The fun of this elopement on Orcas Island was that they booked me to photograph the DAY before. As someone who grew up on the San Juan Islands, navigating the ferry schedules with very little advance warning wasn’t new to me. Even though I grew up on San Juan Island, Orcas Island is my favorite local vacation spot- beautiful island scenery, but very few people know me in comparison to San Juan Island. Here are some fun things to do and see if you’re visiting or getting married on Orcas Island: Visiting Orcas Island.
Orcas Island also has the most incredible state park, Moran State Park, with a 2000+ elevation hike up Mt. Constitution for those looking to work for the views.
For A&E’s wedding day, we decided to keep it simple and drive up the mountain after their ceremony to check out one of the most amazing views of the San Juan Islands.
E&A stayed at the beautiful Outlook Inn in Eastsound, Orcas Island. They got ready in the Madrona Suite, which overlooks the bay. They decided to forgo an official first look, and instead get ready together. I love when couples decide to get ready together, especially during elopements. While it can be nice to have a “final reveal” there’s something incredible intimate about being able to spend that time and anticipation together.
Outlook Inn has an incredible and intimate chapel in their property, in the middle of their gardens, where E&A went for their ceremony. We had the option to be inside, but the predicted rain held off. The ceremony took place on the steps of the chapel.
The officiant had her husband play several covers throughout the ceremony which lead to beautiful, intimate moments throughout their elopement. After they were pronounced married, they were immediately lead into their first dance. I really loved the beauty and candidness of that transition after their vows and including their first dance into the ceremony.
After the ceremony, we went down to the beach for these two to celebrate. We had talked about going to Moran State Park since they had not seen the view from the top of Mt. Constitution, but originally had not planned on it. At the last minute, they decided “why not” and we headed the 20 minutes into the park and up the mountain.
The drive up alone is incredible and we stopped to frolic in the mossy forests a bit. I love the evening light in the mossy evergreens up there. One of my favorite things about weddings and elopements in the San Juan Islands is the diversity of the terrain and ecosystems within such a small radius. Orcas Island is the perfect mixture for those who want a more adventurous lake and mountain elopement, but might also want to watch the sunset over the ocean. You get the beauty of overgrown mossy forests, warm lakes (in the summer) you can swim and SUP in, waterfalls in the woods, Pacific Northwest Ocean Sunsets, and even several mountain hikes to beautiful overlooks. Not to mention, Orcas Island is the perfect spot to begin a kayak elopement into some of the outer San Juan Islands. I think one of my dreams is to photograph a kayaking elopement in the San Juan Islands.
A&E stayed for several more days on the island to enjoy all the activities the San Juan Islands have to offer.
