Thinking about a wildflower elopement in Washington but not quite sure where to start? Wildflower elopements can be absolutely magical, but quite a lot of planning goes into them. Lots of variables impact wildflower blooms in different seasons and locations, like altitude, flower species and snowpack levels. This guide will take you through the five-step process that I use to help couples plan their perfect Washington wildflower elopement.
Step 1: Choose the right season for your wildflower elopement.
One of the things that makes Washington so unique is all the different landscapes. With these different landscapes, means that wildflowers bloom in different times of year, depending on the species, altitude and climate. The best time for your wildflower elopement might look different than someone else’s, depending on what species or other background scenery you’re looking for.
When do wildflowers bloom in Washington?
There are two main blooming seasons for wildflowers in Washington, depending on the climate. The first happens in Spring, around March through May. This bloom happens in the lower elevation locations such as the Wenatchee foothills and the Columbia River Valley. This is a great season for combining wildflowers with waterfalls, woods, or meadow scenery.
The second bloom happens at higher elevation locations after the snow pack has melted in the mountains. Depending on the year, this usually happens in late July through mid-August. This includes locations such as Mount Rainier National Park and the North Cascades. This is a great season for combining wildflowers with epic mountain views.
These timelines are highly variable and change every year from season to season mainly due to the winter weather. A more mild winter with less snow often means an earlier bloom season, while a heavy snow winter might delay peak blooms by a couple of weeks or even a month, depending on the location.
What wildflowers bloom in the different seasons in Washington?
The different climates and bloom seasons also have different species of wildflowers. The spring bloom in lower elevation locations include balsamroot (yellow sunflower-looking bloom) and lupine (purple stalks of flowers). Mountain wildflowers in Washington include paintbrush, subalpine daisy, and foxglove. Both bloom seasons offer a variety of different flower species and colors. You can read more about Washington wildflower species in WTA’s guide here.
Step 2: Choose between the best Washington wildflower elopement locations
Now that you have a better idea of the kind of flowers you want to see, weather you want to experience, or general area you’d like to elope in, it’s time to choose a specific location for your elopement day. I always recommend having back-up locations ready for wildflower elopements, since the timing of peak blooms is so dependent on multiple factors. Here are just a few of my favorite locations.
Lowland & Foothills Wildflower Locations (April – May)
Leavenworth & Wenatchee
- Sage Hills | 5.5 miles, 650 ft elevation gain | A stunning system of trails in the hills of Wenatchee for hiking and mountain biking. Especially lovely at sunrise.
- Cashmere Canyons Preserve | 12 miles of trails, 1,800 ft elevation gain | A preservation with tons of trails, note that no dogs or mountain biking are allowed here.
- Sauer’s Mountain | 6 miles, 2,000 ft elevation gain | A steep hike, but worth it for the wildflower and mountain views.
- Olalla Canyon Ridge – 2 miles, 400 ft elevation gain | Once a hidden gem, this trail is now very crowded during wildflower season and there is limited parking. Best to go on a weekday and as early as you can manage. Sunrise here is otherworldly.
Columbia River Gorge
- Dog Mountain | 6 miles, 2,800 ft elevation gain | It can be a bit challenging to be in shape enough to really enjoy this hike early in the season, but the wildflowers certainly make the training worth it.
- Silver Star Mountain | 5 miles, 1,240 ft elevation gain | Wildflowers bloom in May through most of June here. The road to the trailhead is a little rough, but nothing a SUV can’t manage.
- PCT Section H | 77 miles, 16,300 ft elevation gain | This section of the PCT boasts stunning wildflowers from mid-May through late June. The wildflower season is a bit too early to run into thru-hikers, but section hikers may also backpack this section in late spring and early summer.
Highlands Wildflower Locations (July – August)
Mt. Rainier National Park
- Tipsoo Lake & Naches Peak Loop | 3.2 miles, 600 ft elevation gain | One of the most popular areas in the park, for good reason. Being here during peak bloom feels otherworldly.
- Paradise & Golden Gate Loop | 4 miles, 1,160 ft elevation gain | Another popular destination within the park, Paradise is just that. The hiking trails in this area offer fields of wildflowers with stunning views of Mt. Rainier.
