If you’re dreaming of a Colchuck Lake wedding, you’re likely the kind of couple who values jaw-dropping views, meaningful moments, and unforgettable experiences over tradition.

Tucked away in the heart of the Enchantments near Leavenworth, Washington, Colchuck Lake offers one of the most striking backdrops for an adventurous wedding day.

In this couple’s Colchuck Lake wedding story, Adrienne and Andy knew they wanted something extraordinary for their elopement—a sunrise ceremony, a challenging hike, and time spent doing what they love most together. And that’s exactly what they got.

A Wedding That Almost Didn’t Happen: Is a Colchuck Lake Wedding possible?

When Adrienne and Andy first reached out to us about their Colchuck Lake elopement, they had already been told their vision was “not possible.”

Other vendors said:

• The hike was too intense
• The early start was too ambitious
• The day wouldn’t be enjoyable

But at Adventure and Vow, we believe no adventure is too big, and we love a bit of challenge mixed into the day. This creates an environment for a more impactful and meaningful experience, so we are always about it.

Having tagged along with couples through early morning hikes and high-altitude ceremonies before, we knew exactly how possible their Colchuck Lake wedding would be and how great of an experience they’d have as well.

Hiking to Colchuck Lake Before Sunrise

On a crisp morning in late July, we met Adrienne and Andy under the stars in the parking lot to begin the 5+ mile hike with over 2,400 feet of elevation gain.

As we made our way up the trail:

• The couple powered through switchbacks and forested paths
• We made our way across waterways and rocky alpine terrain
• After hours of darkness, the sky slowly transitioned to the soft glow of dawn

Once we reached the lake, Adrienne used a travel mirror to do her elopement makeup trailside. Then she slipped into her gown while Andy suited up nearby.

They met casually in the early morning light—everything around them looking like a watercolor painting.

Sunrise Vows overlooking a Crystal-Clear Colchuck Lake

The couple sat together on a blanket, sipping coffee and taking in the peaceful surroundings. With no one else around, they shared private vows overlooking the stunning blue waters of Colchuck Lake.

It was:

• Quiet
• Intimate
• Deeply meaningful

A moment completely their own, surrounded by the towering peaks of Colchuck and Dragontail and their reflections still as glass upon the lake.

Fly Fishing at Colchuck Lake in Wedding Attire? Yes Please.

Fishing is an important part of Adrienne and Andy’s relationship, so of course it had to be part of their Colchuck Lake elopement.

With gorgeous backlight from the morning sun, they:

• Set up their fly fishing gear
• Cast lines into the still blue lake
• Took time to truly enjoy the moment

Even though no fish were caught, the experience was perfect—slow, joyful, and grounded.

We stepped back, allowing the scene to unfold naturally, setting up a few posed shots but otherwise enjoying our time together while capturing candid images of them doing what they love.

Afternoon Break Before the Evening Celebration

After the ceremony and fishing, we hiked back down to the trailhead.

By then, the trail was bustling with hikers making their way up for the day. We parted ways for a few hours to rest and reset.

Later that evening, we reunited at a private riverside cabin in the Leavenworth area.

Intimate Dinner + Family Toasts at a Riverside Cabin

The couple rented a charming cabin with:

• A spacious lawn
• Private riverfront access
• Cozy corners perfect for gathering

Here, Adrienne and Andy:

• Shared a private chef-prepared dinner (shoutout to Miere Catering—it was unreal!)
• Toasted with family
• Signed their marriage license surrounded by their loved ones

The entire evening felt deeply intentional. Nothing was overdone, but every detail was thoughtful and true to the couple.

FAQs About a Colchuck Lake Wedding

How long is the hike to Colchuck Lake?

The trail is about 10 miles round-trip (It’s longer than All Trails says, we promise!) with 2,400 feet of elevation gain. Plan for 2–3 hours to reach the lake, depending on pace.

Is a Colchuck Lake wedding legal?

Yes! You can legally get married at Colchuck Lake. Because of the location of the lake in wilderness land, there is a limit on how many people are allowed in your group. Also keep in mind that this is a very challenging hike, so it would not be a good fit for anyone with mobility restrictions or low levels of fitness.

When is the best time of year to elope at Colchuck Lake?

Late July through early October is ideal. Trails are typically snow-free, and the scenery is unbeatable.

Is a Colchuck Lake Wedding better at Sunrise or Sunset?

We 100% stand by the fact that a Colchuck Lake Wedding is better at sunrise. This is because it’s a very popular trail during the popular season, which is also the only time period we’d recommend holding a wedding here. If you value privacy at all and would like it to be an experience rather than feel like a photo shoot, then definitely choose sunrise over sunset.

Can you fish at Colchuck Lake?

Absolutely. Colchuck Lake fishing is popular among alpine anglers. A valid Washington State fishing license is required.

Where is Colchuck Lake located?

It’s part of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness near Leavenworth, WA, and accessed via the Stuart Lake Trailhead. You will be able to use Google or Apple Maps to get yourself to the trailhead simply by looking up Eightmile Trailhead parking. From there, continue driving up Forest Service Rd. 7601 for about .75 miles until it ends at Stuart Lake Trailhead. If you like to be extra prepared, here are the coordinates for the trailhead parking:

47.52775, -120.82086

Is there a lot of parking for Colchuck Lake?

If you plan to start at sunrise, absolutely! However, this trail is one of the busiest hikes not only in Leavenworth, but also in Washington state as a whole. So do keep in mind that a later start can often mean you’ll be parking a mile down the road, adding two extra miles to the hike overall.

Thinking About Your Own Colchuck Lake Wedding?

If you’re considering planning your own Colchuck Lake wedding or elopement, we’d love to help.

At Adventure and Vow, we’re experts at building unforgettable wedding experiences that take all the challenges and turn them into unforgettable memories. Translation? We make sure your wedding day is completely stress free with nothing to worry about and only the amazing experience ahead to look forward to.

Your dream day is our mission. Let’s plan a day that truly reflects you.

Reach out to us here to start dreaming big!

View their Lake Colchuck elopement photo slideshow

For every elopement couple, we create a slideshow of their elopement photos so that they can watch their elopement day back, even if they do not book a video. Slideshows bring your images to life creating a beautiful way to see your images for the first time and share your elopement day with loved ones.

We Can’t Wait To Hear More About Your Colchuck Lake Wedding Plans!

Why Liberty Bell Mountain is One of Washington’s Best Climbs

Rising tall within Washington State’s North Cascades, Liberty Bell Mountain is an alpine climber’s dream. With solid granite walls, sweeping summit views, and an approach that is just the right distance from the parking lot, it’s no surprise that Liberty Bell attracts climbers in droves during the summer season.

One of the most popular climbs up Liberty Bell is the Beckey Route, a 4-pitch trad route that follows cracks, slabs, and an exposed boulder problem to the summit. For many, it’s the perfect intro to alpine trad climbing with a massively stunning view to reward climbers at the top. For Skye & Garrett, it became more than just another summit—it became the backdrop to their wedding.

Planning an Elopement on Liberty Bell Mountain

When Skye & Garrett connected with us about their rock climbing elopement, we were immediately excited. The Beckey Route is one they climbed together early on in their relationship and provided a fundamental bond for their relationship. Since we had a location, it was time for the planning:

The Challenge of a Same-Day Ascent & Wedding

The Original Plan:

• Climb & descend in one evening
• Hold the ceremony at the summit after the climb, midday

Why This Wouldn’t Work Well:

• Climbing midday = harsh, unflattering light for photography
• Crowded route = pressure to climb fast & no room for slower groups or anything to slow us down
• Wouldn’t have time for the prime lighting conditions

The plan we moved forward with: An Overnight Climb & Cowboy Camping at the Summit

This was an important moment for our couple and not just another climb, so Instead of rushing, we made the decision to:

• Climb later in the day to avoid crowds and bottlenecks
• Stay overnight at the summit for both sunset & sunrise photography
• Give Skye & Garrett more time to experience their elopement fully

This decision would completely change the experience for the better.

The Ascent – Climbing Liberty Bell’s Beckey Route

The Approach to Liberty Bell Mountain

Our team met Skye & Garrett in the parking lot on this early August morning. The plan was to gear up and wait for their two friends—one of whom would officiate their wedding at the summit the following morning.

The Gear We Carried:

• Trad racks & ropes for climbing
• Sleeping gear for cowboy camping
• Camp meals and water for the overnight
• Wedding attire & personal items for the couple
• Camera equipment & a drone for capturing the experience

We set off along the Blue Lake Trail, heading toward the climber’s approach. The first part of the approach was easy-going, but as we left the main trail, things quickly got steep.

The Final Approach: A Loose & Steep Gully

• This steep, rocky approach is the most dangerous part of the climb
• Loose scree & rockfall risk made every step an important consideration

Once at the base of the route, we took our gear bags off and reassembled everything for the climb. All of the gear we were bringing up with us meant that each party of the six of us had to carry our own bags for certain items. Nearly all the sleeping gear was placed in a large haul bag that the couples friends took charge to pull up the route so that we could enjoy the night in comfort.

Pitch-by-Pitch Breakdown of the Beckey Route and our climb

Pitch 1 5.3: The Chimney Start

• Moderate chimney climbing with solid gear placements
• Rob and Jessica started, with Garrett and Skye following with Bill and Traci coming up in the last pair
• Belay station at the top with enough space for the whole team

This pitch was very easy going and everyone made quick work up to the next belay station. The chimney was wide enough to ascend with gear bags on without a problem and most of this pitch resembles scrambling rather than 5th class climbing.

Pitch 2 5.5: An Awkward Start Into a Blocky Crack System

• More technical than the first pitch, but it has great gear placement and follows a straightforward path up the obvious crack system
• We continued in the same order as previously, however due to the awkward start, Bill and Traci tagged a line to Skye to avoid taking a fall on lead with the gear bags on their backs.

The second pitch is considered the most challenging for some, potentially due to the awkward off-width/chimney start required to gain the chock stone-filled crack and slab above. Once the first ledge is gained about ten feet up, the pitch is easy 5th class up to the next belay.

Due to the awkward start however, Bill and Traci opted to tag a line to Garrett’s party to ensure their safety while hauling their equipment up rather than taking the risk on lead.

Pitch 3 5.5: The Traverse Pitch

In our opinion, this is the most challenging pitch on the route. The traverse is committing and somewhat airy and coming up the slab and around the corner to the next belay station can certainly be intimidating for a new leader.

