Mount Rainier Hiking Elopement // Courtney + Ryan

Elopement
Written By Bethany Wolf

Courtney and Ryan originally had booked me for a large wedding with all of their family and friends at a venue in Washington. With COVID, they pushed their wedding date out but still wanted to continue with having a ceremony. So, we began planning an elopement for them in Mount Rainier National Park with 3 of their closest friends in attendance.

Courtney, Ryan, and their friends rented a cute little cabin outside of the park in Ashford where they spent the weekend together to celebrate Courtney and Ryan. I met Courtney, Ryan, and their friends at their cabin while they were getting ready. Courtney’s best friend helped her with her make-up and hair and helped her into her dress. Ryan’s best friend helped him put on his boutonnière on the porch of the cabin while Courtney was in the cabin putting on her boots.

Once everyone was finished with their final touches, we all loaded up in our vehicles and headed up to Sunrise in Mount Rainier. It was about a 45 minute drive from their cabin in Ashford and we arrived to the park a few hours before sunset. Courtney and Ryan had opted for an insanely beautiful viewpoint of Mount Rainier off of Nisqually Vista Trail that was a brief 1 mile hike from the parking lot.

Courtney’s best friend officiated the wedding with the most beautiful ceremony. She played voice recordings from friends and family that couldn’t be there on their wedding day. They shared stories and their love for Courtney and Ryan which had us all in tears. Then, finally, after a COVID wedding postponement and then planning an elopement on their original wedding date, Courtney and Ryan shared their first kiss as husband and wife in front of a snow-peaked mountain top in one of the most stunning National Parks in the United States. What better way to start your marriage together than surrounded by nature?!

After the ceremony we hiked back up to the parking lot and up the Sourdough Ridge Trail for their couples portraits, portraits with friends, a champagne spray, and a toast!

After Courtney, Ryan, and their friends took a few group photos, the fog started to roll in on us and we could only see a few feet around us! It was insane how quickly the fog came and how dense it was. Courtney opted for a fun little bouquet toss with her friends and then we walked down the trail a bit to be near some beautiful pines for their couples portraits. After snuggling up and sharing lots of laughs, Ryan broke out the champagne for some nice spray action. One little tip for your elopement day is to bring two bottles of champagne, a cheap one for spraying and a more expensive one for drinking! Or you can opt for what Courtney and Ryan decided on and brought one bottle of champagne for spraying and then they brought Tequila that they had gotten on a trip to Mexico! They broke open the bottle and toasted with their friends to an amazing day!

Lace bridal gown with a silver beaded belt hanging from a tree with shadows of branches and leaves casted on the dress. Orange, yellow, red, and blue wildflower bouquet laying on a log next to a short veil and wedding bands. Oval cut emerald.
Orange, red, blue, and yellow wildflower bouquet laying on a log beside a short veil, oval cut emerald engagement ring, and blue Vasque hiking boots
White his and her vow books with gold foil lettering on a moss rock. Customized mr. and mrs. glasses with a bottle of Mezcaloteca.
Bride getting her blush and lip gloss retouched by her friend. Flower hair piece with a half up/half down curled hairstyle.
Bride's friend helping her tie her silver beaded belt onto her dress. Bride looking into the mirror and putting on her diamond teardrop dangle earrings.
Groom's friend helping him attach his boutonnière to his white collared shirt beside his suspenders outside on a porch.
Top of Mount Rainier in the distance behind green pines with a flower filled grassy meadow.
Bride, groom, and three guests hiking down Nisqually Vista Trail with their backpacks with mountains in the distance and flower-filled grassy areas on both sides.
Bride walking down stone steps to Nisqually Vista for her ceremony while holding a orange, red, and yellow wildflower bouquet and wearing blue hiking boots.
Bride and groom facing each other while their friend begins their ceremony at Nisqually Vista with Mount Rainier behind them.
Groom laughing during ceremony while holding his vow book.
Bride and friend who is officiating their ceremony are laughing and looking at their other two friends in attendance with Mount Rainier in the background. Far away photograph with two friends, officiant, and bride and groom during ceremony.
Two of the friends in attendance of the ceremony reading part of the ceremony from a white sheet of paper.
Groom reading his vows from his vow book while his bride listens.
Bride crying while while reading her vows to her groom from her vow book.
Bride and groom holding hands as officiant continues the ceremony. Officiant wipes the bride's tears away with her fingers.
Bride and groom exchanging wedding bands in front of mount rainier. Groom throws his head back laughing while holding his bride's hands and officiant is reading the ceremony script.
Bride and groom share their first kiss in front of Mount Rainier.
bride and groom hold hands and raise their arms after sharing their first kiss as husband and wife in front of Mount Rainier.
Bride and groom carry their jackets and water bottles for the hike back to the parking lot.
Group portraits with bride, groom, and friends who attended their elopement as the fog rolls into Mount Rainier National Park.
Bride and groom wear masks and pose for a portrait as a celebration of marrying during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bride and groom hold hands and groom leads his bride down a foggy trail as he looks back at his bride and she smiles.
Bride and groom embrace and kiss on a foggy trail with pines in the distance.
Groom holds his bride from behind as she reaches up to grab the side of his cheek and they sway side-to-side together.
Bride and groom embrace and give one another Eskimo kisses on a foggy trail with pines in the distance.
Close-up shot of bride touching noses with her groom and wrapping her arms around the back of his neck while smiling at him.
Bride throwing her bouquet behind her to her three friends in attendance of their elopement. Their friend who catches the bouquet raises the bouquet in celebration.
Bride with a short veil draped over her face for close-up bridal portraits.
Bride and groom smiling and then leaning in for a kiss underneath the bride's veil.
Groom spraying a champagne bottle beside his bride in front of large pines on the side of a trail.
Groom and bride taking a sip straight from the champagne bottle after spraying most of the bottle.
Groom holding his bride from behind around the waist and kissing her neck as the bride smiles. Groom tucks the bride's hair from behind her ear as they touch noses and smile at one another.
Bride and groom flipping their ring fingers at the camera to show off their wedding bands.
Bride and groom sitting on a log with a pink, blue, and white aztec-style blanket draped over it with they personalized glasses, Mezcaloteca, and the bride's bouquet sit beside them as they give Eskimo kisses.
Bride and groom looking at their bottle of Mezcaloteca, opening it, and then both smelling the tequila.
Groom pouring a shot of tequila for his bride and himself in their personalized mr. and mrs. glasses.
bride and groom raising a toast and taking a sip of their Mezcaloteca tequila from their personalized mr. and mrs. glasses.
Bride and groom raising a toast with their three friends as their friends hold red solo cups and the bride and groom have their personalized mr. and mrs. glasses.

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Bethany Wolf
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Courthouse Vista Elopement in Sedona // Kyleigh + Andy
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Cabin Elopement // Mount Rainier National Park // Cherish + John