Eloping In Washington State
Elope In Washington State
Your step-by-step guide on how to elope in Washington State
Answering all the top questions for planning an elopement in Washington State:
The best time of the year to elope in Washington
Where should you have your ceremony?
All things permits.
What airport to fly into?
Where are some rad places to stay in WA?
How do we get a WA marriage license?
What to pack?
PLANNING YOUR WASHINGTON ELOPEMENT
Things to Consider When Planning Your Washington Elopement
So you’re eloping in Washington State, woohoo!!! Cheers to an epic and meaningful experience as you celebrate your commitment to each other - you couldn’t have picked a more diverse and wild environment in the US’s lower 48.
Before we really get started, here are a few things to think about to get a gauge on what really fits your vision. There is nothing worse than finding out the most amazing viewpoint you had been dreaming about saying your vows at isn’t accessible due to snow until July when your wedding date in is May. We wanna avoid that kinda disappointment straight away to help you plan the most kick-ass Washington elopement experience EVER!
So what exactly should you be asking yourself before really diving into planning your Washington wedding?
When do you want to elope? Do you have a specific date in mind like your anniversary or a certain month you have extra PTO? Do you wanna catch the wildflower bloom?
How much adventuring do you want to do? And what specific activities are you hoping to do the day of? For example: do you want to jeep up into the mountains and hike only a short distance for some epic views? Then you may only have a window of July-September to access those high alpine locations as the road may be closed due to snow too early or late in the year. Or are you dreaming of a guided heli tour, kayaking or climbing adventure, what time of year are those tours open? How fast do they book out? How close is this to potential ceremony locations?
Are you inviting any guests? If so, what are your guests hiking abilities, are they able to travel to your location easily, what is their outdoor comfort level? What would be the total head count, as some places including National Parks can have group limits along with limited parking at trail heads and such.
Are you bringing your pup along? Some areas like National Parks don’t typically allow non-service animals in the park, with some exceptions on major through hike trails. While National Forestry Lands allow leashed pets in most areas. Make sure to check the local rules to ensure your bff is able to be apart of your day!
THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE IN WASHINGTON STATE
July-August is the best time of year for weather in Washington. Choosing to elope in the middle of summer gives you the best opportunity for warmer, sunnier days (of course there’s never a guarantee when it comes to any kind of mountain weather). But this also corresponds with busy tourist season. This is when it will be tougher to find seclusion on trails and parking along popular hot spots.
May, June, September and October is the best time of year for less crowds, but comes with it a chance for more unpredictable weather. It’s not uncommon for snow in the high country and rain at lower elevation come mid October- but there’s also a chance for perfect autumn weather as well- so really, if you are keen on moody PNW vibes or a little snow during your vows, then this timeframe might be perfect.
Current weather info for the three National Parks in Washington:
North Cascades National Park - East Slope
North Cascades National Park - West Slope
TIPS FOR AVOIDING CROWDS AND SUMMER CONGESTION
Aim for a mid-week elopement date, or visit the parks before 10am or after 3pm if you can. Weekends, especially in the summer, can have long waits to enter the park and to find a parking space which can add a ton of stress and potentially make you miss out on cool locations, good lighting, etc.
If you really want a good chance at some seclusion aim for sunrise on a mid-weekday, that will double your chances of having the place to yourself or at least not having to compete with a ton of other tourists.
Or try shoulder season from about May-June and September-October where the weather can be a bit more unpredictable, but there is still a ton to see, a lot less tourists and the rates are generally cheaper.
Also, don’t forget to avoid large events in the area and Holiday weeks.
Image of Mount Rainier by Kathleen Castaneda
WHERE TO HAVE YOUR WASHINGTON ELOPEMENT CEREMONY
Big Ass Mountains
Coastal Beach Vibes
Rainforesty-ness
WASHINGTON PARK WEDDING PERMITS AND ENTRANCE FEES
Washington National Park Private Vehicle Entrance Fees:
Olympic National Park Entrance Fee: $30 for 7 days
North Cascades National Park Entrance Fee: No entrance fee!
Mt. Rainier National Park Entrance Fee: $30 for 7 days
America the Beautiful Pass - The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass for $80 it allows you into any National Park in the US for a full year from purchase!
Permits info for getting married in a Washington National Park in:
Olympic National Park Wedding Permit and Reservation Info
North Cascades National Park Wedding Permit and Reservation Info
Mt. Rainier National Park Wedding Permit and Reservation Info
WHERE TO FLY INTO WASHINGTON
The main 3 National Parks are just a couple hours drive from Seattle, WA. You will likely want to get a rental car and road trip the rest of the way into the park. There is a couple other airport options that may work better for you depending on where exactly you are flying out from, where in Washington you are eloping, where you want to stay and how much driving you want to be doing but I would say these two are worth looking into first:
Seattle International Airport (SEA)
Bellingham International Airport (BLI)
WHERE TO STAY IN WASHINGTON FOR YOUR WEDDING
This could look wildly different for everyone, but here are a few things to think about while deciding where to stay:
How far are you willing to travel for the ceremony and celebration? One hour, half hour, 20 minutes?
