Washington is chock-full of incredible locations with epic scenery, one of the most popular being Mount Rainier National Park. This is why it’s become a common spot to tie the knot (rhyme intended) – can you imagine having a Mount Rainier elopement & celebrating inside the park?!

But it can be difficult to navigate all your options when it comes to planning a Mount Rainier wedding or elopement, and figuring out every logistic + detail. From choosing what season to elope in to picking your ceremony spot to incorporate fun activities, there’s a lot that goes into it. 

That’s why I’ve written this blog post for you: the ultimate guide to planning your Mount Rainier elopement. Here’s what I’ll be going through as far as how to elope at Mount Rainier National Park:

• The best places to elope in the park

• How to pick a season + park weather

• How to get your wedding permit

• What to pack

• Where to stay near Mount Rainier

• Info about your Mount Rainier photographer (hint: that’s me)

• Vendors to hire

• 5 fun activities to incorporate into your day

• How to create your elopement timeline

Basically – literally everything you need to know about eloping at Mount Rainier. Let’s get right into it!

Best Locations to Elope for Your Mount Rainier Elopement

Mount Rainier is famous for its epic scenery, from the typically snow-capped mountain to alpine meadows and wildflowers. But where exactly in the park do you find all those spots you see in the photos?

Sunrise vs. Paradise – which side of the mountain?

You might not know that there are multiple sides to the park that have totally different scenery. It’s key to make sure you pick the side you want to visit for your elopement – if you’ve been dreaming of an elopement with wildflowers surrounding you, you won’t want to pick the more barren side of the park.

Paradise

The Paradise side of the park is likely the one you’ve seen in most photos – it’s filled with wildflowers, lush greenery, and the most beautiful meadows. There’s a reason it’s called Paradise!

Sunrise

The Sunrise side of the park offers wildflowers in the summer, too, but is often visited for its more barren, open landscapes with alpine meadows and tons of trails.

Park entrances

There are four entrances into Mount Rainier National Park, so check out each one and consider where they’ll take you! When planning your elopement day, it’s important to do your research on travel time between locations, and how easy it is to get from one place to another through hikes or driving entrances.

Carbon River Northwest Entrance

Stevens Canyon Southeast Entrance

White River/Sunrise Northeast Entrance

Nisqually Southwest Entrance

Trails & hikes to consider

Mount Rainier is full to the brim of incredible hikes, ranging from easy ones that get ya to a beautiful location to more intense hikes that take you up higher, steeper hills. One of the perks of booking me as your elopement photographer is that I’m super familiar with the trails and various hikes inside of the park. 

So I won’t go into depth about the trails in this article, simply because that knowledge is saved for my contracted couples 😉 But in general, when looking for the perfect hikes for your elopement day, consider the type of scenery you want to hike to & what side of the park fits that best! Below, I’ve linked websites that go through different trails on the Paradise & Sunrise sides of the park.

Paradise Meadows Trails

Sunrise Trails

How to Leave No Trace at any + every location

As an adventure elopement photographer, it’s incredibly important to me that my couples & I practice Leave No Trace principles to ensure we are respecting the environment we love. These principles will help us minimize our human impact on the natural land we visit for your elopement so that we leave it just as beautiful as we found it + preserve it for future visitors.

Please check out the 7 Leave No Trace Principles to start your own learning journey, and know that I’ll be giving you tons of specific tips as we plan YOUR outdoor elopement together!

Picking a Season + Mount Rainier Weather

It’s important to pick the right time of year for your elopement, as Mount Rainier National Park is heavily impacted by weather and so is your elopement experience! I mean, if you KNOW you despise the cold, you won’t want to elope during a season that could be chillier. It’s all about having the most comfortable, special elopement ever – and that is hugely impacted by the environment around us.

What to consider when picking a season

Let’s talk about the two biggest things to take into consideration when picking a season – and even when picking a time of day!

Crowds

One of the biggest ones is CROWDS. Mount Rainier is popular for a reason – its stunning landscapes draw in tourists and visitors from across the country. So the park gets crowded quickly, especially during July-August and on sunny days. 

If you’re aiming for a private, intimate elopement with just the two of you, it might be hard to create the perfect atmosphere with 50 tourists taking photos behind you, yeah?

So I recommend aiming for late late spring or early fall, as long as Rainier isn’t snowy or mostly closed off yet. These are the times you’ll hopefully avoid as many crowds as possible!

Another way to avoid crowds is to elope at sunrise, or on a weekday. Sunrise is much less popular for tourist company, and weekdays tend to have fewer people visiting than a Saturday or Sunday (for obvious reasons). Plus, if you elope at sunrise, you get the magical experience of watching the sun come up over the park and give off the most incredible lighting. Sunrise truly creates the most peaceful atmosphere you could ask for for an intimate elopement!

