The Blog
Wedding & elopement planning tips, location guides, inspiration, and advice for creating your perfect adventure!
The below blogs are informational. Check out the portfolio page for a glance into my work if you just want to see photos!
5 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Photographer Before Booking
Going into that initial consult call with potential wedding photographers? At a loss for what to ask? Maybe you know what to ask, but haven’t really considered what the different answers will mean for you. This blog does a deep dive into 5 very important questions, and how those answers will affect the kind of wedding you photography experience you have from start to finish!
Hoh Rainforest Alternatives
When the road to the famous Hall of Mosses in the Hoh Rainforest closed after a storm in 2025, eloping couples needed to find alternative trails and hikes on the Olympic Peninsula that offered similar Twilight vibes—mossy trees, ferns, and old-growth trees. These were some of my favorite alternative trails with similar landscapes.
7 Steps to Planning the Perfect Surprise Proposal
Follow these steps to plan your perfect surprise proposal. The key to a successful proposal surprise is planning—making sure everything in place so it comes together flawlessly!
Best Wedding Venues in Bellingham, Washington
The best wedding venues in Bellingham, WA. Locations of varying cost, with outdoor & indoor ceremony locations, beautiful natural spaces for portraits, and convenient locations within Whatcom County. Perfect venues for larger weddings that still want to celebrate the natural beauty of the PNW!
How to Elope in Acadia National Park
You should consider Acadia National Park as your destination for an adventure elopement if you love a wild coastline, lighthouses, colorful autumn forests, and wind-swept landscapes. This guide is everything you need to know to plan your elopement at Acadia!
Photography at Deception Pass State Park
Deception Pass State Park is one of my favorite nearby locations for engagement photos and casual couple’s sessions! It spans two of the San Juan Islands—Fidalgo and Whidbey—with plenty of trails to hike, beaches to explore, and views of the Puget Sound that are especially dramatic at sunset or sunrise. It’s a year-round accessible venue and in this blog I’ve shared everything you need to know to enjoy your visit.
Bellingham Engagement Photography
Looking for unique, fun, outdoor engagement photos in beautiful Bellingham, Washington? Wild Coast Photography is your destination for premium images from an experienced local Bellingham photographer. Jenn has spent more than a decade photographing and exploring Bellingham, finding the perfect off-the-beaten path venues for images that celebrate the natural wonder of the Pacific Northwest.
How to Plan a Mount Rainier Wedding
You should consider Mount Rainier as your destination for an adventure elopement if you love wildflowers, alpine lakes, mountain towns, and the diverse landscape of the Pacific Northwest. This guide is everything you need to know to plan your elopement at Mount Rainier!
How to Elope in Patagonia
How to Elope in Patagonia | Where to stay, things to do, places to visit, and my favorite places in Chile and Argentina. Read about the differences between Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks and choose your perfect place to elope in Patagonia.
My 2021 John Muir Trail Hike
How can I possibly condense 18 days & 225+ miles of life changing experience into a single blog?! Hiking the Nuumu Poyo (John Muir Trail) in the summer of 2021 was a dream come true—just a year prior I was relearning how to walk after breaking my ankle, and I was itching to push my body to go farther.
How to Elope in Scotland
Scotland Elopement Guide | Your guide to planning a wedding or elopement in Scotland—everything you need to know about finding the perfect ceremony spot, permits, and commitment ceremonies. Scotland is a wild place that varies with the seasons, but this guide fully prepares you for your celebration in this unique environment!
Why You Should Book a “Best Date Ever” Photo Session
What the heck is a Best Date Ever Session?! It’s an opportunity to celebrate your love today. This can be an engagement session before the wedding, an anniversary session to celebrate a milestone, or simply a just-because adventure!
The Ultimate Planning Guide to Your Alaska Elopement
Alaska Elopement Guide | Your guide to planning a wedding or elopement in Alaska - everything you need to know to discover the perfect ceremony spot, obtain permits & navigate the seasons. Alaska is a wild place that varies drastically in accessibility throughout the year, but this guide fully prepares you for this unique environment. Connect with an Alaska elopement photographer!
Best Places to Elope in Costa Rica
Pura Via – Plan a Costa Rica Elopement | Your guide to the best places to elope in Costa Rica! Come to paradise and experience your dream wedding in the rainforest, on a beach, or even at the base of a volcano!
How to Elope in Colorado
Colorado Elopement Guide | Your guide to planning a wedding or elopement in Colorado - everything you need to know about finding the perfect ceremony spot, permits, and self-solemnization. Colorado is a wild place that varies with the seasons, but this guide fully prepares you for your celebration in this unique environment!
What is Self-Solemnizing? How to Plan a “Just Us” Wedding
Self-solemnization – also known as a “self-uniting marriage”– is the act of getting *legally* married without needing a judge or officiant to sign the papers – you don't even need witnesses! In fact, if you DO choose to self-solemnize & bring guests – ANYONE can sign as your witnesses (yes, even your dog).
How to elope
How to Elope | A planning guide for your elopement with tips & suggestions from an elopement photographer. Get step-by-step advice for planning a true-to-you event. You deserve your dream wedding – a celebration that exceeds your expectations & aligns with your goals!
How to Elope in Yosemite
Yosemite Elopement Guide | A photographer's guide to eloping in Yosemite National Park - everything you need to know about timelines, permits & planning for your Yosemite elopement. Say vows in the valley, at the base of a waterfall, or overlooking El Capitan or Half Done at Glacier Point or Taft Point. Connect with a Yosemite Elopement Photographer & plan your Yosemite elopement!
Best Places to Elope in New Mexico
Plan a New Mexico Elopement | Your guide to the best places to elope in New Mexico! The Land of Enchantment has it all - stunning desert vistas, gorgeous mountain viewpoints, and beautiful forests. This guide has suggestions ranging from the deserts of Ghost Ranch to the. snowy slopes of the Taos Ski Valley.
Elope in Alabama Hills
Alabama Hills Elopement Planning Guide | Everything you need to know about planning an elopement in the Alabama Hills & having a fun desert wedding in the wild granite fields outside Lone Pine, California. This is one of my favorite landscapes on earth & desert lovers are sure to have a magical time getting married at the base of Mt. Whitney!