Snoqualmie Elopement: Sunning Locations and Planning Advice
Washington is full of location gems, and one of those gems is only about 35 min from Seattle. Rolling mountains, jagged peaks, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and mossy forests all make this area a perfect option for your Snoqualmie Elopement! By the end of this article, you’ll definitely want to add the Snoqualmie Valley to your list when considering places to elope in Washington! I’m going to walk you through some of my favorite locations and all the planning advice!
What you can expect in this article:
What is the Snoqualmie Valley?
Hire a specialized adventure elopement photographer
Be Ready to Leave No Trace
Decide on the time of year
10 Picturesque Locations for your Snoqualmie Elopement
Determine your Group Size
Apply for your Special Use permit
Plan Elopement Activities
Get your Marriage License
Finalize the day details, create a backup plan, and gear up!
Celebrate and Have the best elopement day
What is the Snoqualmie Valley and why is it as secret weapon location for your Washington Elopement?
The Snoqualmie Valley is an area about 35 min to the East of Seattle. It’s a beautiful and unique area because, it has just about a little of everything!
- This is one of the few locations in Washington where you can find lush rainforests, alpine lakes, mountains, and waterfalls.
- It even provides an access point to the eastern side of the Cascades, which becomes a drier climate, and reminds me of the foothills of the Denver Area.
- There are drive-up locations and hiking locations.
- This area is also accessible year-round! While Snoqualmie Pass will get snow, the surrounding areas tend to stay mostly snow-free!
This variety is an incredible tool to have when planning your Snoqualmie Elopement adventure because you can tailor your adventure to your needs, no matter the time of year!
Quick lil History Lesson
Did you know that the Snoqualmie corridor is the ancestral lands of the Snoqualmie Tribe? I’d encourage you to do your own exploration on their website but they are the original stewards of this land. As a photographer who believes in Leave No Trace and loves the land – they ask us to give the land it respect it reserves – stay on track, pack your trash out, and when you’re out and about, reconize the beauty of what you’re seeing and acknowledge its ancestral roots. <3
In terms of elopements, embrace this – understand that events can leave an impact and by approaching your elopement consciously and mindfully, you can leave the space better than you found it for more people to continuously enjoy in the future, and honor the history that came before you!
Hire an adventure elopement photographer
This is where hiring an adventure elopement-specific photographer who believes and practices Leave No Trace is essential. We all offer different types of services, but elopements are typically pretty out of the box and can involve a nature element. Some of us offer additional help in your planning process which is why you should hire this vendor first! We can help you choose the perfect location, we can help you with permits, we help you with activity suggestions, etc. I personally send a Leave No Trace PDF to my couples with various alternatives for popular wedding traditions.
We also tend to have to be experts in light. I can tell you light behaves differently in the mountains vs the forest and having someone who understands this and helps you build your timeline around it to get the best light will ultimately help create a better experience and pictures for you! Hi I’m Alexandria! Check out my packages here, as I’d love to help you!
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace is a set of ethics set out by the Leave No Trace organization to help preserve and enjoy the outdoors. This plays in to every elopement, especially with the budget cuts across our country. It is on us to protect nature! And this extends to any gatherings, elopements/weddings included. Let’s be good stewards even during big important, celebratory moments.
Decide on Time of Year
When you elope will greatly change the weather patterns so understanding the seasons is key! I’m dividing this area into two categories: Anywhere (which includes mountains and Snoqualmie Pass) and lowlands which is basically North Bend and west.
