You must be here because you’re thinking about or have decided to elope in Mt. Rainier National Park. I COMMEND your choice, and I’m so excited for you. Mt. Rainier is other-worldly and such a stunning place to say “I do!”
So where the HECK do you start?!
Choose Your Date
The absolute best time to elope in the park is late July through August if you want summer vibes + wildflowers galore, or September through early October if you want fall vibes! These are, however, peak times, and there may be more crowds. Luckily the 236,000 acre park has PLENTY of various options for your ceremony and photos.
If you don’t mind the park still having a bit of snow, late June through mid-July are also a good option!
To access the park November 1st to May 1st, you must have an AWD vechile and tire chains.
Hire Your Photographer
and by that I mean me, of course. 😉 My elopement packages include location and planning assistance, so I’ll help you even more than this blog post will! Packages start at $4,500 for 3 hours of coverage (which includes travel!)
Book Your Lodging
If you want to stay inside of the park, you have two options– The Paradise Inn, and The National Park Inn. The former is open mid-May through early October, and the latter is open year round!
There are also an abundance of super cool and beautiful AirBnB’s outside but close to the park. I personally love Ashford, as it’s only a few miles from the Nisqually Park entrance (which is less crowded). You can also stay in Packwood! Both are very, very small towns. If you’re wanting to stay somewhere a little more populated, Elbe is about an hour away, and Centralia is about an hour and a half away.
My favorite thing about all the AirBnB options are all the different A-frame cabins. I would recommend staying for at least 4 nights, so you have time to get settled, explore a bit, AND have your elopement.
This my FAVORITE A-frame. I’ve stayed here, and it was a dream.
Choose Your Ceremony Spot
Do you want to hike? Not hike? Do you have family or friends coming, if so, how many of them? Do you mind a few people being around, or do you want as much privacy as possible? These are things to consider when choosing your ceremony location.
The max amount of persons allowed for pre-determined ceremony spots is 12, including officiant, photographer, and/or any other vendors.
A few spots I recommend…
- Tipsoo Lake (Easy)
- Skyline Trail @ Paradise (Hard, but worth it)
- Ricksecker Point (Easy, you just drive up!)
- Sunrise Point (Moderate)
Ceremony Rules
Ceremony and photography must occur on durable surface (such as trail, rock, snow, or pavement) to avoid erosion or damage to fragile meadows.
- Impede the activities of other park visitors.
- Areas may not be roped off or blocked in any way to the general public.
- Include the throwing of rice, confetti, etc.
- Include seeding flowers, or any plants on the WA State noxious weed list.
- All equipment must be requested and pre-approved.
Permits & Fees
The fee to get into the park is $30 per vehicle. You can also get an annual pass for $55!
During the summer months and into earth fall, there is a daily timed entry reservation for Sunrise between 7am and 5pm. After September 2nd, there is a timed entry reservation required on weekends and holidays. The timed entry reservation is NOT required if you have a special use permit, which you will need in order to get married in the park.
You can apply for the permit here. There is a $25 application fee, and a fee up to $250 for the permit itself. You must apply AT LEAST 4 (four) weeks prior to the event date. The permit must be acquired by the couple and is valid for up to 3 (three) hours.
If you choose to have your ceremony OUTSIDE of the park, there is a list of requirements to determine whether or not a permit is required for photography. You can find that at the link above as well!
Getting Married in Washington
To put it simply, to get married in Washington, you must…
- Apply for a marriage license
- Wait at least 3 days
- Have a ceremony within 60 days with at least 2 witnesses and an officiant
Next Steps
Reach out via my CONTACT page to learn more about pricing and get started in the process!
