Summer Sunset Elopement at Yellow Aster Butte
As a Washington adventure wedding photographer, I’ve learned that flexibility is the name of the game.
Cara and Kyle originally had plans for a backcountry ski elopement on Mt. Baker this spring before hosting a larger wedding with family and friends over the summer. But a low snowpack and a delay in Cara’s wedding dress alterations meant we had to pivot.
After some discussion about what they wanted their big day to look like, we settled on hiking up to Yellow Aster Butte in early July. Yellow Aster Butte is one of my favorite locations for a North Cascades elopement because it offers the perfect balance: it’s relatively easy to get to, but still delivers an out-there feel and offers jaw-dropping views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan.
Pushing back to summer also created a twist: by the time of our shoot, Cara and Kyle had already held their “official” wedding with family and friends. So our day would be all about capturing their adventurous spirit in the mountains they love.
A Classic Bellingham Start: Pizza and a Road Trip on the Mount Baker Highway
Our plan for the day was to leave Bellingham together in early afternoon, hike up to Yellow Aster Butte, and spend some time at the alpine lakes before catching sunset over the North Cascades and hiking down in the dark. It was a relaxed schedule that would give us plenty of time to enjoy the area and capture the best light of the day without feeling rushed.
Cara and Kyle are the ultimate fun-loving, chill couple, and they suggested we kick off the day with a quick pizza stop at the legendary North Fork Brewery on the way up the Mount Baker Highway. I never say no to pizza (pro tip if you’re booking a North Cascades hiking elopement with me!) and the drive up to the trailhead flew by as we munched on slices in the car. We even had some leftover pizza that we carefully packaged into our backpacks and carried up to the lakes as the ultimate trail snack.
Before long, we were on the trail and the hike zoomed by. It was the peak of PNW wildflower elopement season and the lupine and heather were blooming like crazy, so it felt like we were walking through a painting as we hiked up through the meadows. We chatted the whole way up while keeping one eye out for mountain goats, which had recently been spotted roaming around Yellow Aster Butte (sadly, we didn’t see any).
We were also encouraged the whole way up by parting clouds and glimpses of blue sky. The forecast hadn't called for clouds, but the weather in the North Cascades plays by its own rules and we were surprised at how overcast it was when we arrived at the trailhead. But it was looking promising, so we crossed our fingers that Mt. Baker would make an appearance and we’d get a pop of color for sunset.
An Alpine Lake Dip with a Bright Pink Innertube
The cloudy weather meant it was relatively cool as we hiked the roughly 4-mile trail, but Cara and Kyle were still ready for a dip when we arrived at the alpine lakes between Yellow Aster Butte and Tomyhoi Peak.
They emptied out their packs and changed into bathing suits, and then Kyle began blowing up a bright pink innertube that Cara had packed just for the occasion! As it turns out, Cara and her friend were once the focus of a magazine story about "luxury backpacking"—the art of hauling as much ridiculous, fun stuff as possible into the backcountry just to have the best time ever. So the innertube was standard hiking gear for her.
The water was crystal clear, but the patch of snow jutting directly into the lake suggested it might be frigid. Cara and Kyle were completely fearless and ran straight in. They promised it wasn’t too cold, but I’m not sure I believe them.
Moody Sunset Skies and a Champagne Toast
After drying off, they changed into their wedding clothes and we headed out into the wildflower meadows for photos. The sun was breaking through the clouds intermittently, offering soft golden light that really made the scenery pop. The clouds hanging over Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan in the background also contributed a striking, moody atmosphere that felt distinctly Pacific Northwest.
We took our time exploring the landscape before heading back to the lakes for a well-deserved champagne toast. With Tomyhoi and American Border Peaks towering behind them, Cara and Kyle popped the cork and toasted to a lifetime of adventure together.
A Twilight Hike Out
With sunset fast approaching, we knew it was now or never if we were going to get a flash of alpenglow on the North Cascades peaks around us. So we hiked up the trail to the top of Yellow Aster Butte, where endless wildflower meadows gave way to 360-degree views. We didn't end up getting the vibrant sunset colors we were hoping for, but it hardly mattered — the sheer scale and beauty of the scenery delivered, and the three of us were feeling pretty excited about the photos we had captured together.
With the sun now below the horizon, we started our descent back down towards the trailhead. In true laid-back fashion, Kyle opted to just hike out in his suit, while Cara swapped her dress for more comfortable hiking clothes and running shoes. We made it about halfway down before needing to pull out our headlamps, then hiked out the rest of the trail with the entire mountain to ourselves. It was an incredibly fun, authentic, and unforgettable day celebrating two amazing people in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
Dreaming of your own North Cascades elopement? Reach out today and let's craft a wedding day that’s as wild and adventurous as your love story.
