Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
What do you get when you plan a summer elopement in Washington’s magical mountains with your pup of honor and friends by your side? The best day ever, that’s what! Dani and Cara’s elopement at Artist Point was beyond incredible! Keep scrolling to see more from their incredible day and learn a few of our top tips to consider when planning a summer elopement at Artist Point.
Meet Dani & Cara: The Couple of This Summer Elopement at Artist Point
Dani and Cara hold a very special place in my (Mollie’s) heart. I first connected with the couple in 2022 and over the past couple of years, I’ve grown to call them friends (I mean, we both have Berner dogs – how could we not be friends?).
The choice of where to elope was a pretty easy one for Dani and Cara. The couple lives in Bellingham and the surrounding North Cascade mountains are where they go to explore in their time off. These trails have become a special place for them so they decided what better place to say ‘I Do’ than the mountains they call home?
The morning of their summer elopement started bright and early. Before the sun came up, the brides finished getting ready in the parking lot outside Artist Point before heading to their ceremony spot. As the sun rose (turning the sky the most beautiful shades of pink), Dani and Cara shared a first look on the trail before joining the rest of their loved ones for a sunrise ceremony. Surrounded by the beautiful mountains, the couple exchanged crystals, then wrapped an eighth-generation Native American blanket around their shoulders for their blanket ceremony!
We spent the next few moments exploring the mountains, and Cara brought out her film camera to snap a few photos of Dani before heading back to their cabin for a midday break.
When we met back up in the afternoon, the brides got ready again before heading out to explore the forest. One of our first stops was a day-use area where Paella Works had catered a gorgeous (and delicious) meal! While we ate, I noticed that some clouds were starting to move in. I asked the couple if they wanted to shift to a different sunset hike as the one we had planned looked like it was going to be covered in a cloud. Dani and Cara said “No, let’s do it. Whatever happens, it’s going to be amazing!” (seriously, love that energy!).
So, we headed to the trailhead and met up with their friends who had come to join in their celebratory hike. Sure enough, when we reached the top, we were fully in a cloud but everyone was so stoked! (That may or may not have been due to the mountain goat sighting we got to witness). Their friends immediately got to work setting up camp and laying out a whole spread of cheese and wine. We took a few photos along the way, but instead of adventuring around, Dani and Cara simply lived in the moment and enjoyed the experience of celebrating with their friends. Best! Day! Ever!
Want to see more from Dani and Cara’s summer elopement? Check out this post on Instagram, or click here for more photos of their pup-of-honor, George!
Four Things to Keep in Mind When Planning a Summer Elopement in the North Cascades
Time of Year and Weather
If you are planning a summer elopement in the North Cascades then you already know this is the best time of year to elope in this area of the Washington mountains! Because this area sits at a higher elevation, the roads to most of the hiking trails are only accessible between late June and early October. Depending on how heavy the snowfall was that year though, the roads may not open until mid-July.
If you want to truly experience the beauty of the North Cascades, we highly recommend eloping between August and early September. During this season, the wildflowers are exploding in all different shades and colors making this a truly magical time of year to plan your elopement.
However, with any outdoor elopement, there is always one thing we can’t plan for – the weather. While it’s true that summertime is a magical season in Washington, planning a summer elopement doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed good weather. It’s best to plan for a certain level of flexibility and be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in mind. But, no matter what happens, as your elopement photographers, we will be there to help guide you every step of the way.
Crowds
Artist Point is one of those elopement locations we find ourselves going back to over and over again. While this is one of the most beautiful places to elope in Washington, it’s also one of the easiest to access (it’s ADA-accessible AND dog-friendly which we LOVE!). What this means is that this trail can become very crowded (especially on the weekends which is why we always recommend a weekday elopement at this location).
Artist Point is an epic place to say ‘I Do’, however, if you don’t love the idea of being surrounded by strangers on your wedding day, that’s ok. We’ve got plenty of other amazing locations in the surrounding area that we can’t wait to show you.
Pets
Speaking of pets, Artist Point is very pet-friendly as we mentioned. Because this area is located within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and not the national park, leashed pets are allowed. Just remember to follow the rules of Leave No Trace and B.A.R.K. whenever bringing your pup of honor to your elopement.
Accommodation
The last thing to keep in mind when planning a summer elopement at Artist Point is to book your accommodations early. Because the season is limited, cabins in the area tend to get booked up quickly. In order to secure your ideal location, we recommend booking your accommodations around 6 months in advance when possible. When looking for a cabin, try to find a cabin that is close to your ceremony or adventure location. That way you can minimize the amount of time spent in a car on your elopement day.
More Summer Elopement and Artist Point Wedding Inspiration
Meet Your Summer Elopement Photographers
We feel most at home in the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that is where we gravitate towards as your summer elopement 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 summer elopement photographers!
Meet the Other Incredible Vendors From This Summer Elopement at Artist Point
Photographer: Between the Pine
Catering: Paella Works
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