North Cascades National Park
- Heather – Maple Loop Pass | 7.2 miles, 2,000 ft elevation gain | One of my all-time favorite hikes in the state, it offers 360 mountain views with some wildflowers at lower elevations.
- Fisher Creek | 14 miles, 4,000 ft elevation gain | It’s certainly not a requirement to do all 14 miles of this hike. The trail takes you through meadows of wildflowers with mountain views in the distance.
Mount Baker Wilderness
- Bagley Lakes & Heather Meadows | 2 miles, 150 ft elevation gain | This trail leads you through Heather Meadows by Artist Point. Boardwalks guide you over creeks and around meadows.
- Welcome Pass | 4.6 miles, 2,800 ft elevation gain | A steep but absolutely stunning hike through the north cascades. White flowers blanket the hills in early August.
Explore More Wildflower Locations Across Washington
Check out this interactive wildflower map to learn more about wildflower blooms, seasonality and locations.
There are lots of things that make a location the perfect fit, and it’s different for each couple. If you want to spend most of your day hiking and want privacy, some of the longer, backcountry hikes might be for you. If you want a more accessible location and to do some in-town activities like pizza at a brewery, some of the shorter, more front-country locations might be a better fit.
Also keep in mind that if a trail is 12 miles long, you don’t necessarily need to hike all of it! The first few miles of some of these longer trails are just as spectacular, depending on what you’re looking for. Hiring an expert as your “boots on the ground” is the best way to ensure you have the best experience.
Step 3: Create your wildflower elopement timeline.
Your elopement day shouldn’t feel like an all-day photoshoot. I work with all of my couples to create a day that feels like the best date of their lives, or the favorite day of their honeymoon. We’ll work together to find activities that feel like you (exciting or relaxing) and build your timeline to include plenty of down time for spontaneity and camera breaks.
Activities for your wildflower elopement:
- Hiking through the flowers
- Have a picnic
- Reading letters from friends and family
- Saying vows & exchanging rings
- Wine tasting
- First dance
- Stargazing
- 4×4 back-roads
- Road trip to multiple locations
- Painting, drawing, knitting, or embroidery
- Getting tattoos
- Playing a game or a scavenger hunt
- Mountain biking
- Sharing a first dance
- Relaxing in a hammock
Spring Lowland Wildflower Location Example Timeline
Here’s what a May Wenatchee wildflower adventure elopement with guests could look like:
- 1:30am Drive to a forest service road
- 2:15am Arrive and meet your photographer
- 2:30am Astro photos & star-gazing with a coffee picnic
- 3:30am Ceremony under the stars
- 4:00am End ceremony, pack gear and head to Sage Hills
- 4:45am Arrive at the trailhead, gather gear
- 5:00am Hike to a first dance spot, taking photos with the wildflowers along the way
- 5:30am Sunrise first dance surrounded by wildflowers
- 5:45am Portraits, explore the area more
- 6:45am Head back to the car
- 7:30am Pack up gear and head to a diner for breakfast
- 8:30am Diner breakfast and sign paperwork
- 10am Finish brunch, head back to your AirBnb (in an orchard) for a nap
- Break for naptime!
