You’re Considering an Elopement in the Pacific Northwest
The PNW is for the girlies chasing those twilight vibes, foggy mountains, flowing rivers, and the green mossy forest.
The Pacific North West hosts a wide selection of National Parks, highway accessible trails and hidden lakes and waterfalls.
If you’re looking for all that. you came to the right place. How do we go about actually eloping there? Don’t fret, your bestie is here with all the answers!
What is it like to elope in the Pacific Northwest
Truly it is whatever you want it to be but for the sake of dreaming wild dreams, let’s close our eyes and go on a journey through the day you could have if you picked the PNW for your epic elopement.
You sit on the deck of your treehouse oasis, rented out for the week so you can spend the whole time reading and sipping warm drinks by the fire. The trees go on for days, and the fog has settled deep in the forest. Morning is just peeking over the mountains and it’s your freaking wedding day! You and your soon-to-be husband, or wife, sit drinking coffee and writing your vows. The very ones you’ll be reciting before the sun sets.
Your photographer shows up with donuts from a local bakery, and your hair and makeup artist is soon to follow, starting the day. You each get ready in separate rooms and do the sweetest first look below the treehouse before packing up and heading out to the trailhead. An hour or so of hiking with your soon to be, and your awesome new friend with a camera, and the path opens up to the most beautiful waterfall you have ever seen. You share your hand written vows in a private ceremony and dance together in the mist of the waterfall before washing each others feet, just like Jesus.
After the ceremony you both plunge into the water, dress and all for a steamy little photo session swimming in the pool below the waterfall. You gear up again this time with headlamps and hike back down to the cars and head to the dinner spot your photographer found for you. It’s a mountain top picnic, and the sun is just setting. You enjoy great food, and then get to have lantern photos taken under a blanket of stars.
You go home to your family with an epic gallery and even greater memories of the most perfect day!
Why people choose to elope in the Pacific Northwest
Choosing where you will elope is a big deal, and it’s often a very emotional and always personal choice. Still, I have found a handful of the top reasons couples choose to elope in The Pacific North West.
- The Views- The places you can see in the PNW easily outrank some of the top world scenes, and for that reason people flock to this region to say their vows amidst the mountains and the trees!
- The Adventure- The PNW is home to some of the greatest National Parks, and sure maybe I’m biased, but the things you have readily available as far as adventure goes is vast! Kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, 4×4-ing, and so much more.
- The Culture – It’s like a warm hug to be honest. The scattered bustling coffee shops, book stores and parks make this place feel like home away from home, no matter where you are from.
- The Photographer – Finding a photographer that shoots in the mountains and forests often, and has an editing style you love is worth flying them to whatever location you choose. With the PNW being right in my back yard we don’t have to travel far!
When to elope in the Pacific Northwest
The weather in this region is pure moodiness, and for me, that’s perfect. Get ready for moody lighting, foggy backdrops, and killer views!
There are a few patterns we can chat about though and some general seasonal categories. Let’s do that!
Summer
July-September
This is your best chance for a sunny day in the PNW, so if you love all the trees and the moody mornings, but you want a warm sunny hike this is the season fit for you.
Think lush green trees, rainbow wildflowers, and crystal blue lakes and rivers!
Winter
December-March
The moodiest of all the seasons. Almost guarantee for foggy wet weather, and very little sun. If twilight was your favorite movie, this is the season for you.
Think snow-capped mountains, thick dreamy fog, and all the moodiness you can handle.
Fall
November-December
Bring on the moody daze. Fall brings cooler weather and a bit more rain, as the trees shift slightly in color, and the sun starts setting earlier.
Think all the PNW vibes you can handle. It feels very much like “Twilight” if you know you know.
Spring
March-June
There’s still a chill in the air, and the rain is settling in. The temps can still be as low at 30 degrees.
Think, wet. Still a little chilly, and maybe even snowy. But, it can still be really pretty if you don’t mind carrying an umbrella for back-up.
How to plan a Pacific Northwest Elopement
There is so much that goes into planning a Pacific Northwest Elopement, and you are going to want to work with someone who is familiar with the region, excellent at planning adventures, and who is competent and confident in the outdoors.
Elopement photographers in the area are a great place to start looking. Most local photographers who shoot elopements are going to have the skills and knowledge necessary for you to feel safe and secure on your elopement day. Typically, we also offer planning services so make sure to ask about that and remember not all photographers offer the same services so be sure to get clarification on this.
Check out the 10 Steps to Plan Your Elopement for a breakdown of planning your elopement no matter the location you choose.
How much does a Pacific Northwest elopement cost?
This is a loaded question. Technically to get married in the Pacific North West you’ll need a marriage license for the state you choose and that costs $30 in Idaho, $60 in Oregon, $72 in Washington and $53 in Montana, and then you’ll just need the marriage permit for the park if you’re getting married in one, or a permit for the forest. Basically I will just make sure your permit is covered if one is needed! There are also tons of places that don’t require a permit at all, so there’s always that option too!
