Seattle Elopement in Olympic National Park Washington
Seattle Elopement in Olympic National Park Washington
Meet the couple behind this elopement in Seattle
BreAnna & Jake are probably two of the quirkiest human beings you will ever meet, which is why their Seattle elopement made so much sense for them. They never do things traditionally, like EVER. If you follow BreAnna on instagram (she is also an amazing photographer) you know that her love for funny instagram captions is like no other. I mean literally, they range from dad jokes, to pick up lines, to roast about Jake and it will keep you laughing every single day, accompanied by dreamy photos of her own couples. These two are the definition of cat people, like legit this is the OG cat couple. They are constantly fostering baby kittens. Which entails waking up at like 5 am to bottle feed them WHAT…. nah bro. But they do it, and she does photoshoots of these kittens to post and help them find permanent homes! These two have been together what seems like a lifetime, and it shows in how they move together, touch one another, and make fun of each other. Their love is pure, like when a kid sees a candy shop for the first time, yet also fiery all at once, like when you see a big ole piece of chocolate cake calling your name and you know you shouldn’t eat it, but you do anyway, that kind of fiery. Needless to say, I am a little obsessed with these two and the love they share.
All you need to know for your elopement in Washington state.
locations
tips & tricks
vendors
elopement packages
elopement photographer
These are the things we are going to chat about further down to make sure you know everything you need to know in order to plan your elopement in Washington, no matter where or when it is! Planning an elopement can be stressful, but only if you make it! When finding the right team of vendors, your elopement planning becomes a piece of cake (can’t you tell I am really wanting cake while writing this lol). But there is a lot to consider when planning, but luckily with eloping, you tend to have more flexibility! So let’s dive on in and make you an expert.
Need more help planning your Seattle washington elopement and wedding?
How to choose your Seattle elopement locations.
Washington is one of the most beautiful states in my own personal opinion. With soaring cliffs (yes, the ones you see in Twilight) to the tallest volcanos, to gorgeous mountain skylines, to roaring waterfalls and even desert areas with sand everywhere, you cannot go wrong no matter where you choose. But how in the hell are you supposed to choose one of these locations? I tell all my couples, to first try and decide if there is a location that has significant meaning to YOU. Maybe a first date spot, favorite sunset spot, favorite hike, or a dream bucket list location, and then if nothing rings a bell we can jump in to picking a spot jsut because it is beautiful and you want your elopement to take place there! With every state, all National and state parks are different, but I would say 99.9% of them ALL require a permit to get married or do photos there. These permits typically take anywhere from 3 weeks-2 months to get, so make sure you call ahead of time and find out what is needed and how to apply so that you can be on top of the game!
There are quite a few different options when eloping in Washington, and I don’t wanna share all my secrets, so here is a list of places you can elope. Now, these are only the broad over view of the location, not exact spots, I share exact locations and details with all of my couples! Need help planning your elopement and find a location? Let’s chat here!
Olympic National Park offers some of the MOST stunning mountain views. Some of which require a big hike and some you can drive up and see from stepping outside your car! This park though is only open certain times of the year so you have to make sure to time it right or to be okay with lots of snow and 4 wheel drive! It is around 3-4 hours from Seattle.
Mount Rainier National Park is home to one of the largest volcanoes you will ever see, Mount Rainier, also home to some of the most gorgeous fields of wildflowers, and mountain views. Perfect for every level of hiker, and easy to include friends and family here! This is about 2 hours from Seattle.
North Cascades National Park are perfect for alpine lake views, gorgeous sunsets, and easy open locations to include friends, family and even dogs! there are so many different spots you can easily access by driving or a short walk, that you do not need to be an all adventurous expert hiker to reach those gorgeous mountain views! These views are around 2.5-3 hours from Seattle.
Washington Coast is for those souls who have longed for twilight like wedding photos, who dream of the windy dress blown in their face, messy hair everywhere, and cliff-sides with rushing waves below them! Filled with so many cute towns, you cannot go wrong with a Washington coast elopement! 3-4 hour drive from Seattle.
