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Hiking Elopement in the North Cascades: Megan & Jon
Mount Baker Elopement
Sometimes in life we get lucky enough to experience moments that bring us joy, clarity, peace, or that give us a sense of belonging in the world. It's even luckier when all of those feelings converge into one moment or series of moments- leaving a lasting impression in our memory.
While certainly this was a phenomenal day for Megan & Jon, I was also lucky enough to be a part of it and experience a day that reinforced why I love being an elopement photographer so much- and why it is without a doubt the right path for me. Wildflowers, rugged mountains, a dazzling sunset in a stunning array of colors, the cutest dog in the world, and a couple undeniably meant for one another- Megan & Jon's hiking elopement in the North Cascades was one for the books.
Megan & Jon moved from the Midwest to Washington earlier in the year and wanted to elope somewhere beautiful in their new home state. The North Cascades seemed like a great fit for the two of them- they were drawn to the rugged mountains, wildflowers & lakes. It was the perfect place for an elopement.
They spent the night in a little cabin in the woods in Glacier, Washington (just about as close to Mount Baker as you can possibly stay!) with their moms & dog, Franklin (who absolutely stole my heart). After their mom's helped them get ready, they had the sweetest first look in the trees outside their cabin before we headed up into the mountains.
With their moms & Franklin in tow, we hiked to their ceremony spot with absolutely jaw-dropping views surrounding us the entire time. Once we reached our destination, we were lucky enough to have the entire little area to ourselves for the duration of the ceremony. They chose a little hill with Mt. Shuksan towering above them while they read their incredibly emotional vows. We then explored the gorgeous area & adventured around (who said you couldn't take beautiful couple's photos during the middle of the day?!) before hiking back to head to Chair 9 Pizza for dinner. Breweries are one of their favorite places to go together, so of course we had to include it on their elopement day!
After an absolutely delicious dinner, their moms headed back to their Airbnb while Megan, Jon & I went back into the mountains for a hike at sunset! They brought a book of different types of trees in the PNW so it was so fun to identify the different types of trees we saw! I'm fairly knowledgeable about the different types of Washington wildflowers, however I don't know many types of trees so I had a blast learning something new! As we set out on our hike, there were so many wildflowers (especially lupine!) adorning the hills on either side of the trail. Once we arrived at the beautiful clearing with nearly 360 degree views, it was so fun to explore around, play in the snow and for Megan & Jon to enjoy one another's company.
Right as the sun was dipping beneath the mountains, bringing an orange & pink glow to the sky and a beautiful blue & purple glow to the mountains, they took the time to cuddle up and watch the sunset. There's something so special about taking a few moments during your elopement to sit, be still with your partner, cuddle up together, and soak in all of the views and every single moment of the day. I 100% recommend taking time out of your day to live in the moment, relax, and just be. It very well may be some of your favorite memories from the day!
After watching the sunset & having their first dance as alpenglow illuminated Mt. Shuksan (creating such a magical scene) we decided to start hiking back down to the cars due to the mosquitos coming out (even though we slathered on SO many strong & different types of repellent, they were truly relentless next to the melting snow). As it got darker & darker, we had fun talking & reflecting on a truly perfect day.
Do you want to elope in the North Cascades? Check out How to Elope in the North Cascades: The Ultimate Guide.
Kind Words From the Couple:
"Kathleen is THE BEST. When we were looking for an elopement photographer, I stumbled upon her website and was immediately impressed by her photography! The first time we spoke with her on the phone, we knew she was the person we wanted to capture our day. Kathleen was very communicative, and told us exactly what to expect and what we needed to do through every step of the elopement process. She helped us with permits, the marriage, license, and even officiated our ceremony!! She gave us an amazingly thorough list of possible locations (with pictures and pros and cons!) for our elopement, suggested vendors, and even brought coffee the morning of our elopement. On our actual elopement day, she never made us feel rushed and was never pushy when helping pose us for pictures. She was super flexible and so, so fun to just hang out with. She also had absolutely everything under the sun you could possibly need on your wedding day! The sneak peek pictures we've received are INSANE - so beautiful and so memorable. I am beyond ecstatic that we chose Kathleen to document our day. It was truly the best experience and we would truly recommend her to anyone!!!"
Are you considering eloping in the North Cascades?
Check out my North Cascades wedding packages or contact me to get started planning your dream North Cascades elopement!
Want More Resources?
Get a budget breakdown and learn how much an elopement costs in comparison to a traditional wedding.
Check out this Hiking Elopement in Mount Rainier National Park!
Mountains not your thing? Elope in the desert instead! Learn How to Elope in Moab.
Hire a North Cascades Elopement Photographer for Your North Cascades Elopement
Hi! My name is Kathleen and I'm a North Cascades wedding and elopement photographer (and your new friend!). I'm here to help guide you to having the ultimate North Cascades wedding day experience, and to document every single moment of it. I would love to help you plan your elopement and answer any questions you may have! Learn more about me or my North Cascades Elopement Packages.
Get in touch with me and let's start planning your dream adventure.