This Multi-Day Pacific Northwest Elopement Adventure Was a Love Letter To Mother Nature

It all started at school 📚🎨 The first time that Melanie + Will met was in a college painting class. It was a major love at first sight moment, and the two dated for a stretch while they were still students. But when graduation came they parted ways.

“A few years later, we reconnected at a friend’s wedding,” says the couple, “and we fell in love all over again.” 

We can think of more than a few romcoms with similar beyond-romantic get-back-together twists, but none of them culminate in a wedding as beautiful as Melanie + Will’s.

Their intimate elopement in Washington State was a love letter to each other and to the majesty of Mother Nature. Changing autumn leaves, glorious mountain vistas, serene + mossy forests. “The elopement was inspired by our love of nature and our desire for something low-stress and personal,” the bride + groom say. “We kept it small, wrote our own vows, and focused on being present with each other.”

Photographers + elopement planners from Between the Pine helped the couple craft their multi-day experience. There was a peaceful walk with their pup the day before their wedding, then the small ceremony + fairytale-worthy dinner in the woods, and then a jaw-dropping mountain hike photo shoot the day after.

And this was just the beginning! After this October elopement, the couple reconvened the following May in New Jersey for a big, beautiful reception to celebrate their union with family + friends.

A super-important takeaway from the way that Melanie + Will structured their beautiful bicoastal two-part celebration is that you really can have it all, wedding-wise. Want an intimate elopement in the woods? Do it. Want a big party surrounded by family + friends? Do that, too!

It all just goes to show: amazing things can happen when you aren’t worried about the rules.

The Day Before

Know what we love about a multi-day wedding celebration? Multiple dresses!!

For this peaceful pre-wedding stroll in the woods, Melanie wore a stunningly simple low back look from Grace Loves Lace.

Muddy puppy paw prints on the hem of her wedding dress 🐾 This pic sums up Melanie + Will’s entire elopement vibe so beautifully.

The Wedding Day

Writing your own vows like Melanie + Will did and sharing something straight from your heart at the ceremony is maybe *the* most impactful way to put your own stamp on your wedding day.

“We went to many dress appointments (together)” the couple says of the dress shopping adventures that led them to Mae Bridal, “and we finally found the perfect dresses for the elopement and another dress for the May reception.”

For the wedding day itself, Melanie wore a long sleeve gown with gorgeous floral appliqué work and an illusion neckline from Dahl Collection. Total boho fairy princess vibes.

Anne Timss created Melanie’s neutral lip bridal makeup look and this whimsically flower-adorned wedding hairstyles for long hair.

Wedded In the Woods

Not only did Wander Design + Rentals lend an event design eye to Melanie + Will’s elopement, they also supplied dreamy decor details like these eclectic vintage rugs. AND they were behind all these lush orange + yellow florals!

Be still our hearts! The pure elegant woodsy magic of Melanie’s wedding cape!!

Officiant Bill Hulseman led the couple through their meaningful ceremony.

The couple describes the moment they made it official: “We exchanged personal vows in a private ceremony with a few close friends, surrounded by nature’s beauty.”

“It felt adventurous and grounded all at once—emotional in the best way.”

Can’t imagine your wedding without your furry friend by your side? Check out our collection of creative ways to include your dog in your wedding day!

One of our fave methods? Festive, wedding-ready dog accessories like this amazing floral collar!

Loving the mystical, goddess-y vibe of Melanie’s bridal silhouette? Take a look at this enchanted Tahoe wedding, this dreamy yellow destination wedding, and this funky DIY wedding to see some of our other fave hooded wedding cape moments.

LOVING Melanie’s wedding nails! Chrome nail manicures like hers are such a great way to add a pop of pearly sheen to your bridal look.

So glad they got the stamp of approval from the most important witness of all! 🐶

Dinner on the Forest Floor

This intimate reception dinner party setup between the two towering trees is like something like out of a mythic fairytale.

Snag some bright flowers, some minimalist glass bud vases and a few baby blue taper candles and you can recreate this magical tablescape yourself!

This has us remembering one of our other favorite woodsy dinner parties from this summer solstice anniversary celebration!

The evening’s delicious feast was created by chef Cinnamon Berg.

Our Favorite Memory
Having dinner with close friends at the cabin after the ceremony made everything feel laid-back and personal.

We also loved taking photos in the mountains- even though it was freezing and ended with a lot of blankets.

The couple describes their elopement experience as “peaceful, romantic, and deeply meaningful,” and you can totally see it in these glowy twilight dinner photos.

The Pup of Honor had a great seat at the head of the table.

First Day Married

“Our three-day celebration included meaningful meals, breathtaking views, and three bridal looks that let me fully live out the experience,” reflects Melanie.

About to fully hike in your wedding dress? Lace up those wedding boots!

Melanie’s white chunky sole lace up boots are so cute + adventure-ready. Shop this pair from Nordstrom for a similar look!

Plenty of blankets are called for to keep warm during a Fall photo shoot high in the mountains!

For her third look of the elopement experience, Melanie wore a stunning sheer strapless floral gown by Galia Lahav.

We can’t help it: GWS is truly head over heels for all things Galia Lahav. Take a look at this red carpet mansion wedding, this charming Northern California wedding, and this elegant beach wedding to see some of our other favorite GL bridal looks.

Our Advice
Start planning early- time moves fast. It’s okay if your vision evolves. Not every couple does everything together, but if it feels right, involve your partner in the process—even things like dress shopping. For us, planning together made the experience just as meaningful as the day itself. Include your pets if you want to!!!

Congratulations, Melanie + Will! Your Pacific Northwest elopement was an intimate, adventurous fairytale. And stay tuned for tomorrow when we share their East Coast reception!