Written by our rad team member, Jess Dastous
Where to Elope: Jaw Dropping Backdrops for Your Destination Elopement
Have you been dreaming of saying your I do’s in some of the most stunning destinations, but you can’t decide where to elope? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! We are breaking down the most incredible, jaw dropping backdrops for your destination elopement. There are so many options to choose from during your best day ever, it can feel overwhelming. Not to worry, this blog includes all the details on our top locations, plus real elopements to help you start dreaming up your day in one of these incredible places.
Our top picks: where to elope with the best backdrops
- Mountain overlook
- Fire lookout
- Desert or canyon floor
- Deep forest
- Cabin
- Waterfall
- Alpine lake
- Rugged coastline and beach
Breaking Down Where to Elope by backdrop
There are so many incredible backdrops to choose from during your elopement day it can be hard to choose where to elope. We’re sharing all of our favorite jaw dropping backdrops to help you narrow down your choice for where to elope. From stunning mountain overlooks, to historic fire looks out, to rainforest, desertscapes and everything in between, there is no shortage of backdrops to choose from. Keep reading for our top picks on where to elope and what adventures to take during your best day ever!
Plus, check out these guides to help you start dreaming up your day in one of these incredible locations:
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: A Mountain Overlook
Do you dream of having a stunning mountain overlook as your elopement backdrop? Envision your day with the sky becoming cotton candy pink, while the pine trees filter golden rays of sunlight, and you exchange vows with your partner as the sun slips behind snow-capped peaks. This sounds like a dream come true if you ask us. With three national parks and a handful of national forests in Washington alone, we are sure to find the perfect mountain overlook location for your elopement. Or you could explore the stunning state of Colorado during wildflower season and walk among the most colorful mountainsides your eyes have ever seen.
- Best time of year:
All year | Our top picks are summer (because the mountain is fully accessible and there are wildflowers in bloom) and fall (because of the color change in the trees).
- How to adventure:
Hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking, and the list truly goes on and on
- Where to elope: Our favorite mountain overlooks
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out these real elopements to help you start dreaming up your day.
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: A Fire Lookout
Fire lookout hikes are hands down some of our favorite hikes in the Pacific Northwest! Fire lookouts were built back in the early 1900s throughout the West to help the National Forest Service spot forest fires early on. This means at every fire lookout, you are guaranteed an epic viewpoint as far as the eye can see! So, obviously, a historic fire lookout is high on our list of recommendations for where to elope. These fire lookouts make for an adventurous dressing room while you get ready for your own mountain elopement. And, it gets even better! You can even stay the night in some of the fire lookouts.
- Best time of year:
Summer and fall
- How to adventure:
Hiking and camping in the fire lookout (you can reserve some others are first-come-first-serve)
- Where to elope: Our favorite fire lookout
Our absolute, hands-down favorite fire lookout is in the North Cascades. But, it’s a secret! We only share this location’s details with our couples, so send us a message if you want to start dreaming up your day here!
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out these real elopements to help you start dreaming up your day.
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: A Desert or Canyon Floor
We’re definitely biased towards the Pacific Northwest, but a desert or canyon floor is an incredible elopement destination. From slot canyons, overlooks, arches, otherworldly plants and petrified rock, the West is the perfect option when choosing where to elope. The rugged landscape and the rich, orange and red canyon walls make a stunning backdrop for an elopement.
- Best time of year:
Spring and fall | The temperatures during summer and winter can reach extremes.
- How to adventure:
Climbing, hiking and camping
- Where to elope: Our favorite deserts and canyons for destination elopements
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out these real elopements to help you start dreaming up your day.
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: A Deep Forest
One of our all time favorite destination elopements is standing between the pines as they create a canopy, while the ferns line the sides of the trails. You will be in awe of the lush greenery that is so dense and truly stunning. Exchange your vows among some of the tallest trees in the world or maybe you’d prefer a tropical rainforest with monstreas hanging from above. There are no shortage of forest elopement locations if you are dreaming on all the green hues when choosing where to elope.
