Two-Day Mount Rainier Elopement

Julie + Mike

Julie and Mike’s Mount Rainier two-day elopement started with rain, wildflowers, one very emotional first look, and a mountain that decided to completely ignore the forecast and show off anyway.

These two came all the way from Albuquerque, New Mexico to get married at Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park. They planned two completely different wedding days. Thursday was for them. Their ceremony, vows, adventures, and portraits on the mountain. Then Sunday was for partying with about 40 of their friends and family at their cabin in Ashford.

For day one, we met in the parking lot at Paradise and Julie and Mike changed into their wedding clothes on the mountain. They had driven up together, but still wanted that first look moment once they were dressed.

And Mike immediately started crying.

Then came the vows, and his first line to Julie was, “I wish I met you sooner.”

Excuse me while I cry.

That line felt so incredibly true. These two know exactly what they have in each other. The love was just oozing out of them all day. Mike cried through his vows, they could not stop looking at each other, and it was so obvious how much they genuinely value every second they get together.

Their ceremony was at Nisqually Vista surrounded by wildflowers, and because this is Washington, of course it started raining on us. The forecast had actually said rain for basically the entire evening, so I came prepared with umbrellas, jackets, and a plan to make whatever weather we got work.

Apparently Rainier had other plans.

It was raining. The sun was out. The mountain was there. Then the rain stopped, the clouds started clearing, and suddenly we had this gorgeous soft yellow sunset glow over Rainier. It was not the super pink alpenglow you sometimes get, especially with a little smoke sitting in the valley, but it was absolutely beautiful.

After the ceremony, we wandered around Paradise for portraits and made our way over toward Myrtle Falls and the meadows. We saw deer, chipmunks, and then a black bear up on the hill that suddenly started charging down toward… we don’t know what. Probably berries. Everyone was fine, but there was definitely a lot of yelling “BEAR!” so people knew what was happening.

Julie and Mike had also told me months ago that they really wanted hammock photos. Hammocking is something they love doing together, so during some of my previous trips to Rainier I had been keeping an eye out for two trees in the right spot that could make it happen.

I found them.

The light was perfect, their hammock fit perfectly, and they got to curl up together in the middle of their Mount Rainier wedding day exactly like they had hoped.

They also brought beers from Boxing Bear Brewing in Albuquerque, the brewery where they had their first date. Julie and Mike originally met after they had both moved to Albuquerque, Mike for work and Julie for school. They matched on a dating app, Julie decided to give Mike a chance because of a silly photo of him laying out on a beach, and they met at Boxing Bear for that first date.

Eventually their adventures together took them all the way to Europe. Mike had a few different proposal spots in mind while they were traveling through Spain, but none of them felt right. They were excited to get to Portugal, so he waited. When they finally made it to the beaches of Lagos, that was the spot.

Traveling, hiking, camping, hammocking, exploring national parks, and just getting outside together have become a huge part of their relationship, which made Mount Rainier such a perfect place for them to get married.

Then we got to do day two.

Everyone gathered at their Airbnb in Ashford for the reception. This day was even more relaxed. Family photos, tons of candids, their first dance, food, drinks, and everyone just hanging out together.

OX Catering was grilling throughout the evening, including different meats and octopus, so the whole thing turned into this really cool grazing and grilling experience. And I need it documented that I had the best espresso martini I have ever had.

There was also a clothespin game happening where everyone was secretly trying to clip clothespins onto other guests without getting caught. One person somehow ended up with 12 on him. I got three.

I still do not know how that happened.

Finally, it was a goal of mine to get Julie’s dress really dirty, and I think I did a great job.

Between wandering through the mountain, wildflowers, waterfalls, hammock photos, and two full days of actually enjoying her wedding dress instead of worrying about keeping it pristine, I consider that goal accomplished.

I absolutely loved hanging out with Julie and Mike for these two days. Their Mount Rainier elopement gave them an intimate, emotional day that was completely focused on the two of them, and then they got to come back and celebrate with everyone they love.

A+. No notes.

Vendors:
Dress: Justin Alexander / Shoes: Betsey Johnson / Suit: Birdy Grey / Photography: Works by Sarah Jane Photography / Catering: OX Catering & Events / Cake + dessert: Whole Foods / Hair + makeup: Corey Pastion / DJ: Bob Presley / Rings: Manly Bands + Lonnie’s Custom Jewelers //

For more Seattle Wedding Photography, check this wedding out here.