Pitch 4 5.6: The Boulder Problem & Summit Arrival

• The final crux (for some) of the climb
• Many consider this the most technical part, but for us, Pitch 3 had been the biggest challenge
• We arrived at the summit just as the sun began to set over the North Cascades

The idea of a 10 foot, unprotected slab problem at the very top of an alpine climb sounds intimidating, but let me assure you that if you’re a competent climber this should pose no serious risk. The slab problem is very wide, and while falling while unprotected is always to be avoided, it is most likely that you’d slide down the slab and back on to the nearby ledge from where you started.

With that said however, you must be very mindful here as the far left and right side of the boulder problem are no fall zones.

The Summit Experience – Sunset, Wildlife & Wedding Prep

Golden Hour Photography & Drone Footage

We arrived, settled in, and enjoyed dinner, all in enough time to capture the perfect colorful sunset. Skye changed into her dress, and Garrett into his groom’s attire. They shared a first look overlooking all of the North Cascades. Then we gleefully explored the summit for sunset portraits, of course, some had to include a bouquet of cams

Sleeping Under the Stars

• Some of us slept well, others were kept up by the woodrat’s antics
• Smoke from wildfires rolled in overnight, creating a surreal morning atmosphere

While it was the plan already, we could see the smoke building and knew it might be worse in the morning. So it was crucially important to capture some of the experience while we had the sunset in the moment.

This was the first time anyone in our group had cowboy camped at the top of the route. Liberty Bell Mountain is immensely stunning at sunset and has plenty of room to accommodate setting up camp at the summit.

Throughout the night almost everyone was visited by, at the time an unknown, rodent sniffing shoes, our bags, and sleeping bags. Later we found out we were visited by a Bushy-Tailed Woodrat. Even with his curiosity, it was the perfect temperature for camping and a lovely night in the open air.

The Wedding Morning – Sunrise Ceremony & Descent

A Ceremony at 7,720 Feet

• Skye & Garrett woke up to crisp alpine air and a dreamy even though smoky sunrise
• Their friend Rob officiated their wedding, weaving in their love for climbing & the outdoors

Final Portraits & Breakfast at the Summit

• The couple shared a quiet moment before heading down
• More portraits & final moments before breaking camp

In the morning, as soon as headlamps were no longer required, we all rose from bed and broke down our camps. We moved into the couples ceremony where the two shared the summit with nobody but the 6 in our group, enjoying this private moment in such an iconic location. Rob read the ceremony from a home made Mountaineers booklet. Skye and Garrett also shared private vows during their ceremony touching on the adventures that brought them together and how full their life will be as they continue those adventures.

After Rob had pronounced the couple married, some additional portraits ensued, followed by socializing and celebrating over our Mountain House camp meals. After finishing eating and fully breaking down camp, we began our descent from the summit.

The Descent – Rappels, Rockfall & A Wild Drive Home

Smooth rappels… until the rope got stuck

• All six members of our party safely + smoothly rapped down the 3 rappels
• Rob lead climbed an unknown route to retrieve one of our ropes that got stuck
• Meanwhile, Bill triggered a rockfall in the gulley, A stark reminder of alpine dangers

The Road Was Closed Due to Wildfires

• Instead of a 2.5-hour drive to the Bellingham area, Traci & Bill had to take a 7-hour detour through Leavenworth.
• Skye + Garret spent a few days relaxing and climbing in Mazama to kick off their honeymoon.

The rockfall danger is no joke! Even though Bill was mindful and careful with his steps, the chossy nature of the gulley has a concerning amount of opportunities for serious danger. Half of the group was already down the gulley when the rockfall was triggered, and thankfully, they had enough time to get against the wall on the sides of the canyon. Otherwise, it could have quickly become an emergency scenario.

The last piece of excitement was that the fire, which was rolling smoke in the night before, had created a situation where the road cutting through North Cascade National Park was now closed, causing those not staying in Mazama to drive all the way around the mountain to drive home. Thankfully it was a really pretty drive!

Why Climb Liberty Bell Mountain? Our Final Thoughts

• A perfect climb for first-time trad multipitch climbers
• An incredible summit view & climbing experience
• An jaw-dropping location for an adventure elopement

Things to Watch For:

• Steep, loose approach → Most dangerous part of the climb
• Rockfall risk → Essential to stay aware
• Crowds → Best climbed in the evening if you’re group moves quickly, otherwise, show up prepared for a queue.

Planning Your Own Liberty Bell Mountain Climb or Adventure Elopement?

• Best Time to Climb: July–September
• Gear Must-Haves: Trad rack, approach shoes, a 70m climbing rope, find all the important climbing beta here.

If you’re looking for either an exciting day out in the mountains or a wedding complete with one heck of a true adventure, then the Beckey Route on Liberty Bell Mountain in Washington will not fail to deliver. From the quality of the climb to the stunning summit views, this is definitely a route to check off the list!

Want an elopement like this? Let’s make it happen!

We’re a team dedicated to helping couples pursue their true dream wedding day while sharing in activities that are the most important and impactful within a couple’s relationship. That means none of the fluff others tell you is important and all of the true heart and passion that you know the day should be made from.

If you’re looking to get married in an unforgettable way, or the idea of an elopement on Liberty Bell Mountain is your kind of dream day, we are here to help you bring that dream into reality and to provide award-winning photography coverage along the journey. We can’t wait to hear more about your day.

Contact Us Here!

I wish I could give more than 5 stars…

I was blown away by their professionalism and the way they helped us pose, figured out where to do our actual ceremony, and dealt with smoke rolling in the morning of. Not only were they amazing to work with, but they are so much fun to be around and really made us feel special on the most important days of our lives. Our elopement was not an easy one, it included a hike plus scramble approach, technical rock climbing with heavy packs, and a bivy on the summit, but they were excited about it all. They are honestly probably one of only a couple photographers who could pull it all off, and they were so much fun to spend the weekend with. If you are looking for photographers for a technical elopement, look no farther! I would hire them again and again.

The couple

Skye + Garrett

Tell Us More About Your Rock Climbing Elopement Plans!

Jenifer + Taylor’s Elopement in Washington

This day has been 11 years in the making as Jenifer + Taylor have been growing their relationship working towards marriage and becoming one family. From meeting in California to moving to Tennessee together, they have worked towards their individual and shared goals as partners in life.

Taylor proposed to Jenifer on an epic adventures while they were visiting The Smokey Mountains. On the day of their engagement, they enjoyed a helicopter and horse back ride exploring the mountains. When it came time to plan their wedding day they knew they wanted to explore the mountains of Washington, but were also intrigued with including new adventures, but also adventures that would take them back to that awesome day together.

Jenifer + Taylor were a couple whom have been chatting about their elopement day together for some time. When I asked them why they wanted to elope, I loved this part of their answer “This is our day we give each other our full selves and we do not think there is a better way than being outside like we love to be and in the beautiful scenery of this gorgeous world.” as it directly relates with why we believe so much in eloping!

Day 1 – Mt Baker // North Cascades

Arriving at Jenifer + Taylor’s beautiful cabin they rented we saw a pizza hut box, remnants of a fitting dinner the night before their elopement. They met many years ago in Southern California at a Pizza Hut! They each got ready separately – re-reading their vows they had written and then getting dressed for the day. Jenifer blindfolded Taylor so they could ride together to the first location and share a first look there.

Taylor hiked in first, making his way through the forest, down the hill to a rock bed at the base of a stunning waterfall. Jenifer and I followed, stopping to admire ferns and moss along the way. Jenifer walked up to Taylor and they shared a first look in the complete privacy within the mountain. They took the time to check out each others outfits, hold each other close and admire the beautiful nature surrounding them. They shared their first dance together to the song My Love by Ryann Darling. Before we left the area we took some time to get closer to the falls playing on the rocks. Then we all hiked together back through the forest to venture off to our next adventure.

Jenifer + Taylor were stoked to ride horses again in a new place together. We found stables near all of the other locations making it possible to include a ride on their wedding day. This ride was unique because it was private and gave us the flexibility to ride where wanted and freely. We rode briefly through the forest, by a pond, through a couple of massive open fields and through the Nooksack river. We got off by the river to hang out in the shade and get in the water, a nice cool down from the warm summer day. This part of the two days was one of Taylor’s very favorites – the freedom of running around on the horses and just their joy laughing together enjoying the experience.

After the horseback ride we drove our up higher within the Mt Baker National Forest. Before starting our hike to the ceremony location, we stopped to check out a quick spot that Jenifer had been eyeing on social media and was excited to finally see in person. They sat for a few minutes overlooking the lake and mountains, a break from driving and some time to relax before the big hike, up!

We started our hike in another beautiful mountain and lake view they had been admiring for some time, but now they were here in person! There were still plenty of wildflowers blooming along the way as we hiked, even orchids!

Once we arrived to the ridge we took a breather and reset to go into the ceremony space. It was the perfect spot that showcased the beauty of both Mt. Shuksan and Mt. Baker. They shared vows together privately on the trail as the sun shined on them and the evergreens and the mountains surrounded them. It was a beautiful moment where time felt like it stood still. A moment that was completely theirs as they became one together, forever. After some time letting it all soak in and enjoying this space together, we explored more of the trail as the sunset starting turning the sky a cotton candy pink. Before hiking down, Taylor laid in what snow was left on the shaded mountain side to cool off. Besides, why not soak up the last bit of Winter left in the heat of the summer???

We hiked out from the mountain under the stars, getting to see the milky way for the first time on their trip! We headed back to their adorable cabin to end the night by the fire eating left over pizza and diving into their delicious cake that they had flown all the way from Atlanta with!!

Day 2 – Exploring Olympic National Park

When it came to picking a wedding location – Jenifer + Taylor knew their hearts were set on the Mount Baker area. However, when discussing locations and exploring Washington as a whole during planning they were also captivated by the forest, coast line and magic of Olympic. They decided to spend day 2 together exploring this region of WA.

After a day break to drive down the peninsula, we started day 2 at sunrise on the beach visiting the Tree of Life. We got the most beautiful foggy, colorful Pacific Northwest Morning with the beach mostly to ourselves. It was fun watching them make hearts in the sand simply enjoying their time and being present together. After soaking in the view of the coast line and the tree of life, they found a spot to sit together, read a little bit of scripture and pray together. This was particularly special to include in their elopement experience because this is how they start everyday together!

