I’ve been photographing elopements in Washington since 2017, and there’s something so romantic about the wild scenery here that I will never get over. Even as a born-and-raised Coloradan, these massive mountains that erupt straight out of sea level and just tower overhead catch my breath every time. I’ve spent a ton of time hopping all over the PNW and I know how to time the weather here for your best chance at sun or fog… depending on your style.
If you’re eloping here, I truly feel like the Olympic Peninsula is a no-brainer. This is one of the only places in the continental US where you can get mountains and the coast in one day. Not to mention the redwoods, rainforests, and proximity to Seattle for easy transportation! This is like a mini Alaska.
But the Olympic Peninsula and its accompanying national park take up just one chunk of this incredibly beautiful state. If you want islands, waterfalls, lakes, or even bigger mountains, then read on! I have even more spots waiting for you.
(Not sure where to start? You can filter by season, scenery, or activity in my new searchable map stocked with nearly 600 great elopement spots! Click here to go right to it.)
Olympic Peninsula & Olympic National Park, Washington
There is nothing like hiking through a moss-covered forest to get to the beach. This section of Washington has it all; lush forests, clear blue lakes, rugged coastline with driftwood-covered beaches, waterfalls, and snow-capped mountains. If you want to elope in a variety of environments on your day, this is your kinda place. There are places to explore year-round – when the coast and rainforests are soaked you can head to the mountains for snow, and warmer months bring wildflowers to the mountains and pleasant sunny days on the coast.
Best for: Coast, Beach, Wildflowers, Waterfalls, Lake, Forest and Mountains
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Camping, Stargazing
Mount Rainier National Park, Washington
Mt. Rainier is undoubtedly an incredible mountain; when she stands out through the clouds there’s absolutely nothing more breathtaking. Eloping with her looming in the background is awe-inspiring. With most of the park inaccessible in the winter, the best time to visit is summer and early fall. Summertime brings endless fields of wildflowers and this area’s short fall brings far fewer crowds. Aside from just the popular (and crowded) park highlight reel, there are SO many trails in the surrounding area that offer incredible views of Mt. Rainier while also less trafficked.
Best for: Mountains and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
North Cascades National Park, Washington
The North Cascades are absolutely magical! There is so much to explore; turquoise alpine lakes, glacier capped mountains, rocky overlooks, and plenty of beautiful flower-filled meadows and forests. If you are looking for insanely amazing backpacking trails, this is most definitely your place. However, most trail access roads are impassable until the snow has melted in July– making the season here short, and snow-free only between July and October.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Lake, Waterfalls and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Floatplane, Hiking, Camping, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Seattle, Washington
The New York to Portland’s San Francisco, Seattle boasts big city vibes in the middle of an incredibly beautiful area. There is, of course, the iconic Space Needle and its incredible observatory deck, but you can also catch a seasonal lounge in the skies in the form of the Loupe Lounge over the winter! (Insider tip–you can get an even higher view at a different spot in the city at Sky View Observatory at Columbia Center!) Puget Sound gives you whale watching opportunities with a Mount Rainier backdrop, and city features like endless museums, underground tours, and Pike Place Market mean you will never run out of things to do. For more nature, Olympic National Park and National Forest are just across the way, sporting jagged mountain peaks, lush PNW greenery, rainforests, and rocky shores.
Best for: City, Coast and Forest
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Floatplane, Hiking, Camping, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Lake Chelan, Washington
Lake Chelan (that’s Shuh-lann) is a 50 mile long lake that is deeper than Lake Superior and is located about five hours east of Seattle. An elopement here would give you crystal clear waters, beautiful mountain views, and access to so many activities to fill your day with. Will you rent jet skis for the afternoon? Celebrate your marriage by careening down a mountain biking trail? Go for a wine tasting in the afternoon? Or enjoy a lakeside picnic? It’s up to you—and there are no wrong answers here. Due to its depths, Lake Chelan also attracts divers from all over the world, if that’s your speed.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Lake and Waterfalls
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Floatplane, Hiking, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
San Juan Islands, Washington
Pacific Northwest forested mountain island life is the best way to describe this collection of 172 named islands and reefs. Accessible by ferry (or float plane) this area is amazing for boating, whale watching, and those looking for a peaceful laid-back elopement– likely with a killer sunset. These islands offer all the moody weather in the winter time, and absolutely gorgeous weather the rest of the year!
Best for: Island, Beach, Coast and Forest
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Floatplane, Hiking, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Mount Baker – Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington
If you are obsessed with massive mountain ranges, lots of colorful wildflowers, and pure wilderness stretching in all directions– this might be your place. The number of months where this area isn’t covered in snow is short, making July-October your best chance for accessible trailheads with passable roads. However if you are looking to elope in a winter wonderland– snowshoeing and skiing Mt. Baker can’t be beat.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Lake and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Stargazing
Hoh Rain Forest, Washington
If getting married in a drizzly mist surrounded by lush vegetation and a canopy of tall, mossy trees sounds right up your alley, you’ll LOVE the Hoh Rainforest. This forest is located within the boundaries of Olympic National Park, which means it is both super accessible from Seattle and situated in a breathtakingly gorgeous area. Everything about this spot is situated to make you feel fully present on your wedding day—from the damp earth to the green smell to the sound of light rain pattering on the leaves of the trees. Say your vows under a natural arch from a fallen tree or by a waterfall and feel totally immersed in the wild, beautiful landscape here.