If you absolutely cannot avoid eloping on a weekend, or in the middle of the day, or in the midst of summer, pick less-crowded spots. There are TONS of locations in the park that have much less foot traffic, because they may be longer or more intense hikes. But if you’re aiming for the least crowds possible, this may be your perfect option!

Weather 

Since Mount Rainier National Park is well, in the mountains, it’s NOT open year-round. Well, technically the park is open all year, but that doesn’t mean it’s accessible all year. The park gets snowy fast and at unpredictable times once fall hits, so you need to be prepared to watch the weather closely if you’re aiming for a late spring/early fall elopement.

A few websites to keep your eye on that’ll help you prepare:

• Road Statuses

• Trail Conditions
• Park Weather

We don’t want you to pick a location only to find out the day of that the road to get there is closed due to weather. So it’s important to monitor conditions leading up to the day of your elopement, and to pick out a couple of backup locations just in case!

Getting Your Mount Rainier Elopement Wedding Permit

Hopefully, you checked out more about the Leave No Trace Principles above – if you did, you can probably guess why it’s important to get the appropriate permits!

Obtaining the correct permits for your wedding ensures that you’re following all park guidelines & rules, and respecting the land and permitted uses of it. This can be one of the less-fun parts of wedding planning, but it’s incredibly important.

Permit information

The size of your group is what determines where in the park you’re able to hold your ceremony. Make sure when you’re counting your group size that you include yourselves, your guests, and all your vendors.

Here are the deets, taken straight from the National Park Service’s website:

• 1-12 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include select trails, picnic areas, roadside locations, and campground amphitheaters.

• 13-24 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include picnic areas, roadside locations, and campground amphitheaters.

• 25-60 participants: may use certain pre-determined locations, which may include roadside locations and campground amphitheaters.

• 60 + participants: may use campground amphitheaters.

What’s allowed during ceremonies:

• Small decorations (ask park office about specifics)

What’s not allowed during ceremonies:

• Roping off/blocking any areas
• Chairs, tables, awnings, etc.
• Confetti or anything similar

How to get your permit

1. Fill out this application form
2. Send the completed application to mora_special_use@nps.gov 
3. Once your application is received, you’ll get a Permit Application Number & info on how to pay the $60 non-refundable application fee.
4. If your request is approved, you’ll receive a permit.
5. Sign the permit and return it to the park for final approval.

Your application must be submitted at least 4 weeks before your requested date, but I recommend doing it as soon as possible! The last thing you want is to be worrying about your permit the month of your wedding, or potentially have to change your date last minute. 

Mount Rainier Elopement Packing List

It’s easy to forget items last-minute and get to your elopement day only to realize it too late.

So here’s a basic list of items that you’ll want to be sure to pack for your elopement ahead of time, to help you prepare!

• Marriage license
• Vow books
• Any letters/gifts you might be exchanging
• Rings
• Jewelry – necklace, bracelet, earrings, hairpiece, etc.
• Hairpins, hairties, gel, etc.
• Bowtie/tie
• Veil
• Other pieces of your outfit (e.g. sleeves, cape, cufflinks)
• Makeup + stuff to touch up with
• Hiking shoes
• Elopement shoes
• Multiple layers of jackets
• Raincoat
• Extra pair of shoes
• Socks
• Extra pair of socks
• Umbrellas
• Toilet paper – if you’re camping/won’t be near a bathroom
• Snacks
• Water
• Champagne/any other drinks you want to celebrate with
• Bug spray
• Gloves/hat if it’s cold
• Sunscreen
• Extra clothes to change into

Where to Stay Near Mount Rainier

Finding a cozy place to stay has got to be one of the most important parts of planning your elopement. You want to find somewhere near your ceremony location; somewhere you’ll be able to relax and be present with each other. Whether you’d rather stay inside and relax in a hot tub after your elopement, or go hiking the next day & adventure in the woods, Mount Rainier has a ton of amazing cabins nearby to stay in.

Cozy River Cabin

At $302/night, this little cabin is tucked between the Cowlitz River and Coal Creek. It boasts gorgeous mountain views, ample opportunity to take in nature, and beautiful photo ops before or after your elopement. The glass windows and glass door make for great unobstructed views of the surrounding nature. And it sleeps 6 guests, in case you want to bring some fam/friends along with you. Plus, the cutest lights that you can turn on when it starts to get dark! 

Fillmore’s Landing

Bringing a few people is not off-limits for your elopement, and this cabin is a great fit for a small group. Located just 4 miles from Mt. Rainer, this stylish and modern cabin still has a cozy feel to it. Since it’s only 2 hours from Seattle, it’s relatively easy to get to, and there are ample activities and scenery to take in once you arrive. It sleeps 6 people and is a steal at $227/night for all of its amazing amenities. The wood-burning stove and kitchen make this place a real charmer.

