When Erica and Jennifer reached out about their elopement plans, they weren’t sure quite on the where. During their first call, they asked me, “Well, where in Washington would you elope?” Which surprisingly I hadn’t been asked before. I told them: the San Juan Islands.

I personally have a deep love for Orcas Island — that’s where my partner and I had our second date and where I proposed; more on that here!

As we were looking through places, Lopez Island kept creeping into the conversation: it is quieter, more rugged, and less ‘touristy’ perhaps than San Juan or Orcas. While Orcas has more of a wooded and mountain feel, and San Juan feels more coastal with the lighthouses — Lopez Island felt like somewhere between, like a little bit of all that. And quieter. It is a true hidden gem. I can’t believe I’m even talking about it online.

I found this spot after we had already come up with a plan for Orcas, though logistically what we wanted to do wasn’t an option over there, at least not for the time of day they were hoping for — these two really wanted to incorporate the sunrise, for the lovely symbolism of a dawning day, a new chapter beginning.

They were so thoughtful with every detail, too — they set up a small altar with flowers, sage, and special mementos from their relationship and families, photos and things that reminded them of the people they love and that love them. During the ceremony there was a call to the four elements and a deep connection to the nature around us. I absolutely love when a couple can find ways to tie in parts of who they are, and make it completely their own.

Also, if I may nerd out for just a moment, this is the first elopement I’ve photographed since purchasing my telephoto macro lens and I now have a renewed love for detail photos — scroll down toward the end for the craziest macro shots! This lens absolutely upped my ring photo game. The diamond detail! The cake frosting! I love how much texture and detail I can now get.

Okay enough words now — I hope you enjoy looking through the photos from their intimate, romantic day at Lopez Island!

Dawn Ceremony in the Cove

early morning moments — moody blue skies — thoughtful, intentional details

Coastal forest & cliff wanderings

mossy trees — green, green, green — moody skies over the water

Unwind at the Rosario Cabin

macro details — cake to celebrate — lil paperwork signing — cozy pajama wind down time

Trip report

Timeframe — early May, morning
Location — undisclosed hidden gem location on Lopez Island
Weather & conditions — overcast and chilly, ~50-60 degrees
Guest count — none!
Lodging — Rosario Cabin on Lopez Island
Hair & makeup — DIY by the brides
Cake — Sweet Craft Bakeshop on Orcas Island
Photography, planning, & officiating — Wilderpines Elopements

Want to Elope in the San Juan Islands?

A few important things to know:

Book your photographer early — Especially for peak season! The San Juan Islands, while stunning, also present some logistical challenges since they are so remote and require special planning. I help couples navigate scheduling and seasonality, weather and tides, ferry schedules and routes, permits and ceremony locations on each of the islands.
Choose a weekday and/or elope in the off-season — Sunrise elopements + weekdays are the secret to privacy. While remote, the islands can still get crowded on weekends and during summer. It’s also a beautiful place to elope in the “off-season”, November through April — the islands are more temperate and have pretty mild conditions and temps year round, especially if you don’t mind a little mood or cloud drama! Wind and tides can also be a big factor on these coastal islands.
Permits — The San Juan Islands has a lot of different parks, all under different land use. Some areas require permits or are super limited on hours, others are more flexible. There might be certain guidelines for days of week, group size, and locations. Get in touch and I’ll help you figure out what you need.
Getting to the islands — Is no simple feat! There are no bridges, so to get to the islands you’ll either need a ferry ride or a seaplane. If you’re flying in, you can rent a car or moped. If you’re driving, the island ferry routes do tend to require reservations, so book early and plan ahead.