Heather & Chris travelled all the way from Texas for their Mt. Rainier fall elopement. They wanted to elope at the most magical place on earth, and that’s definitely what they got! As a Washington wedding photographer, I love getting to revisit all the breathtaking locations that the PNW has to offer. Heather & Chris got to Washington a few days before their actual elopement to figure out what hiking trail they wanted to elope on. They finalized their top two choices and sent them over to me. And just like that, their sunrise Mt. Rainier fall elopement location was decided!
They rented a local Airbnb that they check into a few days before their elopement. They got ready there before their ceremony, then headed to hike Mt. Rainier. The couple had decided not to have any guests, so it was just me, my second shooter as their witness, and Bri from Tapestry Event Co. as their officiant. Bri did a beautiful job at their elopement; it was such an honor to be one of the few in attendance.
Seasons change faster in Mount Rainier. Early summer typically feels like fall.
They booked their elopement for a date in late August, but fall decided to come early for Mt. Rainier. The thick fog ended up being a dreamy touch to their sunrise elopement and added a beautiful element to their photos. As you can see, everyone wore jackets in between locations because it was freezing cold! Definitely something to keep in mind if you’re planning a Mt. Rainier fall elopement.
One of Heather’s hopes for their wedding day was to add in some color via wildflowers. Unfortunately, we missed the season by about 2 weeks, but there were some yellow cuties along the pathway that I was able to utilize to make it seem as though they were surrounded. As an elopement photographer, I always try and find ways to make my couples as happy as possible. Even it means using some unconventional ways to do it!
Another thing I loved about Heather & Chris was that they were so passionate about respecting the environment around us. For example, Heather decided not to have any florals so that they could fully embrace the natural beauty around them. We stayed on the trail at all times, and followed the Leave No Trace principles as closely as possible. If you’re having a wedding or elopement in a natural environment, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the LNT guidelines to keep the land as beautiful as possible!
Need a photographer for your Mt. Rainier fall elopement?
Of course I would love to visit Mt. Rainier again, or any other dreamy destination you decide to have your wedding or elopement at. To get in touch with me about your big day, you can fill out my contact form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. In the meantime, I would love for you to check out some of my other work here.
This elopement was featured on We Do. We Did.
Want to know my favorite spots for Mount Rainier elopements? Check out my guide here. Looking for a photographer to document your best day ever? You’ve come to the right place! Contact me today.