Mount Rainier Hiking Proposal

S went to high school with me and Adam! We were in similar friend circles and spent a good amount of time together. S reached out with the goal of proposing to her girlfriend while they were visiting Washington, and really wanted us to capture it. Of course, we said yes! I hopped on a zoom call with her to catch up after years of not seeing each other, and heard more about her partner, Z. 

After hearing their story, it felt even more special to be able to capture this moment for them! S knew she wanted to propose somewhere in the mountains, and was already thinking Mount Rainier would be perfect. Thankfully, we picked a date to make it happen at the beginning of wildflower season! 

S and her dad are seasoned hikers in the WA area, so we all collaborated on finding a short, beautiful, and private-enough hike for S to propose to Z. I found this one trail that didn’t seem too popular, so S and her dad hiked it beforehand and sent videos/photos of exactly what she was picturing. 

The plan was simple (in theory): we’d hike in ahead of them, hang out near the proposal spot, and blend in as just another couple on the trail. So that’s exactly what we did! Adam and I were just two “hikers” taking bird photos and snapping some landscapes, trying not to look suspicious at all 😅

When there was a break with no other hikers, S signaled us, got down on one knee, and poured her heart out to Z. It was SO perfect! Adam and I made sure to get all of the moments!

Surprise Double Proposal

Okay, but the part that makes this proposal even more magical (which we didn’t think was possible) is that before we knew it, Z was unwrapping a sock-covered ring box from her hiking pack!! So after saying yes, Z turned around and proposed right back to S. Total shock. Immediate tears and joy. It was unbelievable! 

Little did they know, but S & Z had actually picked up each other’s rings the exact same day from the exact same jeweler. Talk about meant to be?!

Mount Rainier Hiking & Wildflower Engagement Photos

It was so funny because I remember Z saying that she just thought we were photographers getting bird shots for Nat Geo or something! She didn’t realize that S had hired us to capture the proposal. It was so nice getting to finally meet Z, though, after hearing so much about her from S. You can just really tell how much someone loves a person by how they light up when they’re around each other, and that’s exactly what it’s like watching S & Z be together. S is already a bubbly, kind, joyful, and outgoing person, and same with Z, but together, it only amplifies!

After the double proposal, they both changed into dresses that S had packed in anticipation for engagement photos. We took some gorgeous photos at their proposal location, along the hiking trail with some wildflowers, and then we stopped at Reflection Lake for a champagne toast and some photos with Rainier peeking out!

How To Plan A Proposal At Mount Rainier

If you’re thinking about planning a proposal like this one at Mount Rainier, we’re happy to help make it as magical and stress-free as possible! Here is some advice we have:

Timing Matters

We’ve got a whole Mt Rainier blog on the seasons and how to plan an elopement there, so make sure to check that out if you want to explore other timeframes besides wildflower season. But for the wildflower season, we recommend visiting between the end of July and early August. This proposal took place towards the middle/end of July, so the wildflowers were just starting to poke out!

Crowds Are Real

Mount Rainier is an extremely busy location, so be prepared for a lot of hikers, especially from July to September. If you want to avoid the crowds as much as possible, consider hiking a less popular trail (like these two did!), going at sunrise, or exploring locations outside the park with views of the mountain.

Pick The Right Trail

If you’re planning a proposal along a hiking trail, it’s important to pick one that has a good spot for the actual proposal. That means that you’ll need a trail that isn’t super narrow, has an overlook, or maybe has spurs off the main trail to explore. You truly don’t have to go super far to find a beautiful spot, it’s just whether or not it’ll be super private. There are plenty of locations that balance accessibility with great views!

Have A Solid Plan

One of the best things we do before a proposal, though, is have a solid plan. There often isn’t service at Rainier, or you aren’t able to touch base a ton, so having accurate addresses, trail maps, photo examples, etc. is super key. You don’t need to overcomplicate it, but knowing where you’re going, where you’ll stop, and how it’ll happen makes a huge difference!

Proposal Tips!

After photographing a lot of proposals, here are a few things that make everything go more smoothly:

• Think about the kind of proposal that you AND your partner want. Does your partner want it to be private or public? Would they prefer to be dressed up?
• Make sure the plan is well thought out. You don’t need to overcomplicate it, but make sure that you and the photographer are on the same page. 
• Solidify your plan ahead of time, and make sure that you and your photographer have a contingency plan in place. If there are other hikers around, do you both wait until it’s clear and quiet to propose? What if the weather is bad, do you postpone? 
• Build in some extra time for the proposal because things tend to take longer than expected. 
• Don’t worry about making it perfect. Those real, unplanned moments are truly the best ones! 

Looking for a photographer that’s going to help you with all of this and make the process as smooth as possible? Inquire here!