How to Elope in Washington

A complete guide on how to Elope in Washington

The Pacific Northwest is any couple’s dream for a romantic elopement surrounded the lush greenery, quiet woods on top of a mountain peak or by the waves as the sun sets. We are lucky to spend half of our year in Washington from May through September before spending ur Winter’s in the desert. We ourselves even eloped in Washington on a six day back packing trip around the base of Mount Rainier! This place is special to us and I am not sure we will ever stop exploring it because, well we will never run out of trials, climbs, lakes to kayak, etc.

If you crave adventure, mountains, water, good food and unique experience this could be for you!

So first things first before we start getting into the logistics of planning your Washington elopement, as I always tell all of my couples the first thing to do when planning your elopement is to think about what you want out of your day. What type of experience do you want to have? What do you want to be surrounded by? What do you want to do throughout the day together? Where are you staying? Make a date night of it and have fun! This will help you decide where you want to elope or help give you a general sense and we can narrow it down from there.

Where are the best places to elope in Washington State?

While Washington is full of stunning places to elope there are five that stand out to me! Here are the top 5 places to elope in Washington! Just keep in mind these are not the only places you can elope in this great state 😉

Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier National Park is a fantastic place to elope with just you two. Mount Rainier has stunning back packing trails, beautiful waterfalls, alpine lakes, fire towers and accessible locations to elope at. Since this is a National Park once you start adding guests you get more limited about where you can go/get married at. Due to this we recommend within the park only planning to have just you two.However, outside of the park there are stunning A-frame cabins in Ashford and Packwood we have seen couples have family ceremonies or dinner at on their elopement day. Outside of Mt Rainier you will find several options for eloping with stunning view on National Forest land which has less restrictions. If you have a larger budget to also spend on a venue type location you may want to consider Cyrstal Mountain if you have a lot of guests.

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park is known for its many different ecosystems from the mountain range, to the lakes, rain forest and rocky beaches. You can easily spend a full day here or two days here having the most epic elopement. There are many places that are easy to get to and accessible here, but also amazing places that take 3-10 miles of hiking. There are also longer hikes in the park if you want it to just be you two and the wilderness. Again, this is a National Park so with family and guests your location options get more limited, but I will say this park feels more family friendly than Mount Rainier. Here there are family locations that you can use on the beach, by the lake and the mountain! If you are eloping here we recommend staying in Forks or Port Angeles.

Leavenworth, WA

Leavenworth is a quaint German inspired town hidden away in the mountains. If you are up for some epic long trails that lead you to some stunning mountains, alpine lakes and in the fall stunning larches turning yellow. This is a fun elopement locations for adventure, a place to dine and go out with family and friends, stay in beautiful cabins along the river that you can float and more! If you have family joining your for your elopement there are a couple of family friendly locations in town and at the local state park! However, we recommend this location if you are up for the hiking! Or rock climbing!

San Juan Islands

Stepping away from the mountains just for a little bit to tell you about all of the amazing islands off of the Northern coast of Washington! From March to October you even get the chance to see whales along the islands! This is a great place to elope if you are looking for something peaceful, slow paced with mountain and ocean views. We highly recommend Orcas Island, Sucia Island or the Friday Harbor area for your elopement if you are into hiking, kayaking, boating or sea life! These islands are super family friendly for an elopement or perfect for just you two.

North Cascades/Mt Baker

Last, but certainly not least you have the North Cascades National Park and Mt Baker Forest Service land. I have lumped these two together because they are side by side of each other the most Northern mountain range in the park and so stunning! There are so many unique places to stay around here and in the park, think floating cabins on the lake surrounded by mountains! There is rock climbing, snow shoeing, skiing, hiking, boating and so much beauty. The closest bigger town is Bellingham, which is a lovely place to dine, drink or stay in. Did I mention you could easily leave from there to honeymoon in Alaska?! While the North Cascades have much more strick rules and higher priced permits, Mt Baker is super family friendly and accessible. Both are work checking out!

