Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
There’s nothing quite like a romantic forest elopement, especially when it takes place in the Snoqualmie Valley! Joanie and Brent’s wedding took place on a moody, Washington day in one of the most remote and beautiful areas we can think of! Keep scrolling to see more from this forest elopement and read about our top 3 places for a woodsy wedding!
Meet the Couple of This Romantic Forest Elopement
Joanie and Brent’s forest elopement in Snoqualmie Valley took place on the rainiest day in Washington in 2023! We had to re-plan their day with what we dubbed “the rain plan” and despite all that, Joanie and Brent couldn’t have been happier! The entire day they were both just so in the moment and focused on each other. By the end of it they told me “This was perfect. We couldn’t have asked for it to be any better.” Even Brent (who told me that he hates having his photo taken) said it was the best day!
The couple’s day started off at one of our favorite cabins in Snoqualmie Pass. The cabin (which was designed to resemble a fire lookout) was so rad and was definitely a unique element in this forest elopement. Joanie and Brad shared a first look in the forest followed by some photos with their pup of honor, Bo.
From there we packed up and drove down into Snoqualmie Valley to a forested area. This area of Snoqualmie is perfect for elopements because of how remote it is. The whole time we were there, we only saw one forest ranger – that was it! We did not see another single person for three hours (talk about secluded). For their elopement ceremony, we found a spot amongst the pine trees (or should I say between the pine?!) where the couple exchanged vows. Afterward, we continued exploring the forest and found lots of mushrooms. For their celebration meal, we used a covered picnic area nearby and the couple cut into their cake (which Joanie had made herself).
We had planned to do a sunset hike, but at this point, it was starting to get dark and, with the rain, everyone was starting to feel a bit cold. We decided to skip the hike and instead, made our way over to a brewery at the mountain pass where we ended their forest elopement talking and celebrating the couple with beers in hand!
Want to see more from Joanie and Brent’s forest elopement? Check out these photos on Instagram!
Three Best Places for a Forest Elopement
Snoqualmie Valley
We’re pretty biased here at Between the Pine, but we think one of the best (and most underrated) places for a forest elopement is in Snoqualmie Valley. Both Mollie and Cass live in this area and know it inside and out!
Snoqualmie also tends to be far less busy than the national parks in Washington, while still giving you the same exact vibes (if not better!). We love how secluded this area is, plus it’s only 45 minutes from the Seattle airport, so if you or your guests are flying from out of town, it makes for a very convenient location to drive to.
The last reason we love Snoqualmie Valley is because of our cabin, Stay Between the Pine. We designed this cabin with our eloping couples in mind. The cabin is accessible year-round and the surrounding forests are filled with mossy ferns, giant pine trees, flowing rivers, water-like waterfalls, mountains within driving distance, and more! We could go on and on, but you get the point. Staying here or having an elopement in Snoqualmie Valley is like a dream come true!
Redwoods
It’s pretty hard to beat giant ancient trees and Redwoods National Park is as iconic as it gets. Home to some of the tallest trees in the world, this area in Northern California makes for one of the dreamiest places for a forest elopement. Something that I (Mollie) love about the Redwoods is the morning sun rays that shine through the trees just right! Then, there are the western sword ferns which average around six feet tall (talk about insane!!). The last thing we love about the Redwoods is that, depending on the exact location you choose, the Oregon Coast is within driving distance, meaning you can experience multiple views on your elopement day!
Olympic National Park
This list of forest elopement locations just wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Olympic National Park with the HOH and the Quinault rainforests. These forests (and others nearby) are filled with lush green old-growth trees and are within short driving distance to some of the other incredible landscapes on the Olympic Peninsula. If you are planning a forest elopement in Olympic National Park, we recommend staying either at Kalaloch Lodge or in the Port Angeles area, but this, of course, will depend on what you want for your day. To learn more about planning an elopement in Olympic National Park, check out the guide we’ve created below!
Best Time of Year to Plan a Forest Elopement
The great thing about planning a forest elopement is that most locations are accessible year-round. If you want that lush green color and foliage where the ferns are starting to stand up surrounding you with the most vibrant green colors all around, then you are going to want to consider a late spring or early summer elopement. The rainy fall season also brings the forest to life again, giving off moody vibes sprinkled with fall colors. We think you truly can’t go wrong with planning a forest elopement any time of the year.
More Forest Elopement Inspo
There are so many reasons to plan a Hoh Rainforest wedding! Visit the blog to read why and see more from Emma and Arsh’s magical day!
We love turning our couples’ elopement dreams into a reality, and looking back, this Hoh Rainforest wedding could not have been more in line with what Emma and Arsh described when they first reached out to us. Their intimate wedding was filled with adventure, the best views that Washington has to offer, and lots of meaningful moments with family. Keep scrolling to see more from Emma and Arsh’s magical day and learn a few of our top tips for planning your own Hoh Rainforest wedding.
Kimberlee and Chad’s Redwoods elopement went above and beyond what any of us could have imagined! This couple got to experience not just one, but TWO jaw-dropping locations in two different states at both sunrise and sunset! Visit the blog to read more about this forest elopement and learn why Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is one of our favorite forest elopement locations!
Whether you say your I do’s at the visitor center or set out on one of the many trails, you’re sure to have the most stunning mountain views during your Hurricane Ridge elopement. Jessica and James had the best of both worlds exploring Olympic National Park during their adventure wedding.Visit the blog to see all the incredible locations they visited during their Hurricane Ridge elopement (and grab a kleenex because James’ reaction to seeing Jessica for the first time was so incredibly sweet!).
Meet the Incredible Vendors From This Forest Elopement
Photographer: Between the Pine
Hair & Makeup: Anne Timss
Dress: Brides for a Cause
Wedding band: Holden
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