Written by our rad team member, Kiersten Roy
Washington Elopement in Snoqualmie Pass
We get pretty stoked around here every time we get to help couples plan their Washington elopement! Whether we are hiking through the forest, climbing mountain peaks, or celebrating at a cozy cabin, we love getting to explore the PNW with our beautiful couples. For their Washington elopement, Lydia and Matt experienced some unexpected events that caused us to change their location at the last minute. This new spot proved to be more than any of us could have imagined though and was the perfect spot for these two to say ‘I do’! Keep scrolling to see the stunning views we witnessed at their elopement in Snoqualmie Pass, plus learn why this area is one of our top choices for an elopement in Washington!
Meet Lydia & Matt: The Couple of This Washington Elopement
Meet Lydia and Matt, the couple of this Washington elopement (oh – and we CAN’T forget their pup, Scout!). Lydia and Matt had originally planned on eloping in the Central Cascades area, but that month Washington had experienced some horrible fires. Access to the location was unpredictable at best and the AQI (air quality index) was just awful! The three of us (Mollie and the couple) had been keeping in close contact and just a week before their Washington elopement, we hopped on a call to decide what we were going to do.
Lydia and Matt decided it would be best to switch locations altogether and (as luck would have it) the perfect opportunity came up! Our cabin, the Riverbend Retreat, had just opened that week for reservations and, after sharing a little bit with them about the area, Lydia and Matt decided to have their Washington elopement at Snoqualmie Pass instead. The colors there were so beautiful and there was very little smoke in comparison to our original location. This new location also meant that their friends would be able to join them from Seattle after a long day (a win-win all around)!
While having to change locations at the last minute was unexpected, this new location actually held a lot of significance for Lydia and Matt. The hike we ended up choosing for their Washington elopement was actually a hike they had done together when they first started dating (a full-circle moment for the couple)!
Lydia and Matt’s elopement morning started out at their cabin nestled on the river with their best friends helping them get ready. The couple shared a first look outside before we headed into the forest for some couple photos. We wandered through the old growth trees and marveled at the ferns, taking in all of nature’s beauty around us.
From there, we started off on the hike to their ceremony location. This trail is just off the beaten path, and is one that you would probably miss if you weren’t familiar with the area. Their friends (who had joined us) hiked with us to the top, where Lydia and Matt exchanged vows surrounded by views of the North Cascade mountains. As the sun was setting, they passed out homemade cookies and enjoyed a small snack with their friends before the three of us took off for some more couple photos. The cookies were such a fun little touch, and if you know me, you know that cookies are my love language! Lydia and Matt’s Washington elopement day ended back at the cabin where the two of them (and even Scout) all enjoyed their own signature cocktails and a celebratory dinner with friends.
Four Elopement Ideas to Include To Personalize Your Day
Elopements are all about expressing your unique personality (the things that excite you both as a couple). Here are four fun ways to add an individual touch to your elopement day.
Rent a Dreamy Cabin
If you’re eloping in the forest or the mountains (or anywhere remote), having a cozy place to come back to at the end of the day is such a special way to end your day. Whether you want to get cozy by the fireplace, soak in a hot tub, or have a celebratory meal with friends and family, an elopement cabin is the perfect place to relax after an exciting elopement day. If this sounds like your dream, luckily, we know just the perfect cabin for you! Riverbend Retreat was created with elopements in mind and would make the perfect location to host your dream day! Click here for more information and check out our Airbnb wedding guide using the link below!
A First Look
A lot of our couples choose to do a first look and, can I just say that we are big fans of this elopement idea! A first look is a great way to share in a few quiet moments with your partner before the rest of your day begins. Some couples (like Katy and Kyle) even do a double first look (check out their adventurous Mt Rainier wedding for more elopement ideas) while others take these moments to share personal vows before their actual elopement ceremony. Whichever way you decide to go, a first look is always a fun idea!
