The Ultimate Olympic National Park Elopement Guide
One of the most beautiful places to have a Washington elopement is Olympic National Park! It’s home to everything that makes the Pacific Northwest great – beautiful beaches, lively forests, and stunning mountains. The moderate climate of the region results in a landscape that seems almost dreamlike! Whether you wish to exchange vows by the crashing waves at Ruby Beach or beneath a canopy of moss in the Hoh Rainforest, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about planning an Olympic National Park elopement!
Table of Contents
When to Elope in Olympic National Park
One of the most important things to consider when planning your Olympic National Park elopement is deciding when to say “I do!” You’ll typically find lots of rain on the Olympic Peninsula, but careful planning can reduce the likelihood of being stuck in a downpour – I’ll tell you a little about each, so you can decide for yourself what season is the best for eloping in Olympic National Park!
Winter: November through April
Winter in the Olympic Peninsula is long and wet, bringing in lots of rain and cloudy weather to the peninsula for 6 month of the year. Even though it doesn’t snow in most of the park, it can snow quite a bit in higher elevations like Hurricane Ridge. Sometimes when it snows a lot, the roads close so be sure to have a plan B and check with the National Park Service leading up to your elopement to make sure you’ll be able to access your location if it’s known to have some winter road closures. The good thing about a winter elopement at Olympic National Park is that you’ll see fewer people around, so if a little rain doesn’t scare you, then a winter ceremony might be in the cards for you!
Spring: May and June
After a cold, wet winter, Olympic National Park bursts with life in the spring! Waterfalls rush with freshly melted snow, wildflowers pop up throughout, and animals come out to enjoy the bounties that warmer weather brings! This is the second most popular season in Olympic National Park, so you may want to plan your elopement at sunrise or sunset if you want a more private ceremony.
Summer: July and August
If you are set on having your elopement on a sunny day, the best time to elope in Olympic National Park is summer! Though it’s almost impossible to avoid the rain in an actual rainforest, but eloping in July or August is your best bet for finding a clear day. Olympic National Park gets really busy in the summer as people try to take advantage of the nice weather, so you’ll want to plan a weekday elopement or find a less popular ceremony location to avoid crowds!
Fall: September and October
In my personal opinion, the best time to elope in Olympic National Park is in the fall! The summer sun lingers until early October, the changing leaves add pops of color throughout the deep greens of the forest, mushrooms peek out from under the moss, and you can even catch a glimpse of salmon heading upstream – fall is truly an incredible time of year to elope in the Pacific Northwest. You’ll want to keep an eye on the weather as it creeps into the rainy season later in the fall.
Avoiding Crowds When You Elope at Olympic National Park
The last thing you want when you’re tying the knot is to have a crowd of strangers around! Luckily, I have a few tips for avoiding crowds so you can spend time focusing on each other instead of fighting for the best ceremony spot. Here are my tips for avoiding crowds when you elope in Olympic National Park!
- Elope in a shoulder season – late spring or early fall will be ideal for finding decent weather and avoiding summer crowds
- Get married mid-week – the best part of eloping is that you don’t have to worry about everyone else’s schedule! If you can avoid eloping on the weekend or a holiday, you’ll be sure to have more privacy when you say your vows
- Plan to say your vows at sunrise or sunset – people tend to go out more in the middle of the day, so planning your elopement at sunset or sunrise will help avoid any photobombers – plus, the lighting is much better at those times of day!
- Have your ceremony in a less popular location – As your Olympic National Park elopement photographer, I can share some of my favorite spots that will be more secluded, so you can have a more intimate wedding experience
Olympic National park Wedding Venues
The best part about eloping in Olympic National Park is the variety of options you have for your ceremony spot. From the rocky shores of the coast to the stunning peaks of the Olympic Mountains, there are so many beautiful places where you can tie the knot – let’s talk about some of my favorite spots!
The Best Beach Elopement Locations
The rugged coast of the Olympic Peninsula is a great place to elope on the beach in Washington! Olympic National Park is home to over 65 miles worth of beaches and coastline – so you’re sure to find a spot that’s perfect for you!
Ruby Beach
One of the more popular beaches in Olympic National Park is Ruby Beach! Driftwood structures, giant sea stacks, and lively tide pools give you plenty to explore during your beach elopement. Don’t forget to check out the Tree of Life, it’s a great spot to say “I do!”
Shi Shi Beach
If you’re up for an adventure, Shi Shi Beach is for you! To get there, you’ll have to take an 8.8 mile out and back trail – but if you don’t want to do it all in a day, it’s one of the few places in Washington where you can camp on the beach. Be careful if it’s been rainy since it can get pretty muddy!
Rialto Beach
Rialto Beach is one of the more easily accessible elopement locations in Olympic National Park! If you head out around low tide, you can reach Hole in the Wall, a popular rock formation 1.5 miles up the beach. There, you’ll be able to explore the tide pools and take in the beauty of the coast – just make sure to check the tide tables, so you don’t get stuck out there when the tide comes up!
The Best Mountain Elopement Locations
From stunning mountaintop views to waterfalls nestled between towering trees, the many peaks of the Olympic Mountains offer a wide range of places to say “I do” when you elope in Olympic National Park!
Hurricane Ridge
Just outside of Port Angeles, Hurricane Ridge offers spectacular views all around, making it a popular location for eloping in Olympic National Park. With accessible picnic areas and activities available in all seasons, it’s easy to see why couples choose to tie the knot here. Whether you’re going to play in the snow in winter or enjoy a leisurely hike surrounded by wildflowers in the spring, you’ll find plenty to do if you choose to elope at Hurricane Ridge!
