A Hurricane Ridge Elopement Filled with Excitement & Personal Details
If we could describe Miranda and Ben’s Hurricane Ridge elopement in just one word, it would be—stoke. Seriously, everything we did from morning to night, these two got so excited about! And why not? It was their elopement day after all.
After meeting in college in Miami and doing long distance for the last three and a half years of their 10-year relationship, their elopement in Olympic National Park was a time for them to finally step into doing life together again—so yeah, they had a lot to be excited about.
Why They Chose to Elope at Hurricane Ridge
When we asked them why they wanted to elope, they said this: “An elopement is verbalizing how we feel. We may say ‘I love you’ every day, but it’s a chance to reflect on that love and our relationship. It’s admitting you found your family and legally gaining one.”
Miranda and Ben got engaged in Yosemite National Park, and they were excited to keep the tradition going in Olympic. If a national park elopement sounds like your kind of wedding, here are our favorite parks to elope in!
But part of what led them to Hurricane Ridge specifically was the trail name. Their college sports team was the Miami Hurricanes, so eloping at Hurricane Ridge was a cute nod to their college days.
They also liked Olympic because it gave both of them landscapes they loved. Ben loves ocean beaches, and Miranda likes lakes, and here in Olympic National Park, you can have both! Check out this list for the absolute best places to elope on the Olympic Peninsula!
Their Vision for the Day
When it came to the vision for their Hurricane Ridge elopement, Miranda and Ben wanted their day to feel adventurous, cozy, and peaceful. They wanted to be surrounded by nature—specifically, Pacific Northwest vibes—and visit locations that left them in awe.
While they love their family and planned to share an experience with them after, Miranda and Ben chose to keep their elopement totally private. They told us they were excited to have a “selfish” day, celebrating just themselves without needing to factor in anyone else’s preferences and needs. And honestly, we kind of love it! They still found ways to include family moments in their day by reading letters, but prioritized themselves and the experience they wanted to have.
While a just them elopement was the right call for Miranda and Ben, a private elopement isn’t always the right decision for every couple. Sometimes involving family on the day of is the best celebration for you. If you are planning an elopement with loved ones, here are some things to help you plan for the best experience.
A Full Day Elopement in Olympic National Park
Sunrise Ceremony at Hurricane Ridge
We wasted no time diving into Miranda and Ben’s elopement. Their day started out with a sunrise ceremony at Hurricane Ridge, where they got expansive mountain views as their backdrop while they read their vows.
Ben was so excited to see Miranda in her dress, especially out in the wilderness, and Miranda was most excited to see Ben cry during his vows, which he definitely did!
After their vow exchange, some friendly hikers on the trail signed their marriage license, then we paused to watch some deer resting in the grass before hiking back to our car.
Kayaking on Lake Crescent
Our next stop was Lake Crescent. On our way, we stopped by Welly’s for some soft serve ice cream. Ice cream dates are a regular part of Miranda and Ben’s lives, so they were so excited to include one on their wedding day.
We arrived at the lake and stopped for some wildflower photos in front of the cabin before renting kayaks and heading out on the water. While we were out, another wedding was taking place on the dock, and the couples waved congratulations to each other. Just like with everything else on their day, the way Miranda and Ben experienced these small moments was filled with so much awe and excitement.
When we got back to shore, Miranda and Ben paused to read some handwritten letters from their loved ones before taking a stroll through the forest.
Special Note: Washington’s meadows are very fragile, and this region is unique, where daisies are actually invasive, which is why we were able to take photos of the flowers. In locations like Hurricane Ridge, Mt Rainier, and Mt Baker, please remember to stay on the trail and do not go in the wildflowers.
Spontaneous Wildflower Photos on the Side of the Road
In the afternoon, we headed to the beach for sunset photos. Miranda and Ben had told us that if they could have wildflowers on their day, that would be a bonus. Well, we definitely got some wildflowers.
While scouting locations, we came across a field of foxgloves and asked the couple if they wanted to stop. The flowers were beautiful shades of purple and pink, and many were taller than the couple! Miranda and Ben had so much fun strolling through the field (while following the principles of Leave No Trace) and got the wildflower photos of their dreams.
This ended up being one of the favorite moments of the day, and, as elopement photographers, we often find that the couples who plan their day in a way that’s intertwined with their story allow for more spontaneous moments and opportunities to live fully in what is right in front of them.
