Paradise, Christine Falls, and Myrtle Falls Adventure

How the Couple Chose a Mount Rainier Elopement

When I saw that this couple was made up of very outdoorsy people in their inquiry form, I have rejoiced. They wrote they are huge environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts, loving hiking, feeling the fresh air and hearing the birds chirping! That's awesome. There is no better place than the PNW for this type of elopement!

The couple came to Seattle from Washington D.C. They met there, fell in love when they were law school students and decided to create a family.

Unfortunately, just twelve months before the planned wedding, the groom got into a car accident. He had to work hard to rebuild his body.

I helped the couple with the planning and was very worried that we wouldn't be able to accomplish everything we had planned due to the effects of the injury. The Mt Rainier hike became a test of strength and an achievement. Thank God, we made it through, and it was an amazing two days!

Mount Rainier Elopement Timeline and Activities

The couple planned an awesome two-day celebration that was part traditional, part adventure!

Day 1: The Intimate Wedding

They kicked off with a classic intimate ceremony at Nisqually Winds Mountain House. The morning started with some fun and energizing "getting ready" shots of the bride and her bridesmaids — lots of laughs and pre-wedding jitters!

For the first look, the bride's mom had the honor of walking her to see the groom. Then came my favorite part — they exchanged private vows during a surprise mini-picnic the groom had set up. I absolutely love capturing these raw moments — so many genuine tears and emotions!

Then came the unexpected entertainment: as we were heading back to the lodge, the bride accidentally knocked over and broke the groom's glass. To cheer her up, I shared a Ukrainian saying that breaking glasses brings good luck. Well, she got REALLY excited about this and yelled, "Then let's double our luck!" before deliberately smashing her own glass against the table!

Glass flew EVERYWHERE while I silently panicked, aging about ten years in ten seconds — meanwhile, she didn't even flinch! (Don't worry, environmentalists — this all happened on private property, and we cleaned up every shard!)

Back at the house, the bride hung out with her bridesmaids (even changing back into her robe for some casual pics) while they opened the gifts she'd prepared. Then came the scenic mountain-view ceremony officiated by the bride's dad, followed by cocktail hour, group photos, and the reception with dinner and dancing. Fun fact: the groom's mom made most of the delicious desserts!

The bouquet toss provided another laugh — the bride threw it so hard it sailed over all the single ladies and landed right in some surprised guy's hands! (Yes, we got a hilarious photo of him posing with his unexpected prize.)

The day ended with a grand exit — no sparklers allowed due to the fire ban, so everyone blew bubbles instead. Magical and fire marshal approved!

Day 2: The Adventure Elopement

For the next day, the couple went full adventure mode in the Paradise area of Mt. Rainier.

We captured gorgeous shots at Christine Falls and Myrtle Falls. The mountain itself played hard to get—showing its majestic peak briefly in the morning (though slightly hazy) before completely disappearing into thick fog.

Did we let the fog ruin our fun? Absolutely not! We even roped a park ranger into some goofy photos. After sunset, we headed to Reflection Lake for dreamy blue hour pictures with lanterns. The mountain view over the lake? Totally hidden. But the mysterious fog rolling in created its own kind of magic.

Sometimes the best wedding moments are the unexpected ones—broken glasses, bouquet-catching guys, friendly rangers, and all!

Mt Rainier Elopement Photographer

If you’d love an elopement like this, reach out to me! The first call is free, and we’ll discuss options based on your budget, guest count, and the activities you want to include. Let’s build the perfect timeline for your special day.

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