What is a Hiking Elopement?

You hike, and then you elope. That’s it. :)

I kid, I kid, I won’t end it there. A hiking elopement is when you plan to do some sort of hike, whether that be 1/2 a mile or 10 miles, on your elopement day to find solitude, great views, and be in a place that you love. Some couples are avid hikers that want to hit the trail to get married, and some couples just want to spend some time on their elopement day out in nature. Both are totally valid!!

Washington, Oregon, and the Pacific Northwest, in general, are STELLAR places to plan a hiking elopement. As long as you pick a trail, path, or region that requires some type of walking to it that takes more than a few minutes, you’ve basically got yourself a hiking elopement!

Hiking elopement can be just you and your boo, or you can invite your guests if you feel like they would enjoy themselves spending the day hiking with you. Another option is to spend part of your day hiking with just each other and then spend the rest of your day doing more accessible activities with your guests! Best of both worlds, right?!

An Overview of How to Plan a Washington Hiking Elopement:

You might not know where to start when planning this hike on your elopement day, but that’s why I’m here!! Let’s break down an overview of what you should be doing first:

How long do you want your hike to take on your elopement day?
How much distance do you want to cover and how much elevation gain do you want to climb?
What type of scenery do you want to see on your hike?
Are there any wedding or special use permits required to legally get married in the area?
Are you bringing any guests? What are their abilities?
Do you want to be completely alone and away from other hikers, or do you not mind if some folks pass by your ceremony?

Yeah, those are a ton of questions, but I’m going to cover them all below!

Ask your Elopement Photographer for Help Planning!

If you’re hoping to do any kind of hike on your elopement day, make sure your photographer is familiar with taking couples out on the trails. Ask them (aka, me!) these questions to make sure they’re prepared:

Are you an avid hiker? Will you have any trouble completing our trail with us and your gear?
How much experience do you have in the outdoors? Do you have any first aid training in case something happens?
Do you follow Leave No Trace principles when shooting with us?
How do you help us plan this hike so we enjoy ourselves?

My answers to the above questions:

Hell YES I’m a hiker! Hiking elopements are some of my favorite experiences I’ve been lucky enough to photograph. I will always be honest with my abilities and recommendations because I’m not about to be playing catch up for an entire day with y’all (and slow down your day!).
I’ve been car camping since I was a kid and spent 2021 doing 52 hikes to really push myself to get out there more (mostly solo hikes!). I’m also certified in Wilderness First Aid so that if you, your guests, or I get injured or need help, I can provide help and assess the severity of a situation.
Leave No Trace is my shit! Like seriously, it’s a biiiiiiiiig part of my personal ethics, which overflows into how I run my business. I’ll always do everything I can to protect our Earth and get you some kickass photos without leaving lasting damage.
I can do everything from recommending specific hikes to teaching you how to pack your backpack with your wedding attire, how to attach your bouquet to your backpack so it stays fresh, and even share some snack recs if you’re not sure how much or what to bring. Plus, I like to plan for extra time on hike days so that we’re not rushing or stressing, leaving you a big, sweaty mess that is frazzled from a too-difficult hike. I’ve got you!!

Tips for Choosing the Perfect Hike for your Elopement

It’s no surprise that picking a hike that you’ll love is a crucial part of the process. But where do you start if you don’t already have a hike you picture yourself doing on your elopement day? Let’s get into it.

First thing’s first: Is there a hike that you already love that’d be achievable on your wedding day? One that has everything you want - views, the right distance and elevation gain, scenery you love, and is in an area that meets your other elopement day needs? THEN SKIP THIS SECTION, SILLY!

If there isn’t a trail that’s screaming at you right now, then let’s do an exercise. Go to https://www.alltrails.com/ and type Washington in the search bar (or Oregon, or a general region you like). Clik on the map view, and then filter out the shit you don’t want! Set the distance, elevation gain, type of hike, etc. Under ‘more filters’, you’ll find some awesome categories like attractions and suitability that usually help me narrow things down even further.

