Everything you need to know for How to Elope to the North Cascades National Park, from getting your Washington State Marriage License to finding your North Cascades Elopement Photographer.
It’s safe to say that if you’re planning to elope to the North Cascades, there’s a decent chance of rain. Afterall, it rains there 157 days a year on average! You shouldn’t let that stop you though. Just be prepared, just in case, and be ready to go with the flow on the day, like Michelle & Chris.
For the second day of Michelle & Chris’ North Cascades elopement, there really was no escaping the rain, but just like day 1, they didn’t let that steal their joy. From detouring to find a new ceremony spot with their nearest & dearest in tow, to rainy day wedding portraits, it was truly a beautiful day.
So, what else do you need to know about eloping to the North Cascades National Park?
HOW TO ELOPE TO THE NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK
Choose a Time & Place
The North Cascades isn’t short of incredible places where you can elope, so it’s a great idea to start by exploring your options. Once you’ve decided on a location, it will also be easier to decide on the time of year!
Something that can help with choosing exactly where you want to get married in the North Cascades, and at what time of year, is considering what else you might like your elopement to include. In my recent post on How to Plan an Intentional Elopement, I talked about thinking about your best day.
Your wedding or elopement should be one of the best days of your life so far, and the best way to do that is by including things you love! Perhaps you’d love to have a picnic or go boating? In that case, it might be best to plan for the North Cascades’ driest months of July and August. Maybe you love the rainy-day forest aesthetic, like Michelle & Chris’ day? Then you can plan for May, June or September. Either way, I find it helps to imagine what you’d like to include in your day and work from there.
North Cascades Special Use Permit & Washington Marriage License
Once you’ve decided where to elope in the North Cascades, it’s time to get your Washington wedding license and your North Cascades special use permit!
How to: Washington State Marriage License
Washington State has a mandatory 3-day waiting period for marriage licenses, but once issued, they are valid for 60 days. For this reason, I always recommend applying in advance. No worries if you live outside of Washington – you can easily apply, and pay the $62 fee, online. Technically, it doesn’t matter which county you apply through either, as long as you get your marriage license from a county within Washington State. That said, it’s a good idea to check which county is closest to your chosen location within the park as you do need to return your signed marriage license to the same county you got it from!
How to: North Cascades Special Use Permit
Like most US National Parks, you’ll most likely need a Special Use Permit to get married or elope at the North Cascades. It’s easy enough to get though, simply fill out the form and pay a $50 application fee. You can find all the information you need here.
Choose Your North Cascades Elopement Photographer
Finally, choose your North Cascades Elopement Photographer! In fact, if you want help with all of this – from choosing the best spot and time of year, to planning unique touches and applying for permits, it’s worth skipping straight to this step! Most adventure elopement photographers, myself included, are more than happy to help. We have a wealth of knowledge about trails, beautiful spots, ways to make your day unique to you, and more. More than just your elopement photographer, I’m here to help you plan a truly amazing day.
Are you ready to Elope to the North Cascades Elopement? I’d love to help you with that, and document your day for your to look back on for life. Just reach out to get started!
Did you love Michelle & Chris’ rainy elopement day at North Cascades National Park? Let them know in the comments below!