When is the best time to elope in Washington?

Washington is an evergreen state, it is known for being gray and rainy, but that is not always the case! Washington has a very unique weather pattern and a lot of deciding the best time to elope will depend on that first question I asked you, what does it look like around you? How does it feel? Etc. If you want the PNW vibe then maybe you want some rain and fog which means maybe October or May is for you. Maybe you want sunshine on your day if you can have it, then you want to think about July to early August. Snow melt starts to go away in May in some areas, but the higher altitudes of Rainier and most of North Cascades snow melt may not happen until July. If you want a winter wonderland, you can for sure have that too, we recommend Leavenworth or somewhere along hwy 90 area for that! Here is a break down monthly of Washington can be like:

• November to March – winter, expect rain, clouds and snow pending where you are
• April + May – rain, mud but some sunny days coming and lower elevation snow melt
• June – rain, snow melt, mud but sunshine in some areas
• July – sunny!
• August – Sunny and wildflowers!
• September – Rainy season is coming and may already be here, but this is also fire season
• October – Fall leaves changing, larches in Leavenworth, rain

Outside of weather, the day you choose could also heavily effect your elopement day! I highly recommend avoiding holidays and weekends if you can for an elopement at any popular trails and in any of the National Parks. Washington is an adventure driven state, these areas are busy on the weekend! The 4th of July weekend in the Forks, Wa area is a huge celebration, making this holiday a bad time to elope in Olympic National Park. You can also always consider a sunrise elopement to try and avoid crowds on the trails and in the parks.

How to get to your elopement destination in Washington?

If you are coming from out of state you most likely will fly. The main airport in Washington is SEA TAC an international airport located in Seattle. The beauty is that it is pretty centrally located, but you will want to rent a car to get to where you will be eloping. In most cases you can get to your destination in a non 4×4 car in the state of Washington, but there also many options you could off road to so you may want to look info rentals of this nature.

If you are eloping in the North Cascades/Mt Baker region you can fly into the smaller airport in Bellingham, but just keep in mind the ride from Sea Tac (if you are not commuting during the rush hours) is only an extra 2 hour drive and you could see more of the state.

If you are eloping on any of the islands you will need to take a ferry to your elopement destination. If you are eloping in Olympic National Park you can drive from Seattle or take the ferry and then drive. You will want to reserve your spot on the ferry prior and familiar yourself with the Washington Ferry System. The ferry system is a great way to get around the state with less driving pending where all you are going. Be sure to make reservations in advance and plan to arrive early. Also, plan for the ferry system to run behind schedule as this is a frequent issue.

You can also consider traveling via a Sea Plane. We love this for a couple of reasons, it is faster making it possible to visit several locations in one day you couldn’t otherwise do. They are also super fun and a unique experience to share together on your wedding day! Sea Planes can take off and land in places like Seattle, North Cascades National Park and the San Juan Islands.

Where to stay in Washington?

With all of these beautiful parks comes A LOT of places to camp! Tent camping in the national parks you will for sure want to make a reservation during season. Some camp sites in the park will have first come first serve sites and you will want to be there around 9am to snag a spot and have a back up plan! Many of the National Parks have forest service land around them and you can usually find a spot there. In some places in Washington you can camp and have a camp fire on the beach! Outside of camping option some of the National Parks have hotels, cabins or even floating stays on lakes!

Washington is known for some of the most beautiful cabins tucked in the woods! These are great for having a comfortable, roomy place to relax the night before, get ready and/or have a small reception after. If you are planning to have any photos taken at the Airbnb you rent be sure you have permission from the home owner.

Check out some great Airbnb options here:

Cabin in Central Cascades, Tree House in Redmond, riverside cabin by Granite Falls, cabin near Olympic National Park, beach front on one of the San Juan Islands.

Outside of campsites and Airbnbs there are many hotels in Seattle and the main towns. Around many of the tourist areas there are many resorts to stay at. You can also stay at some of the fire towers in Washington, by reserving online and hiking in. What a way to elope!!! Wake up in the morning on top of the world, just you two and right were you can elope!

