The Couple that got Married on Top of a Mountain

Meet Marco and Grace, two adventurous engineers. Marco was born in a small town in Mexico and moved to California in his teens. Grace grew up on a small farm in Kentucky. Both of them love to explore and as soon as they finished college they started traveling (separately).'

The couple met in college for the first time, but it would take a few years for the spark to strike between them. “We would occasionally run into each other through pickup soccer games or parties, but never got to know each other”— Grace. Rumor has it that Marco didn’t really like Grace back in college. It took an invitation from a mutual friend and a trip to Mexico for Marco to get over his misjudgment against Grace. During the Mexico, trip they got to know each other and have been happily adventuring together ever since! 

Both of them work remotely, which allows them to travel and go on adventures together whenever and wherever they want. The past year alone they went on a months-long road trip, got scuba dive certified, and backpacked the Inca trail. Their elopement was another one of their amazing adventures!

The Best Ideas to Make your Elopement Special & Unique

Marco and Grace’s life together started in Seattle, back in 2018. “Seattle was the first place we lived together, and we have fond memories of exploring the city,” said Grace. The couple chose to incorporate these early relationship memories into their elopement. 

The day started slowly with a hot, uplifting cup of coffee at Storyville Coffee at Pike Place. From there they continued their city tour to Pikes Market. Here Grace ordered a fragrant bouquet of flowers and they picked out their favorite foods to enjoy later during a picnic. Then it was time to get elopement ready! Grace went back to the hotel to get her hair and make-up done by a hair & makeup artist. After that, the only thing left for them was to pack their wedding attire and trade the scenery from the buzzing city for the peaceful mountains where they could exchange their vows and say I do!

This glimpse into Marco and Grace’s day shows that small things can make your elopement different and unique. Whatever you decide to do, make sure to incorporate something that is special and unique to your relationship!

Here are some other Fun wedding ideas to make your elopement extra special!

• Organize a romantic picnic or hire a private chef to make you a meal that pampers your tastebuds. 

• Book a unique VRBO or Airbnb where you can jump into a hot tub or have marshmallows by a campfire

• Pick a unique activity like a hot air balloon ride, off-roading, helicopter ride, or kayaking

• Wear less traditional attire

• Incorporate things that are special and unique to your relationship, like Grace & Marco did. 

• Get married at a location that holds special memories.

• Craft a two-day wedding experience. Invite your closest friend & family on day one, plan a bunch of activities, and really enjoy every second. Day two is just for you!

How to Plan a Wedding at Mount Rainier National Park

Are you dreaming of fairytale views in the backdrop of your elopement pictures, but do you feel overwhelmed by the options and the amount of planning it takes? No need to worry, we’ve got you! We’ve created a guide that will help you plan your dream elopement at Mount Rainier NP from A to Z. We scouted the area and picked out the best trails with the best views, listed the most amazing places to stay the night, and even made you an elopement checklist! Check out our Mount Rainier NP planning guide here.

Meet Your Mount Rainier Elopement Photographers

It’s Sanne & Brooke here! We are the photographer duo that started Running Wild and we are so thrilled to have you here!

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 across the ocean, 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!

Let’s start planning your adventure of a lifetime!