Washington Forest Elopement Bridals | Seattle Wedding Photographer

2020 has truly been a strange year. But one thing that has been so beautiful is that couples get to be really creative about how and where they’re celebrating their love. For so long, we’ve had traditions that create boundaries and borders for us to simply fill in. With Covid-19 being such a monkey wrench in wedding planning, I’ve actually found that elopements and smaller celebrations are just as significant, and sometimes even better!

We headed into the Cascades to reach a forested spot so gorgeous and quiet that Melanie & Carson couldn’t help but focus on each other and just be present in the beautiful nature surroundings for their bridal session. Mountaintops get a lot of love, but the forest floor is so lush and green, and even better if you’re not up for a giant hike to reach your destination. (Me, hi!)

A few tips for the perfect forest session:

• Bring a different pair of shoes so you can get to the hard-to-reach spots!

• Bug spray. BUG SPRAY! Dang it!

• Make sure to coordinate EXACTLY where you’re meeting in areas where cell reception is shoddy. We didn’t have any problems, but a little planning ahead is well worth the effort.

• Bring a friend! Their sister/sister-in-law was SO great at helping hold, primp, etc. There’s so much extra fabric and veil and all when it comes to wedding photos vs. an engagement session. Sometimes having a person there that you know and love can help set you at ease, too.

If you’re loving these vibes, please reach out to coordinate your own perfect micro-wedding or elopement!

If you need a Seattle or PNW wedding photographer, contact me here!

Ultimate Guide to Seattle Elopement Planning in 2020

2020 has come with a few curveballs if you’ve been planning a wedding in Seattle. Whether you’ve been planning for a while and are having to re-route due to Covid-19, or if you recently got engaged and are just beginning the process, one thing is for sure: elopement has never sounded easier.

While it may not have crossed your mind before, elopement is an awesome option for so many reasons. Eloping allows for you to begin your life together as a married couple, and to have a day entirely about just you. Many of my clients are doing a small elopement this year, and then having a larger celebration next year. It doesn’t feel ideal to be forced to choose, but one of the biggest questions couples are faced with when starting the planning process is whether to go big or small. In this case, you can have your (wedding) cake and eat it, too!

As a photographer, I love elopements because the timeline is simple, and most importantly, you’re able to focus on each other the whole entire time. If you want your day to feel intimate, meaningful and super easy, then this is a really great option for you. When I photograph couples, I’m hyper-focused on maintaining a feeling of ease and connection between the two of you, which results in gorgeous candid photos. Without the distractions of a traditional wedding day, that magic can linger and you can just take in the meaning of your commitment. Not to mention, in and around Seattle we have so many options for stunning locations! For elopements booked in June, July, and August 2020, I’m offering custom photography packages, travel discounts, and a keepsake set of 4x6 prints. Get in touch now to get the ball rolling!

But that’s not all! I’ve rounded up a team of some of my favorite elopement-friendly Seattle wedding vendors to work with, so you can have a one-stop list for planning your perfect elopement.

Planning: Rock & Stone Weddings

We absolutely love elopements! There’s something so intimate about saying your vows and celebrating your love with no one else around to witness it. Often times people thinks an Elopement means ’no frills’ but it absolutely doesn’t have to! We have couples who go all out with show-stopping decor, a beautiful tablescape for two, and even better, you don’t have to share your cake and champagne! Scaling back means you can invest in really unique pieces, like a commemorative handmade stationery suite and tableware you’ll use for years to come. If your perfect elopement is a hiking adventure, we can decorate your Airbnb or campsite so you come back to a luxurious reception for two. Often times it’s easy for your wedding to feel like it’s for other people, eloping is a really special way to reclaim it for yourselves and you can always celebrate again with friends and family in the future.
- Amber Hayes, Owner/Creative Director

Florals: Colibri Blooms

Even though I have been expanding my horizons with larger ceremony installs, bridal bouquets have always been my favorite thing to design.  I love getting to know the bride/brides' personality as well as their likes and dislikes and just pouring that into my design.  I get the most nervous when I make a bridal bouquet but it's also the most gratifying when I get to see the reaction when I've really nailed it.  

Colibri Blooms is an all inclusive florist and we know that there is no one-size-fits-all elopement.

Specials when you mention this post: Buy one bridal bouquet get a complimentary boutonniere

Buy one bridal bouquet get the second one half off

Buy one boutonniere and get the second one complimentary

- Lilly Bartmasser, Owner

Rentals: Yay Parties

I think I would say that even if you have to ’shrink down’ your wedding because of COVID-19 restrictions, it doesn’t mean you have to minimize the design. Specialty rentals really help bring a unique element to any wedding, large or small, and truly help show a couple’s personality. Even a few carefully curated rental pieces, like a set of vintage chairs to sit in as a newly married couple for photos or for a meal can really “up" the special factor for a surprisingly minimal financial commitment!  

Anyone who mentions this blog post receives 20% off their rental order (does not include delivery/pick-up costs). Order must be placed for an event date within 2020 or 2021, subject to availability.