The real answer I think your looking for is an average cost of the whole thing right? The average elopement in the PNW has a lot of factors at play, however the average is 16k. The good news is there are tons of people who elope with a much higher budget, as well as a much lower one. On the real, I think most of my couples spend an average somewhere between 10-15k, and that includes attire, food, travel, photography, and even lodging.
Obviously the cost of your elopement will depend on the vendors you choose and what activities you want to explore. For more cost info and breakdowns you can fine them in the How Much Does It Cost To Elope blog post. The post also contains a cost calculator to help you plan and budget!
Where to elope in the Pacific Northwest?
There are so many places to get married in the Pacific Northwest that it would take a hundred years to list them all, but I’m working on that. Follow me on social media to get a link to that post when it drops. For the sake of time, I have picked my top three favorite locations and have links to the .gov site for each one where you can get more in depth info.
Columbia River Gorge
Full of epic waterfalls, lookouts, cool little towns and more this is one of the coolest places the PNW has to offer. You can have whatever scenery your looking for and an adventure to top the lists!
The Columbia River Gorge is in the beautiful moody state of Oregon.
The gorge is amazing and breathtaking and great for larger groups or truly intimate elopements.
North Cascades
The North Cascades National Park is a wild and free, and absolutely stunning location. Boasting wild mountain peaks and crystal blue lakes, this little piece of Washington is magical.
Catching a sunrise or sunset in this location will bring you to your knees.
If you are hoping for a versatile location this one is it!
Olympic National Park
This park is vast and stunning, and home to the Hoh Rainforest, and who doesn’t want to get married in the freaking rainforest!
If you are wanting all the wet and moody vibes that the PNW is known for you can find them here, and of course there are mountains for the views too.
Mountains for the photos, and the forest for the adventures!
These three locations may be my favorites, but they are far from the only ones you can say your “I do’s” at in the PNW. For a full list of locations in the PNW and more detailed info of each one check out the blog post “Elopement Locations in the Pacific North West”
Who should you invite to your elopement?
Whoever the heck you want!
And not whoever you don’t.
Eloping is such a personal choice and knowing how to navigate who to tell and invite really needs to be something you and your future husband or wife agree on. It’s not about getting married in some secret ceremony. There are lots of ways to include your family should you want to. I also have lots of ideas on how to honor your family if you choose to do the “Just us two” kind of thing!
It’s about having the day you want and deserve with the people that you choose to be there.
Find more info in this post about “Who to Invite To Your Elopement“.
You’re Considering an Elopement in the Pacific Northwest
The PNW is for the girlies chasing those twilight vibes, foggy mountains, flowing rivers, and the green mossy forest.
The Pacific North West hosts a wide selection of National Parks, highway accessible trails and hidden lakes and waterfalls.
If you’re looking for all that. you came to the right place. How do we go about actually eloping there? Don’t fret, your bestie is here with all the answers!
What is it like to elope in the Pacific Northwest
Truly it is whatever you want it to be but for the sake of dreaming wild dreams, let’s close our eyes and go on a journey through the day you could have if you picked the PNW for your epic elopement.
You sit on the deck of your treehouse oasis, rented out for the week so you can spend the whole time reading and sipping warm drinks by the fire. The trees go on for days, and the fog has settled deep in the forest. Morning is just peeking over the mountains and it’s your freaking wedding day! You and your soon-to-be husband, or wife, sit drinking coffee and writing your vows. The very ones you’ll be reciting before the sun sets.
Your photographer shows up with donuts from a local bakery, and your hair and makeup artist is soon to follow, starting the day. You each get ready in separate rooms and do the sweetest first look below the treehouse before packing up and heading out to the trailhead. An hour or so of hiking with your soon to be, and your awesome new friend with a camera, and the path opens up to the most beautiful waterfall you have ever seen. You share your hand written vows in a private ceremony and dance together in the mist of the waterfall before washing each others feet, just like Jesus.
After the ceremony you both plunge into the water, dress and all for a steamy little photo session swimming in the pool below the waterfall. You gear up again this time with headlamps and hike back down to the cars and head to the dinner spot your photographer found for you. It’s a mountain top picnic, and the sun is just setting. You enjoy great food, and then get to have lantern photos taken under a blanket of stars.
You go home to your family with an epic gallery and even greater memories of the most perfect day!
Why people choose to elope in the Pacific Northwest
Choosing where you will elope is a big deal, and it’s often a very emotional and always personal choice. Still, I have found a handful of the top reasons couples choose to elope in The Pacific North West.
- The Views- The places you can see in the PNW easily outrank some of the top world scenes, and for that reason people flock to this region to say their vows amidst the mountains and the trees!
- The Adventure- The PNW is home to some of the greatest National Parks, and sure maybe I’m biased, but the things you have readily available as far as adventure goes is vast! Kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, 4×4-ing, and so much more.
- The Culture – It’s like a warm hug to be honest. The scattered bustling coffee shops, book stores and parks make this place feel like home away from home, no matter where you are from.
