Best Places for Your Seattle Elopement
Best places for your Seattle elopemenT
If you’re searching for a list of the best places for your Seattle elopement, you’ve found the perfect resource! I’m sharing some of my most-loved locations that are perfect for your Seattle elopement. But, don’t let your adventure elopement dreams stay within the city limits of Seattle! This blog post is going to break down the best adventure-packed places that are all within an easy drive from Seattle. From waterfalls to mountain overlooks, get ready to dream up your epic Seattle elopement day right outside the city limits!
Why Seattle is a great location for your elopement
Dreaming of eloping but not wanting to travel too far from Seattle? Well, you’re in the right place! You can truly drive any direction from Seattle to arrive at a stunning elopement backdrop. Whether you call Seattle home or are flying in to the Pacific Northwest for your elopement, there are adventure-packed elopement destinations all within close proximity to Seattle and the airport. Keep scrolling, because I’m breaking down the top places to elope within one, two and three hour drives of Seattle.
Best places for your Seattle elopement that are just one hour from the city
Just one hour from Seattle, the Mountain Loop Highway connects Granite Falls, WA to Darrington, WA. This two-lane highway winds through the western portion of the Cascade Mountains and offers dense forest floors, alpine lakes, fire lookouts, waterfalls, and even ice caves as it follows the Stillaguamish River. Since the Mountain Loop Highway is not part of a national park, this area of the Pacific Northwest can oftentimes feels less busy than other parts of the state (which is great for Seattle elopements!). The Mountain Loop Highway holds some of my absolutely favorite hikes, drive up overlooks, and campgrounds, making it the perfect location for any adventurous elopement or intimate wedding all year round. And, an added bonus, various parts of the Mountain Loop Highway remain snow-free or have minimal snow even throughout the winter months due to their low elevation. Interested in seeing previous sessions along the Mountain Loop Highway? Explore below!
My husband, Drew, and I live in a little mountain town (which I’ll brag on in a second) right outside of this beautiful area, so Snoqualmie Pass has quickly become our go-to area for day hikes, summer camping, and long drives that have led us to breathtaking mountain overlooks that most do not know about. The reason I chose this area as one of the best places to elope near Seattle is simple: I-90 makes this part of the national forest accessible all year, and the windy forest service roads that jet off of I-90 lead to endless adventure for your Seattle elopement. From the old growth forests with giant douglas fir trees, massive waterfalls, multi pitch climbs and mountain summits, this region of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest holds a wealth of options for an elopement within an easy drive from Seattle. Want to see some adventures and epic backdrops that Snoqualmie Pass has offered? Explore below!
Okay, now I’m really going to be biased, because North Bend is my hometown! My little mountain town neighbors deep forest trails and epic mountains to climb. The city sits at the base of Mount Si, which would be an epic backdrop for your Seattle elopement. It’s all my backyard, so I have some personal-fav locations that I know like the back of my hand where I’d love to take you! Have I peaked your interest? Reach out to me about eloping in North Bend and explore these adventures below!
Highway 2 towards Stevens Pass
Last, but certainly not least, Highway 2 leading up to Stevens Pass rounds out our list of the top elopement locations within one hour of Seattle. Highway 2 cuts through some of my favorite mountain towns in Washington including Index, WA and Skykomish, WA. Highway 2 is the northernmost highway that remains open all year as it snakes through the Cascades. This area of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest offers waterfalls hikes that lead to alpine lakes, the Skykomish River, incredible spots for climbing, a historic fire lookout you can reserve to stay in (sounds like a dreamy elopement day, am I right?), and trails that lead you to jagged mountain overlooks.
Drive under three hours for these elopement destinations near Seattle
Standing at 14,411 feet, Mount Rainier is guaranteed to give you the perfect backdrop for your Seattle elopement. This Washington national park offers giant douglas firs (my favorite type of pine trees!), waterfalls, wildflower meadows, fire lookouts, alpine lakes, views of the Tatoosh Range that surrounds Mount Rainier, and, of course, Mount Rainier herself. One of the great things about Mount Rainier National Park is the year-round accessibility! So, no matter what time of year you’re dreaming of eloping near Seattle, Mount Rainier has so many options. Also, there are hiking trails for all abilities within the park. And, there are amazing amenities inside and outside the park, too! Click here for my complete guide for your Mount Rainier elopement, and explore some real adventures and elopements in Mount Rainier National Park below.
Known as the Alps of America, it is no surprise that this is one of my top recommendations for the best places for your Seattle elopement. The North Cascades are truly the underdog that always wins in my book. With jagged peaks, snow capped mountains, and alpine lakes that are only accessible by hiking, the North Cascades are truly my mountain crush. Did you know North Cascades National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in the nation? This means you just might get an entire mountain to yourself for your Seattle elopement! With remote trails that few know about, the North Cascades hold some of my favorite spots in Washington that are just waiting for you to elope at.
The Olympic Peninsula is a ferry ride across the Puget Sound from Seattle, and is home to Olympic National Park, which features hot springs, rainforest, whitecap mountains and the rugged coast. On the Olympic Peninsula, you can explore the westernmost and northwesternmost points of the contiguous United States (which is super cool!). Eloping in Olympic National Park will truly give you the best of so many landscapes and terrains. Like I mentioned earlier, this stretch of Washington land features hot springs, rainforests, whitecap mountaintops and a rugged coastline. You could begin your Seattle elopement day on the coast and end it at sunset at a mountain overlook! There are so many possibilities of what your Seattle elopement day could look like on the Olympic Peninsula.
So, there you have it! The best places, all within three hours from the city, that are perfect for your own Seattle elopement or adventure wedding. Ready to plan your own Seattle elopement? Let’s do this thing! Contact me and let the adventure begin!
Ready to explore more elopements, weddings and adventures? Wander away below!
Between the Pine is an adventure elopement and wedding photography brand created by Mollie Adams. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Mollie travels with her camera in hand to document “I dos” in epic landscapes including Washington, Oregon, California, and Hawaii.