Romantic couple embracing on a bridge surrounded by evergreen forest.

From East to West


Renee and Allison had a Washington elopement straight from the pages of a dreamy novel. They live an ocean front Florida life, full of sea and sun with never-ending toasty temps. I was ecstatic when they told me they wanted to go the complete opposite and head to the mountains to elope at a cabin near Mt Rainier, just the two of them.


Why Elope?


When I asked R+A why they wanted to elope, they said, "We decided to elope because we feel as though big weddings are mainly for the guests, not the couple. We wanted our wedding to truly be about 'us'. We didn't want the outside distractions of friends and family and we don't want to enter our marriage in debt from the expenses of a big wedding."

So that's what we did. We planned an elopement that was about THEM , just the two of them.


The SPOT


Renee + Allison chose to elope near Mt Rainier on Mother's Day weekend. We went at a pretty special time , it was sort of the in between of spring and summer. Seemed like we had so much of the town to ourselves. They had a specific vision for the backdrop of their ceremony, a black A-Frame cabin. They found the perfect one located in Packwood. A small town just outside of Mt Rainier a little over an hour if you're traveling in winter or spring before the ice melts and the pass is still closed. It is a short 10 mile drive if you are traveling there in the summer and can take the shorter pass WA-123 , to the Stevens Canyon entrance. Located on the river banks of the glacial fed Cowlitz River Packwood had more than enough scenic places for photographic excellence. There are endless amounts of trails and waterfalls nearby to explore and experience.


Special Moments + Photo Spots


Despite only being the two of them, I suggested they still do a first look. The moment Allison saw Renee walk down the stairs was an unforgettable moment. Cue the water works! After some tearfully happy moments captured , they helped one another put the finishing touches on their attire and it was off we went to get some photos as the sun started to do it's slow dip behind the hills. There are several overlooks to grab some really great shots from just along US 12 . We stopped at Lava Falls Viewpoint and Observation Site : Mt Rainier - Goat Rocks. These were perfect places to grab some scenic photos without any hiking at all. If you are up for some hiking there are several trail heads and waterfall hikes nearby.

Person wearing an elegant black ballgown in a rustic wooden room with a chandelier.
Person with short blonde hair and tattoo getting ready in front of a mirror.
Person in black clothing standing at the bottom of wooden stairs in a home.
Couple sharing an intimate moment in a black dress and suit in their home.
A romantic couple embraces by a rushing river in the forest wearing black formal attire.
A couple in black formal wear shares an intimate moment among towering evergreen trees.
Close-up of hands placing a ring during a ceremony with black lace details.
A romantic candlelit moment in a dark forest with a couple in formal black attire.
A couple in black clothing sharing an intimate dance in an indoor setting.
Two people exchanging rings during an intimate ceremony.
A couple shares a romantic moment at the Packwood bar in warm lighting.
A couple poses outside Packwood Brewing Co. at night in formal attire.
A couple in black attire embraces on a bridge over a rushing river in autumn.
A couple toasts with wine glasses in sunlit forest scenery.
Dramatic photo of couple in black formal attire posing by a wooden railing with flowing dress in a forest setting.

Ending Thoughts from Renee + Allison

What was your favorite part about your elopement in Packwood + Mt Rainier ?

"Our favorite part was how much we got to thoroughly enjoy our time together. We laughed with each other so much that day and really got to take it all in since we weren’t stuck to a rigid schedule or having to spend time doing all the formal tasks like saying 'hi' to each table."


Some advice you would give to other couples thinking about eloping?

"Do it. And HIRE KASIE! But, really, you get to be selfish. This day is about you and your soon-to-be spouse. And make sure it’s documented beautifully…by Kasie!"