A Snowy September Elopement in Mt. Rainier National Park
Jill and Luke traveled to Washington for the most beautiful family filled elopement day among the endless landscapes of Mt. Rainier National Park. We decided that a sunrise ceremony (near the Sunrise visitor center of course!) was the best option so we could spend the rest of the day taking our time to meander different trails and areas before heading back to their beautiful airbnb for an intimate dinner. I met up with these two bright and early (nothing quite like a 3am start time!) and caravanned into the park. When we arrived at the visitor center, the sky was still incredibly dark while the clouds were thick with falling snow. We weren’t expecting an early snow fall so we quickly shifted our plans pushing out the ceremony by 30 mins to warm up in the car a bit longer and allow the sky more time to lighten a bit with all the gloom.
Let me tell you, it was CHILLY. Me and Carly(@carlyfilmsit, their amazing videographer) bundled up before following Luke, Jill and their sweet family down the trail to find the perfect spot for their vows. Jill shivered with cold and excitement as she changed into her wedding dress in my pop up tent before heading down the trail to share a first look alone with Luke. How she lasted the whole first look and ceremony without a jacket is beyond me but she looked so beautiful and was all smiles the entire time. After sharing their first look, we witnessed the most beautiful ceremony as the snow continued to dust the pines and trail around us.
After the ceremony, their family booked it back to the car to warm up while the 4 of us explored and of course took photos along the way. Our initial plan was hike a few other easy going neighboring trails but with the weather not letting up, we decided to meet back up later in the day and hope for the best. I curled up and napped in my car at the next location before waking up to the most beautiful sunshine and much warmer temps! When everyone else arrived, we basked in the warmth of the day, captured their family photos, explored the edges of a sweet little alpine lake, enjoyed an intimate picnic along the shore and finally ended our time with a special first dance in view of the expansive mountains and meadows.
After a champagne pop to mark the end of our time in the park, we made our way back to Luke and Jill’s nearby airbnb for a delicious catered dinner as the sun started to dip back down. Their kiddos hopped into PJ’s and we roasted s’mores before spending the rest of the evening looking for rocks and balancing along the river bed. The colorful sunset marked the end to a perfect, eventful elopement day full of a little bit of everything.
Mt. Rainier stands tall and proud, gracing the Washington skyline with her beauty and presence. With its snow-capped peak, alpine meadows, and vibrant wildflowers, it provides an awe-inspiring backdrop for your elopement. But there is always an element of unknowns when eloping outdoors especially among the mountains. As your elopement photographer, you can trust that I am intimately familiar with the park as a whole, and will seamlessly guide you in the face of situations like unexpected weather, trail closures or anything else that may hinder our plan A in someway. Just remember when having an adventurous elopement, it’s important to embrace the unexpected and just roll with the punches so you can be present in each beautiful moment of your day, not matter what happens.
READY TO BOOK YOUR MT. RAINIER ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER?
I would be honored to document your love story among the expansive beauty of Mt. Rainier National Park. As a Washington native that has years of experience shooting within the park, you can trust that I’ll help you find the perfect location that fully encompasses your love for one another and feels completely tailored to your vision. Connect with me here and let’s get started!!
