Karley and Billy soaked up this beautiful fall day at Mt. Rainier with an intimate group of loved ones, starting at a woodsy Airbnb and ending in the wildflower meadows at golden hour. What more could you want out of your fall micro wedding at Paradise? 

Karley + Billy’s Intimate Paradise Micro Wedding

Getting ready + first looks by the river

There’s nothing I love more than when a couple gets ready in a super cozy cabin in the woods… it’s my love language. So when I arrived at Karley + Billy’s Airbnb near Mt. Rainier to capture them getting ready, I was FLOORED by how beautiful everything was: the forest surrounding us and the sounds of the river flowing nearby, the warm and home-y ambiance of the cabin as they got dressed—it was perfectly, quintessentially PNW.

Check out these 25 amazing Airbnb’sfor your Washington or Oregon wedding!

Karley got her hair and makeup done by one of my favorite local HMUA’s, Anne Timss, as I photographed the little details of the day; my favorites including their personalized matchbox (featuring their names, wedding date, and evergreen tree illustrations!), their adorable beaded friendship bracelets, and vintage-style Mt. Rainier postcards. They even included a little safety pin with a photo of their adorable pup framed in a miniature charm, which Billy ended up wearing inside of his jacket <3

I’m obsessed with Karley and Billy’s wedding attire, because they totally customized it to fit their unique personalities + relationship. Karley wore the most gorgeous off-white gown that was giving such romantic, subtle vintage vibes—with a corseted top, ruffled sleeves, and a flowy skirt that was made to twirl around in. Billy traded the traditional suit for an amazing blue Carhartt jacket, complete with a corduroy collar, a colorful boutonniere wrapped in twine (matching Karley’s floral hairpiece), and a black tie to elevate the look. Can we make Carhartts the new trend for outdoorsy weddings, please?

I almost forgot my favorite part: both of them wore their favorite pairs of Blundstones! Karley even personalized hers and made them a bit more “bridal” by adding white lace bowties—so creative and cute, I was in love. Karley and Billy saw each other in their attire for the first time right next to the river, where they shared a sweet first look underneath the trees. We lucked out with bright blue skies and sunshine the whole morning, which meant we had amazing mountain views in the distance.

And with that, we were off to head into Mt. Rainier National Park for the rest of the celebration!

A bright and moody ceremony at Paradise

One of the most important parts of planning an adventure micro wedding is choosing a location that means something to you, or one that draws you in so much you can’t imagine saying your vows anywhere else.

For these two, Mt. Rainier held that kind of pull. So when we arrived at the park, there were two things we of course had to do right away: 1) take photos in front of the iconic park entrance sign, and 2) head into the Visitor’s Center for National Park stamps for Karley and Billy to add to their vow books! 

And like she often does, the mountain showed up on her own terms during their ceremony at Paradise; sometimes hiding behind fog, sometimes breaking through the clouds in the most magical ways. Instead of stressing over the weather, everyone stayed present and soaked up each moment we did get with her. It ended up being the most stunning ceremony, from its bright and sunny start all the way through to Karley and Billy’s first kiss in the fog.

That’s the beauty of getting married somewhere wild and meaningful: it’s not about perfect conditions, but the story you’ll carry home with you. For Karley and Billy, I’d guess they’ll remember these moments with their loved ones forever, standing amidst a beautiful forest in the national park they love, finally becoming husband and wife. What could be better?

Golden hour vows + portraits along the trails

After a group round of Fireball shots, I snagged Karley and Billy away for our own golden hour adventure—and y’all, when I tell you we had the perfect weather + lighting that evening… I mean perfect. The skies had cleared up and were completely blue, minus a few clouds that gently rolled over the trees at low elevations. The alpine meadows lit up under the evening sun, and we found a beautiful spot for these two to exchange their vows in private. We even saw a deer roaming through the grass 🥹

Karley and Billy’s micro wedding took place in early September, so we were lucky that some of the wildflowers were still out and looking magical, especially under the soft glow of golden hour. If you’re dreaming of your own elopement among enchanting wildflower meadows like these, definitely consider one of these locations!

Once we’d soaked up the warm evening sunshine, the wide-open views of Rainier, and the wildflowers in all their glory, we headed back toward our cars… only to stop and snap a few more pictures during blue hour. The way that the oranges + yellows lingered in the sky after the sun had already set, and eventually turned into foggy dusk was pure magic. The black and white photos we took at the end of the night actually ended up being some of my favorites from the entire day! So grateful for an incredible day adventuring around this iconic park with Karley and Billy. 🏔️✨

PS: All of these photos were all taken right on the trail. I’m super strict about Leave No Trace out here—Rainier’s meadows are fragile and it’s so important we protect them. I just play with angles, switchbacks, and lenses so that your photos will look like you’re deep in the meadow, when really both you and I are always on trail.

Paradise Micro Wedding Photographer

Hey y’all, I’m Dawn—a Mt. Rainier micro wedding photographer who is obsessed with this breathtaking park, and helping couples plan their day within it. I offer elopement + micro wedding packages for every couple’s unique Mt. Rainier adventure, and would be so thrilled to take you on the adventure of a lifetime.

What do you say? Let’s get y’all married amongst the gorgeous alpine landscapes of Washington! Reach out now, and I’ll send you a customized pricing guide within 24-48 hours so we can find your perfect fit.

---

If you’re looking for more support planning your own day here, don’t miss the full guide I created here—packed with all my best tips for tying the knot with Mt. Rainier as your guest of honor.