- 2pm Meet at Wenatchee Airport for a private helicopter ride
- 2:30pm Pre-flight checks, photos with the helicopter, board
- 3:30pm Takeoff, scenic flight admiring wildflower colors from the sky
- 4:30pm Land back at Wenatchee Airport
- 5pm Head to a winery in the foothills
- 5:30pm Meet friends and family at the winery, share a toast
- 6pm Yard games, dinner and speeches with guests
- 7:30pm Photo coverage ends
Summer Highland Wildflower Location Example Timeline
Here’s what an August Mt. Rainier wildflower elopement could look like:
- 3:30am Wake up and drink coffee while getting ready
- 4am Photo coverage starts, detail shots while finishing getting ready
- 5am First look at your A-Frame AirBnb cabin
- 5:15am Drive to Tipsoo Lake
- 5:45am Arrive at the trailhead, gather gear
- 6am Hike to a ceremony spot, taking photos with the wildflowers along the way
- 6:30am Ceremony with vows and ring exchange
- 8:30am Explore the area and hike a bit further for portraits, admiring the wildflowers
- 9:30am Find a spot for a breakfast picnic, read letters from friends and family
- 10:15am Wrap up breakfast, head back to the car
- 11am Pack up gear and head to Paradise
- 11:30am Arrive at Paradise, grab gear for a quick hike
- 11:45am Hike to Myrtle Falls and taking photos along the way
- 12:30pm Hike back down, enjoying the scenery
- 1pm Explore the visitor center, get witness signatures and choose gifts for each other
- 2pm Head back to your Airbnb for a nap, end photo coverage
Curious what a non-sunrise timeline would look like? I’d be happy to create a timeline that’s specific to you! Fill out the inquiry form to schedule a free consultation.
Step 4: Prepare for your Washington wildflower elopement.
Once you have the location and timeline sorted, it’s time to prepare for your elopement. Here are a few things to consider when planning.
How to avoid crowds on your elopement day
The best way to experience the most popular wildflower locations with solitude is to go when other people aren’t willing to (at sunrise or on weekdays). If sunrise is a deal-breaker for you (I get it, mornings can be hard!) there are certainly other locations that are less crowded. It just takes a bit more research (and oftentimes a bit more hiking) to get to them.
Washington Marriage Laws
Marriage laws can seem overwhelming, but I promise it’s actually pretty simple! In Washington, all you need to do is get your marriage license, have the ceremony, and return the license. You don’t need to be a resident of the state to get married here, and most counties allow you to apply for your license online so you don’t need to deal with the 3-day waiting period during your trip. See my complete Washington elopement laws guide for more information.
Need help planning your wildflower elopement?
With a background in project management and over 600 miles hiked in Washington, planning is my specialty. I’d be happy to help you visualize your wildflower elopement and answer any questions. Fill out the inquiry form to schedule a free consultation.
Step 5: Frolic with the wildflowers on your elopement day
The whole point of doing all of this planning ahead of time is so you can be as present on your day as possible. We’re not sticking to a strict itinerary – we’re just making sure you have the opportunity to experience everything that you want to on your day.
With that said, there are a few things we need to be mindful of on the day. These wildflower environments are incredibly fragile. We need to make sure to protect them so we can all enjoy them for years to come.
Why We to Leave No Trace
Wildflowers are an important part of the ecosystems they live in. At any altitude and in any kind of environment, wildflowers provide homes for insects, are food bees and small mammals, and help keep nutrients in the soil. They are the foundation for these beautiful places we admire. So, how do we keep them safe? By following Leave No Trace Principles.
How to Leave No Trace
DO
Stay on trail. Some flowers take years to bloom just once, and a single footprint can be devastating to these fragile ecosystems. While it may be tempting to follow a social trail, please stick to marked, established paths to allow these flowers the best chances of blooming.
Take photos. There are a few tricks we can use to create the illusion of standing in the middle of a wildflower field. Using foreground or curves in the trail are great ways to get those epic photos.
Pack it in, pack it out. For every highly-trafficked location, litter tends to accumulate. Let’s be sure to leave the area even better than it was when we arrived to support wildlife and our land-management organizations. This includes food scraps.
DON’T
Pick flowers. If every person who came to this location also picked “just one” flower, there wouldn’t be enough left to seed and bloom the next year.
Tag exact locations on social media. While we all want our friends to be able to experience what we did, social media audiences are wide. Sharing exact locations makes it easy for people to wander into these spaces uneducated and unprepared, which is a danger for everyone. Try sharing general locations instead, like “Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest” or “Washington”.
How to Have the Best Wildflower Elopement Experience
Because wildflowers can be highly variable, planning a Washington wildflower elopement during peak bloom can be complicated. My advice for the best results is to stay as flexible as possible. Being able to adapt to conditions the month of, week of, and even day of your elopement is key to having the best experience.