Little Owl Cabin

The Little Owl Cabin has got to be on the top of your list if you’re eloping in or near Mount Rainier National Park. It is the sweetest little A-Frame cabin that’s going to give you the coziest, most secluded feels as you embark on this adventure of eloping together. With spaces for up to 4-5 people, it’s adjacent to the National Forest, and was originally built in the ’70’s, which I personally love! Could you imagine staying at this cabin as you explore Mount Rainier National Park and elope with your partner? I know I’m in!

Millard’s Cabin

Finally, this cozy cabin is the perfect mountain escape. With a cedar-soaking hot tub, space for up to 8 guests, and a gorgeous open loft area, you can’t beat the vibes of this place. And it’s even dog-friendly, so you can bring your 4-legged best friend(s) along with you! You cannot beat the woodsy 60’s vibes of this cabin smack dab in the middle of the lush green trees of Washington.

For more dreamy cabins around WA, check out my blog post with 9 Amazing Cabins for Your Adventure Elopement in Washington!

Your Mount Rainier Elopement Photographer

Hey, that’s me 😉 

If you’re on the hunt for an elopement photographer ready to capture your love at Mount Rainier, sip beers with you by the fire, and help you celebrate in one of the prettiest spots in the state, you’ve found her.

I’m in love with everything about this state that I live in, and getting to visit Mount Rainier with couples who love the outdoors just as much as I do is my pride & joy. I’m so ready to take you along for an epic journey into the park, whether you’re experienced hikers or would rather take a chill walk, want to get up at sunrise or sunset, or want wildflowers or an epic tundra landscape.

Mount Rainier wedding packages + pricing

You can take a look at my Washington elopement packages + pricing here and get a feel for what I offer! 

Once you’re vibing with everything I’m telling you, reach out here and we’ll start planning your dream Mount Rainier adventure elopement together!

Vendors for Your Mount Rainier Elopement

Searching for the perfect elopement vendors can be tough – you want to build your dream team of people you trust & who will help your elopement come to life.

Below are some fantastic PNW wedding vendors I’ve worked with or have heard good things about for you to take a look at!

Bridal gowns

The Dress Theory Seattle

I Do Bridal

A And Bé Seattle

Flora Bridal

Hair/makeup

Amanda Dang

Yessie Libby

Seattle Beauty Boss

Rentals

Hosted Modern

Florists

Goldenrod Floral

Al and Bloom

Flori Flowers

Planners/coordinators

(I may be able to help you with all things adventure logistics, but a planner can really help tie everything together, coordinate between vendors if there are lots of them, will set up beautiful tablescapes and Airbnb receptions, and so much more!)

The Greatest Adventure Wed

Tapestry Event Co.

Wildly In Love

Jewelry

Olive the Earth

5 Fun Activities to Incorporate

Elopements are all about creating the most special day possible, and that should include whatever activities you love & would make the day phenomenal for you!

Here are 5 fun activity ideas you could incorporate into your elopement at Mount Rainier:

1. Take a gondola ride

This one’s a no-brainer – why not take a ride up the gondola on Crystal Mountain to get insane views of Mount Rainier & the Cascades?!

2. Go camping

If you’d rather sleep under the stars than in a cozy Airbnb, reserve yourself a spot at a campground near Mount Rainier. Have s’mores (and booze) by the campfire and breathe in the fresh mountain air around you. The best way to be present in nature.

3. Take a ride in a hot air balloon

If you want to go for a real adventure and you’re a fan of being high (in the sky), book a ride in a hot air balloon over the mountains. Now that’s a memory you’ll never forget.

4. Go stargazing

There’s usually very little light pollution in the Sunrise area of Rainier, so take advantage and go stargazing inside the park. You’ll want to make sure you monitor the weather to try and get a day without clouds!

5. Go wildflower-watching

If you want another way to enjoy the nature around you and learn more about it, take a few hours to explore the park and identify wildflowers. This is a fun, easy activity that gives you something to do, and allows you to take in all the beautiful land around you!

Creating Your Mount Rainier Adventure Elopement Timeline

Finally, you’ll need to plan your elopement timeline. While part of the fun of elopements is that they tend to be a bit more spontaneous in nature, bringing a little bit of structure to your big day can reduce stress and allow you to capture the moments that capture your forever, well, forever!

Being a gal who specializes in PNW adventure elopement photography, my goal is to create a day that is relaxing, exciting, memorable, and planned out just enough to photograph all of your must-have shots as well as leave some room for spending quality time together, exploring, and getting those candid and impromptu shots.

I’ve got a full blog post about How to Create an Elopement Timeline, so head on over to that for tons of tips & example elopement timelines!

And there you have it folks – the ultimate guide to planning a Mount Rainier elopement. I know that was a ton of info, but crossing my fingers that it’ll help get your planning going & give you a great jumping off point for your own elopement.

If you’re feeling excited and ready to book your photographer, why not get this party started? 😉