Joe & Pat

The Couple and Their Decision to Plan a Mountain Lake Elopement at Mt Rainier

From the very first message they sent, I could tell Joe and Pat were very thoughtful and intentional about how they chose to live their life together. They’d both come out later in life and, even though their love hadn’t always been understood or accepted by loved ones, they had worked to build a beautiful relationship together.

When it came to planning their wedding, Joe and Pat gave a lot of thought to how they wanted their day to look. They knew a big wedding wasn’t for them, and when Pat suggested they elope, the idea just felt right. All they wanted was a day to be themselves, with no pressure, no expectations, and no one around who didn’t fully support them.

They told me, “We want to write vows to each other, take in the beautiful surroundings, appreciate what we’ve accomplished together, and look forward to what we will accomplish together.”

How Joe & Pat Chose this Alpine Lake Elopement Location

I had this location saved for the longest time, but didn’t think anyone would attempt it with me, as it isn’t easy to get to. This glacial tarn at Mt. Rainier was one of the first locations I saw on Instagram when I first picked up the camera, way before I could call myself an elopement photographer. 🙂

So I saved it, reached out to the rangers to make sure it is permitted to photograph here, and just patiently waited for the right couple who would be willing to try it out.

When we started planning together, Joe and Pat weren’t sure where they wanted their elopement to take place. All they told me was that it would be nice to have some mountain and water views. Thankfully, here in Washington, we have lots of those 🙂

As I learned more about what the couple wanted, this spot kept coming to mind. So, I shared the location with them, and Joe and Pat said yes without hesitation. Even knowing that I had never been there before or what kind of hike it would be, they took a chance and trusted me.

From Intimate Moments at the Cabin To Secret Hikes, This Is How To Plan an Adventurous Mountain Lake Elopement

Joe and Pat’s alpine lake elopement started at the couple’s A-frame cabin, tucked away in the woods. The cabin had the coziest loft with a hammock swing where they cuddled up before heading out to the deck to cut cake and pop champagne.

Then we packed up and drove into the park, hiking to a cliffside ceremony location with views of Mt Tahoma (Mt Rainier’s native name) towering behind us. The grooms got ready on the side of the mountain and shared a first look before their intimate ceremony led by their officiant (shoutout to Tapestry Event Co.).

A Mountain Lake Elopement in Washington State

After the ceremony, we said goodbye to their planner and the three of us (plus my assistant Kiersten, who had come along for the day) continued our hike to the glacier tarn.

When we arrived, it was completely quiet. Only two other hikers were on the trail, but they soon made their way back down, giving us the whole place to ourselves.

We spent the golden hour running around the basin, taking in every angle of the mountain while Joe and Pat danced, laughed, and soaked in the entire experience. Of course, in typical henrysdiary fashion, we stayed up in the mountains until after dark and got the most amazing blue hour lantern photos!

Then it was time to hike back down the sketchy mountain trails with only lights on our headlamps, but the fullest of hearts.

Henry’s Elopement Tip

Something not a lot of people talk about when it comes to elopements is the fact that the views are never guaranteed. But one thing that is guaranteed is your love. Joe and Pat took a chance and hiked a trail that none of us had ever been to before. They leaned into the unknowns, and Rainier showed up in the most unexpected, breathtaking way.

If you’re dreaming of a mountain elopement, a Reflection Lake elopement, or something a little more remote and wild, this area of Mount Rainier National Park offers so much variety.

One important thing to know about eloping in Mt Rainier is that you may need to apply for a permit and a timed entry reservation. As your elopement photographers, we’ll be with you every step of the way, navigating the park rules, building your timeline, and planning an unforgettable experience that feels like you!

Want to learn more about how to elope in Mt Rainier National Park? Click here to read the full guide.

A Complete Guide to Planning Your Mt Rainier Elopement

“Henry played a huge role in making sure the most important day in our relationship was everything we wanted.”

When researching lgbtq+ supporting photographers to capture our adventure elopement, we found Henry and for that we are grateful. Even before setting up an initial consult with Henry, we learned so much about our elopement possibilities, resources, and of course photography style right from his website. The first time we met with Henry online our time together flew by, and we felt like Henry had been a long-time friend. He went over all the important details of location, time, what made us choose elopement, his experiences, and recommendations etc. From the time we held our initial consult with Henry to after our elopement day, Henry always makes himself available for support or questions. He connected us with great vendors for our officiant, cake, and florals that we also built great relationships with. Within our own personalized website through Henry’s platform, we were able to access elopement resources, checklists and send messages.

The most important part, elopement day and after. We laughed, cried, and climbed mountains. Henry played a huge role in making sure the most important day in our relationship was everything we wanted. He took us to multiple locations in the park and made sure we were on track for time, all while capturing our beautiful day with a smile. One of our favorite moments was right before we exchanged our vows, all of us including Henry’s lovely assistant and our officiant sat for a moment, had a bite to eat and shared great conversation. Henry of course snapped a photo of that moment. The hardest part was exchanging hugs and parting ways at the end of the day.

Within a few days Henry had shared an album of sneaks with us. His artistic abilities are unmatched. When we look at these photos we are brought back to that beautiful, intentional day on the mountain. Book Henry, it will be the best thing you do for your big day!

Thank you, Henry! You will forever be part of our special day.