Monitor Winter Weather
The timing of peak wildflower blooms is dependent on the snowpack, especially in higher altitude locations. A harsh winter with lots of snow could delay peak timing by a few weeks or a month, but oftentimes brings more vibrant colors. On the other hand, a mild winter with less snow could result in an early bloom. Stay tuned in Washington mountain weather in December through February to get a sense of the snowpack levels.
Have Multiple Locations
Each location has its own unique set of conditions. A trail with more trees in Wenatchee may have later blooms due to the shade than another trail that’s just a few miles away with full sun. Having multiple trails up your sleeve gives you the best chance at seeing the best blooms, no matter the season.
Limit Your Group Size
Wildflower elopements are best suited for small groups. Many of these trials are quite narrow and don’t allow room to spread out for a ceremony. Since we always stick to trails and avoid stepping on wildflowers, smaller groups (of under 6) are easiest to manage.
Stay In the Area for at Least a Week
If you’re traveling to Washington for your wildflower elopement, consider planning your trip for at least a week or two. If you are able to be flexible on which date you actually elope (for non-permitted areas), you can adapt in real-time to weather conditions, road closures or other last-minute changes.
Finalize Details Close to your Day
Staying flexible means having a plan A, plan B, and plan C ready to go, but not making the call for which plan is the right one until we have all the information. Because wildflower blooms happen so quickly, it’s almost impossible to predict conditions even a week ahead of time. Being willing to change plans the day before will give you the best chance of experiencing the best blooms in the best weather.
Washington Wildflower Elopements
There’s absolutely nothing like spinning in a field of wildflowers here in Washington. With foothills, waterfalls or mountains in the background and endless activity options, it’s hard to go wrong with a wildflower elopement. All the effort that goes into planning is absolutely worth it on your day.
Feeling a little overwhelmed trying to plan your wildflower elopement? Planning is absolutely my jam, and I’m always happy to answer any questions! Fill out the inquiry form to schedule a free consultation.
Planning a Spring Elopement and Not Sure of the Scenery?
Check out the seasonal guide to see what other types of scenery is available in a Washington spring. Or get more resources to help plan your Washington elopement here.
Thinking about a wildflower elopement in Washington but not quite sure where to start? Wildflower elopements can be absolutely magical, but quite a lot of planning goes into them. Lots of variables impact wildflower blooms in different seasons and locations, like altitude, flower species and snowpack levels. This guide will take you through the five-step process that I use to help couples plan their perfect Washington wildflower elopement.
Step 1: Choose the right season for your wildflower elopement.
One of the things that makes Washington so unique is all the different landscapes. With these different landscapes, means that wildflowers bloom in different times of year, depending on the species, altitude and climate. The best time for your wildflower elopement might look different than someone else’s, depending on what species or other background scenery you’re looking for.
When do wildflowers bloom in Washington?
There are two main blooming seasons for wildflowers in Washington, depending on the climate. The first happens in Spring, around March through May. This bloom happens in the lower elevation locations such as the Wenatchee foothills and the Columbia River Valley. This is a great season for combining wildflowers with waterfalls, woods, or meadow scenery.
The second bloom happens at higher elevation locations after the snow pack has melted in the mountains. Depending on the year, this usually happens in late July through mid-August. This includes locations such as Mount Rainier National Park and the North Cascades. This is a great season for combining wildflowers with epic mountain views.
These timelines are highly variable and change every year from season to season mainly due to the winter weather. A more mild winter with less snow often means an earlier bloom season, while a heavy snow winter might delay peak blooms by a couple of weeks or even a month, depending on the location.
What wildflowers bloom in the different seasons in Washington?
The different climates and bloom seasons also have different species of wildflowers. The spring bloom in lower elevation locations include balsamroot (yellow sunflower-looking bloom) and lupine (purple stalks of flowers). Mountain wildflowers in Washington include paintbrush, subalpine daisy, and foxglove. Both bloom seasons offer a variety of different flower species and colors. You can read more about Washington wildflower species in WTA’s guide here.
