Gorgeous Sunrise Hurricane Ridge Elopement

Ya’ll- this two day hurricane ridge elopement was so freaking FUN. A true “make an adventure of it all” celebration, full of personal details, minor misadventures, belly laughs, and jaw-dropping backdrops. ⁠

From the very first call, J + C and I hit it off. Fellow nerds and board game lovers, every call felt like hanging out with old friends. Their stoke and giddiness for their elopement (so so true to who they are) was off the charts and so infectious. Every decision felt authentic and (here’s that word again), fun. And while the weather threw us a few curveballs, resulting in deconstructing and cobbling together their timeline in a slightly different order, the end results? Well just scroll down. This hurricane ridge elopement is truly, *truly*, one for the books.

We met up in Olympic National Park at a gorgeous old growth forest for their first look (wanna know more about this park? Check out my complete guide on how to elope in Olympic National Park). J + C got ready in the parking lot, before I walked with C out to a spot I’d scouted the day earlier to wait for J. It was just the two of them (and some mosquitos- a theme for the elopement) as they saw each other in their wedding attire for the first time. The emotions ran high as they laughed, hugged, and teared up. Then we took our time exploring the quiet forest, admiring the towering trees, moss, and ferns. J + C took their time to take it all in and marvel and the old grown forest, so green and dense and unlike forests back east. Then the couple waded into a nearby lake and skipped stones on the glittering water before the sun dipped below the horizon. The couple set up a cribbage game on a log (a perfect nod to the couples love of board games!) and then promptly dropped some of the custom made playing cards UNDER the log, visible through a narrow space about an inch wide- very much so out of our reach. ⁠

This became a rather hilarious ordeal with J crawling around the pebbled shore in her dress, digging under the log (she had the smallest hands), while I used a stick to push the cards towards her barely visible hand. C offered moral support and took cell phone photos 😂. It was *hilarious* and ended with successfully retrieving the lost cards. ⁠We ended the evening with stamping their National Park passports and celebrating over a local beer.

The next morning we met up verrrrry early in the pre-dawn hours, met in a pitch black parking lot, and hiked up a mountain ridge. This Hurricane Ridge elopement was ready to make it official! I always love these sorts of hikes. We had the whole hike to ourselves and got to watch as the light started to glow on the horizon before filling the sky and drowning out the twinkling stars. We arrived to the trail summit to truly incredible 360 views. The couple got changed in the blue light before exchanging private vows just as the sun hit the mountains (check out the most glorious alpine glow). We spent the morning snacking, doing our best to dodge mosquitos, taking in the views, and squealing over the marmots.⁠

It was *amazing*. So personalized, so perfectly suited to J + C. Still pinching myself that I got go be a part of it. Thank you, J + C. So much congrats to you 🙂 ⁠

Want more Hurricane Ridge elopement inspo? Check out this Olympic micro wedding.