Lake Crescent and Mount Storm king
Located about 30 minutes east on Highway 101 from Port Angeles, it’s hard to miss Lake Crescent when you elope in Olympic National Park. The famous crystal clear waters of Lake Crescent reflect the lush mountains surrounding it – creating a stunning backdrop for your ceremony! If you’re up for it, take a hike out to Marymere Falls or up Mount Storm King for incredible views of the valley.
The Best Forest Elopement Locations
There are plenty of great forest wedding venues in Olympic National Park! The Olympic Peninsula has two of the only rainforests in the United States, making it a must-see destination for nature enthusiasts who want to tie the knot.
Hoh Rainforest
One of the coolest things I can imagine is having your wedding at the Hall of Mosses on a cool foggy morning – it’s one of the main reasons I recommend eloping in the Hoh Rainforest. The old forest growth is full of life – shades of green and brown surround you from the ferns on the forest floor to the cozy canopy of the trees!
Quinault Rainforest
Some of the world’s largest trees can be found in the Quinault Rainforest! Surrounded by countless waterfalls and alpine meadows, the giant old-growth trees of the Olympic Peninsula are an incredible sight to see.
Sol Duc falls
Sol Duc Falls is one of the prettiest places to elope in Olympic National Park, but it’s also one of the more popular hikes. If your heart is set on an elopement at Sol Duc Falls, take the longer Lover’s Lane loop to avoid the crowds!
Elwha valley
If you’re looking for a shorter trail with incredible scenery, the .2-mile out-and-back Madison Falls trail is the perfect place to elope in Olympic National Park! Nearby is the 4.7-mile out-and-back Griff Creek Trail, which offers beautiful views of the Elwha Valley.
Dog-Friendly Elopement Locations
I know as well as anyone that pets are absolutely part of the family, but they aren’t allowed in most of the park. Luckily some of the best places to elope in Olympic National Park are dog-friendly! My favorites include Ruby Beach, the Spruce Railroad Trail on Lake Crescent, and Madison Falls Trail in the Elwha Valley.
Another place you can elope with your dog on the Olympic Peninsula is anywhere in the National Forest or Bureau of Land Management. As long as your dog is on a leash, you can bring them with you and there are tons of places that have similar scenery to the most popular elopement spots in Olympic National Park. As your Olympic National Park elopement photographer, I’m happy to help you find the perfect place for your wedding day so you can include everybody important to you – even your furry friends!
Getting Legally Married When You Elope at Olympic National Park
Washington Wedding License
One of the most important things you’ll need to sort out before your ceremony is obtaining your marriage license. Whether you’re traveling to Washington, or you’re from the Evergreen State, you’ll need to apply for your marriage license through one of the county clerk offices. You can apply for your license at any office that’s most convenient for you, but Clallam County in Port Angeles and Mason County in Shelton are the closest to Olympic National Park so depending on where you tie the knot, these might be close by!
In Washington state, there’s a 3-day waiting period before you can use your marriage license, and it’s valid for 60 days. This means that once you apply, you’ll need to wait for approval from the state and then pick it up after 3 days and use it within 2 months. The cost of a marriage license varies by county – typically between $60 and $75 depending on where you go. On top of the application and its fee, you only need to bring a current photo ID for both of you. Most counties require you to apply in person, but King County‘s office in Seattle has an online application if you’re able to pick up your license there. My Olympic National Park elopement packages include figuring out the best way to get your license, so don’t worry if it seems a little complicated right now!
Olympic National Park Wedding Permit
The good news is, since most elopements are small, you likely won’t need a permit to get married at Olympic National Park. If you do have more than 5 people total, including your vendors, then you’ll need to apply for a Special Use Permit. The permit application costs $50, but don’t worry about all the details – as your Olympic National Park elopement photographer, I’ll help you figure out exactly what you’ll need!
Leave No Trace During Your Olympic National Park Elopement
We’re so lucky to be able to enjoy nature as it is, and it’s our job to create minimal impact so that it can stay like this forever! There are a set of 7 principles that were created called Leave No Trace (LNT) to help us, as humans, realize and reduce the impact that we have on our environment. Things you might not even think about – like bringing in foreign flowers or tossing your sandwich crust – can impact your surroundings in ways you could never imagine!
Here are the 7 principles of Leave No Trace, and what they mean for your Olympic National Park elopement:
- Plan Ahead & Prepare – download maps and bring appropriate gear and first aid
- Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces – stick to established areas to avoid damaging plants
- Dispose of Waste Properly – don’t leave your trash! Pack out everything you bring with you
- Leave What You Find – other than your memories, the only thing you should take with you is trash or other things that might not belong there
- Minimize Campfire Impacts – keep campfires contained to allotted areas, and be aware of fire restrictions
- Respect Wildlife – feeding wildlife can cause more problems for their safety, so just keep back and look from a distance
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors – keep trails and walkways clear for others to go by and make sure you aren’t being too loud
Things To Do When You Elope at Olympic National Park
If you’re looking for some activities to do together during your Olympic National Park elopement, there are plenty of fun things to do on the Olympic Peninsula! If you’re adventurous, explore one of the Olympic Peninsula’s many hiking trails, get scuba certified and see the Giant Pacific octopus in person, or go paddle boarding on Lake Crescent. For a more relaxing activity, visit the Sol Duc Hot Springs, go whale watching on the Pacific, or drive through the Olympic Game Farm!
Olympic National Park Elopement Packages
The day you marry the love of your life should be fun, stress-free, and all about celebrating the two of you! As your Olympic National Park elopement photographer, it’s my job to make that happen as smoothly as possible! I’ll walk you through every step of the way from timeline planning to capturing all the special moments of your wedding day, and beyond.
My Olympic National Park elopement packages are carefully curated for every couple because no two couples are alike. So if you’re ready to plan your special day or want to learn more about my Olympic National Park elopement photography pricing, contact me!
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