Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy

When it comes to planning a Mt Baker elopement (or any adventure elopement for that matter), your experience matters! Melanie and Will planned a gorgeous two-day elopement in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and kept their focus on the details that were the most important to them. Keep scrolling to see how these two made their elopement experience their own, plus learn our top tips to keep in mind when eloping at Mt Baker. 

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Meet Melanie & Will: The Couple of This Two-Day Mt Baker Elopement

When planning their two-day Mount Baker elopement, Melanie and Will had three main priorities: 

• Dog-friendly activities and locations (Amen to that!)
• Top-tier experience for their guests
• Jaw-dropping mountain views

I (Mollie) think it’s safe to say they accomplished all three of these things (and more) during their two-day wedding in the Cascade mountains.

Day One: The Intimate Forest Wedding

The first day of Melanie and Will’s Mt Baker elopement started with an adventure session at Whatcom Falls. While walking through the forest trails we witnessed the most gorgeous light rays streaming through the forest trees. 

From there, we headed to their hotel in Bellingham where they got ready for the rest of their day. Melanie had hired a makeup artist (shoutout to Anne Timss) for both days which was such a fun way to elevate their elopement experience! 

Once they had finished getting ready, we headed to one of my favorite campgrounds for their intimate wedding ceremony in the woods. After the ceremony, their guests headed to the Airbnb for their celebratory meal while the couple and I spent a few more minutes exploring the forest. The three of us walked along the river and admired all the old-growth ferns while Melanie and Will soaked in the first few moments of marriage (seriously, they were the cutest). 

After we finished exploring the forest, we met up with the rest of their guests at a cozy cabin in the woods to enjoy an elaborate meal under string lights and two old-growth cedar trees. Melanie and Will wanted their guests to have an incredible experience so they pulled out all the stops. They hired a private chef who created a delicious meal complete with hors d’oeuvres, a full bar, and a bonfire afterward. They even bought blankets for all the guests so they could keep warm throughout the day. 

Day Two: A Relaxed Adventure at Artist Point

On day two, I met up with Melanie and Will for a relaxed adventure day. We started at Bagley Lakes where the couple wandered around (with their dog, Freddy, of course) in their comfy clothes soaking in the beautiful views. 

We then made our way over to Artist Point where they changed into their wedding attire for some epic mountain elopement adventure photos. 

This two-day Mt Baker elopement with Melanie and Will was so calm and go with the flow. Not only did these two get to witness some of the beautiful views in the North Cascades, but they stayed true to their priorities and, with the help of the right wedding vendor team, had their Best. Day. Ever! 

Check out this post on Instagram to see more photos from Melanie and Will’s Mt Baker elopement!

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Where to Stay for Your Mt Baker Elopement

The closest town to Mt Baker is Glacier, WA. This is where most of our couples stay for their Mount Baker elopement as it has more hotels, Airbnbs, restaurants, and, of course, easy access to the best hiking trails. 

Fun Facts to Know About Mt Baker

National Forest vs National Park

Did you know that Mt Baker is not actually a part of North Cascades National Park? Many people think that this mountain is part of the national park, but it is technically located on national forest land. 

So, what does this mean for your elopement? It means that couples who elope in Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will have access to lesser-known trails and get more privacy for their Mt Baker elopement. These trails still have many of the same jaw-dropping views, but are so much more secluded! 

Two Major Mountains

Mt Baker isn’t the only mountain located in the area. Mt Shuksan is another major peak located just 10 miles away. These two mountains are actually glacier mountains, meaning they get snow all year round. So, whether you are eloping during the winter months or the summer season, you will always have a snowy mountain backdrop.

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Insider Tips for Your Mt Baker Elopement

Hold Your Ceremony at a Campground

Some of the most underrated ceremony locations for adventure elopements are campgrounds or day-use areas (or, if your group is small enough, a campsite). You might not think these locations have much to offer but they actually make for the perfect outdoor micro wedding venue! These areas offer more privacy as you can reserve them in advance and oftentimes, they are set in a gorgeous location. Other perks of eloping at a campground or day-use area are these places tend to be on level or flat ground making them more accessible for guests and vendor setups.

Hire A Solid Vendor Team

Speaking of vendors, one of the best ways to elevate your Mount Baker elopement is to hire a solid vendor team. While it’s possible to DIY your elopement, having a team of professional vendors can help bring your vision to life while also reducing the stress (not to mention the work) that often goes along with planning an elopement. When choosing which vendors to hire, we recommend considering which aspects of your wedding are most important to you. That way you can prioritize your vendors based on the type of experience you want to have. 

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More Mt Baker Elopement Inspiration and Resources

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What You Need to Know About Packages For Your Mount Baker Elopement

When choosing to have a Mt Baker elopement, we highly recommend either our full-day or two-day elopement packages to our couples. 

Our full-day Mount Baker elopement package includes first-look photos at your cabin in the early afternoon. We will then head out to two unique locations for you and your partner to explore. After, we will head to your ceremony location, where you will elope in the mountains with the most stunning backdrop at sunset!

If you want to see all that this beautiful area has to offer, then we recommend our two-day Mt Baker elopement package. This will allow you the chance to get to experience multiple locations and is also a great option if you plan on inviting guests. Click here to learn more about our packages for your Mount Baker elopement.

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Meet Your Mount Baker Elopement Photographers

We feel most at home in the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that is where we gravitate towards as your Mt Baker 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 Mount Baker elopement photographers!

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Meet the Other Incredible Vendors From This Mount Baker Elopement

Photographer: Between the Pine

Hair and Makeup: Anne Timss

Florals, Design & Rentals: Wander Design + Rentals

Officiant: Bill Hulseman