Step 2: Choose between the best Washington wildflower elopement locations
Now that you have a better idea of the kind of flowers you want to see, weather you want to experience, or general area you’d like to elope in, it’s time to choose a specific location for your elopement day. I always recommend having back-up locations ready for wildflower elopements, since the timing of peak blooms is so dependent on multiple factors. Here are just a few of my favorite locations.
Lowland & Foothills Wildflower Locations (April – May)
Leavenworth & Wenatchee
- Sage Hills | 5.5 miles, 650 ft elevation gain | A stunning system of trails in the hills of Wenatchee for hiking and mountain biking. Especially lovely at sunrise.
- Cashmere Canyons Preserve | 12 miles of trails, 1,800 ft elevation gain | A preservation with tons of trails, note that no dogs or mountain biking are allowed here.
- Sauer’s Mountain | 6 miles, 2,000 ft elevation gain | A steep hike, but worth it for the wildflower and mountain views.
- Olalla Canyon Ridge – 2 miles, 400 ft elevation gain | Once a hidden gem, this trail is now very crowded during wildflower season and there is limited parking. Best to go on a weekday and as early as you can manage. Sunrise here is otherworldly.
Columbia River Gorge
- Dog Mountain | 6 miles, 2,800 ft elevation gain | It can be a bit challenging to be in shape enough to really enjoy this hike early in the season, but the wildflowers certainly make the training worth it.
- Silver Star Mountain | 5 miles, 1,240 ft elevation gain | Wildflowers bloom in May through most of June here. The road to the trailhead is a little rough, but nothing a SUV can’t manage.
- PCT Section H | 77 miles, 16,300 ft elevation gain | This section of the PCT boasts stunning wildflowers from mid-May through late June. The wildflower season is a bit too early to run into thru-hikers, but section hikers may also backpack this section in late spring and early summer.
Highlands Wildflower Locations (July – August)
Mt. Rainier National Park
- Tipsoo Lake & Naches Peak Loop | 3.2 miles, 600 ft elevation gain | One of the most popular areas in the park, for good reason. Being here during peak bloom feels otherworldly.
- Paradise & Golden Gate Loop | 4 miles, 1,160 ft elevation gain | Another popular destination within the park, Paradise is just that. The hiking trails in this area offer fields of wildflowers with stunning views of Mt. Rainier.
North Cascades National Park
- Heather – Maple Loop Pass | 7.2 miles, 2,000 ft elevation gain | One of my all-time favorite hikes in the state, it offers 360 mountain views with some wildflowers at lower elevations.
- Fisher Creek | 14 miles, 4,000 ft elevation gain | It’s certainly not a requirement to do all 14 miles of this hike. The trail takes you through meadows of wildflowers with mountain views in the distance.
Mount Baker Wilderness
- Bagley Lakes & Heather Meadows | 2 miles, 150 ft elevation gain | This trail leads you through Heather Meadows by Artist Point. Boardwalks guide you over creeks and around meadows.
- Welcome Pass | 4.6 miles, 2,800 ft elevation gain | A steep but absolutely stunning hike through the north cascades. White flowers blanket the hills in early August.
Explore More Wildflower Locations Across Washington
Check out this interactive wildflower map to learn more about wildflower blooms, seasonality and locations.
There are lots of things that make a location the perfect fit, and it’s different for each couple. If you want to spend most of your day hiking and want privacy, some of the longer, backcountry hikes might be for you. If you want a more accessible location and to do some in-town activities like pizza at a brewery, some of the shorter, more front-country locations might be a better fit.
Also keep in mind that if a trail is 12 miles long, you don’t necessarily need to hike all of it! The first few miles of some of these longer trails are just as spectacular, depending on what you’re looking for. Hiring an expert as your “boots on the ground” is the best way to ensure you have the best experience.
Step 3: Create your wildflower elopement timeline.
Your elopement day shouldn’t feel like an all-day photoshoot. I work with all of my couples to create a day that feels like the best date of their lives, or the favorite day of their honeymoon. We’ll work together to find activities that feel like you (exciting or relaxing) and build your timeline to include plenty of down time for spontaneity and camera breaks.
