A girl from England falls in love with a music producer in Los Angeles? For a long time, that was the script of one of our favorite romantic comedies (The Holiday). But now it’s the real-life story of Hannah and Exiquio! These two felt like old friends right from the start and we’re so glad we could be a part of their elopement in Olympic National Park! They came up from California to elope in the beautiful greenery of Washington State. They also brought their cute dog with them (so you know we were already on board).
They started their elopement on a beautiful fall September day with their cabin overlooking the Salish Sea. It was a beautifully clear morning with the waves crashing against the bluff down below (such a soothing way to start their day). They had a first look in the backyard with their doggy (Knubs) and they were both so giddy and happy to finally be here!
After their first look, we drove to Lake Crescent for one of our favorite spots on the lakeshore for their ceremony. The lighting was absolutely gorgeous with cascading rays coming down across the mountains surrounding us. We’re used to getting moody weather at Lake Crescent (which we love just as much), but this was really beautiful to experience. There were lots of tears and laughter during their vows. It was short, sweet, and perfect! We always recommend doing vows early in your day to get out those “nerves” and spend the rest of the day celebrating.
We explored the gorgeous rainforest surrounding the lake on a few trails before heading onward to a spot along the Elwha River. For Hannah and Exiquio, they really wanted to visit a river during the afternoon before heading out to the coast. If being near bodies of water is really soothing and important for you, there is no better place than Olympic! You get the Salish Sea, clear blue lakes, rushing rivers, and the rugged coastline. And these two got to see it all for their elopement!
The weather was so much moodier along the coast in the evening! It was easily the moodiest and darkest we’ve seen Ruby Beach over the years. And by pure chance, Hannah + Exiquio brought lanterns which worked out beautifully. It allowed us to be a little bit more creative than usual and we all had a lot of fun with it! We explored up and down the beach finding quieter areas for taking photos and just spent the evening chatting and enjoying the cool weather. It was the perfect way to wind down and reflect on their elopement!
Also, we have to give a special shout-out to these two for being so incredibly kind to us. Their elopement day was actually on Jaclyn’s birthday. And they were so thoughtful and got her a birthday card and a gift card to Blick so she could get more art supplies (you can check out Jaclyn’s art here). It was so sweet and supportive of them. And we honestly can’t believe how lucky we are to work with such kind humans and be a part of such an important day in their lives. We hope to meet up with them in the future to hang out and explore some new places together!
Elopement Tips:
- You can take photos with your doggy at your Airbnb and keep them more comfortable. Just depends on your dog’s personality and experience on trails. This might be easier for some couples!
- Be ready for changing weather. We might have a beautifully clear morning and a moody or rainy evening.
- Feel free to bring cute items like lanterns if you want to have fun with your photos!
Vendors
HMU: Pacific Brides
Florist: Cherry Hill
