From the green moss forests to the golden coast, we celebrated these loves to the fullest. Enjoy Miranda + Michael’s whimsical Hoh Rainforest & Rialto Beach elopement, from the lush canopy all the way down to the sandy shores of the Olympic Peninsula!

📍Land Acknowledgement: Taken on the stolen ancestral land of the Quileute peoples

A Whimsical Hoh Rainforest & Rialto Beach Adventure Elopement

A blissful stroll through the Hall of Mosses

When I use the word “whimsical” to describe Miranda + Michael’s adventure elopement, I mean it with every ounce of the word. From beginning to end their day simply felt like magic, starting with a lovely stroll through one of the most iconic trails in the Hoh Rainforest, the Hall of Mosses Trail. We were lucky enough to enjoy sun rays shining through the luscious canopy, dripping beams of light through the vibrant green leaves and weaving through the tangled branches. The tree trunks draping in moss combined with Miranda + Michael’s carefree vibes and minimalis outfits truly made it feel like a scene out of a fairytale!

A quick note: the Hall of Mosses trail is an amazing trail option in Olympic National Park if you or your elopement guests need a location that’s easy to access & is wheelchair-friendly. It’s just a 0.8 mile round trip trail with barely any elevation gain, yet you still get all of the otherworldly beauty that the Hoh Rainforest has to offer!

Looking for more easily-accessible trails like this one for your elopement? Browse through these 15 Accessible Hiking Trails in Washington for Your Elopement and Guests!

A romantic sunset elopement ceremony at Rialto Beach

After a bit of prancing around the beach, skipping rocks, and climbing atop massive pieces of driftwood, Miranda + Michael decided to have their vow exchange on the shores of Rialto Beach, under the warmth of the afternoon sun and beneath the bright blue skies we were lucky enough to get that day. They promised their forever to each other as the waves rolled in behind them, as the sun cast long shadows next to them, and as the birds flew through the clear skies above them. This is the perfect example of why I love private elopement ceremonies so much – there’s nothing to distract, just you and your love getting to fully experience & be present in the beauty around you as you say your vows to each other! So honored to be able to witness moments like these and freeze them in time forever.

Carefree golden hour elopement portraits & a dip in the waves

Frolicking through the Olympic peninsula and all her various ecosystems with my elopement couples will never get old. Throughout Miranda + Michael’s elopement day, we moved from the vibrant green canopy of the Hoh Rainforest all the way down to the soft, sandy shores of Rialto Beach, and wrapped it all up with some golden hour goodness. 

These two were the epitome of carefree and fully embodied the verb “frolicking” – that’s exactly what they did while we felt the warmth of the sun setting above us, the sand getting cooler between our toes, the waves crashing harder against the rocky shore. They embraced the romance and the magic that evenings on the Olympic peninsula bring, and my oh my did they warm my heart through it all! I truly still have not recovered from the breathtaking golden hour photos we got of Miranda + Michael, not only of the oh-so-adorable kisses but of the small, in-between moments as they walked along the beach, hand-in-hand, hair blowing in the breeze. 

Evenings like these are the ones that make me wonder how lucky I am to get to call this my “job” – I will never take for granted the days that I get to explore such incredible places with such beautiful people who are so deserving of celebration, right by my side!

How to Get Your Rialto Beach Elopement Permit

If you’ve absolutely fallen head-over-heels in love with Rialto Beach & the surrounding beauty of the Olympic Peninsula through these images, I highly, highly recommend celebrating your elopement here. Rialto Beach is one of the most iconic beaches within Olympic National Park for its dramatic sea stacks, stunning sunsets, and driftwood-covered sand – all of which come together to make for the most picturesque backdrop to your adventure elopement.

The first step to having your elopement at Rialto Beach is to get an Olympic National Park Special Use Permit, which allows you to have your legal ceremony on the beach. This Special Use Permit is required for all wedding ceremonies anywhere in the park, and can be downloaded here. Simply complete the application with the necessary info pertaining to your desired elopement location + logistical details, pay the nonrefundable processing fee of $50-100, and submit the application to the park office via email! They’ll walk you through the next steps and can answer any questions you have about getting married within the park, which I’m happy to do, as well, to the best of my abilities!

How to Elope in Olympic National Park: The Ultimate Guide

For more information on how to elope in Olympic National Park, including more of the best locations near Rialto Beach, where to stay, and further permit details, pop on over to my Ultimate Guide to How to Elope in Olympic National Park! In there, you’ll find everything you need to know to feel confident planning your Rialto Beach elopement – or your elopement anywhere within the national park, for that matter.

More Olympic National Park Elopement Inspiration

I’ve been lucky enough to photograph many stunning elopements in Olympic National Park, each one so amazing in its own unique way. If you’d like to see more real-life examples of couples eloping in the park, and what your elopement could really look like, check out a few of my recent favorite ONP elopements below!✨

Washington Waterfall Elopement on the Olympic Peninsula

Casual Fall Elopement at Hurricane Ridge