Next up on our adventure was to explore the HOH Rainforest area. Olympic is extremely unique with its diverse landscapes all contained within one park. Jenifer was particularly excited to see the mossy trees that have been towering in this area for over 1000 years! It was fun hiking through the forest, stopping to read about the ecosystem, stop and feel the moss and trees and to watch birds that stopped by. We found one tree that the two of them fit perfectly in – home in the forest. Jenifer decided this was the perfect spot for a crown her new mother and law gifted her to go with her second dress. It truly looked like Jenifer was the forest queen in that tree!

As we continued making our way through the park we headed to Lake Crescent. We hiked into a beautiful spot of the lake where the blue color of the 600+ foot deep lake was deep and rich. On the warm summer day, it was the perfect temperature for jumping in the lake after having lunch by the shore! Jenifer + Taylor brought cute clear blow up floaties to float on. It was a great time relaxing and as Jenfier said – doing something they’d do at home together, but during their elopement experience somewhere epic! Before heading out, Taylor wanted to join in the cliff jumping fun that is very popular in this area. Jenifer floated in the water and watched along side the cliff edges as Taylor lived out his fun jumping from several different cliff heights. It was a fun lunch break, perfect mid day adventure.

Our last stop on day 2 exploring Olympic was a different beach! We hiked through the ferns and forest to the shore line filled with massive rocks. Tthe first thing we explored was the tide pools as when we arrived the tide was low. They were excited to look for crabs, starfish and other sea life. Taylor found a friendly crab that was interested in their rings! We walked around exploring as much of the coast line as we could. The shoreline always feel freeing like being a kid again – these two embraced that playing airplane, coming up with photo ideas that they were stoked on like foot prints in the sand and dancing around in the sand.

As the sun got lower they enjoyed a slower paced time together and watching the sun sink below the horizon laying on a blanket together. It was hard to believe the two days were coming to an end after months of planning and two full days living out incredible adventures one after another. We ended the two days in pure celebration with a double champagne spray. However, before heading out we stay on a blanket together chatting and snacking as we waited for the sky to get dark enough for a final star photo. Admiring the milky way one last time on their epic adventure across WA.

Celebrating this day with Taylor + Jenifer was incredibly special. There was so much thought put into when, where and what was to happen on their elopement day. Their dream was fully brought to life and we packed an incredible amount of adventure into 2 days. We enjoyed the mountains, rivers, waterfalls and coast line – experiencing some of the best of the best within WA. The entire experience was filled with all the things that make an elopement experience full circle in what we think is the most epic way to start off marriage. From romance, intention, including elements of every day life together, including elements of bucket list items, challenging yourself and simply enjoying each other and the environment. Though they packed a lot into these two days it was a perfect balance of adventure and quality time together. We are so stoked Jenifer + Taylor chose us to come along this adventure with them! Huge congrats to Jenifer + Taylor!!!!! We wish you two many years a beautiful, happy marriage with more adventures along the way!

Your Washington Adventure Elopement Photographers!

Hi ya! We are Traci + Bill! We are a Washington based adventure elopement photo/video team!! We absolutely LOVE helping couples craft elopement days just like this – a day filled with who they are, creating lasting core memories together to start off their marriage.

We capture elopement days as if they are a chapter in your book of life. True to who you are, with a focus on story telling, romance and nature.

We would love to connect with you about your own elopement day.

Let’s Adventure Together!

Check Out Their Elopement Highlight Video!

Other Elopement Vendors a part of their Day:

Meant To Be Bridal

Petals and Bark Designs

More Blogs for Eloping in the PNW

Camp Saturna Wedding Photographer + Wedding Guide

Washington State Wedding Venue

Hi there! We are Traci and Bill adventure wedding photographers based right next door in Maple Falls, Washington. We are practically neighbors to this incredible wedding venue, perfect for a couple wanting an adventure elopement and time with loved ones. In this blog you will find information about getting married here, working with us, the general area of Maple Falls and more!

Everything you need to know about Camp Saturna!

What is Camp Saturna?

Camp Saturna is an old boy scout camp that changed ownership to a private owner. Camp Saturna is 133 acres sharing Silver Lake with Silver Lake State Park. The space hosts events, weddings and other retreats.

Where is Camp Saturna?

The venue is located in Maple Falls, Washington – our town!! Maple Falls is a small town just off of highway 542 which leads to the ever famous Artist Point area and various other hikes in the Mount Baker area. Maple falls has a few gas stations, a small grocery store and a food truck. Outside of that the closest towns are Bellingham, WA and Abbotsford in Canada. Both of these towns are 30-45 minutes away but have a ton of accommodations in regards to shopping, things to do and restaurants.

Why get married at Camp Saturna?

There is a wedding venue for everyone and every type of wedding. Camp Saturna may be the perfect fit for your elopement day if….

• You want to get married somewhere quiet, beautiful and relaxing like a weekend get away that is the best camping trip you’ve ever taken. #campvibes
• If you want to combine an adventure wedding in the mountains, just you two, but also celebrate with all of your loved ones.
• If you want to get married somewhere that also allows everyone to stay in one place. This venue has well over a hundred places to sleep, so no one has to worry about driving home after the party of a reception.
• If you want to book a venue that gives you the creative freedom to plan out the space to your hearts content

Hosting your wedding at Camp Saturna

When is the best time to get married at Camp Saturna?

Camp Saturna is open year round and you can get married there year round. The venue is in lower elevation than the surrounding mountains which makes it great anytime. However, if you wish to combine your day with adventuring in the mountains, I recommend getting married here in late July through late September. If you want to combine your wedding day with skiing up in the mountains, then I’d recommend choosing a date from late November to mid March.

How many guests can Camp Saturna accomodate?

The camp ground itself can host A LOT of people overnight, depending on if you have guests willing to camp in tents or not. Otherwise the bunk house can sleep 44 people and then there are few other smaller cabins. As far as for a ceremony there are two main locations – the seating over looking the lake is great for a back lit ceremony and then there is also a mossy chapel in the woods. Both of these can seat around 100 people. The indoor dining hall can seat about 130 people. However, the outdoor seating is comfortable with 75 people or less. The deck overlooking the lake which is wonderful for a dance floor can comfortably fit 60-70 people at a time.

So this answer truly depends on your vision and your party.

What is there to do on our wedding day at Camp Saturna?

Camp Saturna offers activities like hiking, canoeing, swimming, kayaking, rock climbing, yard games, a shooting range, camping and star gazing.

Things to do near by that are not at camp, but within a 1 hour drive:

• Visit Artist Point
• Ski in the winter
• Hike in the Summer
• Summit Mount Baker
• Camp in a Fire Tower
• Go Fishing
• Watch for Eagles
• Go on a Whale Watching Tour
• Explore Breweries
• Go Fishing
• Go Hunting
• Visit the San Juan Islands

How much does it cost to get married at Camp Saturna?

Renting out the venue costs depends on when you plan to get married, the winter rates are much cheaper. It also depends if you want to rent out the space for a weekend or weekday. Rates vary from $1800 – $3400 per night. This rate does not include any other vendors or accommodations other than the space which has two spaces for a ceremony, the entire 133 acres of property, a massive kitchen and sleeping arrangements from bunkhouses to private cabins.

Camp Saturna Wedding Photographer

Why hire Adventure and Vow for your wedding at Camp Saturna?

We are a great team for your wedding day at Camp Saturna! We have photographed at this venue before and we absolutely love this place! We also live next door which means we know the area like the back of our hands, can connect you with local vendors, can easily swing by to do the tour with you if you choose to visit the venue beforehand.

Outside of photography our services also include:

• A custom ceremony crafted just for you and officiating your ceremony (if needed)
• Timeline planning
• In person scouting
• Elopement planning guide
• Connecting you with vendors
• the option to add on video

You can learn more about our services on our packages page.

We are a trusted team with over 129 5 star reviews on Google who care about your wedding day as much as you do. We take the time to get to know each of our couples to help them craft a wedding day that is connective and immersed in an experience they wish to share together to start off their marriage. We focus on adventure weddings so we are the perfect team if you are looking for someone who can help you fuse an adventure elopement with an intimate camping wedding.

Sample Timeline for Weddings at Camp Saturna!

Want some ideas for how your adventure wedding could look if you chose Camp Saturna as your venue? Below are a few ideas for you to explore, they are for sure not the only options when it comes to putting together your day. Some of these are real timelines from past weddings and some are just ideas we have!

Half Day Mini Wedding

3pm Couple gets ready together in private cabin

4:15pm Ceremony with loved ones in mossy chapel

5:15pm Dinner outside on the deck

6:30pm First Dances

7:15pm Couple canoes together back to other side of camp

8pm Sunset portraits

9pm Coverage Ends

Sunrise/Sunset Adventure Wedding

5:15am – Meet for sunrise hiking into the mountains for First Look, Private Vows and morning coffee

9:30am – Catch a quick nap to recover from the early morning! 

2pm Casual getting ready images + candids  

3:30 – 4:15pm Ceremony at mossy forest chapel

4:20 -5pm Canoe Photos

5 – 6:15pm Dinner

6:15 – 7:40pm Yard games + Group Photos

7:45pm – First Dance(s)

9:15pm Coverage ends

2 Day Adventure Wedding

Day 1

Write vows at sunrise in the canoe on the lake together.

Morning Games Challenge with guests

Brunch on the deck with guests

Guests and Couple Get Ready

First look by Chapel

Couple Canoes across lake for ceremony to enter ceremony

Ceremony at lakeside venue

Dinner in the lawn

Day 2

Morning at camp together getting ready, making breakfast

Leave for Mountain

Hike in

Private Vows

Journaling together and building an anniversary box

Star gazing

Hike back down

Couple returns to camp

We’d Love To Hear More About Your Camp Saturna Wedding Plans!

Campground Wedding Day Story in the Mountains of Washington

James + Carmen

Private Vows in the Mountains

James + Carmen’s love story started in Guam when they met through friends. A night of dancing turned into a long distance relationship until Carmen choose to follow James to Washington state. They grew their relationship over the years enjoying International travel, skiing, hiking and morning coffees together. They got engaged while on a trip to Michigan visiting James’ family cabin, watching the sunset by the lake. When it came to wedding planning they knew they wanted to celebrate with those who mean a lot to them and their relationship. They also knew they did not want to plan an event that wouldn’t allow them quality time with each other and those they were to celebrate with.

