Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer
If you’ve been searching for a photographer for your Olympic National Park elopement, you’ve landed in the right place!
Olympic is one of my personal favorites out of all the national parks. It has most landscapes you could want, and incredibly epic versions of them. The mountains are sharp, the lakes see-through, the coastline is rugged, and of course, the fern filled Hoh Rainforest.
My role as your Olympic National Park elopement photographer is to help create an experience & photos in these landscapes that is greater than your wildest dreams!
That could look like:
A sunrise first look at Hurricane Ridge
Mid morning canoe on Lake Crescent
A hike deep into the Hoh Rainforest
Tide Pooling on Ruby Beach
And so much more!
Meet Your Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer
I’ve felt at home in the outdoors for as long as I can remember. Over time, I realized the moments I feel most alive are when I’m on top of mountains, beside wild oceans or deep in nature - and it’s even heightened when shared with others! Creating experiences where couples can feel empowered, present, and the most alive on such a meaningful day in their lives is what I live for! It’s exactly what has led me to becoming an Olympic National Park elopement photographer.
I work with couples who value experiences over expectations and who want to feel present, connected, and fully themselves in a place that inspires them. As your photographer, I’m not just documenting your day - I’m helping you create it, from location ideas to timeline planning and everything in between.
My passion is to guide you into having a day that is intentional and shaped around what matters most to you, and to create photos that bring you right back to it, every time you look at them.
How to elope in Olympic National Park
Eloping in Olympic National Park can feel really overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve never been there! It’s a massive park and has so much to explore. However, when you break it down step-by-step, and work with a Olympic National Park elopement photographer that is an expert in these things, I promise it will become fun, stressless and pain free quickly!
Step One: Book Your Olympic Elopement Photographer
You might think this is too early in our steps, but I promise you, hiring your Olympic elopement photographer as one of the first things you do, is the way to go! From that point on, you’ll have a hand’s on resource that can help you with the rest of these steps with knowledge, insight and expertise from planning + photographing hundreds of experiences just like yours.
Step Two: Choose Your Locations & Activities
As a Olympic National Park elopement photographer, helping couples choose locations + activities for their elopement that are aligned with them is a huge part of my process. We’ll consider factors like type of scenery, level of accessibility, time of year, time of day, level of privacy and more when deciding the locations and activities you want to include as part of your elopement.
Step Three: Create Timeline & Apply for Special Use Permit
Once we have a good idea of the details and pace of your elopement, I’ll create a customized timeline that outlines our plan for the day, so that we have a general idea of where we want to be and when. The beauty of elopements is that this is flexible, loose, and always has the ability to change, however we will want to have an idea of where and when we will be for your ceremony, so that you can apply for your special use permit to get married in Olympic National Park!
Step Four: Book Your Other Vendors + Travel Accommodations
Now that we have an idea of where we’ll you’ll be, what you’ll be doing, and when you’ll be there, it’s time to lock in the rest of the plan! Book your other vendors such as hair + make up, florists, private chefs, or an officiant (or I can officiant for you!) as well as an cozy place to stay at the end of the day! This is something I’m happy to help with as well, as small details like whether or not to stay near Port Angeles vs Forks, can make a big difference in your overall elopement experience.
Just like that, you’re on your way to having an incredible elopement experience in Olympic National Park! If you’re ready to start the process, give me a shout and let’s start planning your Olympic elopement day!
Olympic National Park Elopement Photography
Real Olympic National Park Elopement Days
Activities For Your Olympic National Park Elopement Photography
Olympic National Park is a massive park with so many fun things to do and see, all of which can be incorporated into your Olympic elopement!
After photographing hundreds of elopements, some of the best advice I can offer is to make your elopement day feel like the most fun adventure or best vacation day you’ve ever been on. Incorporating activities into your elopement will give you something to focus on besides photos, make your day feel much more natural and intuitive, and is frankly, just way more fun! Here are a few fun ideas from an Olympic National Park elopement photographer that’s seen it all.
Picnic in the park
Experience the Hoh Rainforest
Tide pooling at Ruby Beach
Walk to a Waterfall
Fishing on the Elwah River
Beach Camping
Hiking (duh!)
Kayak Lake Quinault
Wildlife watching
Bonfire + s’mores
Scenic drive with pull off stops
Bike Riding around Lake Crescent
Olympic National Park Elopement Photography Timeline Examples
Two Day Olympic Elopement Photography Timeline
Day One: Fishing + Ceremony with Family
12:30 - Getting ready + detail photos
2:15 - First look
2:45 - Fishing on the Elwah river
3:30 - Leave airbnb for Waterfall
4:30 - Hike the Waterfall
6:00 - Ceremony at Lake Crescent
6:30 - Leave Lake Crescent for Hurricane Ridge
7:30 - Family photos + sunset portraits
8:30 - Sunset + wrap up
Day Two: Exploring the park, just the couple
3:30 - Meet at Rainforest Trail + explore Hoh Rainforest
4:30 - Head to Coast
5:30 - Kalaloch Beach
6:15 - Head to Ruby Beach
6:30 - Sunset portraits + tide pools
8:35 - Sunset & Lantern Photos
9:15 - Wrap Up
Full Day Olympic Elopement Photography Timeline
7am: Meet at Lake Crescent
First look + stroll around the lake
8am: Split for morning
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11:00: Meet at Airbnb
11:00: Getting ready, donut eating, coffee drinking
12:15: Drive to Hoh Rainforest
Make stops along the way as we see them
2:30 - Hike Hoh Rainforest Trail
3:30 - Vows along the Hoh Rainforest Trail
5:30 - Head to the coast for sunset
6:30 - Sunset portraits
champagne + Picnic
8:00 - Sunset + wrap up
Best Locations for Olympic National Park Elopement Photography
One of my favorite things about Olympic National Park, as an elopement photographer who explores the park frequently, is that it has so much variety in scenery to offer. Rainforests, lakes, coastline, glaciers, mountains, waterfalls. The only thing it’s missing is the desert! Here are some of the best locations to consider for your Olympic National Park elopement photography.
