Summer elopement in Mt Rainier National Park
I feel like it speaks volumes when an elopement stands out to me in a place I’ve shot at so many times, but this entire day from start to finish was the absolute best! This summer was a bit weird, and we actually experienced freezing temperatures and even some light rain during my week in Rainier, but it resulted in some epic photos.
We started the day dark and early (lol) to hike up to where Hannah and Damian exchanged vows. I don’t think we could have chosen a better spot! As the sun was rising, we were blessed with beautiful alpenglow on Rainier as they exchanged vows and rings. However, oh my goodness, it was WINDY, which didn’t help with the temperatures, but it was so worth it. The wind gracefully lifted Hannah’s veil. Some tears were shed during the vows, which were just so sweet.
After the vows, they bundled up to regain some warmth before we ventured to explore around the fire lookout. In the valley below, we spotted a whole herd of mountain goats, probably the most I’ve ever seen at one time! We concluded the morning part of the day and began our hike back down to the parking lot.
We reconvened in the afternoon to explore the towering trees in the nearby national forest land before returning to the park for the cutest little DIY picnic. I was truly impressed that Hannah and Damian had brought all these goodies to put together a simple but beautiful picnic setup. We indulged in snacks, cake, and popped a bottle of champagne to celebrate before heading to our last location of the day.
It was one of the best hikes in the park if you want rolling green meadows and distant views of Rainier. We didn’t get an actual sunset due to clouds rolling in, but none of us cared; the whole day was just so perfect that the weather was the last thing on our minds. Hannah and Damian frolicked around through the meadow trails, giggling the whole time. It really was the perfect end to the best day!