When we started planning, the dream was a venue that they could stay together in cabins near the mountain, play games, hike, canoe and find other adventures near by. The Mount Baker range peaked their interest since it is an area in the Winter they enjoy skiing together. We found the perfect nook for them to host everyone and celebrate with a nearby hike with incredible views for sunrise together. Prior to the elopement day, Carmen had a skiing accident, oddly enough on a route that went over the trail they were set to hike on the elopement day. Since she would still be healing on their elopement day we selected an alternative hike that had equally incredible views just below the original location.

We hiked in under the morning blue hour glow. At the start of the hike we were welcomed to the mountains with a drummer playing in the dark perched on a hill. We arrived to the location where they would share their vows and a first look – Mt Baker’s glaciers starting to glow a bright white on the mountain. They were blown away by the views, only having ever seen this area before blanketed under many feet of snow. They changed back to back into their wedding attire, so they could see each other all dressed up for the first time to start off the day. Carmen chose a look inspired by her roots in Spain and surprised Jame’s with her stunning, unique lace veil.

They shared their wedding vows with each other in complete privacy surrounded by 360 mountain peak views. The sun started to rise and the colors on the mountains changed to a light pink before the sun crested the ridge just in time for them to share a kiss together following the completion of their vow exchange.

Following their vows we wandered around the area exploring the wildflowers and mountain views in the warmth of the morning light. Carmen envisioned a blue bird day up on the mountain and we were given just that, a stunning day with the perfect temperature and beautiful skies. It made for a lovely, romantic morning to spend time together in the meadows.

Morning Camp Coffee

We hiked back to our cars and went down the mountain a few switch backs to a different area. They sat down and made their morning coffee with a camp jet boil. They toasted to starting off marriage in the mountains in the most magical way imagined. They shared stories with us about their time skiing in the area and in Whistler. They took their time just enjoying the morning together, their first alone time in several days as they had been hosting many of their guests whom had flown from all over the states to come join them on this day. It was a special way to start off the wedding day, setting the tone and intent for the day ahead.

Wedding Ceremony at the Campground

Back at camp, we joined them after enough time for a nap and to re-energize for the events ahead. The couple was in their own spaces getting ready with their friends and family. The gals working on their hair and make up together upstairs in a main cabin over looking the reception space where more of their friends were putting everything together. The fellas got dressed and shared a toast together in celebration before heading over the ceremony.

James + Carmen held a more formal ceremony in a mossy forest with an adorable A Frame “arch.” Each of their parents walked them down the aisle. James’ second-father figure officiated the ceremony. It was a special touch to hear him recall the starting journey and moments shared with the couple from an outside perspective. There was laughter and joy in the stories. Carmen’s nephew brought the rings forward for the formal exchange of vows, which brought tears of joy. As their family and friends watched along you could feel and see the love of support these two have surrounding them and supporting them in their marriage. They shared their first kiss as husband and wife and walked back down the aisle hand in hand, smiles filled with stoke as everyone blew bubbles around them.

Dinner + Reception at the Campground

They headed to the dock to canoe over to another dock near the reception space. It was a romantic way to get a few moments together between their ceremony and the reception – taking it all in that they were officially married. They joined the party as everyone else had made their way back too, overlooking the balcony watching them in the canoe. The night started with an incredible grazing table their friends had put together filled with yummy spreads, fruits and nuts. The chef had dinner almost ready. He had prepared a mix of delicious seafood, veggie and beef paella with salad and bread on the side. Everyone dined and chatted together socializing at different tables. As dinner came to an end, folks dispersed to play games together, take laps in the canoes on the lake, celebrate with shots and to play with the kiddos. As the night started to grow darker and the sun set behind the trees, the glowy string lights began to shine on the dance floor. James + Carmen started off the dancing with their first dance together, moving on the dance floor together beautifully! They asked everyone to join in with them as the song started to come to an end to get the dance party started. Friends took turns DJ-ing and the dance floor was never empty. As the night grew on, Carmen shared a dance with her dad and James danced with his mom. The evening was so much fun!

James + Carmen’s elopement day was a perfect balance of adventure, quality alone time, fun and intention. It was a day immersed in celebration, joy and love. It was a day you certainly never forget – getting to spend time with all of your most important folks in your life in one place, having a great time together and becoming husband and wife.

We are so stoked for James + Carmen and feel so honored to have been asked to spend this day with them and capture their story. We wish them many years of happiness in marriage and many epic adventures on the trails and slopes as husband and wife! <3

Campground Wedding Vendors a part of this day:

Camp Saturna – Campground Wedding Venue

H + M – Grooms Suit

Brides for a Cause – Bride’s Dresses

Paella Works – Chef

Blog resources for Campground Wedding ideas:

Claren + Benjamin’s Elopement Day

Claren and Benjamin share a love story that starts all the way back to 4th and 7th grade when they first had lasting impressions of each other. Re-connecting as adults much later, they started a long distance relationship. That did not stop them from growing their love deeply here in the states and abroad. They always made points to share loving surprises and post cards sent in between visits. Upon getting engaged they decided they wanted to plan an adventurous elopement wedding. Living far away from family, this felt the most fitting for a non-stressful way to get married, but also a way that felt true to their own connection and story.

Morning Canoe on Mineral Lake

We started off their wedding day at Mineral Lake just before sunrise for a canoe ride. Claren + Benjamin got engaged while out canoeing as well, such a wonderful thing to incorporate to start off the wedding day – honoring important past memories + making new ones! As we arrived to the lake, the morning fog was laying low – hiding Mount Rainier, but creating a magical fairytale feeling non the less. They spent time on the water canoeing around the lake, taking in the experience together. I love when couples start off their morning so intentionally together. It is one of the best ways to find some peaceful relaxation and to set the tone for the rest of the day together. They brought their book that contains all of the post cards they had sent each other over the years from places all over the world. Flipping through the book together they re-called travels, notes to each other and the building of their relationship.

We ended the canoe experience with a romantic kiss on the dock as the fog cleared and the sun rose behind us over the peaks in lieu of the movie, The Notebook, a movie Claren finds a fun connection in of their own story.

Getting Ready + Crafting a Bouquet

We headed back to their adorable farm stay where they were staying in a unique dome house with incredible views of Mt Rainier. Claren got ready with hair and make up, while Benjamin hung out with the family and their pup, Frankie. The morning was a perfect reflection of how they wanted their wedding day to feel – not rushed and peaceful.

Though Benjamin had already seen Claren in her dress while canoeing in the morning, he had not seen her all dolled up with her hair, make up and jewelry. They took they time to share a “first look” privately, taking a moment to soak up feeling fancy all dressed up in their attire.

Once they were both ready for the rest of their big day, they sat down together in their bubble dome with Frankie nearby to build their own floral arrangements. When they first pitched the idea of making their own bouquet in the morning together I thought it was one of the cutest things I had ever heard of, but also fitting as they love having a bouquet they arrange on their kitchen table. They worked together with all the beautiful local florals laid out in front of them to put together a beautiful arrangement and adorable boutonniere.

Mimosas + Family Time

While Claren + Benjamin are both now Washington locals, all of their loved ones live out of the state. Some of their closest loved ones were able to travel to the state and celebrate this day and weekend with them. They joined their loved ones in the second house on the property, walking hand in hand with Frankie heading over to the cake and mimosa celebration. Their family had set up a beautiful display for the cake which had beautiful wild flowers on it. Benjamin opened a bottle of champagne to get the cerebration started as everyone toasted and cheers to their merriment.

Benjamin and Claren cut into their cake with Claren’s grandparents knife set from when they cut their own cake at their wedding reception in 1949. It was a sentimental and sweet way to honor her grandparents. The box for the knives even still contained the hand written letter her grandma had written her father gifting the knife set for him to pass it down. We gathered in the house for them to sign the marriage paperwork along with two guests witnessing as everyone hung out enjoying each other’s company over mimosas.

Hike + Sunset Private Vows

When planning their elopement day one of the most important elements was where to share their personal vows with each other. They wanted to hold their ceremony somewhere private, dog friendly, with an incredible view of the mountain and hopefully with some wildflowers around. They love going on new hikes together each year and we found a new hike for them that checked off all of these boxes.

Stoke was high upon arriving at the trailhead, the time had come for them to share their vows on this day. We hiked through the forest in complete privacy, not a soul around. It was a sunny Washington day with the perfect temperature AND there were golden and purple wildflowers still gracing the meadows at the top of our peak. As we arrived at the end of the trail you could see clear views of Mount Rainier and Mound Adams. They sat down to enjoy a sandwich and split a summit beer before changing back into their wedding attire.

They shared their vows with each other surrounded by countless peaks and the warm sunshine. Private vows out in the wilderness feels as though you are the only two people in the world and as though time has stopped just long enough to share a small, but very meaningful moment together. Before the evening faded away we took in the views and they enjoyed some time just being connected together as the bright sun turned into a colorful sunset.

As the blue hour light started to set in we headed back down the trail to a different view point where there was a lot of space for them to share their first dance together. They shared a romantic first dance with dip kisses and spins under the soft glowy blue sky. Claren’s dress was made for this moment I think. It was a spectacular way to end the evening. As the song ended they took the time to simply hold each other and take in the moment they were sharing and view of the mountains surrounding them. As we hiked down the mountain we got a glimpse of that days full Supermoon rising over the mountain peaks. It was if mother-nature was bidding us a good night and congrats to the newly wed couple!

The Elopement Team

Hi-ya! We are Traci + Bill, a husband and wife adventure elopement photography team based here in WA. We love helping couples craft elopement days just like this – immersive, connected to who they are, deeply meaningful and creating core memories together at the end of the day. From canoeing to hiking we are here to help you logistically make it happen. On the day of, we are there to help you legally wed as officiants as needed, be your right hand man and of course creatively capture your elopement day so you have images to look back on for a lifetime to relive the magic.

Hire us as your elopement team!

Elopement Day Vendors

Hair & MUA // @blackfernbeautyco

Photo + Planning // @adventureandvow

Cake // @celebritycakestudio

Dress // @dearlyconsignmentbridal, @wtoowatters

Alterations // @byninacherie

Claren’s Ring // @silverandsaltco

Benjamin’s Ring // @stagheaddesigns 

Suit // @suitsupply

Shoes // @foreversoles

Stargazing House // @wildlinfarm

Florals // @stumprootfarm

Olympic National Park Elopement | From the Mountains to the Coast

After being engaged for a little over a year, Marissa + O’Neal reached out to us with the dream of eloping on the Olympic Peninsula. Though not big hikers, they wanted to explore and share a unique and beautiful adventure to make the day special and unforgettable. Olympic is the best place for a variety of adventures from the rainforests, mountains and beaches. They were looking to plan a stress free day, within this stunning landscape for a romantic day. We picked a few locations that would for sure be BEAUTIFUL, but we had no idea what Mother Nature would give us that day. Boy oh boy did she give them the best wedding day present you can have – incredible colors in the sky, wild flowers and sun.

