Northern Cascades Elopement, Artist Point
This was my first visit to the Northern Cascades of Washington and I must say it is home to some of the most stunning landscapes in the country. In that wilderness you’ll find Artist Point Located at the end of the Mount Baker Highway. This scenic overlook offers breathtaking views of the North Cascades mountain range, including Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan. But one of the best things about Artist Point is that it's easily accessible. There aren’t many places you can step out of your car and be atop a mountain with scenic views all around.
In addition to the stunning scenery, Artist Point offers a variety of outdoor activities. The area is home to a number of hiking trails that range in difficulty from easy strolls to challenging treks. Some of the most popular trails include the Chain Lakes Loop, Table Mountain, and Ptarmigan Ridge. I got to spend about a week in the are scouting for this elopement so I would highly recommend these hikes! Now on to the good stuff.
Elizabeth and Michaels Artist Point Elopement Ceremony
The day before their ceremony I got out of my car at Artist point to brilliant sunshine. There was a few puffy clouds in the sky making the mountain views even more scenic. You couldn’t of asked for a more perfect day. As I hiked around scouting a few more spots for the next days session I was briming with excitement for the photos we’d be making in this incredible place. The next morning I pulled into the parking lot at Artist point to thick wall of gray fog, chilly temperatures, and a steady rain. Not exactly ideal elopement conditions. I met up with Elizabeth and Michael and after a quick discussion we decided to head down the mountain a bit to where the fog wasn’t so bad and we could actually see the scenery we came for. We waited a few minutes for the rain to let up and sure enough it almost stopped entirely. That is until we all got halfway down the trail to the lake where we planned to do the ceremony.
When eloping to the national parks weather is always an area of concern. Be it on a mountain top, in a canyon, or on the beach, you are at the mercy of nature and perfect weather is nothing more than a pipe dream. But bad weather doesn’t have to be the end of things. Especially if you have a family member who can get soaked in your place and hold an umbrella for you. We braved the wind and rain and created some absolutely incredible images. Now that being said; after the ceremony, family photos, and a few portraits, we were all pretty much frozen solid. Wind, rain, and cold is a devastating combo. Despite this being the last elopement of a nine elopement road trip I offered to stay in the cascades an extra day and do the rest of out session the following day that was supposed to be sunny. And oh boy am I glad I did.
Now this is why you elope to Artist Point
What a difference a day makes. We met back up at Artist point to resume our elopement session and thankfully the sun was shining and we were able to hit the trails and soak in the incredible views. This is where Artist Point really stands out from other elopement destinations. You just can’t beat these Glacier covered peaks the rise so abruptly into the sky. Snow melt creates pounds that are perfect for reflection shots and the bright green foliage contrasts perfectly with the grey rocks that make up the landscape. Olympic National Park has been my favorite elopement destination in Washington for the past few years but this one really gives it a run for the money.