Best for: Forest
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Ross Lake, Washington
This area is only accessible via hiking, boat, or float plane! Its remoteness makes it the perfect place to find your very own private elopement spot with nobody else around. Also located here? Ross Lake Resort. Floating cabins directly on Ross Lake! It’s difficult to snag a reservation here, but 100% worth planning your entire elopement around if you can book a night here!
Best for: Lake, Mountains and Forest
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Floatplane, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding, Hiking
Orcas Island, Washington
Orcas Island is the largest of the ridiculously beautiful San Juan Islands. Even the ferry over to the island is famous for its views. Any spot that requires you to soak in a beautiful one-hour boat ride beforehand is bound to be good. Stay in a campground on the island or in an oceanfront cottage with a hot tub—either way, you’re going to be front and center in some amazing scenery. As the name implies, whale watching tours are a great way to spend part of the day here. Moran State Park is another popular spot—going to the top of Mt. Constitution, a replica watchtower, is a particular favorite for those hiking in the area, providing panoramic views from above. Be sure to also visit the super picturesque downtown area, which sits on the East Sound of the island and offers great opportunities for paddling. If you’re not a hiker, the whole island is accessible by car on a scenic byway. Spend your elopement hopping from spot to spot, pulling over whenever you see something you want to explore!
Best for: Island, Beach, Coast and Forest
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Hurricane Ridge, Washington
For many visiting Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge is a must-stop. This is largely because there’s no better way to get easy access to incredible views in the park. With roads to take you up to the top, this is a great way to get great mountaintop views during your elopement without strenuous hiking. A 2023 fire took out the famous day lodge up here, but while they’re rebuilding, you can still get the beautiful sights of the park laid out around you. In the warmer months, this is a great spot to find wildflowers nestled among the hills!
Best for: Mountains, Forest and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Washington State Fire Towers, Washington
Washington is filled with old fire towers perched on top of mountains! It’s still possible to access the inside of many of them– talk about an awesome getting ready spot or place to host your celebratory elopement picnic! You could even opt for spending the night in one, snuggled in a sleeping bag, stargazing, with a warm mug of spiked hot chocolate in hand.
Best for: Forest and Mountains
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Snoqualmie Pass, Washington
Snoqualmie Pass is just outside of Seattle along I-90, an incredibly scenic 12 miles of road. This area has its own summit with bike paths in the summer and ski trails in the summer. In the warmer months, you can also find Snoqualmie Tunnel here, an abandoned railroad tunnel turned state park that’s over 2 miles long, cloaked in darkness, and a popular biking and walking destination. On your way in from Seattle, you can also do Snoqualmie Falls, well worth the stop.
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Lakes, Waterfall and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is a cheeky little German-inspired town located right in the middle of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. There are an abundance of gorgeous summertime hikes to turquoise lakes, and stunning mountain views. In the wintertime, while many areas in Washington become inaccessible, there is plenty of snowshoeing to be had near here!
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Lakes and Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Paddleboarding
Gifford Pinchot Forest Falls, Washington
Gifford Pinchot National Forest is well known for a few reasons—one of which being its immediate proximity to Mount St. Helens—but one of the best sights for your elopement day is any of the incredible waterfalls! There are whole campgrounds and trails here devoted solely to giving you the best view of a waterfall or sending you down a path to see more. Lewis River alone has at least three, many of which are super accessible. Come here for tall evergreens, misty enclaves, flowing water, and green vegetation.
Best for: Forest and Waterfall
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping
Lake Cushman, Washington
Lake Cushman is just outside of Hood Canal in the Olympic National Forest and is only about a 2 hour drive from Seattle. Meaning it’s not just beautiful—it’s also pretty easy to get to! The lake cuts between ridges of mountains that rise up on either side of you, framing the sunset between the rocks when you’re facing west. You can use the turquoise waters here to fish, cliff-jump, swim, or paddle around. The Staircase Rapids start here, which makes for a great hike and beautiful scenery. If you want to get away from the water for part of the day, there are countless trails in this area and lots of interesting landmarks, like the High Steel Bridge.
Best for: Forest and Lake
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Snoqualmie Falls, Washington
Over 250 ft tall, Snoqualmie Falls is super popular for good reason. This wide and mighty waterfall has both an upper and lower observation deck, allowing you to see multiple angles of the falls and river of the same name. This would be a perfect ceremony spot, getting close enough to your partner to say your vows, the rushing water making sure that you’re the only ones who can hear them. In the area you also have lots of great hiking trails and stone tunnels, so you’ll have plenty to explore for the rest of your day! This is less than 45 minutes from Seattle, so this would work great in a multi-stop elopement in the area.
Best for: Forest and Waterfall
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
For more research into Washington’s best spots, check out my interactive map! I’ve got nearly 600 locations in here from around the world ready for you to look through to find your dream spot. Filter away and see tailored lists of recommendations based on what you need!
Timing can be especially crucial when planning an elopement in the PNW. Whether you’re worried about rain on your wedding day or want to make sure it won’t be too cold, you can count on me to be your expert in all things travel. From the best stays and airports to how to pace your day to catch exactly the sights you want to see, I personally make sure you have everything you need so that you can focus on getting excited for your wedding day.
Ready to stop searching and start planning? Reach out to me here and get in touch!
