This was not our original plan — but it ended up even better.

Lauren and Katie came to me not knowing exactly where they wanted to elope somewhere beautiful. We landed on a spot in Olympic that could offer a mix of scenery — then the Bear Gulch Fire happened.

We had to pivot. I started showing them other areas around Washington and they were really drawn to Leavenworth, especially after they told me they have a thing for tourist traps. And ice cream.

As I shared more and started to put together the new plans, they told me they were digging Plan B even more than Plan A!

We started their day at their Airbnb where they got ready together — plus some snuggle time with their dog Shiloh, who came with us for our whole adventure. We set out — the day was a little smoky but not too bad, not bad enough to affect air quality. We were really thankful, as we were watching fire and smoke reports from another nearby fire. (That’s September for you.)

Then of course it started to thunder. Electric storms are pretty rare in this region, too. But thankfully I knew where to take them: instead of hiking the whole trail as we had planned, I was able to take them to a quiet — totally secret, totally secluded — ceremony site that required zero hiking. Close enough to our cars in case the storm turned dangerous. (It didn’t!)

It rained during their ceremony. During a reading of a poem talking about rain on your wedding day. I can’t make this up.

The booms of distant thunder, dark skies — it felt a little surreal. Electric. I can usually keep it together when I’m officiating — this one got me tearing up. I had chills. I have chills now just thinking about it. (For real — these ceremony photos are some of my all-time favorites.)

After the storm passed we were able to enjoy parts of the trail, enjoying the sunset by the river, photos with their dog and photos of each other with their pink Camp Snap camera — then I handed them my camera so actually some of the portraits later on were taken by each other!

Original plans had them ending the day with ice cream back at their Airbnb, but here they got to go to an ice cream shop (Whistlepunk Ice Cream Co.) in the most idyllic quaint little Bavarian village Leavenworth, surrounding by twinkling lights and the night sky. Grabbed some takeout pasta from a restaurant then headed down to the riverside for a late night tailgate.

(Because yes, of course, dessert before dinner. It’s your wedding day!)

Lauren and Katie are two incredibly kind, fun, spontaneous people — they were absolutely down for whatever and placed a lot of trust in me to help them with this adventure. They didn’t mind their dress trains getting dirty. Didn’t mind the rain or the storm. They were simply just happy to be here, happy to be getting married. Happy with each other. The whole day felt like a vacation, they told me — sight-seeing, exploring, heading into town, ending the day with a tailgate picnic which is something they love to do together often.

Am I allowed to pick favorites? This one felt really, really special to me.

Getting ready at the Leavenworth Airbnb

pink accents — dog!! — cozy cabin vibes

Adventures by the river

soft overcast light — green evergreens + touches of fall color — quiet seclusion

Hidden gem ceremony site

let’s get married on a Tuesday
with a six-piece from Harold’s as our witness.
let’s get married at noon & then again at three-thirty
when the school day lets out & a whole block
of dandelions flower our ceremony. let’s
get married under a full moon & then again
under a new moon, so every celestial being
can witness our vows. love, one wedding
isn’t enough for me. i want to propose
again & again. on a Wednesday because
you did the dishes. on a Thursday because
we woke up next to each other again. say yes.
say less. i’ll be on one knee asking you
to share in the delight of knowing each other.
let’s get married because Chicago. because
St. Louis is a city on a map. because your name
is my favorite word. let’s get married because
there are vows we can only make in the dark.
because we don’t need a witness to say i do.
let’s get married because it’s raining
& that’s supposed to be good luck. mi amor,
mi cielo, mi vida, let’s get married
in every language we can & can’t speak.
under every god. my god, the way you look
at me is a miracle i believe in. because
we get one life. one. say yes. then, say yes
again. let’s get married after we get married
because underneath every word i write
there is one word i carve into every desk.
one word i tag onto every building on every block
of my heart. marry me: make me (no, not complete),
but a little more alive than i’ve ever been.

Back to the river

soft sunset light — golden tones — snapshots taken of each other

Ice cream in Leavenworth + tailgate picnic by the river

string lights + quiet streets — pasta picnic under the stars — a lovely way to end a lovely day

Want to Elope in Leavenworth?

If you want golden forests, expansive views, and flexible ceremony options, Leavenworth and the Okanogan–Wenatchee National Forest may be the place for you. A few important things to know:

Start with a flexible plan — This area offers a wide range of landscapes, from alpine lakes to golden ponderosa forests and high desert ridges. I help couples choose the right zone for the season, accessibility, and the experience they want.
Choose a weekday — Popular trailheads can get busy on weekends, especially during wildflower and larch seasons. Oktoberfest and Christmastime bring lots of crowds to Leavenworth. Weekdays keep things peaceful.
Permits — Depending on your plans you may need a special use permit from the national forest. Get in touch and I’ll help you figure out what you need.
Seasonality — Seasonality can be tricky here in high-elevation alpine zones, between snow, road/trail access, and crowd management. Typically July through October are the best windows for best alpine conditions, though this area does offer options year-round that can work — tell us what you have in mind and I’ll help find a date and location that works for you.
For even more planning tips — check out my North Cascades Elopement Guide!