Pacific Northwest Elopement Ideas

Congrats on choosing to elope! It’s a big decision and it takes guts to do the unexpected, buck tradition, and forge your own path.

Now that you’ve decided on eloping, one of the many benefits is having tons more time to enjoy your guests and new spouse’s presence than you would in a traditional wedding. Aside from potentially doing the typical things like first looks, dancing, or hosting a dinner reception afterward, what will you do with all the extra time on your elopement day?

Adventure elopements come in all kinds of forms, and the activities you can do range from a family kayak trip through the Redwoods to a quiet hike in the North Cascades by yourselves. The options are truly endless! Read on for more guidance and inspiration.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT ADVENTURE FOR YOUR ELOPEMENT?

1.     STICK TO YOUR BUDGET

Plan according to your budget. For those on a tighter budget, elope closer to home or combine your elopement with your honeymoon.

There are also tons of free, or nearly free experiences as well. For example, hiking in the Pacific Northwest often means paying for a measly $5 parking permit. This gives you access to amazing views, fire lookouts to spend the night in, and beaches.

Your budget doesn’t have to limit the quality of your day so let your imagination soar.

2.     PERSONAL NEEDS

Do consider your personal needs, as well as your guests. Take into mind what you need to be comfortable, relaxed, and happy. Communicate what these needs are to your adventure elopement photographer so they can provide the best suggestions for you.

3.     FITNESS LEVEL

The last thing I want for you is to be completely exhausted on your elopement day. Be realistic with what you can do vs what you’d like to do. If you love the idea of eloping in the backcountry but hiking up a mountain sounds like it might be a bit too much, consider alternatives like overlanding or flying a helicopter to your ceremony location.

4.     YOUR SKILLS

If you don’t possess the skill to do what you’d like to try on your elopement day, no worries! There are tour guides for almost every experience out there.

5.     BY DESTINATION

If you’re still struggling to narrow down your options, consider what type of weather you’re hoping for, what kind of activities you enjoy, and what type of scenery you’d like to see. Then ask your adventure elopement photographer for suggestions or do some research on your own.

Here are my favorite spots to elope on the West Coast, in Washington, and in Oregon.

6.     LEAVE ROOM FOR SPONTANEITY

No matter how you choose to fill your time on your elopement day, leave some wiggle room for spontaneity. This extra time will help keep things relaxed and allow for unplanned adventures. Sometimes it’s the little moments that take us by surprise that we love the most.

Adventures

Air travel

1. Hot air balloon

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

2. Seaplane in Washington

3. Helicopter

   • Washington

   • Mt. Hood

4. Skydive

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

5. Zipline

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

6. Hang gliding

7. Paraglide

8. Gondola or ski lift ride

   • At Mount Rainier

   • At Mount Hood

9. Arial tram through Portland

Water travel

1. Charter a boat in Washington

   • Sailboat

   • Gondola

2. Ride a ferry

3. White water rafting

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

4. Swim at a waterfall

5. Cliff jump

6. Jet skis

7. Tube or float

8. Kayak or paddleboard

   • Make it a bioluminescence tour in Washington:

     • San Juan Islands

     • Bellingham

     • Olympia

9. Parasail

10. Hot springs

11. Hot tub boat rental in Seattle

Travel by foot

1. Hike

2. Backpack

3. Use your own backpacking gear

   • Hire a tour guide like this one

   • Rent backpacking gear

   • Drop camp — where someone else carries in and sets up your camp

   • Reserve a fire lookout

4. Rock Climb

5. Biking

6. Canyoneer the North Cascades

7. Slackline

8. Longboard

9. Summit Mount Saint Helens or another volcano

10. Explore a cave, like this one

Snow Travel

1. Sleigh ride

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

2. Sled or tube

3. Snowshoe

4. Cross country ski

5. Snowmobiles

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

6. Ski or snowboard

7. Snowcat

• Mount Hood, Oregon

• Lake Anthony, Oregon

Other modes of travel

1. Overlanding

   • By ATV in Washington

   • By ATV in Oregon

2. Road trip

3. Rent an epic getaway car

 Animals

1. Whale Watching

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

2. Horseback riding

   • In Washington

3. Pet Wolves in Washington

 Make it tasty

1. Hire a private chef

2. Have a gourmet dinner

3. Hire a gourmet picnic set up in Seattle, rain or shine

4. Pack a picnic yourself like these two did

Other ideas

1. Camp

2. Glamp

   • In Washington

   • In Oregon

3. Meditate

4. Yoga

5. Make your own wedding bands together (I recommend doing this prior to your elopement as it takes an entire day)

6. Bonfire

7. Stargaze

8. Get your friends and family involved

9. Stay in an amazing Airbnb

   • In Washington

     • Treehouse

     • Historic Boat

     • Private island

   • In Oregon

     • Treehouse

10. Your favorite activity

Browse the archive or search for specific topics (try “Mount Rainier National Park”, “beach” or “LGBTQ+”).