Sunrise Ceremony on the Mountain

After an evening under the stars gazing up at the Milky Way, we all met to travel down a dirt road together in the early morning hours of the day. They day they had been dreaming of, sharing memories together in an intimate setting in nature getting married, was finally here. As we hiked in the dark, the weather was calm, but we knew rain was ahead in the forecast. Based on the hourly forecast we were hoping to miss the rain that morning and likely just get rained on some we hiked out. They made their way up the mountain, unsure of what all was around us.

As can happen in the mountains, weather can develop quickly and unexpectedly. As soon as we arrived to the peak of the trail the rain started to fall. Out on the mountain with only ourselves as far as you could see across all of the mountain range, the couple changed into their wedding attire and we headed for the other side of the ridge where it looked like an orange glow was appearing. Just as we topped out on the ridge the wind was calmer and the sunrise was one of the most incredible sights we had ever seen. Even though the rain was falling, it would not put a damper on their day. They embraced the weather, each other and the view.

After the colors in the sky had settled, we continued with their ceremony. They shared emotional vows, bonding forever their strong relationship filled with unforgettable memories, moving across the country and so much more. A few happy tears were shed along with the rain droplets that sat on their jackets. It was private and romantic. They completed their ceremony with a kiss and a big whoo-rah in celebration! You could feel the joy and excitement. We hiked back to the cars enjoy the views along the way that were now visible under the morning glow.

Once we arrived back to the cars, we chatted some over the day ahead. The morning was smooth and perfect, but with the weather we decided it would be best to re-group and then meet back up to continue our plans.

Celebrating in the Park

We met up with Marissa + O’Neal back at their Airbnb stay to sign their marriage license in dry weather, in the presence of their pup Ollie and good friend Kathy. They got re-ready enjoying time with their friend who was tagging along for the day. We played with Ollie giving him treats and taking photos with him in his cute little bow tie. We aren’t kidding when we say he is one of the must well behaved pups we’ve met! He said goodbye to her parents from the front porch wishing them a fun rest of their elopement day before headed out to explore the park.

While these two live in the Seattle area of Washington state, it was their first time to Olympic National Park together, so we wanted to be sure for their day they got to see and explore as much of it as they could. After a morning on the mountain, our next stop was a beautiful waterfall! Marissa wanted to get her dress dirty for sure on her elopement day, the stoke was high for the #adventurombre and we were for sure going to get it with the rain, waterfalls and forest trails. Her dress was complete with a little bit of sparkle and a little bit of the forest remnants on the train.

Following the waterfall we headed to the forest to have a picnic dinner with a fire. It was nice to sit down in nature and soak it all in. While Bill built the fire, we spent some time re-creating some of their favorite poses from their engagement session they had in the city. Marissa + O’Neal filled the forest with joyous laughter enjoying spending the day together, present in this space. They shared Thai food from Port Angeles, a canned Margarita and Sour Patch Kids for their wedding night meal. A toast to getting married, exploring a new place together and starting forever – their way.

Before the day came to an end we had one more stop – the coast! Since moving to Washington O’Neal had been super stoked to see the PNW coastline of the olympics. They both were excited to explore the beach. It was pure bliss – a moment of awe, excitement and play. I loved seeing their authentic reactions to the landscape and their true dynamic come out as they explored together. From massive fallen trees to climb on, rocks to explore and colorful landscapes to dance in. It was the perfect ending to a stunning, magical day. Throughout getting to know Marissa + O’Neal they both mentioned a lot within their relationship how much they enjoyed laughing together, their natural chemistry and how much they admire each other’s smiles. Without knowing this about them you could feel it on their wedding with how much laughter they shared together and smiled at each other in moments between the two of them. Before the sun dipped below the horizon they popped a bottle of champagne and went to sit on a log together. Ending the day just them two, fully taking a moment to themselves before the day ended to slow down and enjoy it.

Marissa + O’Neal shared a wedding day that was full of so much. It was full of different adventures, different views, weather, colorful sunrises + sets, but most importantly full of so much love, joy and warmth. It was a true kick start celebration to their marriage + honeymoon in Mexico. They now have a place they can always come back to on anniversaries to sit by a fire over dinner, to watch the sun set on the coast over a glass of champagne or watch sunrise in the mountains. A place of solitude to always remember their day, their love and life they are building together as husband and wife.

I wish I could give Traci and Bill more than 5 stars because it’s just not enough to capture what an amazing experience we had with them.

We found them by chance on IG, fell in love with their art, and reached out to see if they had availability for 2023. To our luck they did and right in our backyard of the Olympic Mountains. Everything from planning the elopement to the day of went seamlessly. Traci and Bill go above and beyond really getting to know you as a couple and really help planning the elopement day to what you want it to be. I loved how they stressed the importance of making it about you two and what you wanted to do.

Our elopement was the most imperfectly perfect day. We had weather against us, of all days it decided to rain in the PNW it had to be our elopement day but we made the absolute best of it and put all of our faith in Traci and Bill. They made us feel very comfortable and reminded us about the experience and to make it about the love that day. We surrendered to all the elements and had the most beautiful day. We really appreciated their flexibility in not forcing us to stand on cliffs we weren’t comfortable with, keeping our jackets on in the rain, and changing our schedule due to the rain. They made the day so fun and it honestly felt like we were running around Olympic National Park with our friends who happened to take photos of us. The sneak peeks were already beautiful but we were absolutely floored when we got the full album. I promise the photos you see are real and not photoshopped!

Traci and Bill will always have a special place in our hearts, Olympic National Park will always have a special place in our heart. They are truly so talented in what they do and the pictures really are works of art. If you are thinking of eloping with them, DO IT! You will not regret it!

Marissa

Salt Water Farm Wedding | Friday Harbor Wedding Photographer

Where is Friday Harbor? Why Get Married Here?

Friday Harbor is a town with a ferry port that has transportation between San Juan Island and Anacortes, WA (aka the main land). Friday Harbor is probably the most visited town among the San Juan Islands as a whole. It is a small town with pacific northwest island vibes. However, it is a gate way for adventures in and around the ocean for people in Washington and from afar. Visitors have been coming here since the 1890’s! So what is the draw? Why should you visit and plan your wedding here?

Friday Harbor is accessible and has everything you would want or need when visiting the San Juan Islands. Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands in general are a great place to get married if you want a wedding that is like a few or some of the bullet points below:

• Coastal
• Mountain views in the distance
• Activities to do for all on the day of or during your trip like biking, walking/hiking, kayaking, whale watching, sea plane rides, sunset sail boat tours, etc.
• Slow paced + peaceful
• Away from a city // small town vibes

How to get to Friday Harbor?

To get to Friday Harbor you can use the public transit to walk onto or drive onto the Washington Ferry that leaves from Anacortes, WA. To drive on you will need to book a reservation in advance and plan to arrive at least 1 hour before the sailing time.

Taking the ferry to the island is a great time to add photography coverage to your elopement or wedding. The ferry is great for taking in views of the islands and Mt Baker while in transit. You can enjoy the views from the ferry deck outside or from inside in one of the booths. Some folks get lucky enough to even see whales from the ferry. Outside of sight seeing on the ferry, you can play puzzles together, sit and talk over coffee or put together puzzles often left on the ferrys for folks to enjoy. I think it is also a great time to sit down and write your wedding vows.

Alternative ways to get to the island can be via a Sea Plane or small crop plane which leaves from Seattle, Bellingham or other areas.

You can also arrive via your own private boat or a different private boat charter.

Do you need a car at Friday Harbor?

Yes, you do need a car to get around San Juan Island. If you plan to not leave the port town of Friday Harbor then you can walk everywhere. However, most wedding venues, stays and outdoor things are only accessible if you have a car.

When to get married at Friday Harbor?

If you are considering getting married near Friday Harbor you may want to consider April to October! During off season, which is Winter, many of the stores, places to stay, venues and tours are closed. Visiting in Spring or Fall you are likely to avoid the summer crowds making your trip easier, but really anytime during those months is a great time!

Where to stay on Friday Harbor for your wedding?

You will notice a lot of the wedding venues on the island offer stays as well. So if you are utilizing a venue then you likely will not need another stay. However, if you are eloping or staying longer than the wedding you may want to book a hotel, resort or Airbnb stay. Here are our favorite three Airbnbs near Friday Harbor:

• Charming Cottage with great views, a private beach area and hot tub.
• Cute tucked away red cabin.
• Condo in town if you do not need a lot of space and want to be near things to do and places to dine.

How to get married at Friday Harbor?

Friday Harbor is in a town within Washington State, so therefore all of Washington State marriage laws apply. Washington does have a three day holding period on marriage licenses so make sure you plan for that in advance when scheduling to get your paperwork.

The local clerk office if you wanted to get your paperwork online can be found at:

350 Court Street
1st Floor
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

If you go in person we recommend making an appointment. Your appointment would take around 15-30 minutes.

Or you can also apply online at here! No matter if you are in person or online you can expect to pay $62 for your paperwork.

In the state of Washington you can get your marriage paperwork from any county.

Getting Married at Salt Water Farm in Friday Harbor

Salt Water Farm is truly an epic, stunning and wonderful wedding venue to consider for your wedding day or even an elopement with guests. Here are a few of the top reasons we love this wedding venue on Friday Harbor:

• Eco-friendly, striving to have a small foot print and source locally
• When you book here you are booking the entire space, so the small cabin stays and the larger space. We love this because it can essentially be a wedding weekend get away for you and your closest loved ones. The venue becoming a space for the wedding itself, but also a home base as you explore the island(s) and have a honeymoon vibed weekend!
• Garden Party anyone for a long farm table dinner, lunch, brunch with your guests!? If you ask me, it screams romance.
• The view – from the rooms, the ceremony space and getting ready space you have views of the islands and ocean.
• The getting ready space/stay – these nooks are beautiful, cozy and unique.
• Privacy – the farm is tucked back and it feels like you are on your own island while there.
• Creative opportunity for your gallery – the design of the space is incredible which means a lot for photography. The rooms have great light and clean design. You can tell from the image we captured there spread throughout this blog how wonderful the space photographs.

