If you’re here, you’re probably trying to get a feel for Washington’s climate, including what to expect when it comes to temperatures, snow and rain, being in the mountains in the winter months, and just generally get an idea of when is going to be the best month to elope in Washington. I’m here to share tips about making decisions, areas that are more tricky to plan for, mountain passes that close and when they typically open, where to find webcams that will show you a live feed of the weather, and suggest places to elope that are accessible all year round. Listen- I’ve got you!! There are a ton of weather anomalies out here that you wouldn’t know if you didn’t live here, and probably wouldn’t think to ask! I’m here to answer your questions and hopefully help you to narrow down exactly what month of the year to elope in the beautiful state of Washington.

Also, good on you for doing your research! I know it’s tough to plan even a small, intimate wedding, but I love providing resources for both my clients and just folks out there looking for help! I really do enjoy sharing my experiences and knowledge whenever I can based on my past mistakes and hard lessons learned so you don’t have to go through some of the same things I have before.

Let’s dive into each month!

January and February

It’s winter in Washington! This can mean one of two things:

Prepare for snow at your winter elopement by packing tons of warm layers, snowshoes, microspikes, and maybe even a thermos of tea or coffee to warm you up when you’re at higher elevations. I’d recommend hand and foot warmers, too! Plus a backup pair of clothes just in case you get wet.
Instead of heading up into the mountains, stick to the lowlands, even if they might be expecting rain most days! The Hoh Rainforest is super lush during this time (check out this cute Hoh elopement!), or the coastline will likely be super dramatic and moody with rolling fog and rain. Washington’s high desert is also a great place to consider - you’ll get drier conditions out there, even if there is a little snow! Areas like Vantage and Eastern Washington have much milder temperatures and weather all year round, and while they still see their fair share of snow and rain, it’s statistically much less.

March

Similar weather to January and February but with one added bonus: cherry blossoms!! In mid to late March, cherry blossoms absolutely explode all over the state, including downtown Seattle, Tacoma, and even some wild blossoms out near Cougar Mountain! The colorful blooms don’t last super long, so planning an elopement with the cherry blossoms in mind can be a little tricky.

April

Spring wildflower blooms are common in April, especially in areas like the Columbia River Gorge! Though it’s still a good chance of rain most days, we start seeing more and more sunny days (that bring all us Washingtonians back to life, I swear) and spending more time outside. Bring a waterproof rain layer still!

May

Eloping in May in Washington is perfect if you’re looking for some incredible lowland wildflowers!! You’ll find them everywhere around the state at lower elevations, including in some cities in Puget Sound! You can still expect a fair amount of rain during the month of May, but it’s less often than April and we start to see some really killer greens all around the state. Plus the sunsets get brighter and more colorful when there is less cloud coverage!

June

Considered a ‘shoulder season’, June is definitely one of the trickiest months to navigate when you’re trying to plan something at higher elevations (5,000k+). We’re all ready for summer to start and we’re getting warmer temps in the lowlands, but the snow can be really unpredictable when you start talking about eloping in the mountains.

We could have a particularly warm year where late May/early June are already melting the snowpack a ton, and greenery starts to show up mid to late June! OR you could have a year where the snow pack is so thick that even in late June and early July, the snow is still there (I’m talking 10+ feet) and it’s just something we have to deal with. This means mountain passes closed, National Park roads closed, or entire areas inaccessible or off limits due to the snow and unstable conditions!

Some areas that might not be open or have road closures in the winter months, including May and June (click through to see regularly updated road statuses!):

Artist Point and Mount Baker Ski area (SR 542) - Shown in the photo above, this was taken the first week of July!
Paradise and Sunrise areas at Mount Rainier National Park (and the webcams)
Hurricane Ridge area at Olympic National Park (and the webcams)
Highway 20 through North Cascades National park (Diablo Lake included)
Snoqualmie Pass (I-90), Stevens Pass (Hwy 2), Cayuse Pass (SR 123), Chinook Pass (SR 410)

This is an awesome month to consider other areas of Washington for your elopement - coastal beaches, the rainforest, state parks, and more urban areas!

Remember that even in June, wildfire season can start early and disrupt elopement plans. Having a plan B for summer elopements is key.

Depending on the type of year, this can also be a super hot month - in 2021, Washington state broke its own record for the hottest temperature ever recorded at 120 degrees Fahrenheit!! It’s truly a toss-up when it comes to weather conditions in June.

July

This seems to be a pretty safe month to plan an elopement just about anywhere in Washington, though you still might see some lingering packed snow over 5,000ft. Wildflowers are typically starting to bloom, temps are rising, and the lowlands are beauuuuutiful with plenty of sunny days.

Remember that wildfires are common in July, which might affect your elopement plans with either road closures for safety or hazardous air quality in the area. Back up plan, please!

August

IT’S FINALLY SUMMER IN THE MOUNTAINS! You can expect snow to be gone above 5,000ft, meaning greenery, wildflowers, and most trails and areas are open and ready to explore.

This is typically the most consistently hot month in Washington with daily temps around the state in the 80s and 90s. Think kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding for adventurous elopement day activities! Even a dip in an alpine lake is possible (though they’re still filled with glacier water, so be prepared!!).

September

Honestly, September is a little underrated and should be considered for higher elevation elopements!! Most years have similar weather to August and remain snow-free for most of the month above 5,000ft. Plus those areas are going to start showing off some pretty brilliant fall colors - think entire valleys and meadows filled with reds, oranges, and golds everywhere. PLUS if you wait until late September, there are plenty of gold larches to be found in Washington! Totally worth a hike into the North Cascades or the northern part of Snoqualmie Pass. We’ll have to get up into the higher elevations to find them (think a minimum of 3,000ft), but I can promise you it’s 100% worth the effort to see these beautiful golden conifers.

October

Considered another shoulder month, October can start out very similar to September and still have punchy Autumn colors, but at any point there can be the first snowfall in the mountains, which winds up closing roads and changing the scenery drastically! We have to keep an eye on temperatures and weather forecasts during October to make sure we’re not going to get caught in some nasty weather, but believe me, we can still find plenty of locations that are snow-free and the perfect Fall backdrop!

Things can change quickly at higher elevations, so having a fully flushed out back up plan is necessary.

November and December

November is the wettest month of the entire year! On average, Washington gets the most rain during the month of November, so it’s safe to plan for some kind of rain on your elopement day. And the same goes for December! Not to worry, there are pleeeeenty of thick forests that help keep us drier, and even though you might hear that no one in Washington uses umbrellas, it’s not true! Grab a cute clear or solid print umbrella or two and bring them along just in case.

These are also great months to plan for a winter elopement! If you wanna do some winter activities like cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or even a snowball fight, THEN DO IT! I’ll help you feel prepared with your outfits (I’m talking tons of layers), your footwear (microspikes?!), and other tips like bringing plenty of handwarmers and maybe even a thermos of tea or coffee. Plus navigating mountain roads in the winter can be a little tricky, but I’ve got the resources like mountain pass information, webcams, road closures, and when and where you’re required to have all-terrain tires or even chains. It’s a little more planning, but toooootally worth it when there’s a winter wonderland out there.

Have you decided what month sounds perfect for your elopement?

This is a great resource to refer back to when you do land on a time of year to get married, so be sure to bookmark this one!!

Still not sure? Shoot me an email at van@vangachnang.com. No, seriously, I’m here to help even if you’re not a client. I want to make sure everyone recreates safely, especially when coming into extreme weather in Washington can completely blindside you, it can also be especially dangerous when it comes to wildfires, avalanches, landslides, and other hazardous conditions. I want you to get out there and do it safely!!