HOH Rainforest is PUURRRFECT for those green lovers. Lovers of all things fern and moss, and big giant trees casting shadows and gorgeous light everywhere, this forest is for you! It is one of the most romantic and secluded areas and perfect for any level of hiker or outdoor person! Around 4 hours from Seattle (but there are smaller forest like this in Seattle and nearby!)
Mt. Baker National Forest is perfect for alpine lakes, stunning mountain views right in front of you, short hikes, for all adventure seeking couples! It is seriously stunning, one of the most gorgeous sunset spots in all of Washington. It is anywhere from 30-90 minutes from Seattle depending on your exact location!
Another option is to elope at a gorgeous A-frame cabin or Tree house Airbnb! you can find my list of must see airbnbs and best places to stay for your Seattle elopement here!
The best Seattle vendors for your elopement.
There are so many vendors all over the world for you to choose from, but I wanted to go ahead and let you in on my little secret of favorite vendors!! Some of these are local to Seattle and some of these travel worldwide for Weddings, so it is never too late to reach out, no matter your location!!
Florals:
Stylists
Videographers
I know what you’re thinking, this is a small list. Yes, it is, because I only want to give you the best of the best and people I know and trust! And I also do not want you feeling overwhelmed with vendors or what you ‘have’ to have for your elopement. Your elopement is whatever YOU want it to be, you do not NEED florals or styling or design, or anything, all that matters is the two of you together, forever.
Seattle elopement Packages: all you need to know!
Elopements are very different than weddings, in the fact that you do not have to have the typical reception and all that jaz, so your packages are different! But let’s chat for a second. Just because you are not having a wedding does not mean you should skimp out on photos and find a cheap photographer! A professional, advanced photographer who is an expert in elopements is going to charge more! heres a few reasons why: It is all about the experience and your photographer is a BIG part in that! You are spending the most intimate day of your life with them, all day! They also help you pick a location, plan every little detail up until the day of, where they are with you all day, and for them it doesn’t end there, they cull edit and post process all of your photos to prepare to send them to you! A lot goes into elopements, even if you did not realize it! Here are a few snapshots of a few different elopement packages I offer! I have teamed up with one of the bet Florist I know, Urban Canyon and one of the best stylists I know Keely AF events to create custom packages for our couples who elope including florals + photos + styling and design. You can also find more of my package information here.
Finding your Seattle Elopement Photographer.
Finding your photographer is almost like finding your partner. You need to find someone who you love and trust, and want to stare at (their work) forever and ever, and imagine yourself being in their work. Your photographer is going to be with you 24/7 on the day of your wedding or elopement, and is going to be helping you plan every second of the way leading up to that day! So why would you hire a photographer who you do not trust and love fully? So how can you tell if the photographer is a good fit for you? Here are a few ways!
Look at their website! Read the way they talk and write, see what they post, and what they share. How much information are they putting on their website that you trust and want more of? Are they informative to where you feel like no matter what happens they will be the expert and able to help you? What kind of work are they sharing? Do they only share a certain type of wedding or couple? Look at all of these things and think about what type of person you want as your photographer and third wheel all day!
Look at their instagram! Someones instagram bio can typically tell you a lot about who they are! Also read their captions, see if they are a different person on instagram than on their website! What type of couples are they posting? Do you love ALL the photos they share or only a few favorites? You need to make sure you love how they shoot in EVERY sort of lighting, because you never know what the sun or clouds will be like on your day!
Ask to see a few full wedding or elopement galleries and see how they shoot the entire day! Make sure you love every aspect of the day and how they shoot it, how they shoot inside, in sunlight, at sunset, how they shoot portraits or lack of portraits! If they include landscapes or not! These are all such important things to consider when searching for your photographer!
If you still need a photographer for your elopement I would love to chat with you! Let’s talk more and see if we are a good fit!!
