Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
We will never not be obsessed with this stunning Mount Rainier wedding! Ha and Patrick planned a beautiful summer wedding (complete with a gorgeous picnic dinner) at Mount Rainier National Park with a handful of their closest friends. Keep scrolling to see more from their beautiful Mount Rainier National Park wedding and learn the top three things to consider when getting married at this Washington national park!
Meet Ha & Patrick and Get a Glimpse Into This Mount Rainier Wedding
Ha and Patrick’s stunning Mount Rainier wedding (more accurately called Mount Tahoma) started at their A-frame cabin in Packwood, Washington. They spent the first few hours getting ready and writing their vows (with their adorable pup by their side). After a relaxed morning, we headed into the national park where we met up with their friends at the Sunrise Visitor Center area. One of the things that I love about elopements and weddings at Sunrise is how accessible everything is. Ha and Patrick’s ceremony, celebratory meal, and sunset photos all took place in one location, allowing them to spend more time with their friends rather than having to drive around to different locations.
Once we arrived at the visitor center, we walked over to the landing where the couple held their Mount Rainier wedding ceremony. After they said ‘I Do’ their friends blew celebratory bubbles before we all walked over to the picnic area where The Greatest Adventure Weddings had set up the picnic tables for their celebratory meal (shout out to Erika because these tables were STUNNING!).
As the sun began to set over the horizon Ha, Patrick and I explored a nearby trail soaking in the beautiful views of the wildflower fields while watching Mount Rainier turn gorgeous shades of pink. This was definitely a highlight from the day as Rainier had been hiding in the clouds for most of the day.
Want to see more clips from this beautiful day? Click here!
Three Things to Consider When Getting Married at Mount Rainier
Permit
So, you’re excited to start planning your Mount Rainier National Park wedding (we’re so excited for you too!). The first thing to know is you must get a permit to elope or have a wedding within the park (click here to learn more about Mount Rainier wedding permits). A permit is required for all wedding ceremonies, whether you are eloping just the two of you or whether you plan to invite a few guests.
Speaking of guests, if you are planning to hold your wedding ceremony in Mount Rainier National Park, it’s best to keep your guest count limited to 10-15 people. Your party size will determine which park locations are available to choose from for your wedding ceremony, so the smaller your guest count, the more options will be available to you.
Ha and Patrick had around 15 people at their Mount Rainier wedding which allowed them to use one of the park’s designated areas. If you’re hoping to venture out onto some of the trails, then you’ll want to invite fewer people. If you want to invite more people, that’s ok too. We recommend holding the ceremony at your cabin or another location outside the park before venturing into the park for sunset photos.
Time of Year
Any guesses when the best time to get married at Mount Rainier might be (just kidding, we won’t make you guess.)? The best time of year to elope or have a wedding at Mount Rainier National Park is during the summer months (specifically July through September). These months are a prime time for exploring the PNW and they’ll also give you the highest chance of sunny and 75-degree temperatures as well as better visibility, lush wildflower fields, and snow-free trails.
Weather
Summertime is the most ideal season for getting married at Mount Rainier and while we always hope for the best weather, the one thing we always tell our couples is that we can’t control Mother Nature.
Mount Rainier is stunning, but she can also be elusive (we think that is what also makes her so majestic). Most days she is hiding in the clouds (one time-lapse study showed that Mount Rainier was only visible 83 times in a single year, but many people think even that is generous!).
The other thing to know about weather at Mount Rainier National Park is that there can be different microclimates on different sides of the mountain. We don’t say all of this to scare you away from getting married here, we just want you to know and understand that it can be cloudy up on the mountain and you never quite know what you are going to get, but it’s these types of environments that make each elopement so unique!
Mount Rainier Wedding Resources and Inspo
Timelines, permits, and details, oh my! Planning your elopement at Mt Rainier doesn’t have to feel overwhelming! In this guide, we are sharing everything to help you know how to elope at Mt Rainier, from a checklist to our rental recommendations, and even an all-star list of vendors.
It’s hard to plan for the weather during your Mt. Rainier wedding, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Katy and Kyle were convinced it was going to rain during their adventure elopement. When they woke up to cloudy skies and temps in the mid-40’s they embraced every moment. Click on the link below to see how their day ended and the incredible views they took in during their Mt. Rainier wedding.
Meet Your Your Mount Rainier Wedding Photographers
We feel most at home in the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that is where we gravitate towards as your Mount Rainier Wedding photographers. Between the Pine was founded by Mollie in 2018 and she has hiked hundreds of miles all over the Pacific Northwest and Kauai, to capture couples during their best day ever. Since 2018, we’ve grown our team and continue to hire even more incredible photographers!
Our team at Between the Pine is passionate about our jobs and adventuring to the most beautiful locations to document your best day ever. We know the Pacific Northwest like the back of our hands and are dying for a reason to head back to the mountains, forest, and everything in between! Click here to learn more about the Between the Pine team, your Mount Rainier Wedding photographers!
Meet the Other Incredible Vendors From This Mount Rainier Wedding
Photographer: Between the Pine
Planning & Design: The Greatest Adventure Weddings
Florals: Goldenrod Floral Design
Rentals: Balancing Balloons
Picnic: Miere Catering
Hair & Makeup: Pacific Brides
Cake: H Mart
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