Mount Rainier National Park Elopement | LGBTQ+ Adventure Elopement Photographer
Mt Rainier: A Special Place to Elope in the PNW
Mt Rainier holds a special place in my heart. Standing at 14,410 feet this mountain is a true gem and a defining feature of the PNW.
Located in the Cascade Mountain Range, Mt Rainier is the highest point in this mountain range and the most glaciated peak in the lower continental United States. As if that wasn’t enough, Mt Rainier is also an active volcano!
Visitors come to this magical mountain at all times of the year to do activities such as skiing, snowshoeing, camping, hiking, mountain climbing and more. From mountains to glaciers to lakes to wildflower fields this park truly is a gem of the Northwest.
Check out more Mt Rainier National Park Elopements
Best Time to Hike at Mt Rainier for an Elopement
Mt Rainier National Park is open year-round and, while there is no bad time to visit this beautiful park, there are a few months of the year that are especially ideal if you are planning a hiking elopement.
Summers in Washington State are like no other! They are warm and relatively dry, with an average temperature of 78 degrees. Just warm enough to be enjoyable, but not too hot to be unbearable. These beautiful days last well into October creating several months of enjoyment in the park.
In particular, July and August are when this park especially becomes alive! The wildflowers are in full bloom and provide a stunning landscape with Mt Rainier in the background. The park is alive with both people and animals alike and it truly is an optimal time to explore this vast park.
Why You Should Consider a Mt Rainier National Park Elopement
Are you considering eloping? Are you looking for adventure on your wedding day? Would you like to avoid the crowds and create intimate moments with you and your partner and loved ones? Then a mountain elopement might just be the thing for you!
Many couples who want to create an intentional day that is meaningful and a true reflection of them and their partner opt to do an adventure elopement. Adventure elopements can look many different ways, and one of those ways is a mountain elopement. Imagine starting your day waking up at a campground and getting ready in your trailer, tent or cabin. You go on a beautiful hike with stunning views along the way and once you get to the top, you and your love exchange vows in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Mt Rainier National Park is one of the best places for mountain elopement as it offers over 60 hiking trails, all with different views of the park. Check out my blog “How to Elope at Mt Rainier National Park” for more information about eloping at this gem of a national park!
The Couple and Their Decision To Elope At Mt Rainier National Park
I am a strong believer in things in life happen for a reason and whatever is meant to be, it will be.
Jess and Vanesa initially inquired for an engagement photo session. Within a couple of emails, the couple actually wanted to elope instead. It might sound quite strange but I’ve seen this more than you would think. I think this is the common trait among couples who elope intentionally.
You know, the kind of couples who love spending quality time together, doing things together, and value those time more than anything else. The kind of couples who might identify themselves a bit more on the introverted side but there’s nothing wrong with that at all. If anything, it helps to know what you love in order to get married the way you truly love. This same thing happened to Julie and Calvin who eloped at Yosemite National Park
So we changed our direction and started planning for their elopement.
We picked a beautiful mountain trail in the Olympic National Park for the plan. Although the trail itself is a bit challenging and our bodies weren’t ready yet, but emotionally we were all so so so ready.
Life happened and this is not my place to tell their story. In summary, Jess and Vanesa had to postpone their initial elopement plan due to so many obstacles in life but when they finally could, the couple decided on this trail looking at Mt. Rainier and I think it was meant to be.
This trail was the trail the couple hiked when they moved to Washington
This trail was the trail that started my photography business where I learned how to photograph in manual mode for the first time.
This trail is not just a stunning elopement location but also a location that means something for all of us.
From Camping To Hiking, This Is How To Plan a Mt Rainier National Park Elopement Adventurously
Rain and Pines and I met the couple at their camp site. Jess and Vanesa set up their tent and slept under the stars the night before. Since this area doesn’t have any cell signal, the couple wrote us a cute little note next to the welcome sign.
One of my absolute favorite moments has to be when Jess and Vanesa helped each other put on make up. The brides sat in front of the ranger’s station, got ready, and had the cutest little picnic (all thanks to Rain and Pines and his magic, of course)
The thing about elopement is that there are no rules. You can do whatever fit your needs the most. Since the brides wanted to exchange their vows during alpenglow when the light hit the top of Mt. Rainier just right, we needed to re-arrange the events of the day a bit.
We had picnic, cake cutting, and paperwork signing first so the couple can get fueled by energy and get the day started.
Then we hiked and hiked and hiked till our legs felt like noodles, we laughed till our tummies hurt, we picked up trash from others along the trail till our bags were full.
We got to the top of the mountain where Mt Rainier was there welcoming us to such a beautiful view.
The brides exchanged their vows in front of one of the most iconic view in Washington State and had Mt Rainier to be their most important elopement witness.
We created art, danced in the dark, popped champagne, and hung out with the stars. The night got cold and we still felt like we could not just end it there. This was when I knew I wanted to capture all those elements for the couple and created an astro pano where I could include everything in one frame. This photo then became Junebug Wedding’s Best Wedding Photo of The Year in 2020 and also helped me become one of the Rangefinger Magazine’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography.
We had the best time experiencing love and sharing love. We all then hiked down in the dark and talked even more. The day was long but it didn’t feel like it because we all felt like we’ve been friends forever.
Jess and Vanesa, your love is so damn beautiful and I am so damn honored Viet and I were there to celebrate you both.
Meet the couple & the best Mt Rainier National Park Elopement Photographer everrrr!!! 🙂😘
Meet The Best Mt Rainier National Park Elopement Vendors:
Photographer: Henry Tieu Photography (aka Me)
Officiant: Rain and Pines
Styling and Design: Rain and Pines
Hair and Makeup Artist: The couple themselves 🙂
Meet Your Intimate Wedding & Elopement Photographers
We’re Henry, Sergio, and Nick, the faces behind these honest, meaningful, and artful photographs of couples eloping in the most beautiful places. Since 2018, we’ve photographed more than 200+ intimate weddings and elopements all over the world and on 6 different continents. Our work has been published on Junebug Weddings, Green Wedding Shoes, Brides, Dancing With Her, etc…We’ve won international awards for best wedding photos but what’s most important to us is actually winning our clients’ hearts with our art.
With 15 years of combined photography experience, we’ve learned that the only way to a beautiful wedding experience & photos is through intentionality.
We’re here for you and with you from “let’s do this” to “I do”, one step at a time, each step of the way. We’re in this together
