Written by our rad team member, Jessica Dastous
Moody PNW Elopement
Choosing a location for your PNW elopement can be challenging because there are so many stunning locations, but when the North Cascades left a lasting impression on Nathan, he knew he wanted to marry Amy here. The North Cascades are truly a magical place with diverse landscapes that are perfect for couples looking for mountain views, lush green forest, glacier-fed rivers, and so.much.more. And if rain is in the forecast, there are plenty of places to take cover like dreamy forests, that provide the most epic moody photos (keep reading to see what I mean!).
Meet the couple of this dreamy PNW Elopement
Meet Amy and Nathan, the couple of this STUNNING moody PNW elopement! When Amy and Nathan hired me as their PNW elopement photographer, Nathan told me he really wanted to get married in the North Cascades. Nathan had visited the North Cascades a few years back and this Pacific Northwest location left a lasting impression on him. Nathan wanted Amy to experience the North Cascades in all its glory, just as he had when he once visited.
Amy and Nathan flew all the way from Florida for their PNW elopement in the North Cascades. We had a few months to plan their best day ever and had originally chosen a few mountain overlooks that ended in my all-time favorite hike in all of Washington. But of course, as Mother Nature would have it, it ended up being super moody and rainy (which, in my opinion, make equally as dreamy photos. Check out this blog for rainy day inspo!). Lucky for us, we had already talked through a rain plan (I do this with all my couples as part of their PNW elopement package), so we shifted our PNW elopement location. Amy and Nathan truly embraced all that Mother Nature threw their way and still had the most epic day ever!
We started the day at their cabin, where Amy and Nathan got ready and exchanged their first looks! We then headed out to one of my favorite areas in the North Cascades, where Amy and Nathan exchanged vows. After Amy and Nathan’s rainy PNW elopement ceremony, we ventured back to their cabin to warm up and dry off. They had a picnic set up by the fire (it was so cute and cozy), where they cheersed and shared the love they have for one another, while enjoying a really yummy charcuterie board! After Amy and Nathan enjoyed their picnic, we set out to their second PNW elopement location, in a gorgeous forest! We ended their day on dreamy boardwalks that had a few alpine lakes nearby. Amy and Nathan’s PNW elopement day was an absolute blast and I am so thankful they chose me as their photographer!
Best places for a PNW Elopement
There are so many incredible places to choose when planning a PNW elopement and I know it can feel a little overwhelming! Don’t worry, as your PNW elopement photographer I have all the best recommendations for locations based on what you are looking for on your elopement day and of course weather (you always need to have a plan for rain)! Here is a list of my top four favorite PNW elopement locations, that are perfect for couples looking to have their best day ever in the mountains, by the shore, in the rain forest or overlooking a waterfall (basically all the must-haves for a PNW elopement)!
The North Cascades
The North Cascades hold some of my absolute favorite hikes in all of Washington. Because the North Cascades goes into a National Forest, it tends to be super dog friendly and is a great option for couples looking to include their pup of honor! The best time of year to visit this area or have your PNW elopement is August through early October. There are a TON of dreamy cabins all around the North Cascades, making it a perfect PNW elopement location! Another benefit to choosing the North Cascades for your PNW elopement is it’s a little more remote then some of the other locations I recommend, which is great because it is often less crowded! Click here to read my full guide on how to elopement in the North Cascades!
Mount Rainier
The most glaciated peak in the contiguous U.S., Mount Rainier truly speaks for herself! Mount Rainier (also known as Mount Tahoma, which is the native name) is truly iconic and so many adventure seekers from out of state are drawn to this location for their PNW elopement. The best time to visit Mount Rainier and all her glory is during the last two weeks of July and the first two weeks of August. This is when the snow has finally melted and you’ll have access to all the trails, the wild flowers are in full bloom, and there is a slightly lower chance of wildfire smoke. One of my favorite parts about Mount Rainier is, it is surrounded by the Tatoosh Range, which has incredible trails and is SO STUNNING, making it a perfect PNW elopement location if you ask me! Ready to start planning your own Mount Rainier elopement? Click here for my full guide on how to elope at Mount Rainier, and click here for some inspo of what your day could look like!
The Olympics
Okay ready for a fun little fact?! Olympic National Park is the seventh most visited National Park in the United States (and for a good reason!). This National Park has some of the most diverse ecosystems in all of the Pacific Northwest (and in the entire world!). From rugged snow capped mountains, to gorgeous pacific coasts and old growth temperate rainforests, there is truly an incredible PNW elopement location for everyone! One of my favorite parts about the Olympics is the endless number of places to explore. Olympic National Park is at the lowest elevation out of all the PNW elopement locations I am recommending in this blog, so it is pretty accessible all year long! If you are wanting to learn more about eloping in Olympic National Park, click here for a complete guide I made just for you!
Snoqualmie Pass
Okay, I may be a little biased because I live here, but Snoqualmie Pass is one of my absolute favorite areas in the Pacific Northwest! This area is the closest to Seattle, WA, out of all the locations I have listed, making it an extremely accessible PNW elopement location if you are having guests or if you would like to stay in the city and enjoy the mountains for the day. Almost all of the trails in this area are dog friendly (woof!), so if you’d like to have your pup of honor by your side this is the perfect PNW elopement location for you! If you are looking for diverse terrain like alpine lakes, waterfalls, mountain overlooks, rivers and old growth forests, then look no further because this is the perfect spot for your best day ever (can you tell I LOVE this area?)! And if me gushing over the Snoqualmie Pass area isn’t enough, you can see an elopement I had the honor of documenting in this area by clicking here!
Ready to plan your own Pacific Northwest Elopement? Meet your PNW Elopement Photographer!
Okay if you have gotten this far on the blog, you just might be at the point where you are starting to envision yourself getting married in the PNW! And I’m just saying…I know of a pretty cool PNW elopement photographer who would love to document your PNW elopement! But, truly, hiring the right adventure elopement photographer is a really important step in your PNW elopement planning process! Of course, you’ll want photos of your day to treasure for years to come. But, you also want to book a photographer with experience in PNW elopement locations. From day-of timelines, Pacific Northwest weather patterns and uniquely scouted locations (and backup locations), it’s so important to work with a PNW elopement photographer who is well-versed in adventure elopement photography. I work really hard to care for my clients to make the planning process simple and their PNW elopement day unforgettable.
Click here to explore the PNW elopement packages I offer. I recommend the full day or sunrise sunset elopement packages most often to my couples.
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!