Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
Did you know that Washington State has five volcanoes, and you can summit all of them? Well, that’s exactly what Kelly and Brian have done. These two superstars are serious mountaineers who bonded over their love for backpacking and climbing. So, when it came time to plan their best day ever, nothing sounded more perfect than a backpacking elopement.
But hiking alone in the mountains wasn’t all they wanted. Something that was just as important to them was sharing the experience with their families (none of whom are from Washington). Kelly and Brian wanted to give their loved ones a taste of what makes the Pacific Northwest so special, so they planned a two-day backpacking elopement in Snoqualmie. Day one was for their overnight adventure at Snow Lake, followed by an intimate celebration with family on day two! Keep reading to see more from their adventurous backpacking elopement and family celebration in Snoqualmie.
Meet Kelly & Brian: The Stars of This Snow Lake Backpacking Elopement
Kelly and Brian are one of the most adventurous couples we’ve met. They’ve summited all five Washington volcanoes together and knew they wanted a similar adventure deep in the Washington mountains when they got married.
The thing is, they also really wanted their families there. But, their families aren’t experienced hikers or even local to Washington state. So, it was important to Kelly and Brian to give their loved ones the full Pacific Northwest experience (think campground vibes, stunning mountain views, and an off-the-beaten-path wilderness experience), but in a way that was accessible for everyone.
When we started planning together, it quickly became clear that a standard sunrise-to-sunset package wouldn’t give them enough time to get deep into the backcountry the way they wanted and be able to celebrate with family. But a regular two-day package didn’t quite fit the overnight camping adventure they were dreaming of either. So, we created a totally custom package that gave them everything they wanted.
During one of our planning calls, we brought up the idea of adding an overnight backpacking portion to their two-day package. Kelly and Brian were immediately stoked (and honestly, so were we because we’d been dreaming of photographing a backpacking elopement for years!).
We split their package across non-consecutive days. That way, they could have time to backpack deep into the mountains, while also having time to rest before celebrating their micro wedding with family.
Day One: Backpacking Snow Lake Trail
On the first adventure day, Kelly, Brian, their pup of honor, and our photographer, Kass, hiked into Snow Lake Trail for their backpacking elopement.
One of the coolest things about this location was that Kelly and Brian had spent the entire summer before their elopement scouting out trails. They had hiked the Snow Lake Trail during that time and figured out exactly what kind of experience they wanted to create. They had even scouted out some potential photo locations (seriously, five stars for these two!). By the time their elopement day arrived, they knew exactly where they wanted to go.
Once they arrived at their camping spot, Kelly and Brian changed into their wedding attire and shared a first look overlooking the valley below. They spent the rest of the evening dancing on the mountain trails and taking golden hour portraits in some of the exact locations they had picked out during their scouting trip. Then, after dinner around the campfire, everyone went to sleep under the stars.
When the sun rose early the next morning, Kass met back up with the couple who were already up making coffee. They spent a few moments enjoying the crisp mountain morning air with their pup before packing up and hiking back down the mountain.
They spent the rest of the day relaxing, and by the time everyone met back up the following day, Kelly and Brian were feeling refreshed and ready for day two’s celebration.
Day Two: An Intimate Family Celebration at Cooper Lake
After their backpacking adventure, Kelly and Brian were ready to share Washington with their families. They’d put so much thought into their ceremony location at Cooper Lake, and loved how it showed off the beauty of Washington and felt remote, while still being super accessible for their guests (for a full list of accessible elopement locations in Washington, check out this resource).
The ceremony took place in a beautiful forested clearing right near the lake, and afterwards, everyone headed back to their A-frame cabin for a beautiful celebratory meal that had the relaxed, campground feel they’d envisioned.
From beginning to end, it was clear how intentional Kelly and Brian were about every piece of their day. The backpacking portion celebrated their love for adventure and the outdoors, while their intimate wedding gave the people they loved a glimpse into the beauty of Washington and what their lives here look like.
Thinking of Planning a Backpacking Elopement? Here are a Few Essentials You’ll Need
If you’re ready to say “heck yes!” to a backpacking wedding, there are a few things you’ll need to pack.
- Lightweight backpack – Obviously, you’ll need a pack to carry everything in. The lighter the pack you can find, the better.
- Shelter – An all-weather tent or a hammock, if you prefer to sleep under the stars.
- Camping gear – Sleeping bags (check the temperature rating), cooking supplies, food, water treatment, headlamps, and other camping essentials
- Hiking boots – Hiking boots are a must! Don’t forget to break them in ahead of time (blisters on your elopement day are not the vibe!)
- Wedding attire – Choose lightweight fabrics that pack well and won’t wrinkle (check out our elopement dress guide and attire tips)
Insider Tip: If you aren’t an experienced backpacker, you can rent gear from REI and still have an incredible backpacking adventure without investing in all the equipment upfront.
What You Need to Know About Backpacking Elopement Packages in Washington
Dreaming of a backpacking elopement like Kelly and Brian’s? Our summit package was made for experiences just like this! If you want to pack in excursions, explore a variety of landscapes, or are planning a full wedding weekend, this is for you.
We can customize your package to fit exactly what you’re envisioning (whether that’s splitting days like Kelly and Brian did, adding an overnight portion to a full-day package, or creating something totally unique to you).
Ready to start planning? Contact us and let’s talk through what your backpacking elopement could look like!
Meet Your Snoqualmie Backpacking Elopement Photographers
We feel most at home in the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that it’s where we gravitate towards as your backpacking elopement photographers. Between the Pine was founded by Mollie in 2018, and she has hiked hundreds of miles all over the Pacific Northwest and Kauai to capture couples during their best day ever. Since 2018, we’ve grown our team and continue to hire even more incredible photographers!
Our team at Between the Pine is passionate about our jobs and adventuring to the most beautiful locations to document your best day ever. We know the Pacific Northwest like the back of our hands and are dying for a reason to head back to the mountains, forest, and everything in between! Click here to learn more about the Between the Pine team, your backpacking wedding photographers!
The Dream Team From This Backpacking Elopement
Photographer: Kass at Between the Pine
Planning, Design, and Officiating: The Greatest Adventure Wed
Hair and Makeup Artist: Anne Timms
Florals: Goldenrod Floral Design
Catering: Coastal Cooking
Rentals: Cort Party Rental
Cake: North Bend Bakery
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