| January 15, 2018

Eloping on Mt. Rainier, in Isolation, Just each other

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Resa & Grant

One thing I love about adventure weddings is you never quite know how exactly they will turn out. You can have ideas, plan, and schedule — but the thing about wild outdoor weddings, is that nature always has the beautiful final word. 

Resa, Grant, & I had spent months finding the most perfect epic hike in Mt. Rainier National Park (one that I definitely still want to do for an elopement), but by the time September came, Rainier had both forest fires, and early snow causing closures all over the park. We put our heads together, pivoted, and came up with several alternative plans the week of their elopement. 

Honestly, I don’t think it could have been more beautiful or perfect. It was rainy & cloudy all day, with no views of Rainer, but we found a perfect piece of rainforest for them to say their vows with their 2 closest friends (one of whom officiated). I got the honor of being their second witness on their marriage license. We played some more under the trees, until we were all soaking wet from the rain.

We decided to try for some more Rainier views the next morning before I headed to the airport — hoping for a gap in the clouds. Luckily that the Wiley temptress, Rainier, poked through the clouds and put on a show for Resa & Grant, to wrap up their Mt. Rainer wedding story, frolicking around in the fresh snow.

I love that elopements boil down the idea of a wedding back to what really matters: 2 people, in love, committing their lives to each other. At the end of the day, all that matters is that you married the love of your life — and it’s phenomenal when nature plays along and creates a magical day like this turned out to be. 

Entrance sign at Mount Rainier National Park and landscape of mountains.
Landscape of tree line and clouds at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Forest and lake at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride approaches groom for first look on their elopement day at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom share a first look in front of a lake and forest at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom hiking at Mt. Rainier National Park on their elopement day.
Bride and groom have intimate elopement ceremony in forest at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom hold hands during their intimate elopement ceremony at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom hold hands and read their vows during intimate elopement ceremony in a forest at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom during intimate elopement ceremony in a forest at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom during intimate elopement ceremony at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom exchange rings during intimate elopement ceremony at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom during intimate elopement ceremony in a forest at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom with their friends during intimate elopement ceremony at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom embrace in front of waterfall at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride standing in forest, wearing a white dress, and holding a bouquet with orange, red, and white flowers.
Groom standing in forest in Mt. Rainier National Park, wearing a grey suit.
Bride and groom embrace in forest in Mt. Rainier National Park on their elopement day.
Bride and groom in a forest on their elopement day in Mt. Rainier National Park.
Landscape of forest and fog at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom walk through snow together, with snow-capped mountains in the background, at Mt. Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom run through the snow on their elopement day at Mt. Rainer National Park.
Groom lifts up bride in a meadow at Mt. Rainier National Park. There are trees and snow-capped mountains in the background.
Bride and groom walk through snowy meadow at Mt. Rainier National Park. There are snow-capped mountains and trees in the background.
Bride and groom run through snow-covered meadow in Mt. Rainier National park. There are snow-capped mountains in the background.
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