Sunset + Campfire Photos on the Beach
After our wildflower pitstop, we finished making our way to the beach where another memorable elopement moment was waiting for us.
In the parking lot, a tiny kitten wandered up to us, so naturally, we joked that it came to congratulate them. We attempted to return it to some nearby homes, but the little guy had other plans and kept following us around for a while. We’ll never know what became of the “Congrats cat”, but it was definitely one of the top memorable moments from the day.
Once we made it to the beach, Miranda and Ben finished reading letters from their family. They had received a lot of letters from loved ones, so, rather than spend time reading them all at once, we chose to sprinkle their letter reading throughout the day, to build in more experiences around each location and to give the couple time to process emotions between big moments.
We then explored the beach and, just as the sun was going down, Miranda and Ben set up a campfire, ate chips and guac (a nod to their nicknames when they were both summer camp counselors), and cut their cake.
From early morning vows in the mountains to the kayaking adventures on the lake to chips and guac on the beach, Miranda and Ben were so excited about every part of their elopement day. Their Hurricane Ridge elopement was filled with so much joy—and lots of wildlife, too!
Miranda + Ben’s Hurricane Ridge Elopement Video
If you are looking to plan a similar experience in Olympic National Park, check out our planning guide here for tips on permits, how to navigate the park, where to stay, and more.
Or, if you’re ready to book your photographers (hey, that’s us), and start planning, visit our elopement packages page to see what your experience could include.
Vendors who made this Hurricane Ridge elopement possible:
Photography, Videography & Officiant: Adventure and Vow
Ceremony location: Hurricane Ridge
Dress Shop: Nikki’s Glitz and Glam Boutique
Dress Designer: Sophia Thomas
Makeup: Anne Timss
Miranda Engagement Ring: Brilliant Earth
Miranda Wedding Band: Kay Jewelers
Ben Suit: Suit Supply
Kind Words From the Couple
If you’re at all considering hiring Adventure and Vow for your elopement, do it! Seriously. Don’t even bother reading the rest of my post, just book them.
Okay, you need more? My husband and I knew we wanted to get married in a national park. We hadn’t spent much time in the PNW – we live on the East Coast – but we loved the idea of getting married in Olympic National Park. It has mountains, alpine lakes, the ocean and beaches, and even a temperate rainforest – what more could we want? Traci and Bill made our day incredible. We were looking for a photographer and videographer duo who lived in the area since we had never been to ONP. (Since it was just the two of us eloping, we wanted a video to premiere at the family and friend celebration we’ll throw later.) We liked their photos, they seemed cool, and honestly it was probably their adventure kitty that sold us. (People who love and care for their pets are good people.)
Honestly, their photos probably sell them best. We haven’t even seen the whole album and we’re obsessed. We’ve never had professional photos taken before but we look incredible. Traci (and Bill) captured the overwhelming joy and excitement we had. While we had a much tamer elopement than some of their other adventures (hiking, kayaking, frolicking in the fields, and walking on the beach), we did keep them up all day from meeting at the trailhead a little after 3am until we finished our campfire dinner at the beach after 10pm. And they never once complained. They exuded calmness, positivity, and light. They gave suggestions that came out wow in the photos. They were easy to talk to as we went along our various hikes, but they gave us space for us to have our moments (and, in fact, sometimes we forgot they were there).
Part of the reason for eloping was so that we could have a day just about us. It was a magical day. It was intimate and tender, joyful and delightful – and it was all caught on camera. Traci and Bill had several meetings with us before so that we could make the day ours. They had us reflect on our relationship and helped us incorporate special moments into our day (like reading a favorite book as part of our ceremony, opening cards from family and friends throughout the day, and incorporating mementos our family shared). Their thoughtfulness made our day even more special.
We also eloped so we’d have less planning to do and it was very helpful to have locals, especially when we had to change our trail a few days before because our trail was still closed for the season. Traci and Bill gave curated ideas for our elopement day but also gave suggestions for activities for our honeymoon.
Finally, we considered eloping because it would be fewer expenses. Yes, an elopement phot
Blog post written by Sonder Studio
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Hi – it is Traci, Bill and Malachi
Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of couples plan and document intentional, meaningful elopements in wild places.
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