seattle forest elopement

Seattle Forest Elopement in a Cozy Cabin | PNW Wedding Photographer

This was the coziest elopement tucked into the North Cascades in early autumn. Just the couple and the bride’s sister & brother-in-law, oh and an amazing private chef (well, and me). It was not over-planned. In fact, we came up with the idea for the candles in the days before, texting photos and ideas and a quick store trip! Her jumpsuit was so simple and chic, and sneakers won over fussy heels. Sometimes less is truly more. It was a gorgeous day and I was honored to capture it. A few elopement planning tips after the jump!

3 Tips For Elopement Planning

  1. Choose a location that has personal significance to you. One of the biggest benefits to opting for an elopement is that you don’t have to consider factors like venues, guests preferences, ease of access, parking, etc. AirBnB is an awesome place to start. Oftentimes the property of your rental is enough to make for the perfect setting.

  2. Write your own vows or love letters, and do it by hand. Not only will your personal words make for a much more intimate and meaningful celebration but being able to look back at your handwriting and hold those words in your hands forever is one of the best gifts you can give to yourselves.

  3. Hire your key vendors! For some this might mean having a planner take over all the details and ensure your elopement both looks and feels perfect, letting you relax and take it all in. Even though elopements are smaller than full weddings, they still have lots of moving pieces that you won’t realize until you’re in the final swing! Having a chef cater a dinner makes it feel really luxurious at a way smaller price tag than a full wedding, and is much more special than a frozen pizza. Hiring a photographer to capture it all is a gift to yourself that you’ll treasure forever (and maybe to share with loved ones who didn’t attend in person!).

If you have dreams of a smaller elopement that’s still full of magic, don’t hesitate to get in touch! I’d love to hear your story and help you make it all come true.

Washington Forest Elopement Bridals | Seattle Wedding Photographer

2020 has truly been a strange year. But one thing that has been so beautiful is that couples get to be really creative about how and where they’re celebrating their love. For so long, we’ve had traditions that create boundaries and borders for us to simply fill in. With Covid-19 being such a monkey wrench in wedding planning, I’ve actually found that elopements and smaller celebrations are just as significant, and sometimes even better!

We headed into the Cascades to reach a forested spot so gorgeous and quiet that Melanie & Carson couldn’t help but focus on each other and just be present in the beautiful nature surroundings for their bridal session. Mountaintops get a lot of love, but the forest floor is so lush and green, and even better if you’re not up for a giant hike to reach your destination. (Me, hi!)

A few tips for the perfect forest session:

  • Bring a different pair of shoes so you can get to the hard-to-reach spots!

  • Bug spray. BUG SPRAY! Dang it!

  • Make sure to coordinate EXACTLY where you’re meeting in areas where cell reception is shoddy. We didn’t have any problems, but a little planning ahead is well worth the effort.

  • Bring a friend! Their sister/sister-in-law was SO great at helping hold, primp, etc. There’s so much extra fabric and veil and all when it comes to wedding photos vs. an engagement session. Sometimes having a person there that you know and love can help set you at ease, too.

If you’re loving these vibes, please reach out to coordinate your own perfect micro-wedding or elopement!

 

If you need a Seattle or PNW wedding photographer, contact me here!