Field Notes: Olympic National Park + Seattle’s Volunteer Park

More and more couples are separating out these two parts of their nuptials: the private ceremony, a day just for them, and time to celebrations with the people that love and support them.

These two decided to run off into the sunset together, choosing to share private vows with each other at Ruby Beach in Olympic National Park on a quiet spring day in April. Then in June, we helped them coordinate an intimate gathering with their family and friends in Capitol Hill, Seattle! (Which worked out so great because that’s where we live—it isn’t too often that we get to walk to work!)

Our officiant (also my husband) Dale led them in a ceremony at Volunteer Park, and afterward MC’d their reception at The Lab @ Ada’s Technical Books & Cafe.

It is always so wonderful as a queer-owned business, and this time as a queer couple, to create these experiences for other LGBTQ+ couples. We spent a lot of time with A+E during this whole process and had a lot of time to bond and get to know each other, and I have so much love and respect for them. When you work with other LGBTQ+ vendors (not just LGBTQ-friendly) you don’t have to go through the whole rigamarole of - do they like us, do they value us as people, do they understand us!? Especially for a photographer/planner/officiant where we do spend a lot of time together and work very closely on a lot of the details and inner intimate moments. I guess what I’m trying to say is, round these parts, we love our gays ‘n’ theys ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

The crew

Attire by Indochino
Group ceremony at Volunteer Park Conservatory in Capitol Hill, Seattle
Reception & catering by The Lab @ Ada’s Technical Books & Cafe in Capitol Hill, Seattle
Photography, planning, & coordinating by Wilderpines Elopements
Private ceremony officiated by Ashton / group ceremony officiated by Dale of Wilderpines Elopements

Part I: Elopement in Olympic National Park

Part II: intimate wedding at Volunteer Park & The Lab

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THINKING OF ELOPING IN WASHINGTON?

Washington state, in my opinion, is hands down one of the best places in the world for an adventure elopement. Whether you want snow-capped mountains, mossy rainforests, gorgeous coastlines, meadows blooming with colorful wildflowers or desert canyons—the Evergreen state has got it all. If you want to elope in Washington, these are a few things to know and take into consideration beforehand, and how to get started planning!

HOW TO START PLANNING YOUR WASHINGTON ELOPEMENT

STEP 1: DO SOME RESEARCH

Hey look at that, you’re already ahead of the game! The first step in planning an elopement is to do research, and that usually starts with locations. And if you know you want to elope in Washington, you’re already ahead of the game!

Once you have a general idea of what you want, you can start to get ideas for all the rest of what your elopement may entail: travel, hiking trails, elopement-day activities, ceremony ideas, and so on. It’s also a great chance to brainstorm and explore!

STEP 2: CONNECT WITH A PLANNER & PHOTOGRAPHER WHO KNOWS THE AREA, AND PICK A DATE

I recommend hiring your photographer early on in the planning process because a great photographer is so much more than a camera person—they’re also a wealth of knowledge!

You want someone who knows the area (psst, that’s us!) and who can help you find the perfect location and give you valuable insight into the area, and help you with all the logistics like travel, timelines, marriage law, and permits, provide recommendations for other vendors and activities—plus tips for what else to do and see on your elopement trip!

A few tips on finding a photographer and picking a date:

LOOK LOCAL: I recommend looking for someone local to the area you want to elope, since they’ll know the ins and outs of that specific region.
GO WITH A SPECIALIST: Look for someone who specializes in adventure elopements (like us). There is so much more logistically involved with an adventure elopement than a big wedding or a photoshoot, and you’ll want someone with the right expertise and knowledge, plus the proper gear and outdoors experience to be as prepared and safe as possible.
TIMING & SEASONS: Even if you don't have an exact date, having a season or time of year in mind is helpful when you start looking for your photographer—but if you’re still unsure, we’re happy to help steer you in the right direction and find what’s best for you.
PICKING A DATE: Weekends can be overwhelmingly crowded pretty much anywhere you go in the region, especially in the busy season (April through October), so I highly recommend picking a weekday for your elopement. You’ll end up with less crowds and a far more intimate experience.
TIP FROM A PRO: If you have a specific photographer in mind that you’re dreaming of working with, I recommend coming to them with a flexible date range for a better chance of securing a booking with them!

Our packages are pretty darn-near all-inclusive and come with planning services, officiating services, gear and decoration rentals (what we call “outfitting”), even videography and custom elopement announcement postcard design. We also offer 35mm and 8mm film!

STEP 3: NARROW DOWN THE DETAILS

After you’ve got a date, a location, and a photographer/planner, you can start to book the rest of your vendors and get into the nitty gritty details. Make sure you’ve got an officiant lined up (psst, we’re ordained and include just-us officiant services with all our packages!), hire your other vendors, research marriage laws and apply for your marriage license, apply for your permit (if applicable), book your travel and accommodations, get together a packing list, and craft your timeline so your elopement day can go off without a hitch.

We can also help you navigate the ins and outs of elopement logistics and provide you with personalized recommendations for vendors and more so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed with all the planning.

A few logistical notes:

FINDING AN OFFICIANT: You will need a licensed officiant for your elopement adventure. Great news: we’re all ordained, and we offer officiant services with our elopement packages!)

MARRIAGE LAW: Once you apply for your marriage license (which you can do online), there is a 3 day waiting period before you can go have your ceremony. When it comes time for your ceremony, you will also need two witnesses to sign your marriage license. If you to learn more about finding witnesses and navigating marriage law for your elopement, read our blog post about that here!

PERMITS: Depending on where in Washington you want to elope, you will most likely need a permit. National parks in Washington require permits even for small elopements, as do some of the national forests, depending on the logistics and size of your elopement. Contact the office in charge of your location to find out what if any permits are necessary, and what the steps are to apply. Or reach out to us—we’ll help with all of this and more!

STEP 4: PACK YOUR BAG, GET OUT THERE, AND HAVE THE BEST ELOPEMENT DAY EVER!

HEY THERE, WE’RE

WILDERPINES ELOPEMENTS

Creating wildly intentional & intimate adventure elopements for rad couples in the PNW

We’re here to inspire you and help you create a unique, intentional, unforgettable wedding experience that reflects who you are, then to capture it all so you can relive those moments forever.

If you’re dreaming of an adventure elopement in the Evergreen state, get in touch and let’s make some magic!