- Best time of year:
All year | The deep, lush landscape will always be there no matter what season it is
- How to adventure:
Hiking, camping and mountain biking
- Where to elope: Our favorite forests for elopements
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out these real elopements to help you start dreaming up your day.
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: A Cabin
There is something so special to us about a mountain cabin with a wood-burning fireplace, a Pendleton blanket to curl up with and waking up to the sound of pines moving in the breeze as the river flows nearby. Cabins create a unique backdrop for an elopement and, of course, a great place to get ready and host a celebratory meal after a full day of adventures! Even if you choose to elope somewhere like a waterfall, canyon or mountain overlook, a cabin is the perfect homebase for your destination elopement.
- Best time of year:
All year
- How to adventure:
A cabin is the perfect spot for making coffee, morning walks, hot tubbing, prepping for adventure and resting after you return from your adventure. Cabins are also great ways to include friends and family in your elopement. Click here for a guide to including friends and family in the adventure.
- Where to elope: Riverbend Retreat
Check out our guide on all the best Airbnb locations organized by state and of course the Riverbend Retreat, our quaint little A-frame located in North Bend!
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out this real elopement to help you start dreaming up your day.
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: A Waterfall
Imagine exchanging your vows next to a stunning waterfall as mist swirls in the air around you. Not to mention, the contrast of a waterfall, the forest greens, and your elopement attire will truly make for the most stunning photos during your destination elopement! The Pacific Northwest is known for rain, so it is no surprise that the PNW also has some of the most jaw dropping waterfalls. Also, if you’re thinking you’d like to elopement somewhere a little more topical when deciding where to elope, you could explore the most incredible waterfalls on the island of Kauai.
- Best time of year:
Summer and fall | The waterfalls can be inaccessible or frozen over during the winter, and the falls can be roaring and unsafe to get to the base during spring. However, the waterfalls in Kauai are accessible year-round!
- How to adventure:
Hiking, exploring the swimming holes near the waterfall, and even fish (if allowed on the river)
- Where to elope: the best waterfall elopement backdrops
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out this real elopement to help you start dreaming up your day.
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: An Alpine Lake
Alpine lakes create the most stunning reflections of their incredible surroundings. Just imagine a giant snow-capped mountain being mirrored by an alpine lake below as you exchange vows. And, some Washington alpine lakes are very easy to access, meaning you won’t have to travel far for the picturesque elopement backdrop, which is important to consider when deciding where to elope, especially if you plan on including guests.
- Best time of year:
Spring, summer and fall
- How to adventure:
Hiking, swimming, fishing and canoeing
- Where to elope: the best alpine lakes for elopements
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out this real elopement to help you start dreaming up your day.
Our Top Pick for Where to Elope: The Rugged Coastline or Beach
The beach may be the last location on our list, but it definitely is one of the most stunning locations for a destination elopement. You can explore the many tidepools, driftwood lining the coast and take in the rocks jutting up from the ocean. Imagine watching the sun dip below the horizon as the waves crash against the shore with whales swimming in the distance. A rugged coastline or beach at sunset is a magical destination elopement location.
- Best time of year:
Access the best all year | We personally love spring and summer in Washington, and the beaches in Kauai are incredible all year long
- Ways to adventure:
Camp on the beach, explore tidepools, swim with sea turtles, watch the sunrise with coffee and watch the sunset with wine
- Where to elope on the beach: Our favorite coastlines for your elopement
Need more inspo to help you choose where to elope? Check out this real elopement to help you start dreaming up your day.
Are you ready to decide where to elope?
No matter where you choose to elope, your destination elopement location should represent you and your partner. So, if you love the outdoors, but aren’t looking to hike very far, a drive-up mountain overlook is a perfect option for you! Maybe you love spending time at the beach, then let’s find the best coastline for how you envision your day! And if you love summiting mountains together, then let’s adventure to an alpine lake deep in the peaks of Washington or Colorado! Wherever you choose to elope, we’re here to help you plan your best day ever with the most stunning backdrop. Contact us if you have questions about where to elope, we’d love to help you choose the perfect elopement destination that represents you.
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