Cape Flattery Elopement

Alexandra, Josh & Rusty (their sweet pup) traveled to the upper part of the Olympic Peninsula to enjoy a peaceful December elopement and exchange their vows at Cape Flattery, the northwesternmost point of the contiguous United States.

Alexandra & Josh love being in nature and wanted to enjoy a relaxing elopement in a unique area of the Pacific Northwest. They hoped for a moody day and were treated to rain during their private vows and ceremony. Rain is good luck on your wedding day and Mother Nature’s way of wishing you a long and happy marriage.

The couple reserved a spacious Airbnb on Lake Sutherland where they could enjoy a leisurely breakfast together before getting ready. Alexandra’s best friend helped her with her hair and then Josh helped her finish getting ready. Rusty needed a little help getting ready from his Josh, who dressed him up for the occasion in a bow tie with a collar and leash that matched Alexandra’s florals.

Reading is an important part of this couple’s relationship, so they spent some time on the back deck reading passages from some of their favorite books before we made our way to Cape Flattery.

Moody Winter Elopement at Cape Flattery

To get to the actual viewpoints of the ocean at Cape Flattery, you take a short hike through a forest with very unique shaped trees and wooden platforms. As we got close to the cliffs, we could hear the sound of sea lions barking. There were many of them resting on the rocks of Tatoosh Island, where the Cape Flatter Lighthouse stands. The sound of the sea lions provided the perfect background music for the couple’s elopement.

Alexandra & Josh wanted to enjoy a nice cake as part of their elopement picnic. When the best local WA baker wasn’t available in December, they ordered a cake from a baker local to them. They got it safely to WA on a long car ride and then one of their friends carried the cake safely to the picnic table after walking on the dirt trail and over many tree roots.

The eloping couple found the perfect place to exchange their private vows with Rusty, accompanied by the sound of the ocean waves crashing in the background and surrounded by the forest and rocky cliffs. While they pledged their eternal love to each other, their friends set up everything for a special picnic to enjoy later.

After their private vow exchange, their friends joined them in a different area for their ceremony. A nice part about Cape Flattery is that there are multiple viewing areas, so you can enjoy a variety of views of the cliffs and the ocean. Part of their ceremony included a ring warming. After their friends passed around the rings, Rusty also gave their rings a blessing. He jumped up for a big family hug after their first kiss. That was such a heartwarming moment. 💚💚

It was then time to enjoy a celebratory toast, taste of that delicious cake (adorned with the prettiest fondant pinecones), and a fancy charcuterie.

While we were there, we got to see a sea lion swimming for its meal, bald eagles resting on a rock for the best view of the ceremony and many hawks flying around. There was also rumor of a whale swimming in the area.

Please make sure to purchase a Makah Recreation Pass to park in the parking lot for Cape Flattery. You can purchase the Makah Recreation Pass Online or at a variety of locations in person in Neah Bay.

Blue Hour at Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park

We were running out of daylight and needed to leave to make the trip to Lake Crescent to capture some photographs of the couple during blue hour. Since it was December, there were decorated Christmas trees in the Lake Crescent Lodge. That added something extra special to the setting.

Alexandra & Josh ended the first day of their elopement in Olympic National Park by sitting around the fire pit and reminiscing about their favorite parts of the day. 

Forest Bathing at Lake Crescent

The next morning, the couple, and I visited Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park for some forest bathing. This was the perfect way to conclude their elopement.

On this morning, the sun came out, so the landscape looked a little different than the day before.

When we arrived at Lake Crescent, Alexandra saw the fog rolling through the trees around Lake Crescent. She commented that she had an image on her phone for years that looked just like this scene. Could it have been Lake Crescent? Was it fortuitous that they would be here on their elopement? 

Alexandra’s job involves the outdoors, so she knows a lot about the plants and trees of the Pacific Northwest. I got to show the couple an area that was new to them, and I learned a lot about nature from A that I get to share with my future couples.

Alexandra crocheted the beautiful shawl that she wore both days. I was so impressed by her skills and the many ways she could wear it. Green is her favorite color and it looked beautiful in the PNW landscape. 💚

As we wrapped up for the day, an eagle soared overheard. Another sign for a long and happy marriage.

Kind words from the couple

“We are SO glad we booked Stacy for our elopement! We looked at so many websites and had phone calls with a few different photographers, and she stood out from the get go as totally open to and excited about what felt right to *us* and helping make it happen. Throughout all the planning, the actual elopement, and getting us our photo gallery she was faultlessly organized, communicative (both proactively with stuff for us, but also very available for our questions), enthusiastic, and SO professional. We had especially wanted guidance in deciding our location and the location guide she sent us was one of the most impressive things we’ve seen– extensive detail on tons of different gorgeous areas that would have fit the bill perfectly. Every suggestion and bit of info along the way felt handcrafted and specific to us, and we appreciated feeling so supported and heard during planning. We settled on Cape Flattery and Lake Crescent because of her suggestions and had the MOST beautiful time!

Stacy obviously couldn’t love her job more, and was such a calm, friendly source of positive energy on an already amazing day. She is talented, passionate, and beyond generous with her time. We especially loved how intentional and respectful of nature and the spaces we were in she was, as well as how she worked with our anxious pup, and we were so impressed with her commitment to extra details (specific photos we wanted, rushing the sneak peak to surprise our family, etc). She nailed posing directions to get us a wide variety of images we love and also masterfully pulled us into the moments and ensured we were really *living* the magic of our elopement throughout the whole day. Special thanks for seamlessly officiating our beautiful ceremony *while photographing*, and incorporating our friends into the ceremony.

For how committed and helpful she was throughout this entire process, we were thrilled with the price we paid. We have been getting nonstop compliments from friends and family on our beautiful photos that we will treasure for life. Highly, highly, highly recommend for any other introverted PNW nature nerds who want the most romantic, peaceful, and beautiful wedding possible!! We honestly had so much fun thanks to her, and our elopement was everything we dreamed and more.” 

~Alexandra & Josh

A&J are both in Science, Engineering, Technology and Math (STEM) fields. They shared with me that a big part of why they chose me to be their elopement photographer and officiant is because I am a woman in STEM. Even though I may not do engineering on a day basis any more, I certainly still identify as an engineer and love talking with my couples about science and nature and sharing what I know about the night sky. 🌌 ✨  I am always honored to capture all the elements of your love story as your Washington Elopement Photographer. I also love gaining new friends.

Their main elopement vendors

Elopement Dress: DB Studio

Cake Baker: Market of Choice Bakery

Your Cape Flattery Elopement Photographer

I hope that you’ve enjoyed reading about this sweet December elopement at Cape Flattery and in Olympic National Park! Lake Crescent was the first place that I visited when I moved to Washington and holds a special place in my heart.

If you want to have a relaxing elopement on the Olympic Peninsula, I encourage you to do it! As an Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer, I can help you plan it and then photograph every important moment for you, so that you have photographs you treasure forever and preserve those memories for you. What better way to relive the magic of your elopement in the Pacific Northwest forever!

I know Cape Flattery and Olympic National Park very well and would love the opportunity to help you plan the elopement of your dreams here. Here are resources that will help you plan you elopement in the Pacific Northwest and learn about How to Elope in Washington State. Contact me to start the process now!