Fire Lookout Elopement at Mount Rainier
K+D and I camped in the national forest surrounding Tahoma (also known as Mount Rainier) after adventuring around in the national park together, then we arose at 4 a.m. the next day to start our hike up to this lookout tower in total darkness. It was chilly even in August, but the hike kept us warm, as did the thought of making our morning coffee atop the summit with the views of resplendent sunrise coming over Washington’s most renowned mountain as our backdrop. Tahoma, the mother of waters. And not only were we rewarded with her presence, we also enjoyed witnessing the majesty of Pahto (also known as Klickitat, or Mount Adams) and Loowit (also known as Louwala-Clough, or Mount Saint Helens) off in the distance.
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:
WHEN TO ELOPE: Weekends during the on-season can be overwhelmingly crowded pretty much anywhere you go in the region, so I highly recommend eloping on a weekday for your elopement, or coming here in the off-season!
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 LAWS: 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!
ELOPEMENT 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!
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 PHOTOGRAPHER WHO KNOWS THE AREA
A great elopement photographer is more than a photographer—they’re also a wealth of knowledge! You want someone who knows the area (psst, that’s me!) and who can help you find the perfect spot for you, and answer some of those questions you don’t even to know to ask like whether or not you need a permit—and offer tips for what else to do and see on your elopement trip!
STEP 3:
NARROW DOWN THE DETAILS
After you’ve got a location and a photographer, you can start to book the rest of your vendors and get into the nitty gritty details. Find a licensed Washington officiant, 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 finalize your timeline so your elopement day can go off without a hitch! Your photographer can also help you navigate the ins and outs of elopement logistics and provide their personalized recommendations for vendors and more so you don’t have to feel overwhelmed with all the planning.
STEP 4:
(This one’s easy)
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