The Salt Farm offers stays for their venue ranging from 1 day (12 hours) to 4+ day stays/events. They can aoccomodate elopements with 20 guests to bigger weddings with up to 200+ guests. It is truly a great space for a large array of different types of weddings.

Other Wedding Venues near Friday Harbor

Roche Harbor Weddings

Roche Harbor is a popular destination on San Juan Island. It is on the opposite side of the island from Friday Harbor. This is a popular area because it is a resort a lot of the sea planes land/dock as well as private boats. It is a resort with a few restaurants, gardens, an artist market on the weekends during season and kayak rentals for exploring the bay area here. You can get married here! This venue can host weddings up to 300 guests. There are also condos, cottages and suites you can rent for stay accommodations.

San Juan Island Gange

This option is more budget friendly and really only ideal for a small wedding or an elopement with guests. For this I would only recommend renting the deck. On the deck you can have a total of 26 people. I would recommend using the deck for the ceremony and then a private chef or catered dinner. This is wonderful, if you want to explore for the day, go on tours with your family, etc then come back and celebrate for the evening somewhere private overlooking the boats.

BrickWorks

This wedding venue is located within Friday Harbor town limits. This venue is much more along the lines of a traditional indoor barn like wedding venue. They can host up to 150 people guests.

Friday Harbor House

This is a popular and might I add delicious restaurant in Friday Harbor and an inn for accommodating stays. They have packages for small weddings/elopements to medium sized weddings, hosting a guest count of 8 people to 80 people total. They offer different options, but we love the idea of rooftop ceremony and private chef prepared dinner. They have a great view of the ocean with incoming boats and the ferry. This would feel cozy, romantic and easy as they really help take care of everything.

Lakedale

Lakedale is a popular destination on San Juan Island just outside of Friday Harbor for camping in the summer. We ourselves have tent camped here over a fourth of July holiday! The farm is 82 acres and you guessed it – you can stay here as well during your wedding. However, you get a choice between tent camping, rv camping, staying in a yurt, log cabin, cottage or at the lake house. There are also activities on site like enjoying the lake on a canoe and more! This is a great option if you want to do a camp style wedding or elopement with guests!

Working with Adventure and Vow as your Friday Harbor Wedding Photographer

We are a husband and wife team offering photo, video, officiating and assistance in planning your dream wedding day. We are based near the North Cascades of Washington, but work all over the Western United States and beyond. Since first coming to Washington the San Juan Islands have held a special place in our hearts. We love visiting all year, kayaking in the bay, hiking around on a clear day to see the peaks from afar and more. We love the slower pace, the ability to bring your loved ones along for the adventure here and variety of things to do.

We offer packages for adventure elopements and small weddings ranging from 6 hours of coverage to multi-day elopements/weddings. We offer video as an add on to any of our packages.

Most of our couples book a split day or multi-day for the San Juan Islands. Here is an example timeline of what a wedding day with us often can look like from a real wedding we planned and photographed in 2023!

Meet in the AM for Kayak/Vow writing/etc – 5am

Finish Kayaking – 6:30am

Break/Eat Breakfast/Grab coffee from in town

12:30 Sea Plane Pickup at Roche Harbor 

1:00 Depart 

1:00-1:20 – Tour San Juan Islands

1:20-1:55 – Travel to Lake Diablo

2:00 – Land at Lake Diablo

Lunch Picnic + Portraits

3:00 – Depart Lake Diablo

4pm – Flight back to San Juan Islands | Roche Harbor landing

15 min drive

4:30pm Dinner at Friday Harbor House on the Rooftop

6pm Head to coastal location for ceremony, portraits + fire at blue hour for toasts + s’mores

Coverage ends at 8:30pm

We’d Love To Hear More About Your San Juan Wedding Plans!

Vendors apart of this Friday Harbor Wedding:

Tangled Roots Florist – Based in Bellingham, WA

Joey’s Doing your Make-up – Based in Skagit Valley near Anacortes, WA

Salt Water Farm – Friday Harbor Wedding Venue

Adventure and Vow – Photography + Planning Washington State Based

Top 25 Places to Propose in Washington State

As elopement and adventurous couples photographers in Washington State, we often find ourselves in the most beautiful places. With our years of experience out on the trails throughout Washington, we have crafted a list of the locations we know will make for an amazing proposal. While there are so many stunning locations in the state of Washington, these are our top 25. We work closely with our proposing client, working over every detail from how to keep it a secret, how to get them there, and of course to help them find the perfect nook for them to ask their partner to marry them!

Best Places to Propose in Seattle

1. On top of the Space Needle

The space needle is a staple of the Seattle sky line. It has been standing proud since 1961. You can ride the elevator to the top and take in the 360 degree views of the city, mountains and ocean for your proposal. Or you can propose at (or celebrate after in) the lounge where they serve craft cocktails and local food.

2. On the Seattle Great Wheel

This is another iconic piece in the Seattle Pike Place Market and pier area. It is open daily 11am to 9pm. You will need a ticket to get onto this ride. If carnival rides, festivals, piers, or the Pike Place Market hold a significant place in your relationship, then imagine proposing here at sunset to take in those epic costal views to kick start this next phase in your lives!

3. Kerry Park

Kerry Park is a popular location in Seattle where folks come to watch sunset on a clear day. Why? Because it has an iconic view of the Downtown Seattle landscape and Mount Rainier! This could be a great spot to propose! Whenever we visit here and make a date night of it, we pick up to go food from a local Mexican restaurant and eat it as the sun sets enjoying the view!

4. On the Ferry over to Bainbridge

The Bainbridge ferry from downtown Seattle is beloved for its view of Seattle, an easy escape from the city while looking for whales. This is the only ferry in the state that still has the original 1960s interior. You could walk onto the Ferry to ride there and back. Or you can drive onto the Ferry to ride over and from there have dinner or even head over to Olympic National Park as a newly engaged couple.

5. Discovery Park

Discovery Park is a beautiful coastal park just outside of Downtown. It features a Lighthouse which can be a romantic place to propose at. It could be super cute to bring along a blanket and have a picnic here.

6. Gas Works Park

Gas Works Park is a park sitting on the shores of Lake Union. The park has a green space and a wonderful sky line view of Seattle. With over 19 acres of land for public use, you are bound to be drawn to the perfect nook for a proposal.

7. Lake Union

Lake Union to me is like the heart of Seattle. It has great views and is surrounded by great areas of Seattle. There is so much opportunity for adventure at this lake. One of my favorite ideas for a proposal here would be on the hot tub boats or overnight on a house boat! You could also propose at Lake Union on a Sea Plane ride or while kayaking!!

8. Seacrest Park Cove 1 + 2

This is attached to a popular park Alki Beach, just west of Seattle. In my opinion this area has the best view, especially at sunrise, of the downtown Seattle city-scape. However, if you propose here at sunset you can grab a celebratory dinner + drink at Salty’s which has the best fresh seafood!

9. Your Favorite Climbing Gym/Bouldering Gym

Seattle has no shortage of climbing gyms. If you two are both into bouldering or climbing together we have seen many super cute proposals at gyms. If this is something you are interested in, I would speak to the gym manager to discuss an option where you could come in and propose while it is not open so you can set up things if you want and have privacy.

Hiking Proposal Locations in Washington

10. Colchuck Lake

This is one of the most photographed trails in Washington. This hike is in Leavenworth and goes through the forest ending at the dragon scale and a beautiful colored lake. While you can for sure find some privacy here to propose, you may also find yourself in the presence of a mountain goat! You can even stay the night if you back pack in or you can hike even further if you have a permit for The Enchantments.

This trial is 11 miles and 2400 feet of gain.

11. Mount Storm King

This is probably the most well known hike in Olympic National Park. This trail starts out near Lake Crescent which is a stunning, clear lake surrounded by big ever greens. This hike takes you up through the forest, past some scrambling where you will need to hold onto ropes and ends at an awesome overlook of the lake, mountains and ocean. I recommend going here for sunset. I also do not recommend this if you are scared of heights or do not have the proper hiking shoes or much hiking experience.

This hike is 5 miles and 2100 ft of elevation gain.

12. Maple Pass – in the Fall for the larches

This trail is up in the North Cascades area. It is a very famous hike in Washington state for its fall colors and larches. It has amazing views the entire trail and a lovely lake which you can take a detour to. There is no shortage of perfect spots to choose from to pop the question while hiking this trail!

This trial is 7.4 miles and 2200 ft of elevation gain.

13. Lake Ann Trail

This trail is in Northern Washington in the Mount Baker Wilderness. This trail goes through a meadow with a view of Mt Baker and ends at an incredible lake with up close views of Mt Shuksan. Another great spot to swim, or even back pack. Either way, you can not go wrong here.

This trail is 8.6 miles long and 2000 ft of elevation gain.

14. Dog Mountain – in the spring for wildflowers

This hike is hiked year round from the winter with snow shoes to spring with wild flowers and the rest of the year! We highly recommend it for Spring! It has beautiful views and would be a great place to get engaged!!

The hike is 6.5 miles with 2999ft of elevation gain.

15. Fall Creek Falls

Washington state is full of beautiful waterfalls, but this one I think would be the best for a proposal! This is a double fall that is stunning. This fall is not as busy as some of the more well known ones and easier accessed ones in the state. If your partner loves waterfalls, then this is definitely a dream location!

This trail is 3.2 miles and is 700 ft of gain.

16. Tolmie Peak

(or any of the other fire towers!)

Tolmie goes to a fire tower look out on the North West side of Mount Rainier National Park. This hike is a popular trail, but not as much as the Fremont fire tower, which is another fire tower in this park. The trail goes through the forest, past a lake which is great to jump in for a swim on a warm day and ends at a stunning overlook and of course the fire tower. Here you could propose in front of the fire tower or on the rocks just below.

This trail is 7 miles and 1600 ft of gain.

17. Backpacking with Llamas

We got the chance to backpack with Washington Llamas for an elopement and it was an awesome experience. This is a guided trip and they offer several hiking options. You can backpack with them from 1-5 nights in the Washington area, mostly around the south side of Mt Rainier. When it comes to combining luxury and backpacking, the llama guide made an awesome home made apple pie at camp! This would be a fun and memorable way to propose to your partner!

