Kady & Andrew’s Dreamy Elopement in Olympic National Park

This last August, I had the honor of photographing Kady and Andrew’s unforgettable elopement in Olympic National Park—a place that holds deep meaning for the two adventurers. Every single moment was filled with magic, from sunrise to sunset, with breathtaking backdrops, a whole lot of laughing, heartwarming moments, and a few surprises from mother nature along the way.

4:30 AM Start: Hiking to Hurricane Ridge

We started at 4:30 AM (yes, I woke up at 3:30am, got dressed, ate a quick breakfast and made sure my cameras, batteries, lenses and everything else you need for a hike, packed and ready by 4:15). An early drive to Hurricane Ridge, the mountain air, filled with “I need caffeine and we’re getting married today”, anticipation. With the dawn sky still dark, we started our hike, luckily the couple brought along their headlamps. As we climbed, a few deer joined us along the trail, quietly and without movement, watching us—a reminder of the untamed beauty of this special place. As an Alaskan, I’m used to the moose, but deer still take me by surprise. By the time we reached the ridge, the sun began to rise, casting the beautiful golden light over Port Angeles and the peaks around us.

Just as Kady slipped into her wedding dress, she had a “Disney Princess” moment: a mama deer walked right up to her, cue me silent yelling at how awesome this one and snapping as many pictures as possible. After this fun and special moment, we proceeded with the “first look”. I followed Kady up a short little walk to the ridge, where Andrew was waiting. When he turned around, his joy was palpable—you could see the love they both had for each other. We wandered along the ridge for around an hour, me snapping photos from all the angles, while Kady & Andrew soaked in the incredible sunrise of their elopement day, the views from all sides was truly breathtaking.

Midday Recharge: Exploring Port Angeles & Lake Crescent Lodge

After the morning adventure, we headed back to our Airbnbs for some food, rest, and a quick recharge before the ceremony.

By early afternoon, we all gathered again at the historic Lake Crescent Lodge. Kady and Andrew had a few close loved ones there, including parents, grandmother, and cousins. We hiked out to Marymere Falls, capturing some pre-ceremony photos against the old-growth redwoods and the falls of course.

The Ceremony at Lake Crescent

With the sun high in the sky on an unusually hot day, (like 80 degreees hot), we found a quiet spot along the crowded Lake Crescent beach, got situated and it was on. Their flower girl was on point, she had flair and was a WHOLE mood while she did her duty. After being walked down the aisle by her father, the couple met at the “alter”. Kady’s cousin officiated a short, funny, personalized and heartfelt ceremony, which ended with a kiss, applause from the wonderful beachgoers around them, and a champagne toast. It was beautiful to witness, blending their love with the natural beauty and loved ones around them.

Dinner, Sunset Photos & First Dance

Back at their Airbnb, the whole group gathered for dinner—Thai food from one of Kady and Andrew’s local favorites. With Andrew’s mom and Kady’s cousin signing as witnesses, they officially became husband and wife. After cutting the cake, we set out for one final adventure: a sunset photo session at Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge.

The timing couldn’t have been better. We arrived, the crescent moon hung perfectly in the sky (a fitting tribute for their Lake Crescent ceremony), and the sunset was full of pinks and purples. Kady and Andrew shared their first dance on the beach, did some silly walking, kiss dips and twirling. We finished off just as the sun was dipping behind the horizon and we made the short trek back to the car in the dim evening light, this time we didn’t have any headlamps, so phone flashlight it was.

Kady and Andrew’s elopement in Olympic National Park was a true adventure, from dawn til dusk, celebrating not only their love but also their deep connection to the stunning landscapes around them. It was an absolute joy to be part of this incredible day.