Decision, decision. It can be overwhelming to figure out where to get married in Washington! We have so many different landscapes and there’s so many factors that could affect where you elope. I’ve got your back here and have so many tips to help guide you in choosing the best location for you both!

Hi I’m Cherlyn, a Washington Adventure Elopement Photographer who’s hiked over 200 different trails in all seasons. I know the ins and outs of Washington trails and public land usage. Plus, having been to the same trails at different times of day and year, I know how to optimize on the best light.

Let’s dive into Washington trails and key factors to consider when selecting your ceremony location!

Time of year

In my opinion, this might be the biggest factor in how to choose your ceremony location because snow coverage and weather will play into this. In the summer months (July-early Sept), it’s almost guaranteed clear skies so any location would be perfect. Take advantage of sweeping landscapes and higher viewpoints, and potentially longer hikes if you’re into that!

In the fall months, it tends to be rainier so pick a spot that doesn’t require much hiking in case you have a short time frame to avoid the rain. Spots like the forest would be great this time of year for moodier vibes. Consider going a bit further east to avoid the rain.

In the winter months and even up till June, many trails are snow covered. In fact, you can still get a snowy scene while having the best summer weather in May-June in some areas! Winter can provide some incredible sunrises and sunsets if you choose a higher vista point. You can even drive up to some of these locations and minimize the hiking! Winter also means that snow travel is slower than in summer months, so if you like to hike, pick somethings a little less intense than you would in the summer.

Crowds

It is inevitable that there may be other hikers on a trail if you’re getting married on public lands. However, there’s plenty of quieter trails, especially those that offshoot from a main trail. The further you hike, the more solitude you’ll find as well. But even at popular destinations, there’s always pockets of crowd-free areas where you can say your vows in private.

In general, National Parks will have the most crowds and trails on National Forest land will feel less crowded. But if you want to get married in a National Park, there are ways of avoiding the crowds, such as going earlier in the morning or later in the evening, which will also be the best light for photos!

Are you ready to plan your Washington National Parks elopement? Let’s get started!

Physical exertion

How much do you want to hike? Do you want to walk just a few steps to a gorgeous vista, or do you want to hike a couple miles to coordinates where no one has gotten married before? Going to a vista means you can get ready at your AirBnB and photo-ready right when you get out of the car. Hiking a longer distance means you might have to touchup your makeup again and change when you get to your final destination. But you’re sure to be getting married at a more unique location the deeper into the backcountry.

Guests

If you’re inviting guests, consider how far they are willing to hike. Maybe you’ll have your ceremony at a more accessible location and then have your elopement portraits somewhere that involves more hiking. There’s many drive-to viewpoints in Washington that would be incredible for a ceremony location, away from crowds.

Vibes

Do you already have in mind what your elopement will look like? Play off of that! If you’re looking for moodier vibes, think forest and coastal in the spring/fall months. Do you like sunshine and wildflowers? Head up to the wildflower meadows by Mount Rainier. Do you want to find the aquas and blues in an alpine lake or a frozen waterfall? Or do you want white winter vibes with minimal snow travel? This all exists in Washington! Does your idea of an adventure mean skiing or backpacking? I’m here to help you find the perfect spot for your dream elopement. If pastel colors are your thing, I know the best spots for alpenglow in early summer or mid fall weather. If you’re into reds, go for a Mount Baker area trail in the fall. Golds and yellow are your vibe? Try a larch hike in the eastern side of our Cascade mountains in the fall!

Permits

Different public lands will have different permitting systems. Find out more about specific permits here. In general National Forest lands don’t require additional ceremony permits, but National Parks require them based on size of your wedding party. The most flexibility will be within National Forest lands. Washington has 3 National Parks which are amazing destinations, but we also have many locations outside the parks that are just as epic, if not more epic in some regard.

Once you’ve figured out answers to the above, here’s a few ideas for Washington elopement ceremony locations.

Minimal to no hiking, perfect for guests

Beach along the Pacific Coast

Lowland lake in the North Cascades

Vista at a National Park

Forest trail in a local spot near Seattle

Mossy rainforest in the Olympics

Picnicking area under epic mountains in the North Cascades

Riverside in Snoqualmie

Waterfall in Snoqualmie

Ice Caves in North Cascades

Moderate hiking

Alpine lake in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Wildflower meadows at Mount Rainier

Fall colors in the North Cascades

Fire lookout with mountain views

Hiking to the top of a peak

 

If you’re ready to plan your epic elopement, let’s get started!