This was a true dream day for me to be a part of – a stunning elopement in the heart of the North Cascades mountains, Washington state at beautiful Blue Lake. It was day 1 out of multiple that Grace and Andrew planned out for themselves and their closest friends and family. For this post I’m just sharing the Blue Lake elopement adventure day but their wedding day was just as perfect (and maybe someday I’ll get to sharing it) and was held at The Inn at Mazama.
When Grace and Andrew originally reached out to me about their wedding week in the North Cascades I was so beyond thrilled, both because it’s one of my favorite places in the world and because I immediately connected with them over their story and the way they envisioned their event. Having their friends and family present for a more formal wedding was incredibly important, most of whom traveled from far and wide to attend. The outdoors hold a special place in this couple’s heart (something we share a love of) so a more adventure filled day with these kinds of portraits with just the two of them was equally as paramount.
This late September day was left up to fate to a degree. The North Cascades were ravaged by fires in the summer of 2023 and we didn’t know until days beforehand if we were going to be able to hike up to Blue Lake. As soon as we knew it had reopened we were thrilled! The larches were beginning to turn color into the amazing bright yellow hue and we even got some big snowflakes falling around us at the end of our shoot. It felt like it couldn’t possibly all be real.
I love all the landscapes of the PNW but I have a special place in my heart for the mountains in WA state. Looking to elope in the Pacific Northwest in 2024? I’d love to help you choose your dream location!
Kelsey Straus is a PNW Elopement +
Intimate Wedding Photographer
based in Portland, Oregon