Ashley & Jeremy’s Marymere Falls, Lake Crescent & Hurricane Ridge Elopement
Late June in Olympic National Park is always a little unpredictable – the alpine is coming alive, waterfalls are rushing from snowmelt, and the weather can shift in a matter of minutes. Ashley and Jeremy leaned fully into that unpredictability. Their vision was simple: experience as much of Olympic as possible. Start the day in the forest at sunrise, celebrate with family in the mountains, and end with a sunset hike overlooking the ridgelines. What they got was something even better.
Sunrise Hike to Marymere Falls
We met before sunrise for a quiet hike through the forest to the very popular Marymere Falls. At this time of day, the trail was quiet and peaceful with just the sound of boots on gravel and birds waking up in the canopy above. By the time we reached the falls, mist hung in the air and the water was rushing strong from the late spring melt. Starting the day this way felt intentional. Unrushed. Just the two of them soaking in the quiet before the rest of the celebration began.
Morning along Lake Crescent
After the falls, we made our way to Lake Crescent, one of the most iconic and serene places in the park. The lake was calm, reflecting the surrounding mountains in deep blue tones. Ashley and Jeremy walked along the shoreline and dock, laughing, holding hands, fully present with each other. One of my favorite things about structuring elopement days this way is giving couples space to move between environments. From mossy forest to glacial lake all within the same morning. Olympic is special like that.
A Mountain Ceremony at Hurricane Ridge
In the afternoon, we reunited at Hurricane Ridge with their closest family and friends for their ceremony. The weather had shifted. Clouds rolled dramatically over the ridgelines, wind brushing through the alpine grasses. It wasn’t the clear, golden evening they had originally imagined, but the misty moody backdrop was still magical. There’s something grounding about standing in the mountains with weather moving around you. They said their vows surrounded by sweeping views, shifting clouds, and the people who mattered most.
When the Weather Changes the Plan
Originally, we planned on a nearby mountain hike for sunset that same evening. But visibility dropped along with the temperature, clouds thickened, and it became clear that pushing for sunset would mean forcing something that wasn’t there. So we pivoted. This is one of the biggest benefits of working with a local photographer who hikes and explores these trails regularly. Knowing when to wait can make all the difference. We moved their sunset hike to the next evening and the mountains rewarded us!
A Mountain Sunset worth Waiting For
The following night, the mountains opened up. Clouds moved in and out of the ridges all evening long, catching soft golden light as the sun dipped lower. It felt cinematic — layers of depth, shifting atmosphere, and that expansive mountain view stretching out in every direction. Instead of a rushed ending, they got something slow and magical. Sometimes the best part of an elopement isn’t sticking to the original plan.
Planning an Olympic National Park Elopement
Ashley and Jeremy’s day is such a perfect example of what’s possible in Olympic:
- A quiet forest waterfall at sunrise
- Glacial lake portraits
- An alpine ceremony with family
- A mountaintop sunset adventure
All in one celebration.
Whether you’re dreaming of a short scenic walk or multiple hiking locations across the park, Olympic National Park truly offers both, and building flexibility into your timeline allows space for magic, even when the forecast shifts.
If you’re planning your own Olympic National Park elopement and want a day that feels intentional, immersive, and grounded in the landscape, I’d love to help you create it.
Let’s start planning your adventure.