Written by our rad team member, Jessica Dastous
Dreamy Forest Wedding in Olympic National Park
Have you ever dreamed of being surrounded by lush greenery on your wedding day; from pine trees to ferns and everything in between, well then a forest wedding may just be for you! Forests make dreamy fairytale wedding venues and when Haley and Luiz told me they wanted to venture into the forest for their best day ever, I couldn’t be more stoked to dream up their day with them. With the help of our dream team of vendors, they turned a campground picnic table into something only dreams are made of. Keep reading to see all of the details that were put into this dreamy forest wedding.
Meet the couple of the Forest Wedding
Meet Haley and Luiz, the couple of this dreamy forest wedding. Haley and Luiz flew all the way from Miami, Florida to have their wedding in the forest! It was so much fun to plan their best day ever and have their forest wedding dreams come true (wait till you see these photos, it truly is a fairytale). Originally, we had planned to venture into the mountains for golden hour and take in the incredible sunsets we have here in Washington, but Mother Nature had other plans for us. So instead we spent a little extra time exploring the forest and taking in the views at Lake Crescent.
Haley and Luiz started their forest wedding at this dreamy little cabin that sat along the river. From there, we headed to Lake Crescent to explore some of the oldest pine trees on all of the Olympic Peninsula. After taking in some of the oldest evergreens and of course my favorite type of trees, we made our way to a stunning waterfall. Haley and Luiz finished their best day ever with a celebratory picnic in the forest. Their fairytale forest wedding venue was complete with signature drinks, a forest wedding cake and my favorite, a charcuterie board. We had so much fun during Haley and Luiz’s forest wedding and truly had the best vendor team a couple could ask for to make their dreams come true!
Best Places for a Forest Wedding Venue in Washington
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park is known for its rainforests, with lush green vegetation. If you are looking for those deep greens you can only find here in the Pacific Northwest, this is the perfect location for your forest wedding venue! I know of a few places that are a little less traveled and feel secluded, that would make your forest wedding feel intimate and private. Plus, they make for the dreamiest forest wedding photos you could ever dream of! For more details on how to plan your very own Olympic National Park wedding, click here!
Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
Snoqualmie National Forest is one of the largest national forests we have here in Washington. And you know what’s great about national forests?! You can have your pup of honor by your side at your forest wedding venue! Unlike national parks in Washington and all over the U.S., national forests are dog friendly! You’re also in luck because my house backs right up to Snoqualmie National Forest, so I spend a lot of time here adventuring with Drew, Scout and my couples. I know a few locations in the Snoqualmie Valley that would be secluded and private during your forest wedding. If you are looking for an aisle lined with ferns and wildflowers, then this would be the perfect forest wedding venue in Washington for you! If you are needing more forest wedding inspo to get you dreaming of your best day ever, click here!
The Emerald Forest Venue
The Emerald Forest Venue is an actual wedding venue located just outside of Seattle. This forest wedding venue is located on private property, meaning you’ll have the place completely to yourself. It is absolutely amazing and I totally recommend renting this location for your forest wedding ceremony, especially if you plan to have guests with you.
Fun Forest Wedding Ideas
Celebratory forest wedding picnic
Enjoy a celebratory forest wedding picnic like Haley and Luiz. We went to a campground that was located in the forest and made the perfect backdrop for their forest wedding venue. The dream team of vendors turned a picnic table into a forest wedding fairytale. Haley and Luiz enjoyed a forest wedding cake, charcuterie board and signature cocktails to commemorate the day!
Booking a nearby dreamy cabin
If you are looking to plan the dreamiest forest wedding, you should also look into booking a cabin that is tucked away among the ferns and the pines. There are so many options to choose from like A-frames, cabins by the river, cabins tucked away in the forest and so. Much. more. Click here for a list of my top Airbnb picks, that will make your forest wedding your best day ever!
Head to a mountain overlook after your forest wedding ceremony
After you spend time venturing through the lush vegetation of the forests in Washington, you may want to head up to a mountain overlook to end your day. One of my favorite ways to end a forest elopement is taking in the sunset and what better place to do that then a mountain overlook as the sun sets behind its stunning peaks. Needing some inspiration on what a forest wedding ending in the mountains may look like, click here!
The vendor team of this Wedding in the Forest
Planning & Design: The Great Adventure Wed
Florals: Goldenrod Floral
HMU: Pacific Brides
Rentals: Cort Party Rental
Cake: Sift and Gather
Paper Goods: Cara Eve Designs
Meet Your Forest Wedding Photographer
I feel most at home outdoors, so it is no surprise that is where I gravitate towards as a forest wedding photographer. In college, I was known as the “granola girl” because my outfits were always fit to go to class or hiking (not that I ever skipped class to go to the mountains, lol). From my days of exploring the hills of the Ozark Mountains, I am now hiking mountain trails across the Pacific Northwest, exploring the bases of waterfalls in Kauai, taking in all the lush green forests I can find and experiencing as many mountain top views in Washington as possible. I am passionate about this job of mine and adventuring to the most beautiful locations to document forest weddings with the best couples. I’m a Pacific Northwest-based elopement photographer who knows the state of Washington, the national parks, national forests, state parks, and other forest wedding venues well. Basically, I’m dying for a reason to head back to the mountains, and I’d love for your adventure to be the reason! Click here to learn more about me, your forest wedding photographer!
Ready to explore more elopements, weddings and adventures? Wander away below!
Between the Pine is an adventure elopement and wedding photography brand created by Mollie Adams. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Mollie travels with her camera in hand to document “I dos” in epic landscapes including Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii.
There are so many incredible destinations to choose from when eloping, with some of the best places to elope in the US just at your fingertips, which is why I compiled this list of my all time favorite locations in the United States. Keep reading to find your dream location!