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Family Leavenworth Elopement in The Washington Mountains
Kayla and Blake are true high school sweethearts, turned college sweethearts. They have been together for as long as they can remember, and describe being loved as just normal to them. Their love for each other is deep, you can tell they admire a lot of different characteristics about each other and there is always some humor in their day together.
Choosing a Family Elopement in The Washington Mountains
Kayla and Blake chose to get married in Leavenworth, Washington as it is a place they love to go together with friends, family, and just the two of them to create memories. When planning their elopement they considered ideas like zip-lining, horseback riding, or rafting for an adventure on this day as it was all things they have loved and done in the past in the area.
Photo by Adventure & Vow
Photo by Adventure & Vow
Photo by Adventure & Vow
They wanted something simple and fun, with no stress to their day! They chose to spend the morning together just them two and their husky, Pepper, of course! We met around 1 am to drive into the mountains and hike 1 mile to a beautiful peak surrounded by other peaks within the cascade region.
We enjoyed iced coffees on the drive that Kayla stopped and got the day before at her favorite coffee shop in Plain, WA which is near where they were staying. They got dressed at the top of the mountain separately and shared a first look together as there were still a few stars left in the sky.
Kayla’s Bridal Cape
Kayla opted to wear a bridal cape over the traditional veil route which was super beautiful, but also perfect for this adventurous mountain elopement as it could better withstand any wind. Pepper also got her very own wedding look with a special macramé leash that Kayla had made for her.
They watched the sun come up as they sat side by side, Pepper, not too far away, writing their vows. Once the vows were complete we moved closer to a fire tower where they sat on the stairs eating their breakfast, which was a large cinnamon roll from one of the German-inspired bakeries in the town of Leavenworth.
Photo by Adventure & Vow
Photo by Adventure & Vow
They shared their vows, playing rock paper scissors to determine who would read them first. They shared their vows together without a soul around other than Pepper, just them and their words. It was so beautiful and felt as though time stood still for just a second.
Hiking on Your Big Day
After reading their vows they ventured around to explore the different rock cliffs together and take in all of the views as the sky turned pink, purple, and then blue. They changed back into their matching hiking husband and wife tee shirts and we set on our back down the trail.
Photo by Adventure & Vow
We drove back to the Airbnb they were staying at to get redressed and freshen up. Then we headed to the nearby state park where throughout the morning their family had been setting up an area for them to get married and hold their ceremony with cute morning snacks and streamers.
The couple had invited thirty people to join them on this special occasion, which the state park could accommodate as long as we weren’t blocking off or disrupting any other bystanders’ experience. They walked into their ceremony together hand in hand smiling ear to ear with Pepper following along as their family was excited to greet them.
The Ceremony
They walked into their ceremony together since they had already spent the morning together, where they not only shared with each other the formal + legal wedding vows but had a member of each group of their family stand and give a speech recalling memories from their ten years of dating together, each of them growing up and becoming adults and bringing these two families together as one. It was by far one of the most touching words to witness.
Photo by Adventure & Vow
They sealed the deal with a kiss in celebration and their guest waved the streamers around in congratulations! They shared hugs with their family and snacked together. They signed the marriage paperwork with one person from each family signing as the witness.
While some family left to go back to the Airbnb to rest or help set up for the dinner reception. While some guests stayed back with Kayla and Blake to jump into the lake and enjoy some time in the sun along the water on this warm day in Washington.
Dinner Reception
After some rest, we met back up with them in the evening to capture their causal dinner reception with their guests back at their Airbnb along the river. They had food brought in by a nearby restaurant which is a local favorite and cake with two ginger man cookies decorated as a bride and groom as the topper.
Photo by Adventure & Vow
Photo by Adventure & Vow
They enjoyed their dinner dining outside together with the entire group. Followed by games in the yard where they also spontaneously got iced by one of their guests. Which in turn “forced” them to take a knee and chug an Ice beverage, while one of their guests played their favorite song.
While the evening came to an end their celebration to start off their marriage didn’t end there. The next day they spent time floating on the river with their friends who drove up to help them start off their honeymoon.
Photo by Adventure & Vow
Once it started to become dark they all ventured into the house for leftovers from the night before and some time in the hot tub and spent the evening playing board games, one of their favorite things to go, in the Airbnb. After their friends left the next day they got a few days to themselves staying at a resort in the heart of Leavenworth where they could soak in the past two days and enjoy the beginning of married life together in one of their favorite places.
All in all, it was a perfect celebration for these two. It was true to who they are as a couple and filled with things that bring them joy to do, at a place they can go back to for all of their years celebrating their marriage.
Want to view some more stunning elopements? check out this snowy mountain elopement.