I highly recommend waiting to book your stay until you know exactly where you will be eloping to avoid ending up with a few hours drive on your elopement day or limiting your elopement locations based on stay. The National Parks in these regions are BIG so you can book a place to stay near the park, but elope on the other side which can be a very far drive.

How to Get Married in Washington State

In the state of Washington you will need an officiant and two witnesses to legally become married. Prior to the ceremony you will need to apply for your marriage license, which you can do at at the county government’s auditor’s office or online in Whatcom county only at this time. There is a three day waiting period to obtain your license so if you plan to apply for your permit in person you will need to be there several days in advance. You must get married within 60 days of obtaining your license, or it becomes invalid. Fees for your marriage license are different per county. After you have held your ceremony and the documents are signed do not forget to mail them back to the county office!! Since marriage licenses in Washington are based by county you can visit this goverment site to direct you to the right county for you elopement. Do note however, you can get your paperwork in any county, it doesn’t have to be the county you are eloping in. Also, we are both ordained and always happy to assist in being witnesses and or your officiant!

We recommend getting your paperwork in Tacoma if you are eloping in Mt Rainier as their take home document has a photo of the mountain on it 🙂

Do I need a Special Use Permit to Elope in Washington?

Outside of pulling your marriage license, paying the fee and then mailing the documents back you may need a permit for the location you have selected to elope at. If you are eloping in a National Park you will want to go to the park’s website and go to special permits and follow the instructions. With any questions or concerns it is always best to reach and speak to a ranger of the park. Outside of national parks every where else has their own set of rules, some places you will not need a permit at and some you will. It is best to start pulling permits as soon as possible to be able to get everything squared away properly!

Here are Adventure and Vow we cover all of our photography/commercial permits up to $250. As we see a lot of FS lands starting to charge per guest count which can be higher in cost pending who all is coming with you. We help you apply for your special use permit by connecting you with the right park ranger, helping you complete the permit application and finding the information needed. We recommend waiting to apply for your permit until you have a plan for your elopement because the more accurate information you can provide the easier the process is. Permit cost depends on where and how many people are attending usually you can expect to pay $0-$500 for a permit in most cases.

Let’s Talk About Seattle…

While Seattle itself is not an ideal elopement location, unless you are looking for a city elopement it is a great place to visit before your elopement. SEA TAC will take you near by Seattle and you can rent a car to get there or you can take a train from the airport to downtown. While the Public Market is a tourist hot spot, it is that for good reason. If you get there early in the morning you will find it less crowded. It is a great place to grab a coffee and morning pastry and shop for fresh food for your stay in Washington or road trip. The fresh flowers make beautiful, stunning flower bouquets. Over all it is a beautiful city to start your trip off. If you are eloping somewhere like the San Juan Islands you can look into taking a sea plane to your next stop. Your ferry ride to Olympic National Park area will leave out of Seattle as well. If you are coming through at night check out some of the Speakeasy underground bars, Racheal’s Ginger Beer, Beecher’s Handmade Cheese and or some of the local bars. There is also a flagship REI store in Seattle so if you forget anything you may need for your adventure elopement you can easily pick it up there!

How to Elope in Seattle

If you are not just wanting to visit Seattle, but elope there that is totally do-able and there are a ton of fun ways to do it! The best thing about eloping in Seattle is you can fly in, take the tram into town and then you don’t have to rent a car! You can elope on a sail boat tour off the coast of Seattle at sunset. You could elope on a house boat or any boat in Lake Union, by the way you can honeymoon in one of the hot tub boats!! Or you could take a sea plane from Lake Union to one of the mountain lakes or islands and then have it bring you back to the city after the elopement! You could elope at a local brewery, coffee shop, the courthouse, local park Airbnb, etc!! It is a big city, so the world is your oyster, pun intended since there is a famous oyster restaurant in the city 🙂

For more elopement ideas in Washington State check out our Unique Elopement Ideas page 🙂