- Erin Vernon, Owner

Stationery & Invitations: Sablewood Paper Company

From a stationer’s standpoint, choosing to elope is an amazing way to go all out with your paper goods! Since you don’t have to budget for a large number of people, costs go down and we can really “splurge” on the meaningful details. For example, you may not be able to afford vintage postage for 100 invitations, but 10 elopement announcements is much easier to swing budget-wise!

For my elopement couples, I’m offering a set of vow books and a set of 10 thank you cards for all new elopement bookings of 10 announcements or more!

- Holly Goodman-Grundel, Owner

Hair & Makeup: Katherine Esque

I love the idea of two people standing in the middle of their favorite location committing their lives to one another. There are no distractions or time restraints and all that is reflected in the photos is the love you share. I find elopements are an amazing way to side step the chaos a traditional wedding can bring. It allows all the focus to be right where it should be, on you as a couple.

Elopement Bridal make up and hair is 25% off when booked in combination with Emily Keeney Photography. Includes initial hair and makeup application and on hand styling and touch-ups throughout the day.

To book: email esque.katherine@gmail.com

Wedding Cake: Lady Grey Custom Cakes

There is something particularly special about choosing to elope, choosing to focus on nothing but your love. No bells and whistles, just love.

We’re offering a 6” cutting cake with three design options included in the pricing of $185:
Stem of carved floral, touches of up to 3 colors
Cluster of painted floral, up to 3 colors
Gradient (ombré- one color to white)

Venue: Gray Bridge

Planning a wedding during a pandemic is fraught with uncertainty.  We have taken the stress out of planning during an uncertain time and developed an ultimate wedding package for you and your (up to) 50 guests for the remainder of our 2020 season. Working with some of our favorite vendors, Gray Bridge has a comprehensive package to seamlessly enjoy your intimate ceremony and reception without skimping on the details.  This package includes a refund or no-cost rescheduling if weddings of up to 50-people are not allowed by governor's orders on your selected date*.  Special Pricing on newly booked July weddings.

- Stacy MacGregor, Owner

Venue: Block 41

We love elopements because of the headspace couples can enter into. It's a low-stress day with just your loved one, focusing on what the day is all about - devoting yourself to your partner for life. We think that the quality time during an elopement is truly unmatched!

- Beth Carrillo, Venue Manager

If you need a Seattle or PNW wedding photographer, contact me here!

Seattle Mountain Engagements | Payton + Brian

In Seattle there are endless opportunities for beautiful engagement session locations. We have beautiful urban views, water for years, and greenery like nowhere else. Just a little further out of the city, the mountains call with their grand views. It’s hard to narrow it down! And you’re only engaged once, right? That can feel like a lot of pressure. I like to start the conversation by asking if there’s anywhere special to you as a couple in Seattle. Maybe there’s a park you had your first date in, or a place where you first started talking about what forever might feel like together as a couple. That stuff matters! When you close your eyes and think about spending time just focused on each other and celebrating your own unique love story, what comes to mind? What does the air smell like? What’s beneath your feet? Are you in grand open space or tucked in somewhere cozy? The best thing is there are no wrong answers, when you get the photos back you’ll just see the love between you, and years down the line, when you look at them again, you’ll see a version of yourself that has grown and evolved so much, and created a life all of your own with your love.

If you need a Seattle or PNW wedding photographer, contact me here!

Kitsap Memorial State Park Fijian + Western Wedding | Seattle Wedding Photographer

Naomi & Geoff had such an incredible wedding. When she described the Fijian traditional elements that would be a part of their day I was fascinated and super excited to be able to capture it! The music, dancing and soul of this day was just beyond anything.

I knew we had a special connection from the get-go. I remember our FaceTime call right when we first met to talk about their wedding. My son was maybe six months old and sleep was — well — difficult. Even though I scheduled our call for the evening, he woke up and SCREAMED. I could either end it or grab him and bounce him around as we chatted. Not only did Naomi + Geoff totally roll with it, but they thought it was hilarious and pretty special. And for that, I thought they were amazingly special.

We did their engagement session (first seen here) out in the Cascades and got a chance to spend time together in one of the most beautiful parts of the world on a beautiful night. I’ll never forget it.

The wedding day was just incredible. If you’re planning a wedding there, make sure to take advantage of the incredible old growth trees for your ceremony area. The only decor they really had was two floral arrangements — the trees did the rest of the talking! Something else to think about it that when you have a wedding that requires ferry travel, make sure to think about accommodations! Naomi and Geoff had reserved a big block of campsites so people could really immerse in the PNW setting (and not have to drive anywhere).

Venue: Kitsap Memorial State Park

Flowers: Bixby & Pine

Bar and Table Rentals: Olympic Farm Style Events

Ceremony Chairs: Kitsap Event Rentals

Decor Rentals (Cocktail lounge and chandeliers): Vintage Ambiance

Photobooth: Shutterbus Co.

Cake: Blackbird Bakery

Bride and Bridesmaid Hair: Bon Cheveaux

Wedding Dress: Atelier Pronovias from Nordstrom

Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulus

Grooms Tux: Bonobos from Nordstrom

Groomsmen: The Black Tux

If you need a Seattle or PNW wedding photographer, contact me here!