Backpacking Elopement in the North Cascades

Amanda & Andrew

The Couple and Their Decision to Plan a Backpacking Elopement

One of the things we love about elopements is that they often include special moments and activities that reflect the couple’s interests and personalities.

From the moment I (Sergio) connected with Amanda and Andrew, it was clear to me just how much these two loved nature, especially the mountains.

Early on in their relationship Amanda and Andrew knew they shared something special. As they got to know each other, the couple spent a lot of time together traveling and visiting numerous parks around the country. During these trips, they fell in love with backpacking and decided to make it an annual tradition in their relationship. They even shared with me that some of their favorite memories from these trips were the sunrise moments when they would share a cup of coffee before venturing out on their next hike.

We began to plan their backpacking elopement in the North Cascades and when I asked Amanda and Andrew what they wanted their day to look like, they shared with me that the idea they really loved was getting to hike somewhere in the mountains with just the two of them. They wanted to recreate moments from their previous backpacking trips and spend time enjoying coffee on the top of the mountain while watching the sunrise. At the same time, they also told me that they couldn’t picture their special day without their closest loved ones and they wanted them to experience a piece of their adventure as well.

I did a bit of research and found a location that would give them the best of both worlds: The North Cascades.

Together we went over some ideas and I shared with them some thoughts of how we can make it work. We decided to plan a backpacking elopement and start with a sunrise hike with just the three of us and end the day with an evening celebration dinner and ceremony with their guests.

From Coffee in the Mountains at Sunrise To a Sunset Ceremony with Family, This Is How To Plan an Adventurous Backpacking Elopement

The morning of Amanda and Andrew’s North Cascades backpacking elopement, the three of us met up and went off-roading to an isolated location in the mountains. We hiked up in the dark with just our headlamps and no one else around. One of my favorite parts of an elopement day is the time my couples and I have together during our hike. We get to connect and bond over so many aspects of life while sharing some great laughs along the way.

As we neared the top of the mountain, the morning haze started to fade away. We arrived at the top just in time to see one of the most magical sunrises with such beautiful colors. The couple changed into their wedding attire then shared a first look and an emotional vow exchange as the sun rose behind them. After exchanging their vows, Amanda and Andrew brewed some coffee on a cliff as the sun gave way to some views of alpine lakes in the distance. It was perfect!

After a short mid-day break, I met back up with Amanda and Andrew at their Airbnb. The couple had invited their parents over for a few drinks and a gift exchange complete with handwritten letters. The couple got to spend some quality time with their parents before the reception and the ceremony with their other guests and it was a beautiful moment filled with lots of laughter and tears.

Amanda and Andrew wanted their guests to experience their love for nature, so instead of holding their reception at their Airbnb, they had food catered to an outdoor location at the national park. The tables were stunningly decorated and the couple mingled with their loved ones as they all enjoyed cocktails and admired the beauty surrounding them. After a splendid dinner and heartfelt toasts, the whole group hiked up a short path with views of the cascades and Mount Baker in the distance. There, Amanda and Andrew held their ceremony as the sun set over the horizon. It was a perfect way the end the day a perfect day!

We were nervous about spending our 1:1 time with another person around, but if anything, Sergio enhanced that experience for us.

Wow. Just, wow.

Our entire experience with Sergio was absolute perfection. There are quite a few options out there when it comes to choosing an elopement photographer, and I am so grateful we made the best decision in choosing Sergio. What a total, complete gem of a human he is, along with his very obvious skills with a camera!

We were nervous about spending our 1:1 time with another person around, but if anything, Sergio enhanced that experience for us: making us laugh, sharing in our joy, and helping us to ensure we were capturing our day the way we wanted to.

Everything felt incredibly natural and Sergio knew exactly what we wanted in our day and delivered it. I can’t thank him enough for the day he provided us and the memories he helped capture in our day!

Amanda & Andrew

Backpacking Elopement in the North Cascades