If you’re not one to shy away from massive trees, lush overgrowth, and a chance for rain, then the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park is the place for you to elope or have your intimate wedding. You’ll be surrounded by absolutely huge trees no matter where you end up, and you can say you got married in one of the only temperate rain forests in the country! Plus this area is vibrantly green all year round, making for the perfect location to get married in the Winter months in Washington state.

Did you know that the Hoh Rainforest gets about 14 feet of rain every year compared to Seattle’s 36 inches? Now I know what you’re thinking - Washington and Seattle are KNOWN for being rainy and misty, but if you’ve ever visited in the summertime, you know that the majority of rain falls in the Fall, Winter, and Spring months. Which makes for beautiful, dry summers all over the state!!

Facts about Hoh Rainforest:

Home to over 130 species of mosses, lichens, and ferns
The Hoh River (which this rainforest is named after) originates aaaaall the way up at Mount Olympus
Hoh Rainforest is both a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO!

For this specific elopement, Noah and Bridget were on a summer road trip in their custom van that they’d been living out of for a couple of months. They wanted to spend the tail end of their journey getting married, and couldn’t think of a cooler spot than the Hoh Rainforest. I mean, they’re not wrong. Just look at these photos!!

The two got ready separately so as not to spoil their first look among the towering trees, and once they saw each other, we headed out on a trail to get away from the crowds. Once we found a suitable location to fit Noah, Bridget, their officiant, and two guests, they got started with the ceremony and literally everyone cried (including me). Their vows were just too sweet for words!! They cracked open two bottles of lemonade for National Lemonade Day and shared a drink together after exchanging rings. They sealed their ceremony with a kiss and there were hugs all around!

Our group wandered around some other trails in the area like Hall of Mosses and the Spruce Nature Trail for more photos and to take in the giant trees and ground covered with moss. We ended the afternoon back at their decked-out van where they climbed on top with their friends for a photo, danced in the street with each other, and popped a bottle of champagne in pure excitement. What an amazing way to start your lives together!!

Things to consider when eloping in the Hoh Rainforest:

Summer months can be incredibly busy in this area - wait times to get into the park can be over 2 hours on weekends! Very limited parking makes it difficult to fit all the visitors who come to see the rainforest
You’ll need to pay the $30 fee to get into Olympic National Park, or purchase an annual America the Beautiful Pass for $80 that gets you into all national parks in the country!
Be careful not to walk on delicate moss or plants! Practice Leave No Trace by staying on trails and leaving behind everything you find.

TONS more information about eloping in Hoh Rainforest can be found in the Complete Guide to Eloping at Olympic National Park

If you’re ready to plan your own elopement in the Hoh Rainforest, you know what to do, baby!

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