| Season | Temps and Climate | Best area to elope? |
|---|---|---|
| Spring: March – May | Springtime in the mountains is different than springtime in the lowlands. Both elevations you’ll have more rainy days than sun, with Snoqualmie pass getting more snow than rain! Due to Snoqualmie Pass’s elevation, it does tend to melt out sooner than a lot of other places around the state, but don’t be surprised to see snow still making some deeper trails inaccessible or just harder to access in May/June! Temps stay mild from 30s- 60s in the lowlands and 30s-50s in the pass. | Lowlands |
| Summer: June – September | Summer is the best time of year. With more sunny days than rainy ones, you can enjoy those mild PNW temps with lots of sun! Snow will typically fully melt by mid-July at the latest making hikes accessible! What we do have to worry about during this season is Fire and air quality, pending what happens in any given year. Temps are wonderful and range from 50s- 70s in both the lowlands and the pass! | Anywhere! |
| Fall: September – November | Fall is when we start to get all the rain again and you’ll encounter more rain than clear days. It mimics the springtime, but now, the pass can start to get snow and we don’t need to worry about avalanches yet! Temps can range from 30s-50s in the Pass and 30s- 60s in the lowlands! | Lowlands (you can still elope in the pass area however now you’ll need to think about snow possibilities and what that can mean logistically for your day) |
| Winter: Nov – February | Wintertime in the Snoqualmie valley will vary by elevation. The majority of the time, you can find snow in the mountain passes, making a lot of mountain trails inaccessible without avalanche training. The area from Issaqah to North Bend (lowlands) stay pretty snow free and lots of rain! In the lowlands temperatures average 30s – 50s, while Snoqualmie Pass trends colder. | Lowlands |
Choose your location: 10 picturesque locations for your Snoqualmie Elopement
There are so many amazing spots to choose from when it comes to the Snoqualmie area. Just remember you can get married and then take adventure portraits in different spots!
Snoqualmie Pass
Gold Creek Pond **WINTER ONLY
Situated in Snoqaualmie Pass this area is a highly popular area for visitors alike. So popular in fact that the National Forest Service is closing it for 3-10 years to work on wildlife restoration.
“The public can anticipate an annual seasonal closure of the site generally between April and the end of November over the next take three to ten years.” – USFS Press Release
Franklin Falls
An easy hike to a breathtaking waterfall!
Alpental – Snow Lake Trail
Do you want an alpine lake? Snow Lake is quite the gem for an experience. While it is a popular trail, it’s popular for a reason and its absolutely breathtaking!
Keechelus Lake
A great area for fishing, boating, picnicking, and a hiking trail!
North Bend Area
Snoqualmie Falls
Snoqualmie Falls City park is a 2 acre area on the top of Snoqualmie Falls right by the Salish Lodge. With tons of higher viewing decks and one lower viewing deck, you’ll be able to see the magnificent falls and it pours over the damn. These photos were taken at a membership based theatre across the river!
Rattlesnake Recreation Area
Rattlesnake Recreation Area is an easy access walk-up area that has a giant lake with Rattlesnake Ledge overlooking it! This area is characterized by tons of stumps from an old logging town that become visible later in the year due to water levels dropping. You can also hike up the ledge for expansive views if that’s your thing!
Middle Fork
Are you looking for lush rainforest and mountains? Then look no further than the trails of the Middle Fork Area. Moss drips from the tall trees and you still get amazing mountain views. There are several trails in this area that vary in length and easy walk up locations!
Ollalie State Park
From overlooks to forested trails, this state park has so much to offer!
Snoqualmie Point Park
This is a beautiful county park with views of Mount Si! Its perfect for any families with mobility issues!
Mt Si
With several trails in this area you can get beautiful views high and low of this looming peak in the North Bend area!
Determine Group Size
How many people can you invite to your Snoqualmie elopement? My professional opinion is to keep it under 15, including your photographer and officiant. Why?
When you add a nature element into any wedding that doesn’t take place at a venue, you’re going to run into extra logistics you’ll need to consider. Is there enough parking? Are there bathrooms? Can your guests make it to wherever you’re saying your vows? Is there enough space for you to say your vows so that your guests and your photographer stay on trail and do not damage vegetation? I’ve seen countless trails close because of damage from people stepping off the trail. National Wilderness areas in general do cap group sizes to 12 for hiking! I encourage you to do your part and elope responsibly and take this into consideration.
Ultimately if you do rent a venue for a celebration after private vows (for example), your guests will be taken care of in terms of parking, bathrooms, coordination, etc. And bonus – what if you splurged on yourself and spent the day before or after doing adventure portraits with your photographer and possibly reading your private vows together?
