Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
If you feel torn between a wedding and an elopement, a small elopement wedding could be the way to experience it all! Helen and Ryan’s small wedding gave them the best of both worlds! Not only did they get to spend a day with their closest loved ones in a beautiful location, but they also got to experience the private adventure they also wanted! Keep scrolling to see their dreamy two-day small elopement wedding in the North Cascades, plus learn a few of our top tips to consider when planning your own small wedding.
Meet Helen & Ryan: The Couple of This Small Elopement Wedding in the North Cascades
When Helen and Ryan first started planning their wedding, they were originally considering a traditional wedding. After going through all the different options (from locations to guest count to overall vibes), they ultimately decided that a big wedding just wasn’t for them. There were a few core things that were most important to them and ultimately, these items led them to plan a small elopement wedding instead. They took their wedding vision, blended it with an elopement and the result was an incredible experience for them and their guests! Or, in Helen’s words, “our day delivered on every point”!
For day one of Helen and Ryan’s small wedding celebration, the couple started with a sunrise first look at Artist Point followed by the cutest first look with their loved ones and an alpine lake wedding ceremony. After they were officially married, everyone celebrated with a brunch picnic at a day use area and some sightseeing around the lake.
From there, they took a midday break so everyone could rest and recharge, then met back up with their guests for a gorgeous dinner reception (set up by The Greatest Adventure Weddings) at Silver Lake Lodge.
Day two was reserved for just Helen and Ryan. The next evening they went on a hike with Kass and got the most gorgeous 360 views of the Cascade mountains as the sun set over the horizon. Talk about a perfect way to spend your first day being married!
From their brunch picnic to their reception dinner to their private sunset photos, everything about Helen and Ryan’s small elopement wedding was so intentional! Their day proves that you really can blend a traditional wedding and an adventure elopement for your best day ever!
Three Things to Consider When Planning a Small Elopement Wedding
Thinking about planning a small wedding? Here are three of our top tips to keep in mind!
Hold Your Reception at a Day Use Area or Park Lodge
One of our favorite things about having a small wedding in the North Cascades (or any Washington nature location, for that matter) is that you don’t have to rent an expensive venue. Day use areas and park lodges are amazing options surrounded by beautiful scenery (not to mention they’re also super affordable!).
Opt for a Two-Day Wedding So You Can Get the Best of Both Worlds
When it comes to planning your best day ever you don’t have to choose between a traditional wedding and an elopement. You can have your favorite people around you while still keeping some moments for just the two of you! Helen and Ryan’s wedding is a perfect example of how you can plan a two-day small elopement wedding that prioritizes what is important to you without having to sacrifice what you really want. For example, one day can be set aside for your ceremony and meaningful moments with your loved ones while the second day can be set aside for the two of you to go on a beautiful adventure! Having multiple days allows you to experience everything that’s important to you without feeling rushed to fit it all into a single day.
Consider Hiring an Elopement Wedding Planner
Even though small weddings and elopements tend to be more intimate, they still require a bit of thoughtful planning. As your small wedding photographers, we will be with you every step of the way and help you plan from location recommendations to permits to vendor suggestions and more. However, it can also be helpful to hire a wedding planner. Having a wedding planner can not only help you plan the details prior to your big day, but on the day of they’ll also be able to help you execute your vision and help with set up and tear down so you (and your loved ones) can focus on enjoying the moment.
What You Need to Know About Your Small Wedding Elopement Packages
When choosing to have a small wedding, we highly recommend our two-day elopement packages to our couples.
Our two-day small wedding packages give you the chance to get to experience multiple locations while still having plenty of time to enjoy with your guests. Click here to learn more about our small wedding elopement packages.
Meet Your Small Elopement Wedding Photographers
We feel most at home in the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that is where we gravitate towards as your small 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! If you want a wedding that includes adventure and intimate moments with loved ones, explore our two-day small wedding elopement packages here!
Meet the Other Incredible Vendors From This Small Wedding
Photographer: Between the Pine
Planner: The Greatest Adventure Weddings
Florals: Tangled Roots Floral
Hair and Makeup: Anne Timss Makeup & Hair
Wedding Dress: Brides for a Cause
Celebratory Almond Croissant Picnic: Petit Pierre Bakery
Ice Cream: Salt & Straw
DJ: Ron Chow
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