Cape Disappointment – Engagement Session on the Washington Coast

I know, my partner and I laughed at the name, too, but Cape Disappointment State Park never disappoints! This gorgeous coastal spot is located on the southwestern tip of Washington state, with windswept cliffs that tower over the crashing waves as the Pacific Ocean meets the Columbia River. The park offers hikes through old growth forests and trails around lakes, marshes, and tidelands, along with an active lighthouse on the headlands! Brandie and Austin decided to document their post-proposal, pre-wedding bliss with a Cape Disappointment engagement session, because the park is one of their favorite places on the Washington coast.

Engagement Session at Cape Disappointment State Park

The coast was chilly the evening of Brandie and Austin’s engagement session at Cape Disappointment – and by chilly, I mean downright freezing! The coastal wind is no joke, but it makes for some stunning windswept photos.

If you plan an adventure session at Cape Disappointment State Park during the wintertime (or you visit just for kicks), be prepared for cold weather, and for rain! While summers are warm and there’s less precipitation, mornings and evenings can still be frigid, and of course, Washington is kind of known for spontaneous drizzle and overcast skies.

A man and woman hold hands and walk towards the camera, smiling at each other at their cape disappointment engagement session

But, Brandie and Austin took it like champs, embracing the weather as part of the adventure! One huge advantage to less-than-idyllic weather is that there are way fewer people out and about – so you could get the rocky shore, the mossy cliffs, and the crashing waves all to yourself.

A man and woman on a moody beach hold hands and lean their foreheads together
An out-of-focus, black and white photo of a man and woman on a moody beach holding hands and leaning their foreheads together

This couple has shared countless sunsets together, falling more in love with each one – so when Austin proposed, he popped the question as the sun went down and the sky lit up! So of course, we had to incorporate the sunset into their Cape Disappointment engagement session. We met up on the coast and explored the beach under a pastel pink sky, laughing and running around as dusk set in.

A couple walks hand-in-hand away from the camera through the ocean's shore at sunset
A man and woman hold hands smiling at each other, blurry, while the camera focuses on a lighthouse in the distance
A man and woman hold hands smiling on the Washington coast

Brandie’s dress was the perfect choice for their engagement photos – the bright red added a fun pop of color amidst the natural scenery, and she looked absolutely stunning. Dresses with loose, flowy styles like Brandie’s made great engagement session outfits, because the skirt adds so much movement to the photos! Light skirts look amazing in the wind, and when picked up.

A man and woman hold each other, smiling at one another in front of a cliff
A man and woman hold each other, smiling at one another in front of a cliff

Cape Disappointment State Park Camping

I think it’s amazing when couples make their engagement session into an adventure, or an experience. Treating it like a date or a little mini vacation can make for some amazing memories, and Cape Disappointment offers some unique lodging options! It’s remote location and distance from Seattle means a lot of couples might be traveling a few hours, so being able to stay in the park afterwards prevents the late night driving.

An engaged couple rests next to each other on a pile of rocks by the sea
An engaged couple rests next to each other on some rocks at their Cape Disappointment engagement session

There are unique yurts close to the beach, cabins surrounded by trees, and even vacation homes with ocean views!

Planning an Engagement Session?

Engagement photos are such a great way to capture this part of your story! I think your engagement session should be fun, and that when you look at your photos, you should remember the amazing experience you had. So I’m ready to join you for any adventure – contact me, and let’s start planning yours!

A man in black smiles looking at his bride-to-be howling with laughter at Cape Disappointment
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