Ruby Beach Elopement And Courthouse Ceremony Guide
When discussing location options for my couples for their elopement, Ruby Beach is always on the top of my mind. With a Ruby Beach elopement, you can really have it all; a vast sea scape, dramatic rock formations, top tier tide pools, plus it gets bonus points for its accessibility. Another pro is that it’s surrounded by so much other natural beauty, that you don’t need to restrict your whole elopement day to just the beach!
Before we dive into Hannah and Michaels glorious Ruby Beach Elopement, lets talk some logisitics!
Permits
- Ruby Beach is located within the confines of Olympic National Park. If you plan on having 5 or more people involved in your elopement day (including your photographer, officiant, AND couple) it is required that you apply for a Special Use Permit. You can find an application for that here.
- You also need to purchase a Standard Day pass for your Ruby Beach Elopement (different from a Discovery Pass or Northwest Forest pass). More information about that is here.
Weather
- Now, we got EXTREMELY lucky for this Ruby Beach Elopement and didn’t have any rain whatsoever. But, it was the end of April, which is still considered to be the rainy season for the coast, so we were prepared. Even when it is NOT the rainy season, plan for rain. Bring your clear umbrellas, warm leggings, durable shoes and, most importantly, a good attitude!
For more info on logistics in Eloping in Washington State, check out this blog I wrote!
Kicking off the Day
Now, getting to the Washington coast can be a bit time consuming (sometimes up to 5 hours from Seattle!) so I always advise my couples to stay out there the night before. That way you have peace of mind that all you have to do in the morning is wake up and get ready. Here are some great places to stay for your Ruby Beach Elopement.
Hannah and Michael stayed at one of the Olson Cabins which was the perfect spot for them to unplug and relax and prep for their big day. While small, it boasts a well equipped kitchen, a fire pit, and endless stargazing. They did their first look here and I was able to get details of their rings, vow booklets, and Hannahs bouquet.
Vows at Big Cedar Tree
After we did detail shots, portraits, and their first look, we moseyed to Big Cedar Tree trail , which was about 40 minutes south of their airbnb, but only 5 minutes away from Ruby Beach (where we will end up next). Now, a couple of caveats for this elopement; Hannah and Michael did not hire an officiant to come out to the coast to marry them, which in the State of Washington, you do need. Instead they opted to have a private vow reading and make their nuptials official elsewhere (more on that later). So when discussing where they wanted to do their vows, I discovered this trail which was oh so peaceful and quiet and my goodness, the AIR. There’s really nothing like breathing in that coastal air surrounded by cedar trees.
Picnic at Ruby Beach
Lots of ideas come to mind for activities to do for your Ruby Beach elopement, but one of my favorites is to have a picnic. Maybe it’s because I love any excuse to eat, but there’s also something so relaxed and sweet about a picnic.
After the picnic, we packed things up and got to play around at the shore.
Courthouse Ceremony
After planning and curating this beautiful day for them, we couldn’t forget the most important part…getting married! So, since we didn’t have an officiant lined up we decided to include a little trip to the Seattle Municipal Courthouse to wrap up their elopement day.
Check out this blog for all the info you need on having a Courthouse Ceremony!
After the Ceremony…
Have your family rendezvous with you for a celebratory dinner! Some notable places with large private dining areas are:
Lodging
A day like this just goes to show that there are SO MANY possibilities when planning an elopement. You can blend the coast, the mountains and the city just about any way you like! It’s your day and I’m here to make it happen.
Thinking about a Ruby Beach Elopement? Be sure to contact me today to answer any questions!