This Mt Rainier wedding in wildflower season was one of the highlights of the year! Brie & Tom said “I do” surrounded by their closest family members, blooming wildflowers, and jaw-dropping views of Mt. Rainier – what more could you ask for on your wedding day?! The sun shone down on us the entire day, warming our skin and creating the most beautiful hazy light all around us as we frolicked down the trail. We ended our adventure with some bubbly and watched the moon rise over the meadows. All in all an incredible day in the Washington mountains!
↓ Keep reading for the full story + pics ↓
A Summertime elopement with guests in Mt. Rainier wildflower meadows
One of the best parts about Mt. Rainier National Park is that it has four distinct seasons. Autumn adds a surreal pop of color to the mountains as the heather turns a firey red. And winter brings hundreds of feet of fresh powder, to skiers’ and snowboarders’ delight. The spring thaw is slow, but all of that extra snow creates the perfect conditions for our favorite natural phenomenon – the summer wildflower bloom.
Every year, thousands of flowers blanket the park’s subalpine meadows, bringing travelers from all over the world to see them. Pair these stunning views with Mt. Rainier towering overhead, and it’s a photographer’s paradise! We absolutely love shooting here and capturing all of the magic of this special time of year.
But before we say anymore about this magical day, it’s important to mention the delicate nature of these wildflowers. Trampling the terrain can damage the flowers and prevent them from growing back for years, so it’s super important to stay on trails. Although it may look like we are standing amongst the flowers in some of these photos, we always made sure we were on the trail or a durable surface!
Love Mount Rainier? Check out this Rainier Elopement from another part of the park
Back to the story! It’s no wonder Brie and Tom decided to elope at Mt. Rainier this time of year. They’re also from Seattle, and their particular neighborhood has epic views of the mountain and the city skyline. For their wedding day, they thought it would be fitting to get an even closer view 😉 We started the day with a first look at the beginning of the trail while their family hiked ahead to the ceremony location. After Brie showed off the dress, we strolled along the trail to where their family and officiant Leslie were waiting. Leslie led a sweet and personal ceremony and Brie and Tom chimed in with handwritten vows. They had their first kiss as husband and wife, and celebrated with their loved ones under Rainier’s massive peak.
After saying goodbye to their guests in the parking lot, we ventured back out for sunset portraits. Brie and Tom laughed and danced through the alpine lupines as the sun dipped in the sky, casting rays across the mountain. After popping a bottle of champagne on a boulder, they snuggled up and watched the sun set over the Tatoosh mountains. In a matter of minutes, Mt. Rainier changed from orange to pink to a deep purple hue. Brie and Tom ended their wedding day with a romantic first dance under the moon before donning some headlamps for the hike back to the cars. Days like this remind me how lucky I am to live in Washington state, with fairytale views only a few hours from home 🙂 Already counting down the days until wildflower season 2021!!
Check out more amazing places to elope in Washington State
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