Need help narrowing your group size? Check out my resource to help you narrow your guest list and manage outside opinions when doing so! And if you are having trouble deciding where to incorporate your family into your Snoqualmie Elopement, I’ve got that for you too!
Venues
Need a venue because you have a group thats bigger than nature can handle? (Dpn’t worry you can still go out and take adventure photos with your photographer if that is something you and your partner like to do! Or you can even do a commitment ceremony before your party with your guests! There are so many ways to incorporate family!
Here’s just a few in the Snoqualmie area, but this larger list of Washington venues categorizes venues by vibe in all parts of the state!
Treehouse Point
North Folk Farms
Trinity Tree Farm
Meadowbrook Farms
Apply for any Permits
The Snoqualmie area is full of tons of different land managers from the national forest, to King County Parks, to DNR, to private landowners. Always do your own research to understand what permits you’ll need for your elopement!
Plan your Snoquamie Elopement activities!
- Plan a picnic
- Go on a hike
- Find a place to stargaze
- Paddleboard on a lake
- Take a moment to read your favorite book together
- Make coffee in the mountains
Local Things to Do
- Snoqualmie Brewery (dog friendly patio)
- Pearl and Stone Winery (dog friendly patio)
- Northwest Railway Museum
- Take a tour of Treehouse Point
- Hiking and LOTS of it!!
Twin Peaks
Do I have any Twin Peaks Fans reading this? For those of you who don’t know, Twin Peaks was a surrealist mystery-horror drama TV show in the early 90s, and the North Bend Snoqualmie area was many of their filming locations for the exterior shots.
Places you can visit include:
- Double R Diner (Twede’s Cafe)
- The Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn (The Roadhouse & Bang Bang Bar)
- Snoqualmie Falls (Their Twin Falls)
- Salish Lodge & Spa (The Great Northern Hotel)
- Thrill Rides at DirtFish (The Twin Falls Sheriff Department)
- Twin Peaks Sign – I’ve heard they put it up just for the annual festival; otherwise, they take it down!
Get your Marriage License for your Snoqualmie Elopement
To get married in Washington, you must do 3 things!
- Apply and get a marriage license
- Have a ceremony – there must be an officiant and 2 witnesses (and no your officiant cannot be a witness)
- Complete and return the Department of Health Certificate of Marriage
In Washington, you can get your license in any county and use it in any county! So if you’re flying in from out of state, King County is always a great option as it’s closest to the Airport. Some counties allow you to apply online and get your marriage packet mailed to you so have everything ready to go when you land! When you do get your license, you have a 3 day waiting period before you can officially use it, and then 60 days to officially get married!!
Disclaimer: Please always read up on local laws and regulations. This is not meant to be fact but a starting point for your research!
Getting married before you elope
Did you know that it’s totally an option to get married legally before you elope? Sometimes couples want to have their license in whatever county or state they live in and sometimes it’s easier to just take part of the legal stuff at the courthouse and then elope yourselves or with guests at your chosen spot! Some people call this a commitment ceremony!
Finalize the day details, create a backup plan, and gear up!
You’ve done all the planning, your photographer has helped you create an amazing timeline for the best light and everything is in place! Now think about a backup plan. A lot of areas in Washington can be single access roads. They can close for a variety of reasons and very suddenly! Or severe and dangerous weather could crop up! I always help my couples create a backup plan so we can easily shift focus if their original location becomes inaccessible.
Gear Up
Think about a list of things you’ll need for your elopement!
- Vows
- Partner 1 & Partner 2 outfits & Accessories
- Marriage license
- GPS/navigational system
- Hiking Boots
- Backpack
- Permit / Parking permit
- Picnic Blanket
- Bug Spray
- Suntan Lotion and other sun gear
- Warm Layers
- Umbrellas
…and so much more! Check out this list of 10 essentials so you have the proper safety gear for any outdoor adventure!
Celebrate your adventure, because you deserve it!
Elopements can be an amazing all-day experience and even though your guest count is smaller, doesn’t mean you can’t go big for yourselves and still make your day special.
