Special Moments You’ll Never Forget: Elopement Photography in the Parks

By Brianna Parks, Guest Blogger and Photographer

Washington’s national parks are some of the most underrated in the elopement photography space.

In fact, not many of my couples have heard about the famous parks like Olympic or North Cascades until they run across an article on my site. However, once they discover these hidden gems, they’re hooked!

I’ve been a wedding photographer for around 3 years and recently dove into the outdoor elopement space about a year ago, hoping to capture more epic elopements in our national parks. At the time, I was shocked at the number of couples who didn’t realize national park weddings could be a thing, which is why I’m breaking down all you and other photographers need to know about how to get married in a national park.

1. Permits are a must! The process of getting a permit may sound very scary and overwhelming, but have no fear! All national park websites are designed to be very user-friendly, and you just look for a link for “weddings” or “special use permit.” Here, you’ll receive step-by-step instructions, and if you have any specific questions, you can call the park directly for more information. Photographers also need to obtain a special use permit or a commercial permit (depending on the park), which can be found under the same links listed above. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines, a cancellation of the wedding, and stricter rules for other photographers and explorers.
2. Keep it small. Most national parks put a limit on how many people can attend your wedding or elopement. Keeping it small allows you to have more access to different areas of the park, and park websites have information on how many people are allowed.
3. Be aware of peak seasons. This goes for both photographers and wedding parties. If you’re wanting a super small and intimate wedding, consider having it during the off-season. If this isn’t an option, consider a sunrise or sunset ceremony. (Photographers, it’s also important to make sure that if you are photographing during peak season, be sure to not block the trails for other visitors who want to explore the park as well.)
4. Leave No Trace. This is a HUGE part of planning or photographing a wedding in a national park. Be sure to abide by the seven principles to ensure that our national parks stay beautiful for years to come!

Some of my favorite elopements have taken place in national parks.

For example, one of my favorites occurred in Olympic National Park during late summer with a couple named Adriana and Carter. They found me through my website and needed assistance planning their national park wedding. After securing our permits and going over the seven principles of Leave No Trace, we headed up to Hurricane Ridge for a sunset vow reading.

To our surprise, there was hardly anyone there, which is quite rare during a warm summer night. The sunset was unreal. It illuminated everything around us and turned the sky into a cotton-candy pink, which only accentuated the deep blues of the mountains behind them. As we were leaving, a herd of deer came around the corner and began grazing on the grass, just a few feet in front of us. And while it was too dark to photograph that beautiful moment, it was something Adriana and Carter (as well as I) will never forget!

Brianna is a California elopement photographer from Northern California who loves everything and all things elopements. She is passionate about helping her couples create intentional and intimate wedding days they’ll never forget. For more information, visit Brianna Parks Photography.