V+J eloped in August in the North Cascades of Washington state, near Mount Baker, an active volcano. Artist Point is one of my all-time favorite elopement locations because within a few hours drive of Seattle (or Bellingham) and minimal hiking, you can get amazing views and be surrounded with a rugged wilderness that rivals the Alps.

We ended up changing our plans and timeline at the last minute due to clouds and rain, but V+J were flexible to bend and listen to the weather. We had originally planned for a sunrise elopement to escape the midday crowds, but the weird foggy weather drew out most folks that day anyway, and it ended up being a highly intimate day at this otherwise popular spot. I’m such a fan of weird moody weather for this reason: like a pull to focus on intimacy and intention. This was the feeling of the day, and I think it carried over into all of our lives for a while after this elegantly beautiful day.

V+J showed up and at once got into their wedding garb, assisted by their young daughter, then shared their “first look” moment in the mountains. It’s no wonder J shed tears here because V’s dress was quite possibly the most beautiful gown I had ever personally seen (and I’ve seen hundreds!). A beautiful designer dress by House of Savin with hand-painted flowers which seemed to spill over seamlessly onto her floral sleeve of tattoos.

Her daughter wore a sage green gown with embroidered flowers to match, and both were adorned with floral crowns and bouquets, blending in perfectly yet still outstanding amongst the natural landscape of greenery and wildflowers.

Once dressed and ready they exchanged their handwritten vows overlooking a lake, and I led them through an intimate marriage ceremony—short, sweet, and simple, with a focus on mindfulness and the moment, paying special homage to the wilderness we were in. I read for them this poem, Habitation by Margaret Atwood, one of my favorites to read at ceremonies that take place in natural spaces:

Marriage is not
a house or even a tent
it is before that, and colder:
the edge of the forest, the edge
of the desert
the unpainted stairs
at the back where we squat
outside, eating popcorn
the edge of the receding glacier
where painfully and with wonder
at having survived even
this far
we are learning to make fire.

After the ceremony concluded and they were married once and for all, we wandered through the woods and up the mountain for an astonishing, moody sunset. We took it slow and meandered from spot to spot, and between the drifting clouds and teases of rain, the mountains gave us a resplendent show and an astonishing moody sunset.

All in all a day to remember, as each detail was decided and made with intention and each moment was experienced fully. The beautiful thing about an adventure elopement (as opposed to a big, traditional wedding) is that you can actually experience it in this way. You get to take it slow and cherish each moment, each detail. Each petal on each flower, each breath, each shift in weather or drift of cloud. The day becomes yours.

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:

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.
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.
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: The road to Artist Point is only open about mid-July through mid-to-late-October each year, so plan accordingly! Also know that weekends can be extremely crowded at Artist Point and other popular Washington spots, 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, even videography and custom elopement announcement 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, 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 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 complimentary officiant services with all of 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 for your permit—or, better yet, get in touch and we’ll help you sort out the permit information and all the other logistics, too.

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 looking for more information on how to elope in the Pacific Northwest or beyond, get in touch and let’s start planning your dream elopement!

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DAMN-NEAR ALL-INCLUSIVE ELOPEMENT PACKAGES IN WASHINGTON STATE