18. At a Climbing Crag

Not all adventures happen on the trail! It you two are both into climbing or bouldering this could be the way to go!! Imagine spending the day cragging with your closest friends and as the sun sets over the mountain, you are all at the top of the peak for you to propose. Our recommendations for an outdoor rock climbing proposal in Washington are:

• Mt Erie
• Boulder River
• Peshastin Pinnacles
• Little Si
• Lake Cushman
• Leavenworth
• Index

Washington Proposal Destinations

19. Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth is known as a German town in what we like to think of as the American Alps. Just a 2 hour beautiful mountain drive from Seattle, making it a great weekend trip from the city. If you want to propose in Leavenworth these are the locations or ways we would recommend:

• On a horse drawn carriage ride around town under the stars/town lights. This is great any time of year in the town.
• At the ski resort nearby, Stevens Pass, in the winter.
• Lake Wenatchee – great anytime of year with a huge lake, mountain views and if you are kayaking or boating you can even propose on a little island on the lake.
• At a winery! There are several wineries and even breweries in Leavenworth which could be a fun place to pop the question.

20. Artist Point, Mt Baker

While this may seem adventurous at first since it has epic mountain views – it really is the most stunning location in Washington state with the least amount of hiking required. In this area you have Artist Point, Picture Lake and the Chain Lakes area. All of these are accessible within a 3-10 minute walk from where you park. Some of the trails are paved. This is great if you are a couple that loves taking road trips to sight see together! We live right by here and I can tell you this spot never gets old, the views are always incredible!!!

21. Seven Hills Winery

Washington actually has many wineries and makes great wine due to the soil, heavy rains and coastal location. Seven Hills Winery has been named best winery in the state by many folks. It is located in Walla Walla, Washington. On their websites you can check out events, propose at a tasting or inquiry about a tour of the vineyards!

22. The San Juan Islands

The San Juan Islands are accessible via a ferry ride from Anacortes, WA or via a Sea Plane from Seattle. The islands consist of San Juan, Lopez, Shaw, Ocras and many other small islands. For a proposal I would recommend either going to Friday Harbor or Orcas. On both of these islands you can hike, kayak, whale watch, dine and more. They also each have their own unique fun things to consider. You can visit our resources on how to elope on the islands to learn more about which one might be the best fit for your proposal.

23. Sunrise Visitor Center

The Sunrise Visitor Center is on the North Side of Mount Rainier National Park. While the park has a ton of epic hikes, if you aren’t up for the adventure this area has great views without really having to hike anywhere. Also on this side of the park you could consider Tipsoo Lake. Many people park on the higher end of the lake to watch the sunset behind Rainier as it reflects in the lake. Both are great options for a Mount Rainier Proposal, without the hiking.

You could also consider proposing at Crystal Mountain for a view of Mount Rainier via the gondola. Just keep in mind that it may be really busy.

24. Snoqualmie Falls

This may be the most well known waterfall in the entire state of Washington. Most easily you can propose at the overlook of the falls which is a great vantage point, but can be busy. Our advice for proposing here – go on a week day!

Please note that the only way to get to the bottom of these falls is to be come a member of the theater via a yearly pass then you can access the trail that goes to the bottom.

25. Ruby Beach or Rialto Beach

The beaches of Olympic National Park are another great option if you are a couple that enjoys road trips together or just getting out of the city. At all of the Olympic beaches you can definitely hike, but these two require little to no hiking with beautiful pay offs when it comes to views. Now, if you are feeling adventurous, we hear Rialto Beach is a great place to surf, if that is something you two enjoy!!

Beaches not your vibe? Another good destination in the Olympics is Hurricane Ridge which is at the top of the mountain. You don’t have to walk anywhere to access the stunning mountain views, but if you want to hike or explore there are good trails.

Washington State Proposal Photographer

We (Traci + Bill!) are local Washington State adventurous couples photographers. We capture elopements, vow renewals, engagements and proposals for couples on every sort of adventure that you can imagine. We are available to capture your proposal + assist in the planning as needed. There are usually two different ways we go about capturing a proposal:

• We hide out or act like just normal bystanders until we see you get down on one knee then we come out to capture the moment. This is followed by a portrait session.
• Or you book a portrait session with us and your partner is lead to believe it is a just because type of thing. However, you propose during it! We would plan together if you would rather propose towards the start or end of the session, if you want a code word or pose to happen before, things like that.

We also help you pick the perfect location and put together the logistics timing wise! We send sneak peak images that day or night to your phone. The entire gallery is delivered within one week where you can download all of your images!

Our proposal sessions for the Artist Point/Baker area start at $850.

Our proposals for anywhere else in the Washington State Region start at $1000.

We also offer an add-on for video, please inquire with us to discuss details!

We Can’t Wait To Hear Your Washington Proposal Plans!

(UPDATED FOR 2026)

Why elope in Alaska?

When it comes to planning a wedding in Alaska, for the majority of us it likely is not the most convenient place to get to. We’ve driven the Alaska highway ourselves through Canada and beyond and we’re here to tell you that it’s certainly worthwhile for the adventurous couple looking to share an unforgettable experience. We’ve never seen so many herds of wild elk, bison, caribou, black bears, and grizzlies with their cubs! Of course if you don’t have the time to go by road, flying is the most popular option :). So back to the why elope in Alaska. If you are looking for an EPIC ADVENTURE elopement location, Alaska is the perfect place!

Alaska is rugged and largely untouched and not nearly as busy as much of the lower 48 states and their National Parks. Here you will find great things to do and places to elope that include glaciers galore, screaming mountain peaks, an ocean filled with puffins and more – offering a diverse array of experiences. There is something so inescapably enchanting about an environment with so few roads where everything need be accessed by foot, boat, or air. Alaska truly lives up to it’s title as the last frontier – a place outdoor lovers would be moved by to get married within.

Alaska Elopement Planning Checklist

While every elopement is different, they all have the same bones when you first start planning + when you are just about a week out. This guide will for sure help you in planning deeper into your elopement and understanding getting married in Alaska better, but here is a brief checklist you can have to help you stay organized in your planning.

• Decide to elope and the basics (like a specific month or general region of Alaska)
• Book an Adventure Elopement Photographer
• Decided on a more specific area, activity and general plan through planning with elopement photographer.
• Book Travel – stay, flights, rental car
• Attire Shopping
• Book any other vendors you may need (hair, makeup, florist, chef, etc)
• Apply for Marriage License
• Write Vows
• Pack
• Arrive + Relax
• ENJOY YOUR FREAKING DREAM WEDDING DAY!

Now that you have the bones, let’s dive into it!

Top things to do in Alaska for your Elopement

Alaska is home to some of the most epic and biggest adventures. If you’re a couple who loves exploring the outdoors, then Alaska is a haven for almost every activity you can imagine. These are some of the awesome things to consider including on your elopement day or during your trip in Alaska:

• Ice climbing
• Rock Climbing
• Glacier Hiking
• Kayaking around glaciers
• Whale watching tours
• Sailboat rides // small personal boat tours
• Helicopter tours/ride
• Float plane ride
• A Small plane ride to your elopement location
• Fly Fishing
• Hiking in the untouched backcountry
• Backpacking with no one around
• Dog Sledding
• Visiting a reindeer farm
• Soaking in hot springs
• Going rafting
• Star gazing
• See the Northern lights
• Skiing
• Alaska Scenic Train Ride
• Polar Plunge

In some situations your activity on your elopement day may determine or help you decide your elopement location. For example, if you feel strongly about seeing whales as apart of your elopement day experience then you will likely elope in Seward, AK over Palmer.

Where to Elope in Alaska

Being the last frontier in the United States it is for sure top state to consider for your elopement, full of awe inspiring beauty. Alaska is HUGE, for perspective you could fit two of Texas into Alaska. So, where do you pick for your elopement? Below is a map of some of the places to consider. But let’s explore the top 6 locations in further depth….

1. Kenai Fjords National Park

Alaska has 8 National Parks! That is second only to the great state of California. So while eloping in Yosemite or having a Joshua Tree wedding are magical in their own right, there really is no place even close to Alaska in terms of the enchanting solitude and seemingly endless natural landscape in the National Parks! Kenai, is for sure one of our favorites and offers a ton of things to do and see for your elopement. When Bill + I first started planning our own elopement, this was the first location on our list for consideration. While we ended up eloping in Mt. Rainier National Park on our very own wonderland trail backpacking trip, we are so glad we got the chance to visit Kenai Fjords a few years later.

The park is home to 40 different glaciers, with the most known in the area being Exit Glacier and Bear Glacier. It’s true for all of Alaska really, but when it comes to getting close and personal with glaciers, this park does not disappoint! It is so stunning and the first on the list because it has it all – mountains, water, glaciers and a ton to do! If you elope here you may want to consider staying in Seward which is not too far from Anchorage, but you will most definitely need to rent a car. For more information on visiting the park and planning your wedding here/permit information you need to visit the National Park’s website.

Where to stay in Seward?

There are plenty of Airbnbs in the area and hotels right in the heart of the small town. However, we LOVE the Salted Roots Cabins. You can rent them off of Airbnb or rent the entire space for your wedding with guests. This rental books out pretty far in advance, so you want to plan ahead!!

When to elope in Kenai Fjords?

This park is open year round, but due to weather conditions the best time to elope here would be June, July and early August. To avoid crowds you could elope during “shoulder” season and consider late May or early September.

2. Hatcher Pass

This is a 51 mile road road with amazing views and connections to awesome trails showcasing mountains, meadows and lakes. The closest town to stay in would be Palmer, AK. This location is perfect if you are wanting a hiking elopement. Some trails we recommend considering would be Reed Lakes, April Bowl and/or Gold Mint Trail. This is a very popular elopement location, but for good reason with its amazing views, to avoid crowds I would recommend a weekday or sunrise elopement pending what location you pick. As always, the further you hike, the less crowded it is The area is over 200 acres so it is easy to find your own little perfect nook. If you want to photograph with the iconic red A-frames you do need to book a stay there to do that. Outside of hiking you can also go parasailing on your elopement day here in the right conditions with a guide or on your own if you are prepared.

Where to stay in Palmer?

This luxury, classic farm stay is super beautiful and spacious. It has two bedrooms if you plan to elope with yourselves and a couple of other people! We love the kitchen, it is just waiting for you two to cook up breakfast together or dinner on your elopement day!

When to elope at Hatcher Pass?

All year Hatcher Pass can be pretty chilly. Even in the summer the highs aren’t above 58 degrees. We would recommend eloping here June to early/early September.

