The rain came down as they stepped out of the cozy cabin, hand in hand. The mist was thick and seemed at times to swallow up the trees around them, the canopies of those massive ancient trees cloaked in a veil of pacific gray. It was the last day of the month of October, and they were there for one purpose.

They piled into the car, alongside their two closest friends. The anticipation grew. They began the slow journey up the winding roads which skirted and traced the base of the mountain, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Mountain through the fog—teasing, wondering, waiting, hoping. That great and sacred peak which so many before have come to for myriad purposes: replenishing, renewing, reinventing. They were here for the same.

As they rounded a bend in the road, a window between two swaths of trees let onto views of craggy mountains below, clouds hanging lazily at their base or amid their treetops—a sensation that almost makes one feel upside down. The butterflies didn’t help either.

As they climbed in elevation rain turned to snow, and there at the base a day that began in autumn now felt a winter wonderland—a Paradise.

Hardly anyone was around. Who would, on a day like this—on a day like Halloween? Hardly the views, hardly the weather, hardly the candy or costumed kids. Hardly worth the time or effort to reach this outlandish spot. Why bother such a strange endeavor? No, it was just them. A place and a time, as if out of place, out of time. A moment apart.

Surrounded then only by trees and the extreme quietude provided by of fresh blanket of snow in wilderness, they stood, hand in hand. They made vows. Promises. Dedications. Snowflakes fell on wet, red cheeks. What were tears?

At the moment it was declared there was a great union, a rejoicing, a meeting of lips and in that sense souls, and it was then that the world—at least, the world which seemed to exist here, there, with just them in it—exploded with joy, with love, with happiness. It can only be described as a feeling of pure exultation.

It’s moments such as this we are granted a paradox of presence and senselessness. There have hardly been times we are more present and in tune with the moment, forgetting all about the past and future and existing here, for a moment, in space and time—and yet, we become all but oblivious to even the simplest senses, such as… how cold our hands are.

Later there would be warmth and comfort, a fire to be stoked back at the cabin, but for now a continuation of that exultation that demanded an immediate revelry. And so it was, a meal shared by the riverside, back in the elevation of a more comfortable rain, now closer to a hanging mist. Libations and treats, impromptu toasts and heartfelt sentiments. Laughter, too, on the nature of such a ridiculous yet entirely unforgettable endeavor: freezing hands and a Halloween wedding ceremony in this surreal autumn-winter Paradise.

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: 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, 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!

PHOTO · VIDEO · PLANNING · OFFICIATING · & MORE
DAMN-NEAR ALL-INCLUSIVE ELOPEMENT PACKAGES IN WASHINGTON STATE