What do you do when, after a year of planning your dream elopement, the location where you wanted to say "I do" is on fire due to a lightning strike? Well, you change plans at the last minute and find yourself a magical hidden Alpine lake in the middle of Mount Baker Wilderness, just like Rachel & Ryan did.

Meet Rachel & Ryan, who got married at Iceberg Lake, Washington

After a few months of planning, Rachel and Ryan decided they wanted to get married at the famous Washington Pass overlook and hike to Blue Lake for photos. But only a week before their wedding day, lightning struck near Diablo Lake and set the surrounding forest on fire. The first forest fire of the season drastically changed their elopement plans. However, despite the stress of planning their wedding from start to finish in just a few days, Rachel and Ryan remained calm, and together we quickly came up with a new backup plan. Mount Baker Wilderness was not affected by the smoke from the fire, so we changed locations and decided on Iceberg Lake, a beautiful alpine lake on the Chain Lakes Loop trail.

On the morning of the wedding, we started our hike in the dark. The thick fog added a mystical vibe to the journey. When we reached the lake, Ryan and Rachel helped each other get ready in their wedding attire to take sunrise photos. Although the fog obscured the sun, the photos still turned out magical, thanks to the wildflowers blossoming around the lake.

Surprisingly, the lake had another surprise for us on this cold morning: millions of mosquitoes. Since Ryan is a mosquito magnet, we decided to move locations and took their wedding portraits in the middle of the forest. We know everyone wants clear days and blue skies on their wedding day, but foggy weather creates just the perfect atmosphere for photos. Rachel's flower-embroidered dress matched the wildflowers in the forest beautifully.

After a while, it started to rain, and we decided to head back to the parking lot where Rachel and Ryan's family were waiting for them to start their ceremony. But bad weather followed the couple along and poured down on them while saying their I do's. That's the thing about outdoor weddings: you never know what nature will throw at you—lightning, mosquitoes, or rain—but it seemed that Rachel & Ryan got it all.

After their ceremony, we once again decided to discard the original plans and changed their picnic to an area inside the forest where they were sheltered by the tree canopy. We finished up their day with laughter and some amusing group photos.

Best places for an Alpine Lake elopement

Eloping by an alpine lake offers a breathtakingly romantic setting, blending the serene beauty of pristine waters with the rugged grandeur of mountain landscapes. Here are some of the best places around the world for an alpine lake elopement, each with its own unique allure:

Most beautiful Alpine Lakes in Washington State

Diablo Lake
Tipsoo Lake
Lake Ingalls
Colcuck Lake
Hidden Lake
Iceberg Lake
Lake Ann
Lake Valhalla
Blue Lake
Lake Crescent

Most beautiful Alpine Lake locations worldwide

Washington, USA
Colorado, USA
Dolomites, Italy
Alps, Switzerland
Peru

Best time to elope at an Alpine Lake?

The best time to visit an alpine lake depends on where it's located and the unique characteristics of the lake itself. In places like Italy, you can usually access alpine lakes earlier in the year because of the warmer climate and lower altitude. This means you might get to enjoy them as early as spring.

However, if you're considering alpine lakes in Washington State, you'll likely have to wait until mid-summer. That's because the higher altitude and rugged terrain often keep these lakes covered in snow well into the warmer months. Trails might not be passable until the snow melts away, usually around mid-summer.

So, if you're planning a trip to an alpine lake in Washington State, aim for mid-summer for the best chance of accessibility. But wherever you're headed, it's always a good idea to research the specific conditions and seasons of your chosen destination to make the most of your visit and soak in the beauty of these natural wonders.