3. Denali National Park

Probably the most well known National Park and one of the most beautiful peaks in the US! The closest town is Fairbanks, AK. There is only one road running through the park and it is 92 miles long! There are many trails here where you can be high up looking down on peaks/valleys or you can hike and have the mountain towering above you. During your time here, you are bound to run into some wildlife like bear or moose. We recommend getting up close and personal with this mountain on a flight tour! We booked a flight tour for our last visit and literally I was in tears from the sheer beauty of getting to see the mountain so close. On the tour you can land on the glacier or stay over night. For more information on visiting the park and permits for a wedding in the park you need to visit the National Park’s website.

Where to stay in Fairbanks?

This large luxury cabin has it all for your elopement with guests! It is complete with a hot tub, suana, spacious rooms, including 8 beds and a super cute claw tub!

When to elope in Denali National Park?

The best months are July, August and September. The best time to see the Northern Lights is from late August to early April. There are key factors here – a dark and a clear sky. Fairbanks is known for being the best option for seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska! Throughout the entire year Denalie is unpredictable when it comes to having visibility so be sure to be flexible!!

4. Chugach Mountains

The Chugach Mountains home 60 of Alaska’s glaciers! We love this location when it comes to elopements because of it’s accessibly – located in the backyard of Anchorage. However, these mountains spread across a State Park, National Forest and a massive chunk of South Alaska. The reality is a lot of locations in Alaska are remote and require float plane, helicopter, boat or a crop-plane to access, but this one just requires a car and your feet!

Some trails that have caught our eyes in the Chugach National Forest with iconic views are:

• Portage Pass
• Crow’s Pass (This is a backpacking option!)
• Spencer Glacier
• Palmer Creek Lakes
• Secret locations – We have had the privilege of capturing a backpacking elopement in this region at a remote area that is just stunning, but not popular. There are many options like that in the National Forest and we would love to share them with you during elopement planning.

Where to stay for your elopement in the Chugach Mountains?

This quirky stay has some personality and would make a fun stay for you and a couple of guests, right in the mountains.

This cozy cabin in Girwood would give you easy access to a smaller quiet ski town and some of the trails in the area, you’d feel right at home!

5. Juneau

Juneau is the capital of Alaska, but it is not easy to get to you. Juneau is only accessible by boat or plane. Many people visit here as a stop on their Alaskan Cruise trip. Juneau, similar to Seward, is a rainforest. Though a small remote area, it has everything the rest of Alaska has – hiking, skiing, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, dog sledding, heli tours and more!!!

Best place to stay in Juneau?

If you want to keep things simple and stay in a hotel downtown in the heart of it all we would recommend the modern outdoor geared hotel, Silverbow Inn.

You could stay in an Airbnb with close access to the Airport – great for your travel in and out, but also tours. The airport is also close to the Mendenhall Glacier area. I would say check out this beautiful home.

6. Kachemak Bay State Park

Last, but not least on the list for sure is Kachemak Bay State park, near Homer, AK. Really, we could put 100 locations on this list, but that is what the map above is for This is another location only accessible by boat or plane. Are you catching a theme for Alaska elopement locations yet? The best activity to do here is by far kayaking around the bay and seeing the glaciers in the lake, otters and bald eagles! The park has stunning trails ranging from to eight miles making for the perfect adventure for your ceremony. There are many remote areas off the coast for a stay or to stop in for dinner. There is some hiking, but the highlight is the coastal vibes and easy glacier feed lake access.

Best place to stay for Kachemak Bay State Park?

Same as the previous location, you can stay closer or you can stay in Anchorage. This home on Airbnb is named one of the best in the state! It can house up to 10 people, is right on the water and has all you would need for your trip!

Another option would be to stay in Homer, AK. This cabin in Homer has a hot tub and great overall outdoor space to have dinner after your elopement. The entire is cozy and I doubt you wont love thsoe mountain views!

When is the best time to visit?

You guessed it, the BEST time to visit is in the Summer months! You can still come here on shoulder season though! The best time to see whales in this area is June + July!

What to wear for your Alaska Elopement?

If you haven’t picked up on this yet, Alaska is cold. Alaska is also actually apart of the Pacific Northwest region, so like Washington, it can be super rainy and gray! So first let’s start with items that will be important to pack for an Alaskan Elopement:

• rainboots or the popular shoe in Alaska, Xtratuf Boots
• rainjacket
• umbrella
• thermals
• bear spray if you plan to do much hiking in wilderness or camping
• bear canister for food if you are backpacking
• headlamp
• bug spray, trust me you need it in inland
• sunglasses (glaciers are bright! lol)
• sunscreen (in the summer there are days with 24 hours of sunlight!)
• an outer layer you do not mind being photographed in
• AND of course, all of your WEDDING items! (ie – vow books, gifts, attire, etc)

Now, what makes a perfect Alaskan Elopement Dress?

Eloping in Alaska means you are probably for sure going on an adventure no matter if it is hiking, exploring the ice on ropes or going in a helicopter you need a dress that works for adventure! I recommend something lightweight – this is good for a flight, being able to move and if it gets wet from rain it wont be super heavy. I also recommend something flowy, for those epic top of the mountain windy shots, but also for ease in mobility! One of our favorite recommendations who can make a dress custom for you that would be perfect for Alaska would be Daci Gowns. When wedding dress shopping keep in mind the temperatures, you might want to consider a dress with sleeves or that you can easily add layers under/over.

Grooms attire for Alaska Wedding:

The fun thing about grooms attire is you get more color choice options, do not shy away from it here in Alaska. The colors most common in the background of your elopement will be white, gray, blue, green and black. If you are eloping in the fall you can also get some orange and reds. Sure you can go with a black, gray or navy suit, but what about a deep purple? Or a burnt red color?

Same as the bride advice, be sure you can add layers as needed under your suit. Also, make sure your pants have some stretch if you plan to do any bigger adventures! We recommend shopping at Indochino.

Alaska Marriage Laws + Permits for Eloping in Alaska

How much does it cost to get married in Alaska?

It cost $60 to get married in Alaska – this cost is for the application for your marriage license. It is an additional $30 if you want a record of your certificate of marriage after the officiant has mailed your documents back to the office after your wedding. Once you obtain your marriage license you have up to 3 months to use it, after that you will need to apply again. You can apply online here.

Can you get married same day in Alaska?

No, you can not get married in Alaska the same day that you receive your marriage license. The state of Alaska has a three day waiting period. So you must wait three days to get married after getting the document. This is very important, so plan ahead when making your travel and plans!

What do you need to get married in Alaska?

To get married in Alaska you need an Alaskan marriage license, an officiant (this is included in our services) and one witness to sign (also included!).

Can you get married in Alaska without being a resident?

No, you do not need to live in Alaska to get married in Alaska. You do not even need to be a US Citizen to get married in Alaska – this also depends on what country you are from though, so be sure to check your local countries laws too!

Do I need a permit to elope in Alaska?

You probably do need a special use permit to get elope in Alaska, but this depends on what location you choose. A permit is for the act of getting married on the land, this is completely different from the marriage license. Obtaining permit information is something we help with during the planning process. Permits can cost anywhere from $50 to $500 pending location and group size. To get a permit you need to contact the corresponding land management permit officer.

How much does it cost to elope in Alaska?

I would say an elopement in Alaska all in can cost between $9k to $30k+. This all depends, like all elopements, on what your elopement experience is like and if you have guests or not. Budgeting for an elopement look so different for everyone! These are the items you need to consider when deciding what your own elopement in Alaska may cost:

• Stay ($1000 – 5000)
• Travel (flight, car, food, etc)
• Dress / Suit
• Flowers?
• Tours/guides/etc (ranges from $250 – $10k)
• Photographer
• Officiant (included in our cost, but you can expect to pay between $400-1500 if you are hiring one)
• Video if you plan to hire that (We offer it as an add on to our packages!)
• Marriage Paper work ($60-96)
• Misc (decor, vow books, gear you may need that you do not already have, etc)
• For more involved elopements you may also need a planner or day of coordinator

How to Get to Alaska?

Travel to Alaska for sure effects the cost of your elopement. The main area you might fly into for an elopement in Alaska is Anchorage. This is a major airport and flying with Alaska Airlines may be the cheapest way to fly in since they have a hub there. The other option – though a longer travel idea – would be to arrive via Ferry from Washington.

Cruises are very popular from Seattle to Alaska. You could take a cruise ship over, let that aspect be your honeymoon, and elope on one of the days off of the ship. Be sure this works with the cruise itinerary and plans before booking.

Secondly, a rental can be expensive in Alaska, so plan ahead for that and don’t forget to check Turo as well as your general rental car options.

You can also drive to Alaska via the Alaskan Highway. We have done this drive before and we can tell you it is not for the week hearted nomads lol….the road is by far one of the worst roads we have driven. On top of the route being extremely remote. The awesome thing about the drive through is the chance to see things like buffalo, bears, moose, deer and caribou. Depending on your route you may pass by Jasper National Park, Banff National Park or some awesome hot springs. Driving to Alaska takes more time, but can be cheaper and a fun way to travel together for your wedding!

Alaska Elopement Packages

Our Adventure Elopement packages are based on years of experience capture epic days in the wild built around our couples relationship. As elopement photographers, we specialize in big adventure elopements – from backpacking, to multi-day, multi-adventure elopements. Our elopement days are packed with activity, joy, intention and emotion.

All of our photographers are ordained and offer photo, video and assistance in planning your dream elopement and configure the logistics to bring it to life. Our packages start with a mini elopement and we offer up to multi-day elopement celebration packages. Our packages are perfect for couples who maybe want a small adventure and time with the family or want a multi-day or multi-excursion events in the backcountry.

Here is one of our past eloping couples said about about working with us:

Alaska Elopement Photographer

Hi-Ya, we are Bill + Traci, owners of this elopement team that thrives off of epic adventures out in the wild. We ourselves eloped on a 76 mile backpacking trip around Mount Rainier. We do not shy away from the big adventures or the small intimate moments life has to offer.

Our first trip to Alaska was so incredible and we can see why any couple would want to elope there! From the mind-blowing glacier tours, to the raw back country, the joys of seeing wildlife and relaxing on the seas. Alaska is truly an outdoor lovers dream location.

We love helping our couples craft their dream elopement day to start off their marriages. We are with our couples every step of the way when planning their elopement and on the big day to make sure they have the best experience they can.

Let’s Connect!

Alaska Elopement Video

We do offer video add-on to all of our photo packages, this is a great way to not only see your elopement day, but also get to re-hear your vows and surrounding sounds totally transporting you back to an adventure of a lifetime!

We’d Love To Hear More About Your Alaska Elopement Plans!