Sean and Ivan exchanged their vows beneath the lush trees of the Snoqualmie Forest + the golden setting sun of North Bend, and it was just magical. Sometimes I edit galleries and my eyes start to well up and this set certainly had that effect on me. From replanning their entire elopement the day before due to wildfires, to these simple golden hued moments of two faces looking at each other on their wedding day – I don’t take it lightly that people trust me to be there for all of it. I hope you enjoy this small glimpse into their magical Snoqualmie Forest elopement!

📍 Land Acknowledgement: Taken on the stolen ancestral lands of the Tulalip and Snoqualmie peoples.

Sean + Ivan’s Private Elopement in the Snoqualmie Forest

A cozy stay at an A-frame cabin

Yet another day spent with an incredibly kind-hearted, caring couple, exploring the many wonders of the Pacific Northwest beneath the lush forest canopy and watching the golden sunset glowing over the mountains. Sean and Ivan celebrated their love with the most intimate of ceremonies, taking time out of their lives to escape to a cozy little A-frame cabin in the middle of the woods and be present in the moment with no one but each other. 

We started the day off with some portraits of Sean and Ivan in front of the romantic cabin (how could we not?), as they prepared to share their vows with each other. And my goodness did this scene look like a damn fairytale, with Sean in a delicate floral gown and Ivan in an all-black getup standing in front of this picturesque cabin. What better way to begin your elopement day than to wake up in a stunning home like this where you can simply step outside & be in the presence of all the beauty that Mother Nature has to offer?

Their private vow exchange in the forest

We moved deeper into the forest for their private elopement ceremony, where Sean and Ivan exchanged vows in the serene silence of the canopy beneath blue skies & sunshine – a rarity for Washington come the fall season. They read from their vow books as the bright sun cast shadows on the forest floor, and Sean looked like an absolute goddess come to life, her golden crown glistening in the sun and the sheer parts of her floral dress letting light through.

Golden hour elopement portraits with mountain views

To end their day, I ventured with Sean and Ivan to the water for some riverside portraits, and as the sun turned soft & golden, we made our way to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Cascade mountain range. Nothing will ever beat sunset in the mountains of Washington, orange hues taking over the sky and covering your views of the mountains in golden goodness. We really couldn’t have asked for a more magical way to end their Snoqualmie Forest elopement!

Highlights of the Riverbend Retreat, an A-Frame Cabin in North Bend

I’m always a big fan of couples booking homey Airbnbs to stay in for their elopements so that they have a warm place to come back to at the end of the day, ready to relax or party it up. This is what adventure elopements are all about: celebrating in the way that feels most true to you and your relationship, be it with 10 of your closest friends cheering you on by your side or booking a getaway for just the two of you to enjoy each other’s company. 

And there’s often no better way to do that than by finding an uber-cozy, luxurious cabin in the woods, where nothing else matters except the rays of sun shining through the trees, in through the windows; the massive trees towering over you at every turn; the birds chirping outside your bedroom as the world wakes up.

The Riverbend Retreat in North Bend is an unbeatable A-frame cabin nestled in the foothills of the Cascades and just 25 minutes from Snoqualmie Pass. I highly recommend this cabin if you’re looking for a luxurious Airbnb to stay at in the Snoqualmie area, just the two of you! This cabin sleeps 4 people, so it’s probably best to have any guests you invite stay somewhere else–unless you’ve only got 2 guests and are down to share a cozy space with them.

Some of the highlights of the stunning Riverbend Retreat include:

• 950 square feet of space to enjoy
• Outdoor fire pit & picnic table
• Spacious open floor plan
• Vaulted ceilings
• Sunroom (with space to seat up to 15 people!)
• Located right on the Snoqualmie River

One of the huge pros of the Riverbend Retreat is that its sunroom has space to seat up to 15 people, so you could definitely hold an intimate dinner/reception here after your elopement ceremony! The description of the retreat on Airbnb also explicitly mentions that you can host small weddings or elopements here, which is great news for couples who would like to hold their ceremony or some type of intimate evening celebration on the property. 

Washington has plenty more incredible Airbnb options for your elopement – take a look at my top favorites in my guide to the Best Cabins to Rent for Your Washington Elopement!

Once again I’m left speechless after reliving this day again, and am beyond grateful for the opportunity to experience the array of magical moments that this day brought alongside Sean and Ivan.

For more beautiful Washington elopement inspiration like this, I’d love to direct you to some of my other recent favorite elopement days that I know you’ll fall absolutely in love with!

Whimsical Hoh Rainforest & Rialto Beach Elopement

Stunning Fall Artist Point Elopement

Washington Waterfall Elopement on the Olympic Peninsula