Interested in a Leavenworth elopement? Leavenworth is a Bavarian style down surrounded by stunning Cascade mountains and the most beautiful alpine lakes I’ve ever seen. Leavenworth has an array of gorgeous hiking trails, beautiful lodging, as well as a ton of delicious food. There is so much about Leavenworth that makes it an incredible location to elope. Especially if you’re considering a winter elopement, as it becomes the most charming Christmas town in December.

Where is Leavenworth?

Leavenworth is nestled in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. This Bavarian village is east of Seattle tucked away in picturesque wilderness areas.

How to Get to Leavenworth

The best way to get to Leavenworth is by flying into the Seattle-Tacoma International airport. From there, I highly recommend getting a car. Whereas there is options for public transport, Leavenworth is easiest to explore with a car. Especially due to it’s abundance of outdoor recreation. No one wants to try and uber back from a hike and accidentally lose service.

When to Elope in Leavenworth

You can elope in Leavenworth year round. Since it’s east of the Cascades, it receives far less rain than other elopement locations in Washington. The best time to elope in Leavenworth is during fall. This is when there is less tourism, but all the trails are open as there is no new snowfall. Summer and Winter can both be busier with tourism.

Winter is special in Leavenworth as it turns into a full on Christmas town. And if you’re looking to elope in the mountains, they are much harder to access this time of year. Spring is another good time of year to elope without crowds. However, keep your eye on roads and trails to make sure your Leavenworth elopement location will be accessible.

Leavenworth Wedding Permit

If you plan on eloping at the Enchantments or any other Washington natural area near Leavenworth, you will need a special use permit from Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. If you have under 75 guests, your permit should be free. However, you still need to obtain one to keep everything legally legit.

How to Elope at Leavenworth

You plan a Leavenworth elopement in similar ways as you’d plan any adventure elopement. There are a few major steps, and you can read about those here on my thorough guide on how to elope. For this Leavenworth elopement guide, I’m going over the major things you’ll need to consider!

1. DECIDE IF YOU’RE HAVING GUESTS

This is an imperative part of the planning process for elopements. This is because some guests won’t have the hiking ability, some might not want to drive or forest roads, and others will be apt to altitude sickness. Choosing a location will be much easier once you’ve determine who you’re inviting, and how many guests total you’ll have.

2.HIRE YOUR LEAVENWORTH ELOPEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

This might feel early in the planning process, but bear with me. Elopements don’t have wedding planners. Most elopement photographers have taken it upon themselves to help couples with some of the planning. Many actually help you find your location! And they will think of things you might not have considered, such as: lighting, elevation, difficulty in hiking in a dress, permits, and so much more.

Each elopement photographer offers something different. Personally, I send my couples a customized list of locations based on their preferences, hiking ability, who they want to invite, and what they want to see. I also help them determine lodging options, get permits, get their marriage license, recommend vendors, and create a comprehensive day of timeline, and offer unlimited guidance calls for any questions along the way.

The being said, hiring your leavenworth elopement photographer early is going to take a massive amount of planning stress off of your shoulders. Wanna chat? Contact me here!

3.DETERMINE WHAT WEATHER YOU WANT TO BE IN

This is going to help you choose a date and location. There are rainy seasons, dry seasons, and even seasons that you THINK would be warm, but can still be snowy and cold in the mountains. So, when you’re doing that research, you’ll already want to have in mind what kind of weather you want.

4.PICK YOUR LEAVENWORTH ELOPEMENT LOCATION

Once you’ve decided on how much you’d like to hike, how many guests are coming, your ideal weather, and the landscapes you want, you’re ready to deep dive into researching mountain elopement locations. Finding the perfect spot will be a lot simpler after considering all of your needs and logistics.

This is information I collect from my couple through a questionnaire, and then use to make a customized list of mountain elopement location options for them.

5.HIRE VENDORS

Once you have your location, it’s time to consider if there’s anything you need vendors for. Do you want a friend or family member to officiate, or will you need an officiant? Do you want a bouquet from a florist or are you down to make your own from Trader Joe’s flowers? Will you go out to eat, or do you want something catered, like a meal at an Airbnb from a private chef?