Activities for your wildflower elopement:
- Hiking through the flowers
- Have a picnic
- Reading letters from friends and family
- Saying vows & exchanging rings
- Wine tasting
- First dance
- Stargazing
- 4×4 back-roads
- Road trip to multiple locations
- Painting, drawing, knitting, or embroidery
- Getting tattoos
- Playing a game or a scavenger hunt
- Mountain biking
- Sharing a first dance
- Relaxing in a hammock
Spring Lowland Wildflower Location Example Timeline
Here’s what a May Wenatchee wildflower adventure elopement with guests could look like:
- 1:30am Drive to a forest service road
- 2:15am Arrive and meet your photographer
- 2:30am Astro photos & star-gazing with a coffee picnic
- 3:30am Ceremony under the stars
- 4:00am End ceremony, pack gear and head to Sage Hills
- 4:45am Arrive at the trailhead, gather gear
- 5:00am Hike to a first dance spot, taking photos with the wildflowers along the way
- 5:30am Sunrise first dance surrounded by wildflowers
- 5:45am Portraits, explore the area more
- 6:45am Head back to the car
- 7:30am Pack up gear and head to a diner for breakfast
- 8:30am Diner breakfast and sign paperwork
- 10am Finish brunch, head back to your AirBnb (in an orchard) for a nap
- Break for naptime!
- 2pm Meet at Wenatchee Airport for a private helicopter ride
- 2:30pm Pre-flight checks, photos with the helicopter, board
- 3:30pm Takeoff, scenic flight admiring wildflower colors from the sky
- 4:30pm Land back at Wenatchee Airport
- 5pm Head to a winery in the foothills
- 5:30pm Meet friends and family at the winery, share a toast
- 6pm Yard games, dinner and speeches with guests
- 7:30pm Photo coverage ends
Summer Highland Wildflower Location Example Timeline
Here’s what an August Mt. Rainier wildflower elopement could look like:
- 3:30am Wake up and drink coffee while getting ready
- 4am Photo coverage starts, detail shots while finishing getting ready
- 5am First look at your A-Frame AirBnb cabin
- 5:15am Drive to Tipsoo Lake
- 5:45am Arrive at the trailhead, gather gear
- 6am Hike to a ceremony spot, taking photos with the wildflowers along the way
- 6:30am Ceremony with vows and ring exchange
- 8:30am Explore the area and hike a bit further for portraits, admiring the wildflowers
- 9:30am Find a spot for a breakfast picnic, read letters from friends and family
- 10:15am Wrap up breakfast, head back to the car
- 11am Pack up gear and head to Paradise
- 11:30am Arrive at Paradise, grab gear for a quick hike
- 11:45am Hike to Myrtle Falls and taking photos along the way
- 12:30pm Hike back down, enjoying the scenery
- 1pm Explore the visitor center, get witness signatures and choose gifts for each other
- 2pm Head back to your Airbnb for a nap, end photo coverage
Curious what a non-sunrise timeline would look like? I’d be happy to create a timeline that’s specific to you! Fill out the inquiry form to schedule a free consultation.
Step 4: Prepare for your Washington wildflower elopement.
Once you have the location and timeline sorted, it’s time to prepare for your elopement. Here are a few things to consider when planning.
How to avoid crowds on your elopement day
The best way to experience the most popular wildflower locations with solitude is to go when other people aren’t willing to (at sunrise or on weekdays). If sunrise is a deal-breaker for you (I get it, mornings can be hard!) there are certainly other locations that are less crowded. It just takes a bit more research (and oftentimes a bit more hiking) to get to them.
Washington Marriage Laws
Marriage laws can seem overwhelming, but I promise it’s actually pretty simple! In Washington, all you need to do is get your marriage license, have the ceremony, and return the license. You don’t need to be a resident of the state to get married here, and most counties allow you to apply for your license online so you don’t need to deal with the 3-day waiting period during your trip. See my complete Washington elopement laws guide for more information.
Need help planning your wildflower elopement?
With a background in project management and over 600 miles hiked in Washington, planning is my specialty. I’d be happy to help you visualize your wildflower elopement and answer any questions. Fill out the inquiry form to schedule a free consultation.
