This Washington elopement was truly something special. Brooks + Fred are no strangers to adventure; the two of them first met when they locked eyes at a music festival, and later got engaged above 7,000 feet at Machu Picchu. It made sense for the two of them to gravitate towards a National Park Elopement for their big day! One of the most magical places to Elope in Washington is Mount Rainier National Park. Misty waterfalls, jagged peaks, old growth forests, and sweeping iconic vistas await visitors of this legendary location in the PNW.
We met Brooks + Fred at their cabin just before sunrise. They shared a breakfast of ube bagels and coffee; paying homage to Fred’s Filipino heritage. After helping each other get ready for the day, we headed to a hike not far from Reflection Lake at Mt. Rainier. Brooks + Fred laughed, shed tears of joy, and exchanged unfeigned vows from a gorgeous lookout. Once we headed back down, we were all set to meet some of Fred + Brooks’s loved ones who made the journey with them from Atlanta for their Washington wedding day!
Splitting up your elopement day is a great way to Involve Friends + Family in Your Elopement, while also keeping things intimate by having moments that just include you + your partner.
When planning your Mt. Rainier Elopement, it’s important to keep some things in mind! Wedding ceremonies are required to take place in predetermined locations, and permits are required. That’s where we come in — we are always happy to help you navigate Planning Your Elopement so that the focus for you can be about the fun stuff: getting MARRIED! Brooks + Fred led their friends down a sunny path to their ceremony spot.
A friend of the couple serenaded them on guitar, while another friend had the honor of being their officiant. These two lovebirds shared vows and kisses with the majestic Mount Rainier as a backdrop.
The sun was beginning to hang a little lower in the July sky, although the summer days are long in the Pacific Northwest! We split off from some of their friends to tackle Skyline Trail in the Paradise Area of Mt. Rainier National Park. This loop is 5.6 miles long, and can be challenging even during the summer months due to the elevation. We ran into a few slick spots where the glaciers were stubborn to melt! It’s so important to keep the elements in mind when it comes to eloping in the great outdoors. Making sure you are prepared physically is key, but also being prepared mentally to have a “go with the flow” attitude just in case we need to pivot! Unexpected road closures, trail closures, inclement weather…as elopement photographers, we’ve seen it all! Fortunately, all there was to see during this gorgeous mountain elopement was a beautiful sunset and some furry friends [peep the deer, mountain goats, and marmots we saw on the trail!]
As the sun finally set on this incredible elopement day, Fred + Brooks busted out their lanterns to light up the trail. We exchanged hugs once we got back to the parking lot, while Brooks insisted we would see each other again because we are family now! You guys, this is one of the things that stands out the most to me when shooting elopements. Our couples go from being an email in our inbox to people that we continue to keep in touch with! And for good reason: we feel that having a great relationship with your photographers is immensely important in getting photos that reflect you + your partner in the most genuine way.
Mount Rainier National Park is one of the best places to get married in Washington: yeah, I said it!
Whether you’re drawn to the moody mountain tops or the forest greenery, the options for stunning views and backdrops are endless.
If you’re planning a wedding or elopement in Mount Rainier National Park, we are here on your team to help you capture it all: from epic moments to the little in-between intimacy. Let us help tell your relationship story in a beautiful way!