- The Photographer – Finding a photographer that shoots in the mountains and forests often, and has an editing style you love is worth flying them to whatever location you choose. With the PNW being right in my back yard we don’t have to travel far!
When to elope in the Pacific Northwest
The weather in this region is pure moodiness, and for me, that’s perfect. Get ready for moody lighting, foggy backdrops, and killer views!
There are a few patterns we can chat about though and some general seasonal categories. Let’s do that!
Summer
July-September
This is your best chance for a sunny day in the PNW, so if you love all the trees and the moody mornings, but you want a warm sunny hike this is the season fit for you.
Think lush green trees, rainbow wildflowers, and crystal blue lakes and rivers!
Winter
December-March
The moodiest of all the seasons. Almost guarantee for foggy wet weather, and very little sun. If twilight was your favorite movie, this is the season for you.
Think snow-capped mountains, thick dreamy fog, and all the moodiness you can handle.
Fall
November-December
Bring on the moody daze. Fall brings cooler weather and a bit more rain, as the trees shift slightly in color, and the sun starts setting earlier.
Think all the PNW vibes you can handle. It feels very much like “Twilight” if you know you know.
Spring
March-June
There’s still a chill in the air, and the rain is settling in. The temps can still be as low at 30 degrees.
Think, wet. Still a little chilly, and maybe even snowy. But, it can still be really pretty if you don’t mind carrying an umbrella for back-up.
How to plan a Pacific Northwest Elopement
There is so much that goes into planning a Pacific Northwest Elopement, and you are going to want to work with someone who is familiar with the region, excellent at planning adventures, and who is competent and confident in the outdoors.
Elopement photographers in the area are a great place to start looking. Most local photographers who shoot elopements are going to have the skills and knowledge necessary for you to feel safe and secure on your elopement day. Typically, we also offer planning services so make sure to ask about that and remember not all photographers offer the same services so be sure to get clarification on this.
Check out the 10 Steps to Plan Your Elopement for a breakdown of planning your elopement no matter the location you choose.
How much does a Pacific Northwest elopement cost?
This is a loaded question. Technically to get married in the Pacific North West you’ll need a marriage license for the state you choose and that costs $30 in Idaho, $60 in Oregon, $72 in Washington and $53 in Montana, and then you’ll just need the marriage permit for the park if you’re getting married in one, or a permit for the forest. Basically I will just make sure your permit is covered if one is needed! There are also tons of places that don’t require a permit at all, so there’s always that option too!
The real answer I think your looking for is an average cost of the whole thing right? The average elopement in the PNW has a lot of factors at play, however the average is 16k. The good news is there are tons of people who elope with a much higher budget, as well as a much lower one. On the real, I think most of my couples spend an average somewhere between 10-15k, and that includes attire, food, travel, photography, and even lodging.
Obviously the cost of your elopement will depend on the vendors you choose and what activities you want to explore. For more cost info and breakdowns you can fine them in the How Much Does It Cost To Elope blog post. The post also contains a cost calculator to help you plan and budget!
Where to elope in the Pacific Northwest?
There are so many places to get married in the Pacific Northwest that it would take a hundred years to list them all, but I’m working on that. Follow me on social media to get a link to that post when it drops. For the sake of time, I have picked my top three favorite locations and have links to the .gov site for each one where you can get more in depth info.
Columbia River Gorge
Full of epic waterfalls, lookouts, cool little towns and more this is one of the coolest places the PNW has to offer. You can have whatever scenery your looking for and an adventure to top the lists!
The Columbia River Gorge is in the beautiful moody state of Oregon.
The gorge is amazing and breathtaking and great for larger groups or truly intimate elopements.
North Cascades
The North Cascades National Park is a wild and free, and absolutely stunning location. Boasting wild mountain peaks and crystal blue lakes, this little piece of Washington is magical.
Catching a sunrise or sunset in this location will bring you to your knees.
If you are hoping for a versatile location this one is it!
Olympic National Park
This park is vast and stunning, and home to the Hoh Rainforest, and who doesn’t want to get married in the freaking rainforest!
If you are wanting all the wet and moody vibes that the PNW is known for you can find them here, and of course there are mountains for the views too.
Mountains for the photos, and the forest for the adventures!
These three locations may be my favorites, but they are far from the only ones you can say your “I do’s” at in the PNW. For a full list of locations in the PNW and more detailed info of each one check out the blog post “Elopement Locations in the Pacific North West”
Who should you invite to your elopement?
Whoever the heck you want!
And not whoever you don’t.
Eloping is such a personal choice and knowing how to navigate who to tell and invite really needs to be something you and your future husband or wife agree on. It’s not about getting married in some secret ceremony. There are lots of ways to include your family should you want to. I also have lots of ideas on how to honor your family if you choose to do the “Just us two” kind of thing!
It’s about having the day you want and deserve with the people that you choose to be there.
Find more info in this post about “Who to Invite To Your Elopement“.
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