Step 5: Frolic with the wildflowers on your elopement day
The whole point of doing all of this planning ahead of time is so you can be as present on your day as possible. We’re not sticking to a strict itinerary – we’re just making sure you have the opportunity to experience everything that you want to on your day.
With that said, there are a few things we need to be mindful of on the day. These wildflower environments are incredibly fragile. We need to make sure to protect them so we can all enjoy them for years to come.
Why We to Leave No Trace
Wildflowers are an important part of the ecosystems they live in. At any altitude and in any kind of environment, wildflowers provide homes for insects, are food bees and small mammals, and help keep nutrients in the soil. They are the foundation for these beautiful places we admire. So, how do we keep them safe? By following Leave No Trace Principles.
How to Leave No Trace
DO
Stay on trail. Some flowers take years to bloom just once, and a single footprint can be devastating to these fragile ecosystems. While it may be tempting to follow a social trail, please stick to marked, established paths to allow these flowers the best chances of blooming.
Take photos. There are a few tricks we can use to create the illusion of standing in the middle of a wildflower field. Using foreground or curves in the trail are great ways to get those epic photos.
Pack it in, pack it out. For every highly-trafficked location, litter tends to accumulate. Let’s be sure to leave the area even better than it was when we arrived to support wildlife and our land-management organizations. This includes food scraps.
DON’T
Pick flowers. If every person who came to this location also picked “just one” flower, there wouldn’t be enough left to seed and bloom the next year.
Tag exact locations on social media. While we all want our friends to be able to experience what we did, social media audiences are wide. Sharing exact locations makes it easy for people to wander into these spaces uneducated and unprepared, which is a danger for everyone. Try sharing general locations instead, like “Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest” or “Washington”.
How to Have the Best Wildflower Elopement Experience
Because wildflowers can be highly variable, planning a Washington wildflower elopement during peak bloom can be complicated. My advice for the best results is to stay as flexible as possible. Being able to adapt to conditions the month of, week of, and even day of your elopement is key to having the best experience.
Monitor Winter Weather
The timing of peak wildflower blooms is dependent on the snowpack, especially in higher altitude locations. A harsh winter with lots of snow could delay peak timing by a few weeks or a month, but oftentimes brings more vibrant colors. On the other hand, a mild winter with less snow could result in an early bloom. Stay tuned in Washington mountain weather in December through February to get a sense of the snowpack levels.
Have Multiple Locations
Each location has its own unique set of conditions. A trail with more trees in Wenatchee may have later blooms due to the shade than another trail that’s just a few miles away with full sun. Having multiple trails up your sleeve gives you the best chance at seeing the best blooms, no matter the season.
Limit Your Group Size
Wildflower elopements are best suited for small groups. Many of these trials are quite narrow and don’t allow room to spread out for a ceremony. Since we always stick to trails and avoid stepping on wildflowers, smaller groups (of under 6) are easiest to manage.
Stay In the Area for at Least a Week
If you’re traveling to Washington for your wildflower elopement, consider planning your trip for at least a week or two. If you are able to be flexible on which date you actually elope (for non-permitted areas), you can adapt in real-time to weather conditions, road closures or other last-minute changes.
Finalize Details Close to your Day
Staying flexible means having a plan A, plan B, and plan C ready to go, but not making the call for which plan is the right one until we have all the information. Because wildflower blooms happen so quickly, it’s almost impossible to predict conditions even a week ahead of time. Being willing to change plans the day before will give you the best chance of experiencing the best blooms in the best weather.
Washington Wildflower Elopements
There’s absolutely nothing like spinning in a field of wildflowers here in Washington. With foothills, waterfalls or mountains in the background and endless activity options, it’s hard to go wrong with a wildflower elopement. All the effort that goes into planning is absolutely worth it on your day.
Feeling a little overwhelmed trying to plan your wildflower elopement? Planning is absolutely my jam, and I’m always happy to answer any questions! Fill out the inquiry form to schedule a free consultation.
Planning a Spring Elopement and Not Sure of the Scenery?
Check out the seasonal guide to see what other types of scenery is available in a Washington spring. Or get more resources to help plan your Washington elopement here.
