Andrea & Jonathan held their joyful cabin elopement at Mt. Rainier National Park surrounded by their families on an unusually warm March day. With the Cowlitz River and Coal Creek flowing nearby, they read their vows and reflected on their journey from high school sweethearts to partners for a decade with a lifetime to come. A relaxed, joyful, and earthy celebration, it was an absolute honor to be capturing these moments for Andrea and Jonathan! 

Details & Getting Ready

Andrea found me on Instagram, and she said their vision was for an intimate cabin wedding. I was so excited to return to Mt. Rainier (and to this cute cabin!) to photograph this elopement and give them the intimate, joy-filled feel they were hoping the day would bring. Andrea told me her birthday week in March is always warm, and usually Mt. Rainier at that time of year gives more rainy, moody vibes, but she was so right! The sun was out, and I felt so welcomed into their celebration, which made it so easy to have fun with them and catch those truly unfiltered moments.

First Look

If you know me, then you know that I absolutely adore first looks, and Andrea and Jonathan’s was heart-melting! The happiness on their faces is just unbeatable. The other family-centered elements of this elopement also really tugged on my heart – watching the parents’ reactions during the ceremony, and Andrea and Jonathan having their brothers hold and present the rings was so special. 

Ceremony

These two are an incredible couple, and it was amazing to hear them reflect on their journey – “While we went to middle/high school together, we didn’t really talk until both of our best friends set us up to go to prom together. We started talking and while a little hesitant to make things official because of college, we made it work and here we are! We have truly been through so many different life events, personal phases and growth, and are truly each others’ life partners.” 

Portraits

Andrea wore this beautiful gown from Charlotte’s, a Disney X Allure Bridal design, and had her hair and makeup done by Offwhite. With no bridal party or extra details, everything was kept natural and elegant, really focusing on small details to play up the natural beauty of Mt. Rainier and how gorgeous these two are! The flowers from Iris and Fig added a perfect pop of color without being too bold. (And just look at the smiles on these two – simply stunning!)

Reception

I loved getting to know Andrea and Jonathan leading up to their cozy elopement and getting to celebrate with the family was an honor and so much fun! The relaxed atmosphere and great company made this a truly special occasion for me. They were so sweet and fun, and even left me the kindest words after their celebration! “You were super lovely to work with and we constantly love looking back at our photos because they are simply amazing! They always bring back such wonderful memories and they will be cherished for a lifetime! From first convo, to elopement, the constant check-ins and ensuring the day was smooth day-of, was beyond appreciative. Us, and the entire family were continuously praising how helpful you were, personable, and so accommodating to the family requests.”

Congrats to Andrea and Jonathan on this new chapter! 

Other vendors at this riverside cabin elopement:

Deep Sea Sugar (Cake)

Another One Ties The Knot (Officiant)

Costco (Catering)

Valerie Madison Jewelry (Andrea’s Ring)

James Allen (Jonathan’s Ring)

Looking for a photographer for your elopement? Contact me here to discuss all the details!