This past summer I got the privilege of photographing Carye & Kyle’s absolutely beautiful Mount Rainier National Park elopement, where we hiked around at sunrise and experienced the most magical morning together. Get ready to hear me once again talk about how much I adore this park, and how these two made this day truly their own!

Carye & Kyle’s Stunning Mount Rainier Elopement

A Sunrise Elopement Ceremony

I met up with Carye & Kyle when it was literally still pitch black outside – the things we do for epic views! They had decided on two different hikes for their day, one of which took us to their incredible ceremony spot with the mountains in the background, evergreens everywhere, and the most beautiful pink alpenglow once the sun came up. They said their vows in the quietest part of the morning with nothing but peaceful nature surrounding them – we could not have asked for a more beautiful day in the park!

   

After they made it official, we explored the area some more, taking plenty of Mount Rainier wedding photos along the way. They packed a beautiful breakfast to enjoy after their sunrise elopement ceremony, which included fresh zucchini bread & aeropress coffee that I got to take part in – yum! We found a little spot to set down our gear and take a little while to relax + take it all in. 

Once we’d gotten some food in our systems, we meandered to a spot not far away but with a *totally* different and epic backdrop for their first dance in the mountains to celebrate their elopement. We set up the portable speaker, I backed away a bit, and watched them sway in the early morning light to a few of their favorite tunes.

 

   

 

 

 

After that, we headed off on our second hike! This hike was a pretty quick 25 minute drive from the original hike we did, which gave us all time to decompress, caffeinate (again!), and get ready for part two of their Mount Rainier Adventure Elopement. When we got to the top of our second hike, Carye & Kyle decided not to put on their dressy clothes again – which was great and a totally empowering decision for them to make! A beautiful reminder that your elopement day is centered around you, and there’s nothing you have to do/not do.

 

The Cutest Elopement Picnic

After reaching the end of our second hike, these two pulled out the most beautiful charcuterie board – a super simple way to bring along your favorite finger foods in a pretty way! What more could you want than to enjoy a plate of cheese, meat, & crackers in the mountains on your elopement day?

This was truly one of the most wonderful days I’ve been a part of – what an honor it was to capture it in all its beauty!

The Sunrise Side of the Mountain

As I mentioned above, we explored the Sunrise side of the mountain on Carye & Kyle’s elopement day! If you’re not familiar with Mount Rainier National Park, the Sunrise side of the mountain provides stunning views of more barren land, while the Paradise side is more filled with wildflowers. Both sides are absolutely incredible options for an elopement, and provide different hikes for all ability levels!

Keep in mind that the Sunrise Road usually closes late September and opens again in late June, so you’ll want to plan your elopement around the weather + other seasonal closures within the park. You can monitor trail & road conditions on the National Park Service’s website here!

 

 

What to Pack for a Hiking Elopement at Mount Rainier

Trying to pack for a hiking elopement can be difficult because when else are you ever going to bring wedding attire along with your hiking gear?

Here’s a basic list to help you pack for your hiking elopement at Mount Rainier!

• Appropriate hiking shoes
• Another pair of shoes, if you want to change for your ceremony
• Multiple layers depending on the weather – undershirt, t-shirts, sweatshirts, long-sleeved shirts, jackets, gloves, hats
• Hand/feet warmers if necessary
• Rain gear – you never know when rain might hit – jackets, umbrellas
• A change of clothes just in case
• Your elopement attire
• Any florals you’re bringing along
• Hair pieces you may need
• Beauty accessories – hairpins, hairbrush, hair ties, makeup, etc.
• Elopement emergency kit – safety pins, Tide pen/stain remover, extra jewelry, tampons, etc.
• First Aid kit
• Your rings/wedding bands
• Vow books
• Marriage license & pen
• Snacks
• Water
• Lunch/picnic if applicable
• A bag to dispose of waste in if you can’t find a trash can
• Any trail maps you may need
• Bug spray
• Tissues
• Toilet paper if necessary

 

 

How to Plan a Mount Rainier Adventure Elopement

Can you tell yet that Mount Rainier is one of my favorite elopement destinations to suggest to couples? Lucky for you, I’ve got an entire blog post dedicated to helping you plan your big day in one of Washington’s most beautiful parks – The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Mount Rainier Elopement!

 

Here’s everything I go through in this planning guide:

• The best places to elope at Mount Rainier

• How to pick a season + park weather

• How to get your Mount Rainier wedding permit

• What to pack

• Where to stay near Mount Rainier

• Info about your Mount Rainier photographer

• Vendors to hire

• 5 fun activities to incorporate into your day

• How to create your Mount Rainier elopement timeline

 

Click the image below to check it out!

 

 

And there’s even more where that came from because I’ve got tons more free resources & elopement inspiration up on my blog!