Do you need to stay close to an airport or emergency services? Think about guests (if you’re having them), some may have trouble traveling long distances or may have health conditions that might keep them staying closer to hospitals, etc.
Are you wanting to incorporate your lodging into the experience or just need a place to stay?
Whats the aesthetic of your day?
Will it just be the two of you, or do you need to find a place that accommodates everyone?
Some unique places to stay in Washington that would be perfect for an elopement (*NOT sponsored, just some cool places I found):
Just the 2 of you
Cabin in Granite Falls, WA
Adventure Base Camp on Skykomish River
Cabin with hot tub by Mt. Rainier
Beach house in the Olympic Peninsula
Cabin with hot tub by Mt. Baker
With guests on site
With everyone staying together
Modern A-Frame in Ashford, WA
Entire Lodge near Belfair, WA
Entire House on beach in the Olympic Peninsula
Private Retreat in Cle Elum, WA
Super unique places
Tree House in Peshastin, WA
A Cave in Leavenworth, WA
A Houseboat in Seattle, WA
HOW TO APPLY FOR YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE IN WASHINGTON
Making it all legal
The least fun part of the whole elopement planning process is arguably the paperwork stuff. But hey, it’s all apart of the getting to marry your person in a jaw dropping place, amiright?!
You can apply for your marriage license online or by mail (for Kings County anyway). You can get your marriage license in any Washington County, even if you are actually getting married in a different area. Washington State Law requires a 3 day waiting period before you can actually use it, so for you out of towner’s, make sure to plan your flights accordingly so you can pick it up 3 days before your ceremony (or pay online ahead of time!) Either way, don’t wait til the last minute, make sure you have a solid plan so you aren’t stuck not making it paper official. Also, the marriage license is valid for 60 days after the 3 day waiting period.
You can also opt to get “paper official” in your home state and do your vow ceremony and celebration in Washington! Sometimes this is easier logistically if you are unable to pickup your marriage license in person before the ceremony date or if you just don’t want to have to deal with that extra step when you’re traveling.
Who can officiate your wedding in Washington State?
Washington State Law allows any regularly licensed or ordained minister or priest of any church or religious denomination from any US state to perform your ceremony.
So its super easy for your friend or family member to get ordained online and marry you two, or for you adventurous folks, consider an officiant who will hike with you to your super rad overlook and marry you amongst it!
Washington Hiking Officiant- Stacy
All you really need to get legally married in Washington is an officiant, yourselves and 2 witnesses!
WHAT TO PACK FOR YOUR WASHINGTON ELOPEMENT
Wedding day basics:
Wedding attire
Rings
Vows
Details (flowers, tie, ring box, letters, lanterns, etc.)
Desserts/food/ picnic
Marriage License
Adventure basics:
Food/ water/ snacks
Bear spray
Gps/satellite communicator
Good footwear (even if it doesn’t match your outfit, bring an extra pair for walking/hiking)
Backpack to carry all the things
Headlamps
First aid kit
Trekking poles (if doing any incline, or have bad knees/ankles)
Having redundancy of the most important things, like shoes, first aid, water, food, etc. is a good way to be extra prepared for eloping in the wild. Also, breaking up those critical items between the two of your bags ensures not all the water is lost if something crazy happens to one of your packs!
ALWAYS HAVE A WEDDING DAY BACKUP PLAN (OR 2!)
Anytime you are planning anything outdoors there can be unforeseen events that pop up to delay or crush your Plan A. Things that can range from just a minor inconvenience, like an unexpectedly long line getting into the park. To a total road or trail shutdown due to wildfires, snow, or rock falls. For this reason, along with unforeseen dangerous weather its always good to have solid backup plans that you are also stoked as hell about! You don’t want to look at your plan B wedding day as a “less than awesome” experience for any reason. So planning a couple super rad elopement day options in different locations or time of day is a great idea.
Ideas for Plan B’s and C’s for weather can include the same park but at lower elevation, or a same location different time of day. For park, road and trail closures it can look like the same park, different trail, same location different trailhead, or even a completely different location nearby.
READY TO ELOPE WITH US IN WASHINGTON?!
We would LOVE to join you, document your adventure and help you plan the most kick-ass wedding day EVER! Hit us up for more info!
All Washington packages include:
2 photographers
Unlimited consultations and planning
YES, we help you plan your elopement too!
Access to exclusive planning guides
High-resolution images + printing release
Travel anywhere in Washington State
4 HR -> $6,000
6 HR -> $7,000
8 HR -> $8,000
2-Day -> $11,000
More Adventure Wedding, Elopement and Planning Resources
Adventure Elopements + Weddings We Photographed in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Alaska, Colorado and beyond!
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