7 miles, 2000 feet elevation gain, scattered alpine lakes, wildflowers galore, and a few thousand mosquitos later — this fam made things official with just their fur baby Jack, and myself as witnesses. They read letters and watched videos from loved ones as the sun went down, and we hiked out under the light of the moon 🌙 A perfect day in every way – honored to have played a teeny tiny role in Christy + Roger’s hiking elopement at Mt. Baker.
📍Land Acknowledgement: Taken on the stolen ancestral lands of the Coast Salish & Nlaka’pamux peoples.
Christy + Roger’s Breathtaking Hiking Mt. Baker Elopement
A sweet + easy going couple, with an elopement to match
These two are a couple of the sweetest, most easy going people you’ll ever meet. From the moment we arrived at the parking lot, changing into our hiking boots & double-checking our backpacks, to when we waved goodbye at the end of the day, our adventure was filled with nothing but joy, laughter, and the best, most laid-back vibes. At least – as laid back as you can get on a multi-mile hike through the glorious mountains of Washington!
We even exchanged gifts during our time together, and realized we had actually bought each other mugs that were the same color – call it fate, destiny, kismet, coincidence, I call it a perfect match. Getting to work with couples who get me, and who I fully connect with on a deeper level than just that of a vendor-client relationship, means the world.
The importance of having backup plans in place for your adventure elopement
Christy + Roger’s elopement up in the Mount Baker region was the perfect example of why it’s so crucial to have backup plans in place, not only for weddings and elopements in general, but especially for adventure elopements. You never know what Mother Nature will gift you with when you’re exploring the great outdoors, so you better be prepared for it all!
We had to come up with multiple backup options in the time leading up to this elopement because of the late snowmelt/cold spring in Washington, even for this August 2nd elopement. Luckily, we got a heat wave *right* before their elopement, making their ideal original trail accessible for us to hike, beside a few fun snow patches. We were super lucky that the heat wave chilled out 1-2 days before the elopement, so the weather was pleasant and not 90 degrees.
A magical 7-mile mountain adventure
If you know me, you know I’m at my happiest when I’m exploring the enchanting mountain ranges that this incredible state has to offer, and when I get to do that with couples who love it just as much, it only gets better.
Having the opportunity to take this 7-mile round trip hike with Christy + Roger through the Mt. Baker Wilderness was a dream. We lucked out with absolutely beautiful summer weather; blue skies, a few clouds, and the sun shining down on our faces as we made our way through the forests. The amazing loop trail we took was brimming with vibrant wildflowers, luscious alpine vegetation, & picturesque views of Mt. Baker and the North Cascades. Truly, we could not have asked for much more for Christy + Roger’s incredible day exploring the magic of the western Washington landscape!
The collection of intentional moments incorporated into their celebration
From beginning to end, these two made sure to incorporate intentional, meaningful moments into their elopement experience. A highlight of their day was when they sat down on a blanket to take in the mountain views, and brought out letters to read & videos to watch from their loved ones back home as the sun slowly made its way down the sky.
This has become a super common thing to do among couples on their elopement day, especially since COVID-19 caused many people not to be able to celebrate with loved ones, and instead forced them to find some way to include them from afar. If you don’t want to have guests present on the day of, but still want to celebrate with them in spirit, I highly recommend asking them to write letters or record videos for you!
Their only other witness + the star of the show – Jack
And don’t let me forget the absolute star of the show – Christy + Roger’s pup, Jack. He was lucky enough to get to witness his pawrents ( 😉 ) get married in the mountains and get to tag along for the adventure! Your fur babes are always welcome here, and there are tons of amazing trails like this one that welcome doggos – so let’s plan an elopement for the whole family!
To find more of my favorite hiking trails in WA to consider for your big day, be sure to check out my guide to 15 Accessible Hiking Trails in Washington for Your Elopement & Guests.
Mount Baker Elopement Vendors
Can’t thank these two enough for allowing me to document these precious moments for them, and a big shoutout goes out to the rest of the vendor team who helped make this day possible for Christy + Roger!
Photographer: Emma Studley
Dress: Brides for a Cause
Florals: Analog Floral
Hair: Hair by Uni
If you fell in love with Christy + Roger’s Mount Baker adventure elopement as much as I did, I know you’ll love these stunning mountain elopements & resources, too!