This backpacking wedding was top-tier adventure. Backpacking in the spring can often be a mixed bag, and predicting what to expect weather-wise can be challenging, but Jade and Chris were down to embrace adventure, and we’re so glad they did, because their wedding day was beyond incredible.
There really is no place like the Olympic Peninsula. Tucked away in the most western part of the lower 48, from temperate rainforests to snow-capped mountains, this area seemingly has it all. Spring is unpredictable, with the weather changing on a dime and trail conditions varying depending on where you’re trekking. It’s ruggedness and unpredictability of spring in the mountains make the wilderness areas in the Olympics more than a stunning backdrop for a wedding day.
Backpacking wedding in the Olympics
A backpacking wedding is perfect for couples that want to prioritize adventure, nature, and privacy on their wedding day while also having a freaking BLAST!
Jade and Chris wanted to prioritize all of this while also including their closest friends and fam. They truly created the most incredible experience that was incredibly unique, and so true to them.
When Jade initially reached out to us, she had so many incredible ideas for what they wanted to incorporate into their wedding day.
Jade and Chris are avid adventurers and wanted hiking and camping to play a large part in their day to honor that. Having a portion of their day for just them and also finding a way to celebrate with their friends and fam was another piece of their planning puzzle that we were PSYCHED on.
Our Backpacking Couple
The way Jade and Chris met was WILD, a true 6 degrees of separation situation. Both were traveling to Germany. Jade made conversation with fellow passengers that were meeting up with friends for Oktoberfest.
They made plans for Jade to meet them and other pals for the festivities that evening. Part of the friend group they were meeting up with included Chris!
So crazy to think that these two met because of what began as casual conversation with fellow passengers.
Their first date you ask?! Chris and Jade ended up roadtripping it through New Zealand together, exploring the southern island and going with the flow of adventure. Truly, an epic love story.
Planning their backpacking wedding
Many couples come to us before they’ve really settled on their date, but Jade and Chris already had theirs locked in to fit with their work and travel schedules.
Their wedding date was set for a holiday weekend, and while that usually means you can anticipate a ton of folks, we had some strategies to help give them the privacy they were hoping for.
After hearing about the vision they had for their day, we knew the Olympic Peninsula would be perfect for their day.
Jade and Chris were down to backpack to get as much privacy as possible and we found the perfect spot with mountain views, a stunning lake, and was also a hidden gem in the surrounding National Forest. The only thing we had to be conscious of was snow.
We all knew that backpacking in the spring would be a gamble, so when we sent locations over, we were sure to include options that were at a lower elevation to make pivoting easy.
On our location call, Jade and Chris ranked locations so we could plan for backups in case of a late snow dump.
PRO TIP: During shoulder seasons (especially spring), having some solid back up options you can easily pivot to can relieve so much stress. |
Private Ceremony During their backpacking wedding
Kyle and I hiked up to our camp a day before to give ourselves plenty of time to get our boots on the ground and explore this gorgeous spot. While getting here was just a little over three miles, the elevation wasn’t playing around.
We met Chris and Jade the next day as they hiked in through some THICK fog that had been obscuring the views all day. The day before their elopement was super moody and it rained off and on as they set up camp.
After the rain slowed, we took some time to explore the lake together and hang out. We all had our fingers crossed that the skies would clear up so we could get a glimpse of the peaks that surrounded our camp.
We woke up just before sunrise to what sounded like steady rain on our tent. I groaned that it was still raining when Kyle said “no it’s so beautiful, look outside”. And WOWWWW a fresh layer of snow was gently falling and the morning light was beginning to shine through the clouds.
The pale, blue light turned golden, and the snow eventually slowed as Chris and Jade got ready for their first look.
They wanted to start their day with a first look, so We had Jade slip on her dress in our tent, while Chris finished getting ready in theirs.
We spent the morning exploring the lake and soaking in the mountain views that had been obscured the entire day before. Chris and Jade hiked to a rock nestled between two pines. There, in the beautiful morning light, with not another soul around (except for us, obviously) they began their elopement ceremony by exchanging vows and sharing a first dance.
Tips for planning your backpacking elopement
Backpacking elopement tip #1:
Don’t choose a location that is beyond your comfort level.
Wanting a challenging and rewarding hike is something that many couples want for their backpacking elopement, and we’re here for it!
We’d recommend being super conscious of making sure the milage, elevation gain, and the trail conditions you can expect are all well within your comfort level.
Backpacking elopement Tip #2
Packing for a backpacking elopement has a few more moving parts to it than a standard backpacking trip if you’re planning on wearing wedding attire.
You’ll want to choose attire that is lightweight, easy to roll into your pack, and doesn’t wrinkle super easily. Darker suits tend to hide wrinkles better than lighter options.