Your Favorite Snacks
Here at Between the Pine, we are all about a snack! Bringing your favorite snacks to enjoy after you just said ‘I Do’ is not only a tasty way to celebrate, but can also add a unique element to your elopement. Lydia and Matt brought homemade cookies to the top of the mountain, and (let me tell you) they were a huge hit!
Signature Cocktails
Who doesn’t love a good cocktail? If you have a favorite cocktail that you always order why not make it a part of your elopement day? Signature cocktails are such a fun elopement idea and a nice touch to include in your celebratory meal. And don’t forget your pup! If they are going to be a part of your special day, they deserve their own special concoction, too!
Three Reasons to Choose Snoqualmie Pass for Your Washington Elopement
It Has Some of the Best Views
Not many locations can say that they have forest, lakes, waterfalls and mountains all in one place! Snoqualmie Valley is home to some of the best views in all of Washington and has literally everything you can imagine! If you’re struggling to decide between locations you don’t have to pick just one. Everything you want is available right here!
The Area is Dog Friendly
We LOVE elopements with dogs, and if you want to bring your pup with you to celebrate your Washington elopement, we are all for it! Not all locations are dog-friendly though. In order to protect the environment, sometimes there are restrictions on where dogs can and cannot go. Not the case with Snoqualmie Pass! This area is all national forests and it’s completely dog-friendly, making it an excellent option for eloping with pets! Want to learn more about planning a dog-friendly elopement? Click out our dog-friendly elopement guide below!
It’s Accessible Year-Round
Finding a place for your Washington elopement (especially in the winter months) can be difficult. Many of the mountain roads close during the colder season causing these locations to be inaccessible, but Snoqualmie Pass is one area that is open year-round. Whether you want to get married in the summer, fall, or winter, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from and every season will bring something different for you to enjoy. Check out the links below to see what Snoqualmie Valley looks like in all the different seasons!
Want more Washington elopement resources? We’ve got you covered!
How to Choose a Washington Elopement Package
When choosing to have a Washington elopement in Snoqualmie Pass, we highly recommend our full-day or sunrise to sunset elopement package to our couples. If you are looking for a more budget friendly option, our half-day package would be a great choice and can take place at either sunrise or sunset with a stunning backdrop for your elopement.
Our full-day Washington elopement package, includes first look photos at your cabin in the early afternoon. We will then head out to two unique locations for you and your partner to explore. After, we will head to your ceremony location, where you will elope with the most stunning backdrop at sunset!
The last Washington elopement package option is our sunrise to sunset package. This is one of our most popular elopement packages booked by our couples and here’s why: when booking a sunrise to sunset elopement, you are going to have golden hour and blue hour at BOTH sunrise and sunset! This means you are going to get the best light on your day (twice!!) and get to experience multiple locations. Click here to learn more about our Washington elopement packages.
Meet Your Washington Elopement Photographers
We feel most at home in the outdoors, so it’s no surprise that is where we gravitate towards as your Washington 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 adventure elopement. Since 2018, we’ve grown our team and hired three incredible photographers (cue Whitney, Dawn and Kass)!
Dawn has been photographing elopements all over the Pacific Northwest for the last seven years and is truly incredible when it comes to capturing all the in-between moments of your Washington elopement!
Kass was previously an outdoor recreation guide and knows all the best locations to adventure during your Washington elopement. She transitioned from guide to photographer six years ago and hasn’t looked back since!
Whitney is an outdoor enthusiast turned elopement photographer and loves to capture all the details during your elopement in nature. She is guaranteed to take you to some of the most secluded settings with the most jaw-dropping views your eyes will ever see.
Our team at Between the Pine is passionate about our jobs and adventuring to the most beautiful locations to document your Washington elopement. 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 Washington elopement photographers!
Meet the Other Incredible Vendors From This Washington Elopement
Venue: Riverbend Retreat
Florist: Sublime Stems
Hair: Ryan Stone at Structure Salon
Makeup: Gretchen Proulx
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