Gorgeous Hidden Rainforest Elopement | A. & A.

Olympic National Park

Plan B Elopement in Olympic National Park

A. and A. are from Idaho. Their dream was to elope in Olympic National Park ever since they learned about the Hoh Rainforest, which is located inside the park. The rainforest reminded them of Lothlórien, the Golden Wood, the forest realm of the Elves in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. As huge fans of The Lord of the Rings, they immediately decided they wanted to elope there. Even better, it was only a six-hour drive from their home.

We scheduled their elopement (at the beginning of May) six months in advance. But in December, a landslide washed out the road to the forest. The access was closed indefinitely, with no announcement about when it might reopen.

At first, I wasn’t too worried, but once I saw photos of the road (literally swept away in one section and in need of major reconstruction), I realized the repair wouldn’t be quick.

By February, it became clear we needed a Plan B. I wrote to the couple, offering three options: move the wedding to the following year, postpone it until fall (hoping the road would reopen), or find a similar location somewhere else in Olympic National Park.

After some discussion, the couple decided to keep their original date but explore alternatives. 

My husband Pasha, and I traveled around the Olympic peninsular and scouted different spots. We eventually discovered a hidden gem that looked remarkably similar to the Hoh Rainforest—hidden gem near Lake Quinault или Quinault Rainforest. We filmed a short video for the couple, and they loved it.

The Trailhead Elopement Timeline

Once the location was chosen, the couple booked a room at the beautiful Lake Quinault Lodge, where we captured their getting-ready moments. The bride was photographed in their room, while the groom wanted his portraits in the lobby. He loved its cozy, historic atmosphere.

The elopement ceremony itself took place in the forest. If you’ve ever been to the Hoh Rainforest, you’ll agree the forest I found looks just as magical, but with one big advantage—far fewer people around.

We ended the day with a picnic at Ruby Beach, where the couple watched the sunset. They brought all the decorations and picnic essentials with them from Idaho, creating a wonderfully personal and atmospheric setup.

After the elopement, the couple set off on a cruise to Alaska for their honeymoon adventure.

Olympic National Park Elopement Photographer

With me, you never need to worry about the logistics of your elopement. I’ll help you create a Plan B so that no matter what happens, your special day will be everything you’ve dreamed of. Fill out the form at the link, and let’s schedule your first call to discuss all the details of your perfect elopement.

Hotel: Lake Quinault Lodge

HMUA: Pacific Brides 

Cake: Bloom Cake Studio

Everything you need to know two plan a PNW elopement