How to Elope on the Washington Coast
Keep reading for our complete guide on how to elope on the Washington Coast!
Where to Elope on the Washington Coast (Our Top 10 Locations)
One of the first things you need to decide on (other than choosing your photographer and videographer, of course) is where to elope on the Washington coast. Many of these locations are pretty far apart, even those that all reside within Olympic National Park, so you can’t expect to hit them all in a day, but if you do want them all then ask us how! Here’s some information on a few of our favorites to help you narrow down the list:
1. Lake Crescent
A little way south of Crescent Beach is Lake Crescent, where we’ve shot a ton of weddings and elopements! This lake is perfect for those moody PNW vibes, and really striking on a rainy day! You have access to Lake Crescent Lodge with a great place right on the lake’s edge. Just an easy mile-ish hike away is Marymere falls with it’s iconic beauty. Also around the lake is the Spruce Railroad trail which is a very underrated hike.
2. Crescent Beach
Crescent Beach is a gorgeous spot about a half hour away from Port Angeles that has incredible rocky beaches, driftwood, and mossy PNW forests right at the edge! Another great option right nearby is Salt Creek Recreational Area with Tongue Point, which has some of the best tidepools around.
3. Cape Flattery
Welcome to the most northwestern spot in the lower 48! With breathtaking cliffs and a stunning overlook that’s just right for the ceremony, Cape Flattery is another favorite spot for many of our couples. There is a more moderate hike that is mostly on a boardwalk that weaves its way through old growth trees. Cape Flattery is also not too far from another popular Washington Coast beach: Hobuck!
4. Ediz Hook
This is an amazing spot that mostly us locals visit. “Ed-ess” Hook is not a big area, but it has an incredible view! To the north you have the wide open ocean and Canada in the far distance. To the south you have Port Angeles and the Olympic Mountains. Lots of giant rocks to go climbing on, a sandy beach that even seals like to visit. And driftwood to sit and relax on.
5. Rialto Beach
Everyone says that the west coast is amazing for sunsets, and it is. But for Rialto, it really shines in the morning as it’s one of the few beaches that has trees really close to the water and when the sunlight filters through those trees with the mist from the ocean, it’s pure magic! Known, for its bare trees, but also the famous “Hole in the Wall” which can only be accessed on a super low tide and it is a mile hike down the beach. But it’s the most underrated spot in all of the beaches on the coast.
6. The Hoh Rainforest
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Hoh Rainforest! This otherworldly hot spot on the Washington Coast is full of gorgeous old-growth trees and a blanket of moss on every surface, and in the fall you get the changing colors as well. Just know that since it’s all over social media, a wedding day here should NOT be on the weekend between June-October due to the 2-3 hour WAIT to get in. So if you want the Hoh for your wedding day, trust me and go for a weekday. And for less people, go in the early spring.
7. La Push
It’s La Push baby, La Push. Twilight fans rejoice! Between First & Second beach you have your pick of spots incredible! First beach has its iconic large fallen tree right on the shore. There is a hotel and cabins you can stay at too for easy access. Second beach is known for its giant rocks and also “hole in the wall” that you can’t get to, but at the right time of year the sun shines through like a mystical portal!
8. Ruby Beach
Heading further down the coast you’ll come to Ruby Beach, which has all you’d expect from a Washington Coast beach in spades. Hands down my favorite beach to watch the sunset at. It has the most seatacks, a river that sometimes during the year you might have to get a little wet to get across, and more driftwood than any other beach. Because of the micro-climates out at the coast it could be 70 degrees and sunny in Forks and then socked in with fog and 55 degrees at the beach, or vise versa!
10. Mouth of the Elwah
The newest of the beaches! How can a beach be new? Well when the Elwah dam was taken out it created a beautiful sandy beach where the river meets the ocean. It’s underrated and hardly ever photographed with couples as it’s so unknown! Be the one of the few who visit it! It’s also one of the most centrally located beaches. A short 30 minute drive to Lake Crescent, 20 minutes to Port Angeles and an hour to the mountains. It’s the perfect place if you want to get ALL of the different landscapes without the long drive all the way out to the west end.
6 Tips for Your Washington Coast Elopement
Now that we’ve covered all our favorite coastal locations, here are some quick tips for making your Washington Coast elopement a dream come true:
- Plan for an All-Day Elopement. The Washington Coast is long, and many of the locations are a decent little drive apart. If you want to do more than a single location, you’re going to need an all-day elopement.
- Be Smart with Timing. Don’t plan your elopement for midday on a Saturday in the Hoh Rainforest – it’ll be way too busy! The best times are early morning, late afternoon, or evening regardless of your destination, and it’s always better to go for a weekday instead of a weekend if possible.
- Account for Weather Changes. Washington state is known to be rainy and foggy, even in the summertime. You’ll want to keep this in mind and be prepared for a little rainfall.
- Get Permits Early. Most Washington Coast locations are either in national parks or on tribal land, both of which may require some sort of special event permit to get married there. In the national parks, you usually only need a permit if you’ll have five or more people in attendance, but reservations tend to require permits that take a while to get sorted out – so start applying for yours now!! Here’s the link to get your permit!
- Plan Your Stay Nearby. Specifically, stay at a hotel or AirBnB within thirty minutes of your first destination to avoid wasting time driving. We’ve had couples stay in Seattle before, but that means sacrificing four hours or more of your day driving to get to and from the coast!
- Choose Your Photographer and Videographer Wisely. You need someone who knows the area…someone who’s a native to the Pacific Northwest and even Washington State itself…and we happen to know just the right photo/video team for the gig!
Come Hang Out in Our Neck of the Woods!
