Mt. Baker Snoqualmie National Forest is by far one of my favorite places in Washington State, especially for romantic adventure elopements. Every time I’ve visited, I am simply blown away by its beauty. You can imagine my excitement when Cori and Naomi asked me to photograph their two-day elopement in this special place! After talking to them on the phone and hearing their vision for their adventure, our plan was to start the first day with a ceremony at Bagley Lakes and a sunset hike up Winchester Fire Lookout, finishing with sunrise portraits the following morning at Artist Point. But because it’s Washington and in the mountains, the weather had other plans.
In the days leading up to their August elopement, I kept an eye on the weather and noticed there was a high chance of heavy rains. Cori and Naomi maintained such positive attitudes and thankfully, we were quickly able to pivot our plans, postpone everything by one day, and the two days still ended up being some of the most magical I’ve experienced.
Bagley Lakes Ceremony & Portraits
I arrived Thursday morning to their Airbnb in Deming, the town closest to Mt Baker, where they had set aside a whole mother in law suite just for me! So kind of them! After getting settled, preparing my gear, and meeting the family, the adventure officially began. While Cori and Naomi got dressed and ready for the first look, I took all their detail items outside to the picnic table. Naomi wanted me to use a map of Mt. Baker as the background and I am obsessed with how they turned out!
Following getting ready and a brief, but very emotional first look in the backyard, we journeyed up the highway to Bagley Lakes/Heather Meadows for the ceremony. Both Cori and Naomi had their immediate families attending, with Naomi’s brother officiating the ceremony. Such a beautiful, intimate ceremony. And we even got some sunshine peeking through the clouds!
Some family portraits to commemorate the moment, signing of the marriage license, and then time for portraits of the newlyweds. Instead of heading up to Artist Point or Winchester, which were still completely socked in with rain and fog, we decided to stay down at Bagley Lakes. I actually think the fog made this location more romantic than usual, which was perfect for this couple’s vibe!
Naomi brought three different dresses with her, so we had some fun switching them out. Cori’s cowboy hat also added some unique flair. After an hour or two of exploring, we ended the evening with a picnic and cake cutting on the bluff overlooking the lakes. After snapping some photos, I went back to wait in the car and give them some privacy, before heading back to the Airbnb for the evening.
Sunrise at Winchester Fire Lookout
Day two of our adventure began with a 4am wake up call, but wow, was it worth it! Since we didn’t end up doing Winchester Fire Lookout for sunset the night before, as was originally planned, we decided to attempt it for sunrise and pray that there would be clear skies. The road getting to the trailhead is not for the faint of heart. Cori thankfully had a high clearance truck that flew over all the pot holes and washouts on the dirt road, no problem. We got our first glimpse of Mt. Baker on our drive up, only to reach the trailhead and have the thick fog roll in once again.
But, thank goodness we refused to be disappointed and began the ascent anyway! There was a spot about halfway up the hike that had a decent clearing and view of Twin Lakes below, so we stopped there for some portraits and a first dance, as the fog looked thicker higher up the mountain. But just as we had decided to turn around and not attempt the summit, a lady walked down from the top and told us the clouds were inverted at the fire lookout and the view was amazing. So onward we trekked! Nothing beat the excitement of reaching the top, climbing out of the clouds, and seeing the view that stood before us. Cori and Naomi were thrilled! It truly felt like a miracle!
Mt Baker Two-Day Elopement Timeline
Wondering what a two-day timeline might look like for a Mt Baker Elopement? Here is the original timeline Cori and Naomi had before the weather changed our plans. Having two days allowed us to explore multiple areas of the National Forest, with time to hike and really take in the peaceful scenery.
DAY ONE
2pm | Getting Ready at the Airbnb & Detail Photos
3pm | First Look at Airbnb
3:15pm | Drive to Bagley Lakes
4pm | Ceremony
4:30pm | Family Portraits
5pm | Drive to Winchester
6:30pm | Start hiking Winchester
7:30pm | Portraits, Picnic, First Dance
8:30pm | Hike Down & Back to Airbnb
DAY TWO
4am | Leave Airbnb and Drive to Artist Point
5am | Hike to Huntoon Point
5:45am | Sunrise at Huntoon Point
7am | Finish Portraits & Photo Coverage Ends
Elopement Vendors
Wedding Dresses: Azazie & Lulus
Groom’s Attire: Men’s Warehouse & Studio Suits
Cake: Celebrity Cake Studio in Tacoma, WA
Eloping at Mt. Baker
If you’re dreaming about eloping in the mountains, I could not recommend the Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest enough! With so many different landscapes, hiking options, and easy access to beautiful views, it’s a great option. Even better, no permit is required for ceremonies of under 75 people, meaning there is no added cost to get married here, other than a park pass for parking! That said, it is a very popular location, so I highly recommend choosing a weekday and prioritizing either sunrise, or sunset, for the majority of your photos to avoid crowds. These times of day will provide the best lighting for those dreamy, golden images, as well. The best time of year to elope at Mt. Baker is July through October. Due to weather, the road up to Artist Point typically is only open July through the first big snowfall, which is generally late October.
If you’re looking to plan a Mt Baker Elopement, and are fantasizing of a peaceful, romantic, and adventurous day of exploring, I’d love to help you make that happen! I’m Lucy, a Washington based elopement photographer, who LOVES everything about the mountains and is passionate about capturing God-given love stories. Helping couples plan a day that feels like a genuine reflection of who they are and is stress-free brings me endless joy! I truly believe I have the best job ever! Whether you’re planning an elopement, or are just curious to hear more, reach out HERE. Let’s dream together!
Lovely😍😍