For those wearing a dress, opting for fabric that is sturdier will help make sure that your dress doesn’t have 1000 wrinkles. Tulle, lace, or dense satin are all great options.
And to help you pack your dress, check out this packing video from our buddies over at Celebrate Again here.
Another great resource is their guide to finding the perfect elopement wedding dress.
Backpacking Wedding Tip #3
Let’s be so honest, looking cute while backpacking takes some planning and prep!
Start hydrating at least a week before you head out to help prep your skin and assist with preventing uncomfortable puffiness.
If you wear makeup, consider skipping for a few days before your trip and focus on keeping your skin well hydrated.
If you have fine or thin hair, put in dry shampoo before you start your hike and your hair is still clean! I (Sam) always wash and dry my hair before a backpacking trip and finish it off by adding in a dry shampoo and keeping you hair in a style that helps prevent tangles (like a loose braid)
I’d also recommend popping on some under eye masks both right before bed and when you wake up. Annnd if you’re into using heatless curls, this is GREAT for backpacking weddings (just be sure to practice beforehand).
You could also bring a long a badass HAMUA that will follow you into the backcountry and make sure you’re still *serving looks*.
Backpacking Wedding Tip #4
Saving the biggest tip for last! Hire a team that can backpack with you! Hiring an adventure elopement photographer that has experience with backpacking recreationally and for elopements is SOOO IMPORTANT!
You’ll want to find a photographer that is familiar with the area you’ll be exploring and is well-versed in Leave No Trace ethics.
As Washington Elopement Photographers that have spent many summers exploring the Olympics, we knew what gear to bring and leave behind, how to help prepare our couple, and felt mega confident in backup plans.
We should also add that we also backpacked for our vow renewal!
Including Guests in their Backpacking Wedding
After hiking back to the trailhead, Chris and Jade made their way to their cabin near Port Angeles. This is where their family and friends were also staying and getting ready.
Jade worked with a hair and Makeup Artist based in Port Angeles, Jocelyn DeChenne. She was absolutely amazing! Everyone looked gorgeous and she was sooo incredible and flexible to work with.
Jade and Chris wanted to incorporate some special moments with their guests, and even opted to arrange a first look with them!
This moment was so fun to document and their crew absolutely loved it! Jade had scrunchies made from the fabric of her dress, and they gifted their guests with the CUTEST custom magnets to commemorate the day.
Chris and Jade had their crew head out to their ceremony location just slightly ahead of us to give them plenty of time to hike at a comfortable pace.
We took our time moving through the forest to soak in all the greenery, pet the moss, and explore.
We met their guests on the shore of the river and their elopement ceremony began. It was absolutely PERFECT!
To celebrate, they popped some bubbly and we all had a blast hanging out by the gorgeous Elwha river, skipping stones and then, progressing to dropping them off the bridge and rating the splashes.
As a group, we made our way back to the trailhead for the next portion of their evening celebrations.
Backpacking wedding celebration
Chris and Jade have a motto: Ice cream always and wanted to incorporate this into their day. When they visited Port Angeles in winter, they found Welly’s, a new Zealand style ice cream shop on the wharf.
This was such a unique and intentional detail of their day and it even called back to their first date of roadtripping through New Zealand together.
Back at their cabin, their crew worked to surprise Jade and Chris with the sweetest reception set up.
Their evening was filled with dancing, celebrating with their crew and pure bliss.
To decide who would sign as the witnesses for their marriage license, Chris and Jade had a Trivia game after dinner. This was such a sweet way to reminisce over their relationship, and such a fun guest game!
What they said about their backpacking wedding
If you’re thinking of booking Sam and Kyle, stop thinking and just do it! Sam and Kyle are truly the best elopement photographers!
Their process for getting to know us and what we wanted was stellar. They asked the right questions at the right stage of planning throughout the entire process. Before we found them, we weren’t sure if we were ever going to be able to fit in all of the key things we wanted in our day. Sam and Kyle made it possible!
They went above and beyond creating a 70+ page location guide with great information and links for potential spots. They were always available to help when we had concerns about permits, the day’s flow, or our look for the day.
You can tell this is not just a job for them, but their passion. Even after their car broke down heading to our elopement, they still managed to camp out at our vow exchange location a day early to make sure it would be the best spot for us.
On our elopement day, it never felt like we were walking around with professional photographers, instead just hanging out with good friends who had cameras.
The photos turned out absolutely stunning! They managed to really capture our mood and the spirit of excitement that permeated our whole adventure. They are the reason our elopement dream became a marital reality!
Jade and Chris crafted such an incredible and absolutely gorgeous elopement day. One of the best parts of collaborating with our couples in the planning process is hearing their story, unique elements of their relationship, and seeing how that becomes woven into their day.
These two went all out on their day and it was truly an honor to witness them and document their story.
Let’s Talk about your backpacking wedding
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Elopement Ceremony Guide
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