahead of time
You’ll also want to make sure you’re familiar with your trail before you go, so that you know exactly what to expect. Find out what routes are available to get there in case your original one is closed for any reason, as well as where you’ll be able to park. Read trail reviews and descriptions, download offline maps, and find out what the weather typically looks like at the time of year you’ll be eloping. The more prepared you can be, the better!
8. Get any permits necessary
On that same note, you’ll want to find out what permit(s) you’ll need for your elopement location, if any! I recommend doing this as far in advance as possible to ensure you have plenty of time to apply and receive your permit, as the process can take weeks or even months to complete. Getting the proper permits and following the rules/regulations of the area is a huge part of Leaving No Trace, so you’ll be doing a great job of respecting the environment and minimizing your impact 🙂 This is something I’ll help you with as your photographer, so don’t worry too much about it right now!
9. Make backup plans
Backup plans will be your BFF when it comes to eloping in the mountains, trust me. As much as you plan and prepare, you’ll still have to surrender to Mother Nature when your big day arrives—and you want to be able to embrace it rain or shine! Having backup plans and locations is key to making sure weather conditions such as rain, snow, or wildfires don’t ruin your day. Remember, flexibility is key and it’s all part of the adventure you’ll remember forever!
For more tips on preparing for any weather scenario on your elopement day, read through my guide to How to Embrace “Bad” Weather On Your Elopement Day.
10. Find a cozy place to stay
Don’t forget to book your accommodations in the months leading up to your elopement! Fortunately, you’ll have a TON of options—Washington is filled with all sorts of cute A-frame cabins, cozy lodges, and even upscale mountain resorts if you’d like something a little more luxurious. Find somewhere that can serve as your home base during your elopement; somewhere with space to get ready, cozy up, and relax in the evenings. Check out some of my favorite Airbnb rentals in Washington here!
11. Plan your activities + timeline
One of the best parts of eloping is that you have the freedom to make your day look however you want it to! Wanna have a fancy picnic on a mountain top as the sun sets? Do it. Wanna go wine tasting and take classy portraits in a vineyard? Cool! Wanna hire a private chef to come to your Airbnb and cook you your favorite meal? Hell yeah. You can literally do ANYTHING you want, so don’t limit yourselves to the “traditional” wedding day activities. I’ll help you plan out your timeline to ensure that everything flows smoothly, and that you have time to do everything you want to do.
For a huge list of unique elopement ideas to help you plan a day that feels like you, head to this blog post!
12. Enjoy the adventure!
If you’ve made it this far, then congrats—you’re well on your way to planning the elopement of your dreams, and once the day arrives, you’ll get to be fully present + enjoy the adventure! Take it all in, because trust me, this is a day you’re never going to forget.
Washington Mountain Elopement Photographer
Now that you’ve got your perfect day planned out, you’ll want to make sure you have somebody there to capture it all—duh! Reach out now and let’s get you booked with a Washington mountain elopement photographer who knows exactly how to help you make it all happen.
Wanna keep the momentum going? I’ve got more killer elopement planning resources for you to check out below!
