📍Land Acknowledgement: Taken on the stolen ancestral lands of the Coast Salish & Nlaka’pamux peoples.

Katelyn + Sam’s fall Artist Point elopement embodied everything I cherish about fall adventure elopements in the PNW: exploding autumn colors at every turn, mild temperatures, crisp mountain air, and golden sunsets, if you’re lucky – which they absolutely were. This intimate ceremony overlooking the beautiful alpine meadows of Artist Point will forever be a favorite day of mine, and I can’t wait to finally share more of it with you all!

Katelyn + Sam’s Fall Artist Point Elopement at Mt. Baker

An intimate destination elopement with out-of-state family

First, I feel like I have to share a fun fact about Katelyn and Sam to help you get to know their story a little bit more: they dated from ages 12-17, and got back together as adults after college. Meaning they’re an utterly delightful couple in love who have been through a lot together, and finally got to say yes to their forever. Their families came out from Indiana, so you could say this was a bit of a destination elopement for their loved ones who attended! It was so special getting to see them celebrate with their favorite people who aren’t local to the area, and having the opportunity to show them around one of the most beautiful places in western Washington.

Impeccable timing for peak autumn colors in the mountains

When I say the timing of this elopement was impeccable, I mean it in every sense of the word. I was warning Katelyn and Sam for snow & cold weather, but we actually got 75°F temps and seemingly abundant sunshine! Aside from the smoky haze, we were so thankful we lucked out with this type of weather that’s completely unheard of in the Washington mountains in October. You know what they say – prepare for the worst, expect the best – and that’s exactly what we did. Not only were we fortunate enough to get ideal temperatures, but the fall colors were at their absolute peak and added such an amazing warmth to the landscape! Nothing beats a quintessential fall season in the PNW, trees coated in red, orange, and yellow hues, the last bits of sunshine dripping over the spectacular landscape. I couldn’t believe the beauty we were surrounded with on this lovely October day for these two & their fall Artist Point elopement.

An afternoon ceremony overlooking Bagley Lakes

Katelyn and Sam said their vows at a small stone viewpoint overlooking the beautiful Bagley Lakes, one of the highlights of the Heather Meadows area at Mt. Baker. Plenty of tears were shed (by both the couple and their guests) as the warmth of the sun drenched every one of us in golden hues – we could not have asked for a more lovely scene for their intimate ceremony!

Post-ceremony champagne & charcuterie

Their family celebrated the momentous occasion at a picnic table in the trees, topped with bottles of chilled champagne and small platters of delicious crackers, cheeses, & meats. What better way to enjoy the last of the pleasant fall weather in the PNW before winter arrived than with some bubbly & charcuterie boards?

Artist Point elopement portraits under the golden setting sun

Before we headed back down the mountain, we made sure to embrace the glorious fall day we were given and took plenty of dreamy fall Artist Point elopement portraits in the trees, along the pathways, and with alpine meadows in the background. Golden hour was absolutely phenomenal, as the sun set over the last wildflowers of the season, the smoky skies, and these delightful newlyweds. I’m still in awe over how fortunate we were to enjoy such a stunning day at Mt. Baker – congrats to Katelyn + Sam, and thank you for letting me tag along on this lovely mountain adventure!

Why I adore Artist Point for elopements

Artist Point has quickly become one of my all-time favorite spots for elopements in western Washington for many reasons, a big one being that it’s incredibly easy to access during peak season. You’re able to drive all the way up the mountain as long as the road is open, and can access multiple breathtaking viewpoints via short walks, which is ideal for ceremonies with guests who aren’t able to hike. Keep in mind that the final stretch of the road up to Artist Point does close down once snow hits, so you won’t be able to drive up the full way in the winter (and sometimes even in the late fall)!

More Mt. Baker Elopement Inspiration

I also got the pleasure of photographing Christy + Roger’s Breathtaking Hiking Elopement at Mt. Baker recently! So if you’d like some more Mt. Baker elopement inspiration, be sure to check it out here – spoiler alert: the weather was just as stunning for this summer elopement and the wildflowers were phenomenal!