Noah and Gretchen’s Sunrise Elopement on a Cabin on Lake Crescent

Imagine planning a “just us” elopement during a moody sunrise in Washington State. Noah and Gretchen got ready at a cabin on Lake Crescent and took their take as they had their first look, exchanged vows, and then explored Tongue Point together, showing us the true meaning of planning an intentional wedding day together. Get all the details below.

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About This Elopement

Photography by Raelin | Photographer

“A few details really stand out from Gretchen and Noah’s elopement. The first, having their first look at sunrise on a fall day. We used Google Earth Pro to visualize and plan how much light there would be so early in the morning. Sunrise can often be a ‘false sunrise’ here in the Pacific Northwest with our heavy cloud cover, and it created such an interesting dynamic between the pre-elopement warmth and mood from the cabin to the blue hour outside when they saw each other for the first time.

Having Lake Crescent all to themselves, with nothing but the whispers of rain and the incoming tide, was one of the most romantic first looks I’ve witnessed. Another detail I love is Noah’s and Gretchen’s vows were not delivered all at once; instead, they chose to weave their promises to each other into the landscape, reading portions of their vows at different spots along the lake. Since this is where they got engaged, each spot resonated with old and new memories and was a really interesting way to create space for intentional moments. And thirdly, the cabin they booked was right on the water, and it was very important to them to stay there for their elopement. It was truly special having a fire, enjoying a charcuterie board, and relaxing in the soft light of the windows with fog-covered hillsides just beyond the glass.” [Raelin, the photographer]

Permits and Leave No Trace During This Elopement

“Lake Crescent, located within Olympic National Park, requires a special use permit for wedding ceremonies. I recommend applying for a permit at least two months in advance to allow time for processing and to accommodate potential high-demand periods.

To practice Leave No Trace principles during an elopement, stay on trails and establish walking areas as much as possible. Avoid disturbing the ecosystem by not picking flowers or ferns and refraining from feeding the wildlife. I always carry a bag to pick up any trash along the way, and we can avoid contributing to litter by relying on how beautiful the environment is here and not using props like confetti or rose petals.” [Raelin, the photographer]

Top Tips When Eloping at Lake Crescent

“The best time to elope at Lake Crescent is October through May. For the quintessential Pacific Northwest experience, embrace the clouds, rain, and fog during the off-season! The rain and cooler weather help keep extra visitors away, making the elopement experience more private and romantic, as this location can get quite busy during the summer.

To prepare for the weather, my top tips include: Having a clear umbrella to keep the rain off during in-between moments, making hand-warmers available for a little energy boost, and book nearby lodging to take a break from the outdoors mid-day or at any point during your timeline if needed.” [Raelin, the photographer]

About The Couple

“When Gretchen and Noah reached out to me, one of the first things they said was, ‘We’re crossing our fingers for an overcast, foggy morning for our elopement’. Wishing for traditionally ‘bad’ weather is not the norm, especially for a wedding or elopement day, but this is the weather I specialize in capturing.

There’s something so poetic about dark and dreary weather, I think it allows us to bring all of ourselves (beyond the upbeat and happy moments) to the surface. Because we connected so quickly on the vision of their elopement day, I really wanted to lean into the artistry of capturing how the rain felt on their skin, the smell of salt water in the air, and the sounds of nothing else but quiet pattering on leaves.” [Raelin, the photographer]

Deciding to Elope

“I think we always knew we would elope. We wanted to focus on our connection to each other instead of our connections to others on that day. We wanted to make sure the day felt intimate and authentically ours.

I’ve also spent my entire career in the nonprofit sector running fundraising events, so the thought of planning a wedding felt a bit too close to work.

On our first trip to Seattle, before we decided to move to the city, we took a trip out to the Olympic peninsula and stayed at Lake Crescent lodge on a whim. Immediately we knew it was a special place for us; the entire area is so peaceful. Now that we live in Seattle we take a trip back to Lake Crescent every fall. It was a natural fit for our elopement.” [The Couple]

Planning Process

“Our first task was to find a photographer who had an aesthetic that matched ours. When we found Raelin, everything else fell into place. She has an ethereal, romantic quality to her photos that we love. Being in a national park, we also wanted to pay homage to the vastness and beauty of our surroundings. Our favorite photos to look back on now are the ones where the nature surrounding us plays a central role and adds to the emotions of the day, rather than simply being a backdrop.

When we connected with Raelin we answered some questions, had a couple of calls, talked through what we wanted (and didn’t want), and she was able to provide guidance and suggestions. Finding a dress and a florist was easy after that. Talking through our vision with our photographer helped us solidify it in our minds as well. We split our session with Raelin up into two halves – one at Lake Crescent and one at Tongue Point. It was so nice booking a longer session, and making a scenic fall drive and a slow walk around the coast part of our day. We’re both nature and animal lovers, so it was special being in and around the National park. ” [The couple]

Memorable Moments From This Elopement

From the photographer:

“Highlights of Noah and Gretchen’s day are sprinkled all throughout their elopement. It was a feeling that’s difficult to describe, but is akin to being absolutely and irrevocably comfortable in the love they have for each other. For wedding days, the feeling of masking (consciously or unconsciously altering our behavior to accommodate different circumstances) can come and go. This elopement was just the two of them together, and all opportunities for masking were stripped away. The smallest moments from this elopement have become my favorite photos, all of them stemming from this comfortability that can be felt in how softly she looks out of the window of their cabin or how he caresses her hand while reading vows.”

From the couple:

“We eloped at dawn, and the first time we saw each other that morning was such a special part of the day. We were both a bit surprised, as a ‘first look’ made us think of a more traditional wedding ceremony, but it felt very special and natural with just the two of us there.

Runner up would be taking a break after our vows/walking around the lake and woods. We made a charcuterie board together and enjoyed it by the fire in our cabin. The day before we’d visited DeLaurenti (our favorite gourmet grocery shop at Pike Place market in Seattle) and picked out our favorite cheeses, olives, honey, and chocolates. It was fun, messy, and delicious.”

Final Words of Advice

From the photographer:

“In the planning phase, I asked Noah and Gretchen how they wanted their elopement day to feel. We were drawn towards inspiration from Lord of the Rings – and I leaned in by watching the movies (again) and adjusting what music I was listening to to help frame my mindset going into their elopement. I think this heavily influenced the artistry that came out of this gallery, being entirely unique to them and their experience. For advice to couples, take the time to find vendors and artists that you truly connect to and can be your most authentic self with. If you can trust them to hold your life story with honesty, that’s when magic happens that can’t be recreated.”

From the couple:

“It’s easy to get wrapped up in what an elopement should be. I ended up getting my hair and makeup professionally done, and it’s the only part of the experience I’d change looking back. I think part of the reason I ended up booking those services was because of the idea that this was a ‘big day’ and I needed to take advantage of having a photographer by getting professional hair and makeup. In reality, I felt distracted by the finished look, and wish I’d just done something light myself. Because in the end, the photos that were captured that day, and how we look in them, are to help us remember the experience vs. showing the experience to others.”

Photos From This Elopement