I know what you’re thinking: you’ve heard that you need AT LEAST 9-12 months in advance to plan your elopement. And NORMALLY, that is true, but today I’m going to teach you how and where you can plan your elopement with not that much planning time in advance! And if you are dead set on eloping in 2026, then here are some tips for you!
There’s a lot of reasons why a couple might want to get married more quickly. Maybe you don’t like the idea of a long engagement. Maybe you are just spontaneous and don’t want to spend too much time planning your elopement! Maybe you have a trip coming up and you’ve decided that you should just get married during your travels! Maybe due to some other personal reasons, its important that you get married ASAP. Whatever the reason, it is definitely possible to plan an elopement with a much shorter timeline.
To be fair, you actually can get married day of in specific places (like vegas!), but what I specialize in are outdoor, adventurous elopements so that’s what I’m going to teach you to do too!
If you really wanted to head to the courthouse and not make a big deal out of it, you can just make an appointment at your local courthouse and rock up 3 days later and BOOM married! But if you decide that though you do want to get married rather quickly, you definitely want the day to reflect your adventurous sides and your love of the outdoors, then I am the photographer for you!
First we need to start with location. USUALLY if you’re wanting a national park in Washington, its best to have at least 3 months in advance to plan your day because of these nasty little things called PERMITS. BUT there are some great places that we can go that do not require them and if you’re down to head somewhere BEAUTIFUL but maybe not in a National Park, then we can definitely make that happen! OR! OR! If you decide that you don’t need anyone else to come with you beside you and your partner and maybe two besties, then the Olympic National Park is ALSO an option!
Mt Baker
One of my fave mountainous last minute elopement locations. This gorgeous mountain has drive up, short walk, short hike, long hike and overnight options! Its great because it doesn’t require a permit if we stay below the guest limit and we have so many mountain views to choose from!
Here’s a few of my fave Mount Baker locations for elopements:
Whether you’re up for a drive up spot or an overnight backpacking trip, Mt Baker delivers on THE VIEWS!
Look at all of those views from ONE elopement! This is truly an incredible location and the convenience of not being required to get a permit just makes it that much easier to elope here as soon as THIS SUMMER! The one thing that you might have to consider is booking an airbnb or vrbo ASAP as they can book up quick in those tiny mountain towns! If you don’t need to stay anywhere exceptionally cute though (like this place!! My fave!), then you can always find SOMETHING! I generally book my lodging the NIGHT BEFORE your elopement and I’ve always found a place!
The Olympics
The Olympics are QUEEN if you want to have a variety of backdrops. If you have less that a 5 person group, you don’t need a permit to elope here so we can head to your Olympic elopement at the drop of a HAT! Usually I suggest a little roadtrip for the big day so starting at the mountains, heading to the forests full of waterfalls, maybe hitting up an alpine lake and then ending the day on the coast for sunset! (this can also be done in REVERSE just as easily!) If you love lush forests, mountains that SCREAM ‘Sound of Music‘ and coastlines full of seastacks and tidepools, then this is the spot for you!
See everything we did in ONE day for this elopement?! After a first look in the mountains, we headed into the woods and said vows at my favorite waterfall on the peninsula! After that, they went for a quick sail in the lake in my boat (Petunia! My wooden queen!) and then hopped into the car and drove to the coast for an evening spent exploring all of the caves and rocks that lined the sea.
Granite Falls
You want more of a microwedding vibe but its too late to apply for permits anywhere else? Hop in kids, we’re going to Granite Falls! The mountains here are so stunning and we have great drive up, short hike and longer hike options! This place truly is a hidden gem and we’ve often had the place to ourselves even in the summer! If you’re wanting forests, mountains, wildflowers, ice caves and rivers, this is a great place for you!
Its not MYYYYY fault this place is the perfect mix between mountainous and foresty AND happens to be located near some of my fave cabins ever! (looking at you Canyon Creek Cabins). If you and your chosen fam or just you and your partner are yearning for some PNW realness and don’t want to wait until next year, this is a great place for you!
Now what?
So now that we’ve picked our location, we have to pick the date! The date is SUPER dependent on the location because some places (especially mountains!) don’t melt out until a certain date and some places get snow much earlier than you would think! So its best to go with the date that your elopement photographer (its me, hi!) suggests! I’m the expert, so if I say something that chatgpt is disagreeing with….well only one of us have been shooting in this state for the last 6 years!! (and that would be ME)
Time to book your lodging!
After we pick the date, we have to find a basecamp! Your airbnb is super important because that’s usually the place that we shooting getting ready photos, detail photos and first look pics! It can be the backdrop to your morning spent in the hot tub with your boo before you start getting ready while on facetime with your best friend. It can be the place you see your partner in their wedding clothes for the first time and the place you come back to at the end of the night, happy and MARRIED.
Here’s some of my favorite airbnbs to shoot at:
Great, what’s next?
Next we’re gonna book any other vendors we want! Since this is a more last minute situation, you may not be able to book your dream vendors, but if you aren’t too picky or you don’t want any other vendors besides a photographer, you will be FINE! Some usual vendors that my clients book are hmuas, florists, musicians and officiants. These vendors can make your day feel magical, luxurious and official BUT you do not need any of these people! I am ordained so I can totally officiate your wedding if you’re cool with something short and sweet! If you usually do your own hair and makeup for events, you probably know what you like and you will look and feel like YOURSELF on the big day! Flowers are super gorgeous, BUT they often aren’t even allowed at some of the locations we might want to go! If they aren’t a deal breaker to you, feel free to let go of the idea that a bride HAS to carry a bouquet or that your photos will somehow not be as good without them! That said, here’s some of my favorite vendors to work with!
And lastly?
Now we book our travel and start planning what other fun activities we want to do on our elopement trip! Feel free to ask ME, but also do your own research and have fun planning your adventure! Pick your outfits and decide what vibe you want to have on your wedding day, start writing your vows, and break in your hiking boots! You can rest easy now babes, the elopement is PLANNED and I will see ya at the trailhead!
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