Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
When it came to planning their Lake Crescent elopement day, Karessa and Riley told us they wanted to see as much of the diverse scenery that Olympic National Park has to offer as possible. And boy oh boy, did they ever!
Their full-day elopement took us from the tippy top of the mountains all the way out to the Olympic Coast to close out the day. Their pup-of-honor Cooper came along for the adventure, as did their little camper trailer. And the best part of all was that they got to experience everything without spending hours sitting in the car.
Keep reading to see how we helped them plan their Lake Crescent elopement and why where you choose to stay can be so much more than just choosing a place to sleep.
Meet Karessa & Riley: The Stars of Full-Day Lake Crescent Elopement
Karessa and Riley are no strangers to road trips. They met on Bumble and have done everything from touring the country and visiting National Parks in their teardrop trailer to going to Disneyland. So a road trip around the Olympic Peninsula for their elopement day felt right up their alley.
When we started planning their day together, they told us they wanted to explore as much of the park’s diversity as possible. We’re talking forests, waterfalls, lakes, mountains, and coastline all within the same general area.
The only thing is that Olympic National Park is huge! Getting from one side of the park to the other can take a while, and even though Karessa and Riley enjoy a good road trip, they didn’t want to spend their wedding day sitting in the car (we don’t blame them!).
So Amy (their incredible Between the Pine photographer) helped puzzle-piece together a timeline that allowed them to get to visit as much of the park as possible while still leaving plenty of room to explore and enjoy the day. She mapped out a route that included Hurricane Ridge, Lake Crescent, and Rialto Beach, with each location adding a different view to the experience.
Choosing Lodging within the Park
One of the biggest decisions that made Karessa and Riley’s itinerary possible was where they stayed. They chose Lake Crescent Lodge, giving them a convenient home base near the lake, forest, and mountains while also making it easier to build a route through the park.
After spending the morning getting ready with their parents, they held their ceremony right on Lake Crescent so their pup of honor, Cooper, could join them. Olympic National Park does have specific pet restrictions, so choosing dog-friendly locations is an important part of planning if your pup is coming along. (Always check the current park pet regulations before your day or this is something we will help with when we plan together!)
And because this is Washington, they got a little bit of everything when it came to weather. Sunshine, overcast skies, rain, and fog made an appearance throughout the day, basically giving them the full Washington weather sampler platter.
Sunset at Rialto Beach
Karessa and Riley ended the day at Rialto Beach, where we ran into some unexpected and very thick fog. Rather than spending the rest of the day hiking through fog just because that was the original plan, Amy (who happens to live in this area and knows all the best trails around the park) pivoted and led them to another area of the beach that worked beautifully in the conditions.
Despite seeing so much, Karessa and Riley’s day still felt relaxed because the itinerary was intentionally built around geography and timing.
But more importantly than what they got to see, their Lake Crescent elopement felt completely like them. Their good friend officiated the ceremony and followed them around with a personalized sign (which was hillarious); they brought their sweet doggo and trailer along for photos, and they got to explore some truly incredible scenery together. Truly a best day ever!
How to See More of Olympic National Park Without Spending Your Elopement in the Car
Olympic National Park is one of our all-time favorite places to elope in Washington! There are a lot of jaw-dropping places to explore, but the park is large, the roads are winding, and not every location is conveniently next door to the next one.
If you try to cram every location into one day, you can very quickly turn an adventurous elopement into a very scenic road trip (which we highly recommend, just perhaps not on your wedding day).
Karessa and Riley’s Lake Crescent lodging gave them a strategic home base and helped cut down on unnecessary travel time. If you’re dreaming about a similar experience, here are a few things we recommend:
Have a Plan B
Weather can change quickly in the Pacific Northwest. The fog at Rialto Beach is a perfect example of why being flexible and having a backup plan is important. This is where working with a local photographer who knows the area and can suggest another option becomes really valuable, as you can keep enjoying the day instead of worrying about whether the original plan still works.
Choose your home base wisely
Whether you’re staying at a lodge, cabin, or campground, think about how your lodging fits into the overall route instead of treating it as somewhere you simply sleep.
Group locations geographically
Rather than bouncing back and forth across the peninsula, build your day around a logical route and locations that make sense together (this is something we also help with as your elopement photographers).
Give yourself breathing room
Driving isn’t the only thing that takes time. Parking, walking to viewpoints, letting your dog sniff approximately 4,000 interesting things (yes, it’s their day too), and stopping because the light is incredible all take time.
What You Need to Know About Full-Day Packages for Your Lake Crescent Elopement
If you’re dreaming about a full day of exploring Olympic National Park, our full-day elopement package gives you the space to build a day around the places and experiences that matter to you.
Karessa and Riley’s day is a great example. They were able to explore mountains, forests, a lake, and the coast without feeling like they were racing from one place to the next.
We’ll help you figure out how much coverage makes sense based on your location and what you want to do, so you don’t have to play travel agent, trail planner, and timeline coordinator all at once.
Learn more about our elopement packages here or contact us and let’s talk through what your Olympic National Park adventure could look like!
Meet Your Lake Crescent Elopement Photographers
We feel most at home in the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that we gravitate toward places like Lake Crescent. When you work with Between the Pine, you’re getting more than someone to photograph the day. We’re here to help you figure out how to make your day work for you.
For Karessa and Riley, that meant building an efficient route, understanding how much time each location would really take, knowing where they could bring Cooper, and having a backup plan when the weather changed.
We know the Pacific Northwest like the back of our hands, and we’re always stoked for an excuse to head back into the mountains, forests, lakes, coastline, and everything in between.
Resources for Planning Your Olympic National Park Elopement
Still dreaming up your adventure? Keep exploring with some of our favorite planning resources:
How to Elope in Washington State: Everything you need to start figuring out the legal, logistical, and location side of your Washington elopement.
A Complete Guide to Eloping in Olympic National Park: Our full planning guide for couples dreaming about an Olympic National Park adventure.
How to Choose Your Elopement Photography Package: Not sure whether half-day, full-day, or multi-day coverage makes sense for your plans? Start here.
Rainy Wedding Day Tips: Sunshine is never guaranteed in Washington, but that doesn’t mean your day can’t be incredible. Here are a few tips we’ve learned over the years to have your best day ever no matter the weather!
How Much Does It Cost to Elope?: A helpful starting point for building your elopement budget.
How to Plan a Dog-Friendly Elopement: And if your pup is joining you, make sure you check the current National Park Service pet regulations before finalizing your locations. Olympic has specific areas where pets are allowed, and those rules help protect both your dog and the incredible landscape you came here to experience.
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