Words cannot even express how lucky we got with Cevon and Tom's snowshoe adventure elopement at Gold Creek Pond.

This elopement was my first experience planning, photographing, and officiating an adventurous wedding, making it a truly unforgettable memory. However, snowy adventures can be highly unpredictable and demand resilience from everyone involved, particularly when it comes to wedding attire.

Gold Creek Pond is nestled in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington State. By a stroke of luck, Cevon and Tom's snowshoe wedding coincided with the one beautiful, sunny day our Washington mountains had seen in weeks. Following a series of snowstorms, we were treated to a picturesque scene of snow-cloaked evergreens against a brilliant, icy blue sky. In the world of skiing, we refer to this as a "blue bird powder day," and trust me, they are exceedingly rare.

Nevertheless, we braved the biting cold and embarked on an unexpectedly long trek to reach Gold Creek Pond. Although the road to the trailhead is typically cleared, it had become impassable due to unexpected snowfall. Ironically, sunny days tend to bring lower temperatures, intensifying the challenge of the additional walk. Thankfully, I had brought extra layers, gloves, and traction boots for Cevon and Tom, ensuring their comfort throughout the 1.5-mile snowshoe adventure. As we arrived at the stunning snowy mountain backdrop, we all celebrated, grateful that we had persevered. And as you'll see in the photos, every bit of effort was undeniably worth it.

Check out the Reel!

How to elope in the snow

Gear list:

• Layers, layers, layers! Assuming temperatures are anywhere near the 30s, you will absolutely want to bring GLOVES, heavy wool socks, an insulated jacket, and an additional warm layer just in case (e.g. a puffy jacket). Tom's biggest pain point were his cold hands, but fortunately I found a second pair of gloves in my bag and was able to give him my others. Cevon also wore warm tights under her dress.
• Waterproof shell jackets/rain coats and an umbrella if temperatures will be higher than ~28 degrees Farenheit. Warm snow is wet snow!
• Something to help tie your dress up while you walk. Cevon needed to carry hers in her hands so she didn't snag it on the spikey parts of her snowshoes.
• Snowshoes, or at the very least microspikes for your shoes. There are some trails where the snow is packed down enough, but when it comes to finding the perfect, secluded spot to say "I do" away from all the other hikers, snowshoes will come in handy for powering through that untracked, deeper terrain. Snowshoes will also assist you in moving faster. And no, they don't necessarily need to be fancy, expensive ones for a shorter trek. These snoeshoes from Amazon will suffice. If you prefer to go the microspike route, these ones will work just fine. I am a firm believer in crappy, Amazon microspikes.
• Leg gaiters (optional): These will help keep the snow out of your shoes (and YES, it does get in there!), therefore keeping your feet warmer and making your trek less miserable. We did not use gaiters, but boy did I wish I brought mine.
• Trekking poles (optional). These will help you balance and therefore move quicker. Ski poles will also work just fine. However we did not use poles for this adventure because our hands were full with accessory boxes. Some Amazon snowshoe kits come with trekking poles.
• A backpack for your ceremony goodies. We used a box to carry their paperwork, rings, a change of shoes etc., but it would have probably been a lot more convenient to carry it all a backpack.

More snowy winter advice to keep you from being miserable on your wedding day

• Always check for avalanche safety warnings on NWAC if you'll be passing through steeper areas that may slide. Gold Creek Pond is a flat walk trek NOT an avalanche zone.
• Understand what the forecast is telling you. If the humidity level appears high, it generally means fog and therefore poor visibility as the distance goes. This will affect the view at your ceremony spot, and you may want to opt to get married and take pictures inside the forest instead so your photos have a bit more contrast and depth. I like to check NOAA for my snow forecasts.
• If it will be snowing, temperatures higher than 28 degrees Fahrenheit may be an indicator that it will be WET. Bring waterproof rain shells and umbrellas so your hair doesn't get messed up on the way to your wedding destination.