Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy

When you think about your elopement day, what do you imagine doing? If you’re picturing a ceremony, some portraits, and then wondering, “Okay… now what?” you’re definitely not alone. One of the biggest questions we hear from couples considering a full-day elopement is “What do we do for an entire day?” Well, we’ve got good news for you, friends – the choice is completely up to you!

A full-day elopement doesn’t have to mean spending 10+ hours hiking up craggy mountains (unless that’s your idea of a perfect day, in which case, we’re stoked). It can mean watching the sunrise from a fire lookout, taking a break at your cabin, cracking open a few local beers, making gourmet s’mores, and heading back out for another adventure when you’re ready.

And that’s exactly what took place during Chelsea and David’s full-day elopement in Washington. Their day was packed with mountain views and jaw-dropping landscapes, but it was also full of the little things that made it feel like them. They hiked, laughed, drank beer, made s’mores, and traded some truly wild conspiracy theories, while spending the whole day doing what they love most: hanging out together. Keep reading to see what their full-day Washington elopement looked like.

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Meet Chelsea & David: The Stars of This Full-Day Elopement in Washington

Part One: Fire Lookout Elopement Ceremony

Chelsea and David are a pretty adventurous couple, and when it came to planning their Washington mountain elopement, all they wanted was a full day of hiking. So, they started their day at sunrise at a fire lookout tower in the Mt Baker area. And, boy oh boy, was it a beautiful start to their day! Other than a few overnight campers, Chelsea and David basically had the whole place to themselves, which was so romantic and lovely.

After their first look, they exchanged vows. David had lost his dad, and his vows were incredibly emotional. He talked about wishing his dad could have been there and knowing that he would have loved Chelsea.

After vows, they hung out on the trail for a while before eventually making their way back to their cabin for a little downtime before heading out for round two.

In the afternoon, Devin met back up with Chelsea and David at their cabin for some getting ready photos. But instead of recreating a traditional wedding morning, they decided to do something a little more their speed. They lounged around the cabin, cracked open some craft beer, and enjoyed a few simple moments together before heading back out for their next adventure.

Chelsea and David are big fans of craft beer and brewing, so a mixed pack of beers from Bellingham was a pretty perfect addition to their afternoon. They grabbed a beer, hung out, talked, laughed, and took a little breather before lacing up their hiking shoes again. While moments like this aren’t anything elaborate, our couples often tell us that they end up being some of their favorite moments from the day because they’re ones that reflect the things they already enjoy doing together. And honestly, that’s what elopements are all about!

Part Two: Sunset Adventure with Craft Beer and S’mores

Then it was time for round two of hiking. They headed up to Table Mountain, and this is when their day really became a choose-your-own-adventure situation. Chelsea and David had approximately a million and one activities planned (okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration), but they were completely down to roll with whatever sounded fun in the moment.

Once they reached the summit, they made gourmet s’mores, enjoyed another drink together, explored the mountain, and kept finding new ways to make the day their own. Then, as if the day couldn’t get any better, they watched the sun set slowly over the mountains, stretching the evening into an endless blue hour. The sky turned all kinds of cotton-candy colors as they soaked in every last bit of daylight (a pretty perfect way to end their full-day elopement if you ask us).

By the end of the day, Chelsea and David had watched the sunrise from a fire lookout, exchanged some incredibly meaningful vows, taken a break at their cabin, shared a beer, hiked through the mountains, made gourmet s’mores, chased the sunset, and spent a whole day doing things they love.

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So… What Do You Actually Do During a Full-Day Elopement?

We get it. “A full day” can sound like a lot of time for an elopement. And you might be wondering, “What are we supposed to do for eight, ten, or twelve hours?” But, the answer is pretty simple. You can do whatever sounds fun to you. There literally are no rules!

Your elopement day doesn’t have to be twelve straight hours of epic adventure. (Unless that sounds like your version of the best day ever. In which case, let’s go.) A full-day elopement simply gives you the time and space to make your wedding day about more than just the ceremony.

Maybe you hike to a fire lookout for sunrise, like Chelsea and David. Or maybe you head back to your cabin and do a little craft beer tasting. Maybe you go kayaking or backpacking, or bring your favorite card game and play it beside an alpine lake. You can have a celebratory meal cooked by a private chef, or find a cool swimming hole and jump in. Your elopement activities don’t have to be grand, complicated, or Instagram-worthy. They just have to be things you enjoy doing together.

When we help couples plan their elopement days, we’re not looking for a list of activities that sounds impressive on paper. We want to help you plan the things that make you truly excited. Because if you love craft beer, why wouldn’t you bring a few beers to enjoy together?

If you’re looking for more ideas, we’ve put together a list of elopement activities you can do during your elopement day. From adventurous excursions to cozy, low-key ways to spend time together, there’s plenty of inspiration to get those wheels turning.

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What You Need to Know About Full-Day Elopement Packages

If you’re dreaming about an elopement that feels more like a full-day adventure than a traditional wedding timeline, our full-day elopement package is the perfect place to start. It’s a great fit for couples who want to explore multiple locations, build in several activities, take their time on the trail, or simply have more space to enjoy the day.

If you’re not quite sure what you want your day to look like, that’s where we come in! We can help you figure out whether a sunrise or sunset adventure (or maybe even both) is right for you, which landscapes fit your vision, and what activities will make your day feel like yours.

If you’re ready to start planning your own full-day elopement, reach out to our team. We can’t wait to help you start dreaming up the adventure.

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Meet the Dream Team From This All Day Elopement in Washington

Photographer: Devin at Between the Pine

Hair and Makeup Artist: Anne Timms

Florals: Tangled Roots