You’ve got a starting point! Zoom in around the state and see if any stand out to you. Look through photos especially (there’s nothing more real than user-submitted photos of a trail’s best features), read some trip reports, and get a feel for the trail. If you’re looking in Washington specifically, Washington Trails Association is a great place to cross-reference trail stats and get more trip reports and photos. Bookmark a few and keep this list closeby.

Other things to consider when choosing your hike:

If you’re bringing guests, will they realistically be able to complete this hike without doing an intense workout (unless that’s what you all want, haha!)?
Think about the time of year you’ll be eloping - does it seem crowded during peak seasons? What’s the weather like during that time of year? Is there risk of snow/avalanches, wildfires, landslides, etc? I can definitely help with this question if you’re not sure!
What is parking like? If you’re bringing guests, think about where each person will park their car or if you can carpool to have better luck finding a parking spot.
How far of a drive is the trailhead from the rest of your elopement day plans? Either from your cabin or guests’ hotels, from the restaurant you want to have dinner at, or is it down a long, pothole-filled, gravel road that will take extra time to navigate?

You should be able to pick out a handful of hikes (or maybe even THE ONE!) with this info, and I’m more than happy to weigh in on your choices and do some more research for you to help you decide.

How Do I Find an Officiant That Will Hike With Us?

This can get a little tricky, but I have suggestions! You can either find someone who truly does do hiking elopements as an officiant, have one of your guests get ordained (Universal Life Church makes it super easy) and lead the ceremony for you, OR I can sign as your legal officiant on your marriage license!

A little more info about having me officiate:

Washington and Oregon both recognize my ordination from Universal Life Church as a valid way to get married. It might not be the same for every state, so look into the laws for your specific elopement location!
While I can’t lead you through a ceremony (readings, prompting your vows and ring exchange, etc.), I’m required to walk you through the declaration of intent (“do you take so and so…”) as well as the pronouncement at the end (“I now pronounce you…”) to make it official. And then signing your marriage license of course!
If it’s truly just the two of you (or your only guests are under 18), we’ll need to find two witnesses to sign the marriage license. This can be other hikers, park employees, guests you’re only seeing for part of the day, or literally anyone we can find. Don’t stress over this part!

Hiking Elopement Activities

Maybe you want to make hiking a big part of your elopement day, but what if you want to include some other type of activity? You totally should consider what other fun things you can incorporate into your wedding day that will make it that much better.

Here are some of my favorite ideas:

Pack a picnic (and maybe some champagne/sparkling juice) that you can share
Start or end your hiking elopement at a campsite, glampsite, or cabin
Get out on the water! Kayaking, canoeing, or paddleboarding are a great idea. Hint: You don’t have to be in your wedding attire the whole day!
Have a campfire and roast s’mores
Hire a private chef to have dinner ready for you when you get back to your lodging

Getting the Right Permit for Your Ceremony Location

You’d be surprised how many trails and hikes fall either in national parks, state parks, national forests, or private property. Basically ALL of them. Which means that you’ll need to get permission from the proper permitting office/contact to get the correct permit.

Generally speaking, here’s how to find out what permit you need:

National Parks - Contact the permitting office for that specific National Park either by phone or email. They likely get dozens of permit applications a day and can answer your questions about permitting directly, plus they’ll send you in the right direction to apply and pay the permit fee (where required). You may need to apply pretty far in advance for this permit (anywhere from 4 weeks to 3 months ahead of time), so be sure to ask what the timeframe looks like.
State Parks - Typically because they’re smaller than national parks, I’d recommend reaching out to a general customer service phone number or email at the state park to get more info. They might have a dedicated permitting office, but you might be able to talk to any park employees to get an answer and apply.
National Forests - There should be a contact at any of the national forest ranger stations that can assist with permitting and either answer your questions directly or point you in the right direction.
Private property - Reach out directly to the property owner and ask if you’re allowed to have a ceremony and guests, if there are any specific limitations, anything you should know about the trail, if they require any kind of application or permit fee, and an emergency contact just in case.

