How to Navigate Wildfire Season During Your Elopement Day

It is currently wildfire season as I am writing this blog post, and seriously this couldn’t come at a better time. Unfortunately wildfire and smoke season is a very real issue for the Pacific Northwest and it may affect your Washington elopement. But this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t elope in Washington. Here’s what it actually means: being flexible for your elopement and choosing a date that makes sense for you.

Hi, I’m Cherlyn and I’m an elopement photographer who also has some serious background recreating in the mountains of Washington. I’m ready to help you navigate the seasonal changes that can affect your elopement and already have plenty of backup plans ready to implement!

Let’s get to answering some of the most asked questions!

When is wildfire season in Washington?

This is a big question! Obviously it can change year to year, but in my experience, August is when it hits the worst. Sometimes it can start as early as mid-July. It can linger well into September and even early October before the big rain storms come in.

One of the key factor is dependent on our snow pack. For example, in 2026, we had a record low snowpack. While it precipitated quite a large amount, most of it came down as rain instead of snow. Higher elevation alpine regions still received a large amount of snow. However, it is not enough to actually build a whole-mountain snowpack that slowly melts over the spring. This is important because keeping moisture in the mountains reduces the likelihood of a wildfire to start in the first place.

Most commonly, wildfires start due to lightning strikes and this can be unpredictable. It is sad to see that we now expect wildfire season to come every year.

Find out more about when you should elope in Washington

If wildfire season overlaps with summer, does that mean I should avoid eloping in Washington?

As a Washingtonian, I can tell you that summers are still so lovely despite the wildfire season and I can still find ways to get outside. It is unusual that the whole state is covered in smoke. Rather, with winds blowing from the coast, usually the smoke blows east and out of the way of many hikes. This benefits those who are in Western Washington.

Therefore, to navigate smoke season, I recommend eloping in Western Washington. So places like Mount Baker or the Olympics or North Bend are prime for August-September. This is opposite of what I’d recommend in the spring time when you’re trying to avoid the rain.

–> Basically depending on the season, as an elopement photographer, I recommend different regions of Washington to elope to maximize the best weather and conditions. I work with my couples to make sure they get the best experience possible, whether it’s wildflowers or mountain views they’re looking for.

So what should I do if it is smoky during my elopement?

Occasionally, there is unavoidable smoke since weather is not predictable months away. I work with all my couples to recommend backup plans, depending on the situation. Here’s a few ways to navigate it:

How smoky is it?

Personally an AQI of about 50-100 can smell like campfire smoke, but for healthy individuals, it feels alright to be outside. But if you have asthma or other medical conditions, this might mean pivoting plans. Depending on the couple and their guests, I might still call a “go” for their elopement.

And honestly a little smoke looks quite good in photos. It is a natural blur for the background, putting you in focus. And depending on the smoke levels, it makes for some crazy lighting near sunrise and sunset.

An AQI over 100 is serious and needs reconsideration of the plans.

How can I pivot plans if it is too smoky on my elopement?

There’s a few ways to do this and it depends on your vendor and guest availability as well.

• If a neighboring day looks better, can you swap days? Sometimes one day will be less smoky than another day
• How flexible is your location? Sometimes driving an hour in a different direction is all it takes to be out of the smoke
• Consider indoor plans. If the smoke is really bad and there’s no way to be outside, minimize the time outside for your health and safety. I’ve had couples split up their day to minimize being in the smoke! If you rented a cute AirBnB cabin, this would make a great location!
• Stay low or go high. Smoke generally lingers in an elevation band that changes depending on the air pressures and temperatures. Sometimes staying lower in the woods avoids the smoke. Or sometimes you can get above it.

How can I guarantee no wildfire smoke during my Washington elopement?

There are a couple ways to do this, like I mentioned above. The easiest is eloping during the rest of year. Fall (end of September) can be a great time for lessened smoke, if it is a smoky season. Spring is also gorgeous and beautiful from mid April to June. If you love the snow, then you’ve got a wide season to choose your elopement date from November through March.

As with any weather, there is no absolute guarantee, but staying flexible and open-minded is one of the best ways you can still enjoy your elopement day no matter what comes your way!

 

Looking for next steps? Let’s start planning your elopement!