Written by our rad team member, Jessica Dastous
Mountain Winter Wedding in Washington State
A mountain winter wedding in Washington state is truly magical! Picture a winter wonderland, surrounded by mountains while you snowshoe your way through a dreamy forest. That is exactly what Victoria and Gianluca experienced during their snowy wedding day! If you are dreaming of having your very own winter wedding, keep reading because I give all the details on how to plan your best day ever, plus all the inspo for you!
Meet the couple of this Washington Mountain Winter Wedding
Meet Victoria and Gianluca, the couple of this stunning winter Washington elopement! Victoria and Gianluca are originally from Brazil and now live in Washington. They wanted to have a winter wedding where they could adventure in the mountains and be surrounded by snow (picture Narnia and if you need help picturing what that may look like, check out this blog!). This Washington winter mountain wedding was truly a dream come true for these two and the total opposite of what weather would have been like in Brazil.
Victoria and Gianluca started their day at this incredible cabin (linked here) right along the river, where they got ready for their winter mountain elopement and enjoyed a cute picnic together inside. After their picnic, we set out on the start of their snowy wedding adventure! At our first stop we rented snowshoes, then made our way to a river trail where they had their ceremony. From there we hopped back in the car and headed up to Snoqualmie Pass. On our way we stopped at one of my absolute favorite markets, Laconia Market for some coffee! After warming up and enjoying our coffees inside the market, we set out on the second adventure of the day! Victoria and Gianluca strapped on their snowshoes and we spent the evening snowshoeing through the mountains. We witnessed one of the most incredible winter sunsets I have ever seen in all of Washington! Victoria and Gianluca’s winter mountain wedding was filled with multiple adventures and their mountain wedding was truly a dream come true! If you are thinking of planning your own Washington winter mountain weddings or need inspiration for a snowy elopement check out this blog! Or if you need some ideas on activities to do during your Washington elopement, click here!
Four Unique Mountain Winter Wedding Venues
Airbnb
Victoria and Gianluca rented an AirBnb for their winter mountain wedding. This was where they started their day and got to enjoy an intimate picnic together before setting out on multiple snowy adventures. AirBnb’s are a perfect location for a winter elopement! They are private, marking it the best location if you would like to keep your best day ever intimate. There are so many beautiful and unique AirBnbs all throughout mountainous states such as Washington! Looking to plan your very own Airbnb wedding, click here for some inspiration!
Bed and Breakfast
The great thing about planning your Washington winter mountain wedding at a bed and breakfast is it’s a hotel! If you are having guests at your winter wedding they can all stay here and have their own space. This is the perfect option if you are wanting guests to stay within a general area, making it easier for them to enjoy your special day! Bed and breakfasts are also great because they typically make meals so it would be like you have your very own in-house catering team! I’ve had the honor of documenting a handful of mountain weddings hosted at a bed and breakfast and the food has been absolutely incredible! Needing inspo for planning your own bed and breakfast elopement, click here!
Crystal Mountain
If you are planning to have a larger group at your winter elopement, Crystal Mountain is the place for you! Overall this location will be such a memorable experience, from riding the gondola up the mountain to an overlook where you will say your I do’s to a reception that only dreams are made of! Crystal mountain is so incredible and you’ll have Mount Rainier in all her glory as your backdrop! To learn more about Crystal Mountain as your winter Washington elopement location, click here! Oh, and the best part?! The gondola is wheelchair accessible (wahoo!).
Timberline Lodge
Timberline Lodge is located right outside of Mount Hood in Oregon. This lodge was built in 1937 and allows guests to experience the serene environment of Mount Hood! You can also ski here, making it the perfect location for those looking to plan a winter adventure, while having their best day ever at the top of a mountain! For more information on planning your Timberline Lodge winter mountain elopement, click here!
Three Adventures to Include in your Winter Mountain Wedding
Snowshoe at Gold Creek Pond in Snoqualmie Pass
Victoria and Gianluca choose to snowshoe at Gold Creek Pond during their winter elopement day! The trail at Gold Creek Pond is very accessible and super easy, making it perfect for beginners. This is also a great spot to choose for your winter Washington elopement because it is not too far from Seattle and you get the stunning mountain views without having to hike far from the trail head!
Hit the slopes skiing or snowboarding
Another great adventure to choose during your winter Washington wedding is skiing or snowboarding. There are so many mountains to choose from just outside of Seattle! My personal favorite is Summit at Snoqualmie because I ski here all the time and know the mountain really well. Skiing or snowboarding down the slopes with your partner on your best day ever will truly be unforgettable! Here are a few of the resorts I recommend:
Explore the Leavenworth (a Bavarian mountain town)
Leavenworth is one of my absolute favorite mountain towns in all of Washington. You’ll have so much fun exploring this little mountain town filled with shops, pubs and incredible restaurants. Plus, Leavenworth has some of the best Airbnbs in Washington state. Surrounded by 360 degree mountain views, this Bavarian themed town will truly steal your heart! Needing inspo for your Washington winter wedding, check out this blog post and if you’d like to learn more about this incredible mountain town, click here!
What to pack for your Winter Mountain Wedding
Obviously having a winter mountain wedding in Washington you’d expect to have cooler temperatures and potentially snow in the forecast. It can be tough to figure out what to pack for your best day ever, but don’t worry, I’ve come up with the essential packing list for your winter elopement day!
Layers!
Neutral Leggings for under your wedding dress
Thermal undershirts under your suit
Puffy coats
Hand warmers
Hiking boots
Wool socks
Snowshoes
Snacks
Water
Vendors for this Winter Mountain Wedding
Hair & Makeup: Anne Timss Makeup and Hair
Florals: Golden Rod Floral
Officiant: Another One Ties the Knot
Dress: Brides for a Cause
Suit: Nordstrom
Cabin: Ansel Cabin
Snowshoe Rentals: Pro Ski Mountain Service
Mountain Coffee: Laconia Market
Mountain Wedding Packages Perfect for Winter
When choosing to have a winter Washington elopement, I highly recommend two elopement packages for my couples – sunrise to sunset and the two-day elopement. Sunrise to sunset is one of my most popular elopement packages booked by my couples and there is a huge reason for this. When booking a sunrise to sunset elopement, you are going to have golden hour and blue hour at BOTH sunrise and sunset! This means you are going to get the best light on your day (twice!!) and get to experience multiple locations. I also recommend this package if you are not having guests because you will be so immersed in your adventures, there won’t be as much time to spend with them.
The other package I recommend to my couples is the two-day elopement package. This is the package I typically recommend when couples have family and friends with them on their Washington mountain wedding day. The reason being is on the first day you can have your elopement and celebrate with friends and family without the distractions of timelines and taking photos! You’ll have the chance to spend the full day with your family, while I capture your day from start to finish. The next day, you and your partner will have the opportunity to go on winter adventures with me. From skiing to snowshoeing to sleigh rides and dog sleds, there is no shortage of winter activities for you to choose! You’ll get into your wedding attire, exchange private vows and reflect in one of the most beautiful places on Earth! The two-day package allows you to spend quality time with your guests and also have an epic adventure with your partner. To learn more about my elopement packages, click here!
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!