Adventurous Olympic National Park Elopement Photography feat. everything from kayaking to a coastal picnic, plus tips for How to Embrace Your Elopement.
One thing’s for sure – Chloe & Tyler really know how to make the most of an elopement! This beautiful pair and I first met for their engagement adventure session in Acadia National Park. Their engagement session was part of a week-long holiday exploring Acadia and its surrounds, and well… They loved it so much they decided to buy a house and move there!! After their engagement session, they decided to plan their elopement at Olympic National Park. Chloe & Tyler had always dreamed of getting married in the Pacific Northwest, and they were keen to keep exploring American’s National Parks, making Olympic the perfect location.
OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Embrace Your Elopement
I’m a firm believer that an elopement doesn’t need to be just a single day, especially if you’re planning an adventurous elopement! You could plan a two-day elopement with your photographer by your side, or you could make like Chloe & Tyler and plan a 2-week road trip around your wedding day. They left from their home in Pennsylvania and spent the leadup to their wedding day hitting all the parks in Washington. They didn’t just embrace their elopement through travel though.
Chloe & Tyler also tailored their day to suit them, and didn’t let any traditional rules or expectations get in the way. From jumping in some kayaks to paddle around Lake Quinault between their ceremony and portrait session, to planning a beautiful picnic featuring a Pendleton throw inspired by, and named after, Olympic National Park. These two knew how to create an elopement that was truly unique and special to them.
So, how can you best embrace your elopement? Just make like Chloe & Tyler!! Throw out the rulebook and create a day filled with beautiful personal touches that the two of you will love.
Olympic National Park Elopement Photography
Olympic National Park is probably most famous for its super beautiful coastline. Seriously, Olympic is home to some of my favorite beaches of all time! There is so much more to this park though, which covers almost a million acres of land. Its wilderness can seem endlessly diverse, boasting snow-capped mountains, rivers, rainforests, lakes, and wild beaches. Of course, all of these elements come together to make Olympic National Park Elopement Photography something truly special. For Chloe & Tyler’s elopement, we mostly explored the coastal areas, including my absolute favorite, Ruby Beach. The water perfectly reflects one of the sea stacks which is so much fun to play with.
How to Elope: Olympic National Park
Like most US National Parks, you will need a permit to get married in Olympic National Park. It’s an easy process though, so there’s no need to worry! Simply fill out the Special Use Permit Application, which you can find at this link, and email it to the Olympic National Park office. There is a processing fee of $50-100 that needs to be paid with your application, as well as regular entrance fees for vehicles.
You’ll also need to obtain your Washington Marriage License, which you can do either online or in person. If you live out of state, you can easily apply online and then pick up and pay (it’s about $70) for your marriage license at least 3 days before your wedding date.
And then all that’s left to do is plan something epic! A good Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer should be able to help you with that, from choosing the best locations for you to sourcing local vendors. Best of all, they’ll document your day beautifully so you can look back on your epic day for the rest of your life.
Would you like to plan your own Olympic National Park Elopement Photography? I’d love to help you plan and document your epic day! Just get in touch.
Did you love the way Chloe & Tyler made their elopement their own? Or do you have other tips for How Best to Embrace Your Elopement? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.