When to Start and End Your Hiking Elopement

Well folks, that’s the big question! Are you someone who wants to hike in the dark before the sun comes up so you can say “I Do!” right as the sun peeks over the horizon? Or do you want to watch the sun go down and witness golden hour with your partner at the end of the day? Or are you more of a ‘middle of the day’ kind of person who wants to sleep in a little, spend the late morning and early afternoon hiking, and be back in time for dinner? Once you decide on that, we’ll be able to narrow down when to start!

For all hiking elopements, I strongly recommend planning for about 1 hour per mile that we’ll be hiking together. Maybe a little less if it’s pretty flat or if you’re not bringing any guests, maybe a little more if you have less-avid hikers in your group or if there’s difficult terrain like scrambling. That allows us enough time to take our time, stop for photos along the way, get to your ceremony location and get you two ready, have your ceremony, take photos around the area afterward, and do any activities you’re interested in like a picnic or watching the sun go down.

For example, if you want to hike the Skyline Trail Loop in Mount Rainier National Park and you’d like to be up at Panorama Point right around sunrise (~6am) in August, I’d recommend we leave at about 4am. That way we have 2 hours to get to Panorama Point, get you both ready for the ceremony, and be prepared for that gooooood light from the sun coming up. Just an example if you wanna catch the sunrise!

How Do I Prepare My Guests for My Hiking Elopement?

Bringing guests on your hiking elopement can turn out SO special and memorable if you plan ahead and prepare them so they know exactly what to expect.

Check in with each guest one-on-one to make sure that the distance and elevation gain is going to be doable and not a huge strain
Share the packing list I have for you (scroll down!) with them so they can also have a backpack that will keep them comfy and happy
Be very clear about expectations - where you’re meeting, what time, what to do in case of emergency, etc. A lot of locations my couples choose to elope have little to no cell service, so have a game plan just in case someone doesn’t show up and we can’t call them. I’m talking printed maps, an itinerary, and telling them to show up earlier than the time we actually need to start the hike.
Make sure they have comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes to hike in - they might want to consider changing into their more formal outfits once we arrive at the ceremony location just like you (see below for more on this!)
Give them a quick reminder about practicing Leave No Trace on your elopement day!! I have a guide specifically for this that you can link them to: The Leave No Trace Guide for Eloping Couples

Where do I get ready? Should I wear my wedding outfit on the hike?

My general recommendation is if we’re going to be hiking more than about a mile out to our chosen location, I’d say it’s a good idea to wear comfortable hiking clothes and pack your wedding attire in your backpack. There are two reasons for this- you won’t be getting your outfits dirty/sweaty on the way before your ceremony, and it’s MUCH more comfortable to hike in comfy clothes anyway!

If you’re planning to change into your wedding outfit at the ceremony or photo location, you’ll have to come to terms with the fact that you’ll be at least somewhat exposed out in the wilderness. Most folks who have spent their fair share of time outdoors, whether that be hiking, backpacking, biking, climbing, etc., have relieved themselves in nature, and this is no different! I’ll help you find a partially covered/blocked area to change if you’re uncomfortable, or we can have someone hold up a blanket or towel to give you some privacy.

In all honesty, changing your clothes out in nature isn’t a big deal to most people, so I fully support just embracing it and changing into your wedding clothes however you feel like!

How do I pack my wedding outfit in my backpack?

I’M SO GLAD YOU ASKED. Essentially, you have two options:

Put the suit/dress/jumpsuit/entire outfit into the garment bag that it likely came in and attach it to your pack. If you don’t have one, they’re super cheap! It’s a great way to protect your outfit without adding a ton of weight to your load.
Carefully pack the outfit and put it right in your backpack! My best advice is to roll whatever attire you have, including dresses, and put it at the very top of your pack with everything else below it. There’s a chance things could get wrinkled with this option, but it will work.