Figure out what you want, and hire your vendors in advance

6.GET YOUR PERMITS

You will need to get the correct permits for your elopement. These are usually “special use” permits that you apply for on the National Parks website.

Personally, I get all permit information for my eloping couples that hire me. With that, all you need to do is fill out the application when it’s sent to you and pay the fee. Fee’s vary, but are usually around $100 or less.

7.CHOOSE ADDITIONAL ELOPEMENT ACTIVITIES

Activities are such a fun part of an elopement. When you choose to elope, you’re opening yourself up to having a wedding day celebration that feels unique and resonates with you. Incorporate things that will elevate your elopement day experience. Here’s just a few ideas to get you brainstorming:

• Going on a hike
• Having a bonfire
• Having a picnic on a mountain top
• Star-gazing or astrophotography
• Swimming
• Cliff jumping
• Visiting waterfalls
• Camping
• Glamping
• Hiring a private chef
• Hot air balloon ride
• Helicopter tour (landing on glaciers, mountains, etc)
• Kayaking
• Paddleboarding
• Sightseeing
• Scenic driving with time to stop for pictures
• Visiting hot springs
• Exchanging gifts
• Reading letters from friends or family

8. MAKE A DAY-OF TIMELINE

Making a timeline is an important part of any elopement. It strings together all of your locations, activities, and lets guests know where to be and when. Creating a well thought out timeline will help you feel relaxed during the day, instead of stressed or rush. Make sure to include drive times as well as buffer times between each “event.”

Here are the things I include in the timelines I make for my couples:

• All addresses
• Sunrise time
• Sunset time
• Drive times
• A linke to Accuweather
• A list of all names for group shots
• Vendor info
• Emergency contact info
• A packing list

Lodging in Leavenworth

There is an array of beautiful Airbnbs, and amazing hotels to stay at for your Leavenworth elopement. Wether you’re looking for a wellness center, a cozy cottage, or an a-frame cabin, there is a ton of options here. Here is a list of hotels:

• Post Hotel
• Enzain Inn
• Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort
• Bavarian Lodge

And here is a list of Airbnbs for your Leavenworth elopement

How Much Does it Cost to Elope in Leavenworth?

With a special use permit and entry fees, it costs $120.00 to elope in Leavenworth. That being said, most couples spend an average of $5000-$20,000 on their elopement. This includes flights, lodging, permits, vendors, wedding attire, meals, and anything extra a couple might want.

Leavenworth Elopement Locations

There are endless amounts of jaw-dropping Leavenworth elopement locations. Wether you’d rather drive up to your location, do an easy hike, or spend the whole day exploring trails, there’s a wide variety of options for everyone. Here’s a list of Leavenworth elopement locations that are just the tip of the iceberg:

Colchuck Lake

Lake Valhalla

8 Mile Lake

Lake Wenatchee

Downtown Leavenworth

Leavenworth Elopement Packages

Elopement photography by Emilee Setting Photo, and everything included in my packages:

• Explore anywhere within Washington, all travel fees included in the price!
• Packages from half day elopements to multi-day elopements
• Receive a customized location list
• Help finding lodging that suits your needs if you’re having an intimate reception
• Included comprehensive timeline design
• Help obtaining your permits
• Help obtaining your marriage license
• A planning checklist
• Unlimited planning and guidance calls 
• All of your stunning photos delivered under three months
• Day of polaroid sneak peeks

Leavenworth elopement packages starting at $5800. Want more information on my pricing and what’s included? Click here

Ready to Elope in Leavenworth?

This Leavenworth elopement guide is a way to get you excited about all the possibilities of what your day could look like. Although, this amount of information can be overwhelming. I’m here to help. I can answer any and all questions you have on a complimentary low pressure consultation call. If you then choose you’d like to work together, I’ll do all of this planning right by your said to alleviate any stress, and bring your Washington elopement vision to life. We can chat here!