Whether you have a passion for dendrology (the study of trees) or you simply love being surrounded by nothing but shades of greens and browns, eloping in a forest might just be the most authentic way to celebrate your love story. We put together our list of favorite locations to elope in the forest for people like you:
Olympics + North Cascades, Washington
The temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest are completely unlike any other forests in the continental US. Some of these areas are completely covered in bright green ferns, while others have some of the tallest trees in the nation. Two of our favorites in the PNW are the rainforests in Olympic National Park and the more mountainous forests of the North Cascades.
Smoky Mountains, North Carolina
The Smoky Mountains have a special place in our hearts: our lead photographer Kaitlyn’s grandparents lived there for most of her life so she knows it really well! Smoky Mountain National Park borders western North Carolina and Tennessee, with dozens of great trails weaving through truly diverse forests.
During the summer, there are many great waterfalls and wildflowers to see, and the fall has some of the best foliage in the entire US, making it one of our favorite locations to elope in the forest.
Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Although the trees aren’t nearly as tall in the Rocky Mountains as they are in places like the West Coast, there are still many beautiful forests to enjoy in Colorado. The aspen trees draw thousands of visitors to this region every autumn when they turn golden yellow, and many people love visiting in winter when the pine and spruce trees get covered in snow. Some of our favorite spots for forest elopements here include Rocky Mountain National Park, Pike National Forest, Breckenridge and Summit County, and Indian Peaks Wilderness.
Superior National Forest, Minnesota
Located near the shore of Lake Superior, this national forest is filled with beautiful pine, fir and spruce trees. And since the upper midwest is a lot less popular for elopements than California or Colorado, you’re more likely to have some of these trails almost completely to yourselves.
Redwood Forests, California
The sequoias and redwood trees along Cali’s northern coast are some of the tallest and widest trees in the world. You can be surrounded by their large trunks and reddish bark as you explore these forests in your wedding attire. Some of the best places to find redwood trees for your elopement include:
Redwood National and State Parks
Muir Woods National Monument
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Big Basin Redwoods State Park
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (near Big Sur)
Hawaiian Rainforests
Last but definitely not least, you should also consider the rainforests of the Hawaiian islands. We love the tropical plants and warm temperatures of Hawaii already, and when you combine the rainforests with easy access to the beach, it’s a hard place to beat for your elopement.
Your Elopement Photo + Video Team to Capture the Big Day
Skyewater Photo + Film is a photo and video team planning adventure elopements and destination weddings worldwide. We help couples plan elopements all over the US, and offer insight for more than just photography: from planning assistance, finding and booking locations, vendor references and more! Reach out to our elopement photography and videography team today to get more info!