How do I pack my flowers in my backpack?

This isn’t as difficult as it might sound!! Prepare your flowers the day before by keeping them refrigerated and protected (not squished in the back of your car or something similar). On your elopement day, keep the flowers in water until the very last minute we leave the car - we’ll then wrap the stems in either wet paper towels or a wet rag to keep them fresh, and we’ll put them in your backpack either in an accessible pocket with a zipper or in some bungee cord if your pack has it. Pro tip: bring a waterproof dry bag to put the stems of the flowers in so nothing else in your bag gets wet!

What should I pack in my backpack for my hiking elopement?

I send all of my couples a detailed packing list in the weeks leading up to their hiking elopements, but I’ll give you a general breakdown of what I would recommend!

Snacks and more water than you think you’ll need - the more carbs the better!
Layers! Weather can be astonishingly unpredictable in the PNW, so be prepared with a rain layer, a warm layer, and potentially a cute umbrella
Comfort items - sunscreen, bug spray, extra socks, etc.
Marriage license and a BLACK pen (blue won’t work!)
All wedding items - everything from your wedding outfits and accessories to ring boxes to vow books
Headlamps! Even if we’re shooting during the day, it’s better to be prepared for delays or being in the wilderness after dark in an emergency. Extra batteries too!

Truly just walk yourselves through the elopement day hike and what would make you the most comfortable and happiest. If that means bringing a bottle of champagne to pop after the ceremony, then make some room for it in your pack!!

Can I bring my dog on a hiking elopement?

Short answer: YES.

Long answer: MAYBE. The biggest factor that will play into this is where you choose to have your elopement. Most national parks don’t allow dogs anywhere other than campgrounds and paved areas, though there are some that will work. National forests are more lenient and we can likely find a place where your pup can come. State parks are sometimes yes, sometimes no when it comes to pets.

Other things to consider:

Will you have someone to hold/handle your dog the entire day? A friend or family member is best for this. You probably won’t want to be holding a leash and paying attention to your dog during your ceremony!
Packing extra water (and snacks, duh) for your dog will add weight to your own packs.
We’ll have to pack out all dog waste, so keep that in mind when you think about what you want to be smelling for potentially 99% of your hike

General Trail Etiquette

If you’re not a super avid hiker (which is totally okay! Hiking elopements are for everyone who wants to!) or you just want to brush up on your hiking etiquette, I’ve laid out some of the most important things to remember when hiking and eloping:

This is your wedding day and while I believe it should be a suuuuuper special day, part of Leave No Trace is to be considerate of others! There’s no way I can guarantee that a spot we had chosen isn’t already occupied by hikers eating their lunch or that people won’t pass by your ceremony if we’re close to a popular trail
Whoever is hiking uphill has the right of way - that means we’ll yield to other hikers on our way down or even on steady declines that sometimes happen before reaching the endpoint. Same goes for when we’re hiking uphill - other hikers should yield to us! It’s always easy enough to communicate with them in the moment. Shouting “we’re taking a water break!” on an uphill climb will let passersby know that they’re good to overtake the trail.
Music shouldn’t be played while we’re hiking - if you want to have a first dance to a song I’m on board with that!
All waste, including toilet paper, generally needs to be packed out! If we’re in an area where it’s allowed to dig a cat hole and bury waste, I’ll have a trowel on hand, but plan ahead for all other waste

Now let’s plan your very own hiking elopement!!

With these tips, you’re going to have one hell of an elopement day, I promise. My 100-page Ultimate Elopement Guide that you’ll receive after booking is an AWESOME way to learn more about eloping and get your questions answered when it comes to specifics and details. It’s a lot of information, but past clients have found it super helpful!