The day of Alley & Michaels elopement was a warm fall day in September, but the air was still crisp when we started our hike to Winchester Mountain lookout at 4 am. With happy spirits and two close friends by their side, the six of us made our way to the top. Once we arrived, it was time for a well deserved break, which Michael and Ally spent cuddling while taking in the beauty of the starry night sky.

After taking some photos in amazing lighting, thanks to blue hour and our lanterns, it was time for A&M to change into their wedding attire. We got extremely lucky that day;  there was no one there (which is quite unusual for Winchester Mountain) and we had the Fire Lookout all to ourselves. 

Right before the first sunbeams hit the mountain, Ally and Micheal did their first look.  Surrounded by soft, but radiant light of the sunrise, the couple looked truly beautiful. We have seen a lot of stunning sunrises, but this was for sure one of our favorites!

After we took their wedding portraits, the A&M sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee and to eat some breakfast before heading down and meeting Michael’s kids at the Airbnb. During their coffee break, Ally surprised Michael with a touching gift. It was a book filled with letters from loved ones who could not make it to their wedding.

On our way down, we all got a surprise! It had been dark on our way up, but in the daylight we saw that the mountain slopes were covered in vibrant fall colors. We took some photos along the way while overlooking Twin Lakes. The scenery was so beautiful that we had to push ourselves to carry on or we wouldn’t reach the airbnb on time. 

Upon arrival at the Airbnb, A&M were greeted by family and friends, and a stack of pancakes! Yumm! They jumped into their comfy clothes and sat down by the fireplace to enjoy some family time before getting ready for their ceremony.

For the ceremony, we drove up to Bagley Lakes with the whole group. There, Michael and Ally’s close friends and family, witnessed them exchange their vows and say: I DO! Then, the party hiked down to the lake for some family photos, which concluded their day.

How to plan an elopement or intimate wedding in the north cascades?

Have Ally & Michael’s photos made you curious about how you can plan an elopement in the North Cascades? Take a look at our other blog where we go into detail about everything you need to think about when eloping in the American Alps.

How to plan an elopement in the North Cascades

Meet your north cascade elopement photographers!

IT’S SANNE & BROOKE HERE! WE ARE THE ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO STARTED RUNNING WILD!

We are adventure junkies who LOVE to help couples like you to get married in a unique and authentic way. 30% of the time we are running wild with outdoorsy couples like yourself and the other 70% is us in the studio crafting fun, adventurous, and intentional elopement experiences. Whether this is somewhere in the rugged Pacific Northwest mountains or in the Utah deserts, we are here to guide you to the most epic spots and help you plan your dream day because we truly believe that you deserve a stress-free, in the moment, “just us” wedding experience, which reflects 100% who you are as a couple!