Multi-Day Olympic National Park Adventure Elopement

Advice + Inspo, Education/Guides, Elopements

December 16, 2022

bride and groom standing together olympic national park coast landscape

Chelsea and Parker’s elopement was the quintessential PNW experience if I’ve ever seen one. They first ventured out to the peninsula for a private Olympic National Park adventure elopement ceremony, which was a little moody, a little golden – just what I love about the Washington coast. The next day, they met up with their loved ones in Seattle for a traditional tea ceremony. It was so special to be let into these two days of adventure with them. Thankful!

📍Land Acknowledgment: Taken on the stolen ancestral lands of the Quileute and Coast Salish peoples.

bride and groom walking together olympic national park forest landscape

Day 1: A Private Vow Exchange at Rialto Beach

A classic PNW A-frame cabin in the woods

C&P’s elopement experience began as many adventure elopements do in the PNW: in a lovely little A-frame cabin in the woods. They got ready separately as the September clouds rolled through the towering trees, a little bit of blue sky peeking through that we hoped would make a bigger appearance later in the day.

Chelsea stepped into her stunning dress, a true piece of art featuring a deep v-neckline, a dramatic open back, and ethereal shoulder capes that added just the right touch of magic to this otherwise simple-yet-chic gown. Meanwhile, Parker put on a deep burgundy suit, his jacket adorned with black lapels and a lovely little boutonniere. The two of them looked absolutely phenomenal, accessorized by a bouquet filled with a blend of deep purples, rich reds, and pale pinks that stood out so beautifully against the vibrant greenery of the PNW backdrop!

A first look in the trees, and a trek down to the beach

Once we were all ready to go, Parker made his way into the trees for his first look with Chelsea, a super sweet moment that I was lucky to witness. One of my favorite parts of working with these two was the way they were so ready to not only celebrate their love in a beautiful, romantic way, but also to have fun and be silly with each other!

We ventured down to Rialto Beach as hints of blue sky continued to appear, and C&P scaled the massive pieces of driftwood with waves crashing behind them. Beach elopement portraits never fail to capture my heart; the peaceful environment mixed with the casual, carefree vibes reminiscent of a fondly-remembered childhood trip to the beach just make for the loveliest atmosphere.

bride and groom first look olympic national park landscape

A private vow exchange & sunset photos at Rialto Beach

After we wrapped up that little session, we made our way to the spot that Chelsea and Parker had picked for their vow exchange; a perfect little spot with views of Rialto’s iconic sea stacks. Goldenrod Floral absolutely killed the florals for this elopement – the grounded installations they created, full of rich pinks, reds, & purples, as well as plenty of textured greenery, framed these two perfectly for their ceremony.

They exchanged vows as the waves crashed next to them, the clouds providing soft, magical overcast lighting – until the sky decided to open up just in time for their sunset photos! I always say that golden hour on the Olympic Peninsula is an unreal experience, so we were excited that the clouds made way for a bit of that magical golden light just for Chelsea and Parker. This truly was the perfect day!

If you’d like to see more examples of what your Rialto Beach elopement could look like, take a look at Miranda + Michael’s Whimsical Hoh Rainforest & Rialto Beach Elopement!

Day 2: A Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony With Family

I always love reminding couples that your elopement doesn’t have to be over after one day – you are 100% able to extend the celebration into another day, a full week of vacation, etc. Chelsea and Parker decided on a 2-day adventure elopement in Washington, spending the first day on the coast and the second day in Seattle with their family. They met up with their loved ones for a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, which I was so thankful I also got to document!

Celebrating C&P was easy – I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to be a tiny part of.