Olympic National Park Micro Wedding in Fall

Olympic National Park has to be one of the most amazing elopement destinations! Unlike most National Parks, there are six different ecosystems within the park: coastal forests, lowland forests, temperate rain forest, montane forests, subalpine, and alpine. So, not only can you experience the incredible northwestern-most point of the contiguous United States along the coast, but you can also walk amongst the old growth trees in the temperate rain forests and hike to the epic Olympic mountain range!

When these two initially inquired, they wanted a Washington elopement with their closest family members. Their only requirements were epic views and easy accesiblity for their guests. We had suggested various locations within Washington State, but they fell in love with Olympic! So, we helped them plan a sunrise to sunset experience including family during important parts of the day, while also finding time for the two of them to celebrate privately.

Sunrise First Look at Hurricane Ridge

We initially had their ceremony set for Hurricane Ridge, but we ended up needing to change their ceremony location to be more accessible for family. But these two still wanted to see the mountains, so we planned an intimate sunrise first look with their only witnesses being us and the mountains!

Hurricane Ridge, also known as “The Ridge,” is the most easily accessible area for the Olympics! From Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge is only 17 miles on Hurricane Ridge Rd. The road is always open during the summer, but is only open Friday-Sunday during the winter, weather-permitting. Unfortunately, on May 7, 2023, there was a devastating fire that completely destroyed the Hurricane Ridge Day Lodge. What once was a beautiful 1950s lodge with interpretive exhibits, a gift shop, and a cafe is now little more than rubble. So, if you plan to visit the area, just be aware that there are temporary restrooms, but no other facilities.

Private Location Near Hurricane Ridge

Another location that is lesser known is where we took this couple! It also has incredible views of the Olympics, but tends to be a lot less crowded because there are no restrooms or facilities, and the trail is a short hike to view the mountains.

The road up to this trailhead is a forest service road, and is not paved. T powered through his car-sickness from the road to get ready in the dark in preparation for their first look! These two braved the cold, and got ready on either side of their rental car. Then, we helped get them set up for an intimate first look moment. Even though they had several things go wrong in getting to this point, it felt like all of their worries and stressors immediately washed away the second they got dressed and shared their first look! Any nerves they had before completely disappeared, too. The sun was beginnging to rise at this point, so we hurried up the trail to watch it together!

Olympic Mountain Private Vow Ceremony

This was probably one of the most incredible sun rises we’ve witnessed in a long time! The mountains turned beautiful shades of blue, purple, and pink. It was a little chilly, but it warmed up pretty quickly with the sunshine! We trekked along the trail capturing some portraits, and allowing these two to pick the perfect spot for their private vows.

Talk about getting to this moment! Not only did T power through car sickness, but H had to do her own hair and makeup last minute due to a vendor not showing up. While it wasn’t the morning that they had planned, both of them handled everything with grace. All of the stress and hardships getting to this point left the second that they started sharing their private vows. The only thing left was love and joy. They are probably some of the strongest people we’ve ever met, and we feel so honored to have been able to document this moment for them. It was absolutely magical! And not only did they handle everything with grace, but they were silly and had a fun time together. It completely changed the course of their morning for the better!

One really big thing that makes moments like this so special, is when couples get to share it without anyone around! That’s why we put so much time and effort into scouting locations and making sure we prepare our couples for how private or busy a location might be. These two got this location all to themselves, which is pretty amazing for a Saturday in September!

Sunrise Mountain Portraits in Olympic National Park

This private time before meeting up with family really helped set the pace for the rest of the day. T + H got to wake up together, get ready side by side, share a first look, exchange gifts, watch the sun rise, say private vows, and enjoy a couple of hours together by themselves! When planning small weddings, we always recommend finding time to celebrate just the two of you. Hannah and I had a small wedding in 2022 with both of our parents and siblings present. And while we wanted to spend most of the day with our loved ones, we don’t regret having some private time just the two of us! It really helps you slow down and remember that this day is about YOU. So for these two, this morning portion of their day was really a way for them to connect prior to meeting up with their family members.

Hiking In The Olympics

A lot of our couples choose to hike for their small wedding or elopement! Whether it’s a short 1 mile trail or a long 6+ mile trek, here are some things we always recommend:

• Please make sure to practice Leave No Trace anytime you’re outdoors! The principles of LNT are: plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize campfire impacts, respect wildlife, and be considerate of other visitors.
• Plan your hike for around sunrise or sunset for more temperate weather and for fewer visitors! Late morning to early afternoon can be a really busy time of day to plan for a hike.
• Make sure to consider the level of difficulty that you’re willing to do with your wedding attire in tow.
• Always pack plenty of water and snacks in a nice hiking backpack with a sturdy frame (helps with limiting shoulder and back pain). We recommend going to a local sports store (like REI) to pick out a pack that fits you well!
• Pack a first aid kit, bug spray, bear spray, and sunscreen no matter the time of year!
• Again, no matter what the time of year is, pack plenty of good layers. We personally love merino wool baselayers, a breathable lightweight midlayer, and a waterproof external layer.

Accessible Ceremony Location With Family in Port Angeles

We had initially wanted to do their wedding ceremony at Hurricane Ridge, but switched last minute to a more accessible location for family. Adam and I scouted out this spot in Port Angeles for a private ceremony with T + H’s closest family members. We sent photos and videos to T + H the day before their elopement to make sure that they liked the location. It ended up being perfect! There was no one around, and we had plenty of shade to stay cool. The weather wasn’t super warm, but the shade definitely felt nice!

Airbnb Brunch Reception in Port Angeles

After their ceremony, we all caravanned back to their Airbnb rental in Port Angeles. The rental had beautiful views of the water, and their family members had set up a lovely brunch display complete with mimosas, pastries, and a cutting cake!

Washington Coast Elopement Picnic by Seattle Luxury Picnics

T + H had really wanted to go to the coast at sunset, so we settled on a beautiful nbeah along the northern Washington Coast. They had hired Seattle Luxury Picnics to set up a gorgeous evening picnic. Adam and I had been in touch with the owner about the location prior to T + H’s elopement, and she killed it! The spot, as well as the entire setup was so gorgeous. We can’t recommend hiring Seattle Luxury Picnics enough!

Adam and I captured the tablescape and T + H’s wedding details, and then we all sat down together and enjoyed the charcuterie and drinks! We love being able to not only document amazing days, but also build relationships with our couples. It’s nice being able to connect!

Rialto Beach Sunset Elopement Pictures

We finished their sunrise to sunset elopement day with the BEST sunset! These two really lucked out with the weather in September. We ran around the beach with sand and smooth rocks between our toes, got soaked by the salty waves, and watched the sun disappear. After the sun had gone down, we brought out the lanterns and stayed for a few minutes to enjoy blue hour! It was hard saying goodbye to these two after such a fun day!

Olympic National Park Small Wedding Gallery

Keep scrolling to check out the rest of this beautiful gallery! We hand-picked some of our favorite photos to include to showcase this epic Olympic National Park wedding. And as always, reach out to us below if this feels like your dream elopement adventure!