Ashley & Steven

Olympic National Park, WA

Life has an incredible way of proving that “what you seek is seeking you.”

Last summer, my husband and I took a road trip through the Pacific Northwest, one of the most beautiful parts of the United States. We visited Olympic National Park and fell in love with the Hoh Rainforest. As we were hiking through this woodsy wonderland, I wished so deeply that I could photograph a wedding there. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this wish would materialize so quickly.

A few weeks after posting the images from our trip on social media, an old friend of mine saw them and reached out to ask if I would be interested in shooting her Celtic Handfasting ceremony in the Hoh Rainforest. I think my heart skipped a beat.

Ashley and Steven, thank you for making my dream come true.

Engagement in Hall of Mosses

The Hall of Mosses is the most iconic and jaw-dropping section of the Hoh Rainforest. Huge moss-covered trees tower over you, making it a surreal landscape. It was the perfect setting for Ashley and Steven’s engagement portraits.

We visited the Hall of Mosses the day before their wedding for the engagement photoshoot. As the word “rainforest” suggests, the weather turned into a heavy downpour while we were hiking. We tried to stay dry as long as possible, but Ashley and Steven eventually just embraced the deluge and danced in the rain. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, we had fun frolicking through the woods and capturing these moments.

Wedding in the Hoh Rainforest

The wedding took place in the charming Hoh Valley Cabins at the edge of the rainforest in Forks, Washington.

The location offered four cabins, which were occupied by the couple, some of their guests, and myself. The proximity allowed for everything and everyone to get ready on site, host the reception, and sleep the night. The ceremony was only a few steps away in the forest. The venue was an incredible package of getting married in nature with the convenience and comforts of home. And the weather was simply perfect.

Getting ready

Ashley carefully prepared for this special day. She created the most adorable “Alice in Wonderland” meets “Ferngully” experience for her guests, most of whom were visiting the area for the first time! The tasteful attention to detail and charming earthy vibes to everything was a treat to photograph.

Ashley and Steven chose to incorporate their own twist to old traditions, which you’ll see sprinkled throughout these photos. They got ready together in their cabin, with the groom being a gentleman by helping his bride into her gorgeous green dress and black coat.

Formal Portraits

Once dressed, they invited their bridal party to join them for some boozy shots before doing formal portraits and family photos. Everyone was comfortable being themselves and dressing with their unique touches.

As their guests started trickling in, they were welcomed with some cute boxes bearing their names. They opened their gifts to discover personalized bells with instructions to ring them on the way to and after the ceremony.

Outdoor Ceremony

The rainforest backyard of the Hoh Valley Cabins had the perfect spot for their ceremony. Ashley and Steven walked, accompanied by all their guests, to the beautiful mossy tree that would serve as their ceremony site. Everyone stood around them in love and support for their union.

The ceremony, which included spiritual and pagan rituals such as a handfasting tradition, fit perfectly with the environment. Everyone shed joyful tears as Ashley and Steven were pronounced husband and wife.

Since they had a small guest list, Ashley and Steven took turns getting portraits done in the forest with all their loved ones. After everyone was photographed, the guests returned to the cabins for cocktail hour while Ashley and Steven went deeper into the woods for their newlywed portraits.

Newlywed Portraits

Ashley and Steven looked straight out of a fairytale inside this magical forest. Every corner was stunning, and so were they!

Evening Reception

After our rainforest adventures, we went back to the cabins for dinner and evening shenanigans. My clients were gracious to invite me to join as a guest.

The reception was chill, composed of delicious healthy food followed by some fun around a bonfire. We changed into comfy warm clothes, roasted s’mores, and Steven ended the night by serenading Ashley. None of us were ready for this dream day to be over.