Mountain Locations in Olympic National Park
Often times, people forget there are incredible mountain in Olympic! The Olympic mountain range is stunning, and there are several trails to explore within them. Some that even overlook the Puget Sound!
Hurricane Ridge
Mt. Storm King
Mount Townsend
Lake Locations in Olympic National Park
There are some stunning, crystal clear water lakes that are absolutely worth exploring during your Olympic Elopement! Classics like these will leave you in awe:
Lake Crescent
Lake Quinault
Forests & Waterfall Locations in Olympic National Park
Olympic is most famous for the beautiful Hoh Rainforest, which fun fact, is named as the quietest place in North America. Thick forests + trickling waterfalls make Olympic incredibly special.
Hall of Mosses
Marymere Falls
Sol Duc Falls
Coastal Locations in Olympic National Park
The Washington coastline in Olympic National Park is a force of its own. Driftwood, sea stacks and full of tide pools, there is always something to explore on these expansive beaches.
Ruby Beach
Rialto Beach
Kalaloch Beach
Not sure if Olympic is the best location for you? Check out Where to Elope here!
Hiring an Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer
Keep in mind that while all of these locations are stunning, choosing locations by considering factors such as time of year, time of day, privacy levels, accessibility levels and more, is the detail that will make or break your elopement experience, and is the reason that hiring an Olympic National Park elopement photographer that knows the area well (hi!), is critical. Not to mention, there are SO many other trails and more private locations that will give you a peaceful and quiet elopement experience, compared to some of these beautiful, but popular spots.
Olympic National Park Elopement Packages
Eloping in Olympic National Park is a once in a lifetime experience. As your Olympic Elopement Photographer, I’m here to help you co-create an experience that feels aligned, intentional and one that you can feel fully present and immersed in the landscape that Olympic National Park has to offer.
Some of What’s Included:
Half day, full day or multi-day photography coverage of your elopement experience
Customized location recommendations and in person pre-elopement scouting
Access to exclusive guides + planning tools
Timeline creation for a stress-free yet well thought out guideline to your elopement day
Logistics guidance with things like vendor recommendations, activity ideation, and where to stay
Special use permit + marriage license assistance (and ability to officiate!)
High-resolution images delivered in a shareable online gallery
All travel fee’s included
Heirloom quality albums + archival prints
Are you ready to start planning your Olympic National Park elopement photography? Let’s get the conversation started!
Olympic National Park Elopement FAQ
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If you have more than 5 people, you will need a permit for your Olympic National Park elopement! This is something I will help you with once we have determined a location and time frame for your ceremony. If you have 5 people or less (including an vendors) you will not need a permit!
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Absolutely! You’ll need a marriage license through Washington state. Your officiant will help you through this process, or if you’d like me to sign as your officiant (yes, I’m ordained), I’ll help you sort that out!
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Of course, this can largely depend and is a personal decision. However, my recommendation if you’re wanting to maximize your time in the park and experiencing the various landscapes, is to have full day or two day coverage. Olympic is a massive park, so if we have ample time to explore different sections at a time, you won’t have to choose between locations, and we won’t be rushed!
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This largely depends on which areas we plan to explore for your elopement day. If you’re drawn to Lake Crescent, Hurricane Ridge or the waterfalls, staying near Port Angeles might be better. If you’re interested in the Hoh Rainforest or the coastline, Forks will be better placement for you. That’s why working with an Olympic National Park elopement photographer will be helpful in determining the best logistics for the best experience.
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“Bad” weather in Olympic is not something uncommon. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. There’s no such thing as bad weather. If you’re prepared and ready to embrace whatever conditions we have for your elopement, you’ll have an incredible time. Dramatic weather makes for dramatic photos and can really bring things to a whole new level. Of course, some times we might need to switch up locations or timing of things, but as long as you’re flexible, weather can’t ruin our experience!
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Olympic is a fairly pet friendly national park, however there still are some areas that pets aren’t allowed. I would only recommend bringing you dog if they’re comfortable being in the airbnb by themselves. That way, the can join us for parts, but be safe at home if you want to explore some areas that aren’t pet friendly.
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For the best chance at sunny weather, August + September are my go to months for Olympic National Park elopements. If you’re after a moodier vibe or quieter park, shoulder seasons can be really nice as well!
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I book elopements as far as 18 months, and as close to a few days out. The sweet spot is 6-12 months before your elopement to give us ample time to plan without being rushed, and secure a permit if you need one.
Book Your Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer
Whether you don’t know where to begin, or you have your Olympic National Park elopement fully figured out, I’m going to meet you where you are! If you’re excited about getting married in Olympic National Park and are ready to start the conversation about booking an Olympic elopement photographer, let’s get the party started!
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