When is the best month to elope at Mt. Baker in the North Cascades?
August is the best month to elope at Mt. Baker and most locations in the North Cascades.
If you want to elope in the North Cascades, specifically exploring higher elevations in the mountains, any earlier in the summer season will likely still have too much snow. Every winter, these peaks get slammed by hundreds of inches of snow and ice, and it takes until mid-summer to melt. Lower elevations are the first areas which become accessible, followed by the higher trails. Some high peaks never lose their snow cover, and it’s common to hike across snow even on the hottest, sunniest summer days!
Read more about the weather cycles in the Cascades from the National Park website, here.
What does it look like to elope at Mt. Baker in August?
Hannah and Bobby’s elopement day will show you exactly what to expect for an early August elopement. The weather at lower elevations are usually warm and sunny and the trails are green. However, the higher trails likely still have a lot of snow lying around, so be sure to pack waterproof hiking boots.
Hannah and Bobby’s elopement day at Mt. Baker: Getting Ready and First Look
Hannah and Bobby eloped in the North Cascades August 1st, 2022. Their August date was pushing the limits a little as far as avoiding deep snow, which you’ll see in the photos!
We started in the morning at the base of the road going up to Mt. Baker. They had rented a charming cabin, which made for the perfect getting ready space. The cabin itself was large, open and well lit from large windows. The videographer and I took our time documenting details and the beautiful table setting, which was set up for their intimate dinner later on.
Hannah got ready in the back of the cabin, while Bobby got dressed in the front. They wanted to do a first look together, so we set Bobby up outside the cabin, between the trees. They had their first look right there outside the cabin, surrounded by mossy trees and dewy green ferns.
As a little bonus, they also did a first look with their family inside the cabin, which I highly recommend for more cute reaction photos!
Intimate Vow Ceremony with Family near Bagley Lakes
From there, we all headed toward the ceremony location at the Bagley Lakes trailhead, a 40 minute drive from Glacier, WA. Between the tall pines, snow capped mountains sprawled in the distance and the hiking trail stretched on.
To keep things easy and accessible for their guests, we had their ceremony right there at the top of the trailhead. Hannah’s sister officiated, and their marriage became official in that calm, sunny moment in front of their closest family.
The group celebrated with a round of warm hugs, happy tears and champagne. We walked over to some nearby picnic tables, and cut up the New Orleans style Chantilly cake for everyone.
Sunset Hike and Portraits under Mt. Shuksan
It’s not possible to fully elope at Mt. Baker without a sunset hike in front of Mt. Shuksan. The reflection pool at the end of this trailhead becomes a mirror to another world, and it’s the ultimate way to end a Cascades elopement.
Hannah and Bobby headed off on their own for this portion of the day, followed by myself and the videographer.
In this quiet space just for them, they read their vows privately in the setting sun and then twirled to a first dance. The sky was calm and the orange-pink alpine glow of Mt. Shuksan towered behind them. In the clear twilight sky, a sliver of pale moon rose, capping off this North Cascades elopement day just perfectly.
READ MORE ABOUT ELOPING IN THE NORTH CASCADES:
Taylor and Justin’s Mt. Baker Summer Elopement
Mt. Baker and Pacific Northwest Vendor Shoutouts:
Videographer: Wildwood Films
Hair and makeup artist: Pacific Brides