Mount Hood Forest Elopement with Champagne Pops and Vow Books

Yami (she/her) and Tamara (she/her) swapped the stress of a big wedding for a week in the woods and a ceremony that felt like them. With a forest green suit, cathedral veil, and vows exchanged on Mount Hood, their elopement was rooted in ease and love. Add a cabin, a best friend turned officiant, and a three-week honeymoon in Costa Rica? You’ve got the perfect escape.

Why did you decide to elope instead of having a traditional wedding?

We have a big family, and once we started listing names, it got overwhelming really fast. Emotionally and financially, it just didn’t feel like the right fit for us. So we decided to go smaller and more intentional. We’d rather put that money toward something unforgettable like a honeymoon through Costa Rica.

Why did you choose Mount Hood?

We knew we wanted mountains and trees, and Mount Hood felt like the perfect place to disappear into nature for a few days. We rented a cabin nearby and spent a full week there, which gave us time to relax, prep, and be fully present. It was peaceful, beautiful, and felt completely our own.

Tell us about your outfits.

Tamara: I knew right away I wanted a forest green suit. I’m not picky, so that was easy.

Yami wanted to wear a full wedding dress, no matter what. She even changed into it in the mountains. We kept it true to who we are, no compromises.

What was the day like? Walk us through it.

We’d been staying in the cabin for a few days already, so the day felt calm. That morning, we did a little photoshoot. Yami spent the rest of the day getting ready, hair, makeup, all of it. Around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, we headed to the spot near Mount Hood. The views were incredible. I saw her in her dress for the first time, we read our vows, said I do, popped champagne, and soaked it all in.

Did you write your own vows?

Yes! I made us leather vow books ahead of time and we both took time alone that morning to write in them. Sharing them during the ceremony was emotional in the best way. Now we have those books forever.

What about the legal side? Did you have an officiant?

We got our marriage license just before the trip. We paid a little extra to waive the 3-day waiting period since we were on a tight timeline. Our officiant was our best friend, who got ordained just for this. It made it even more special.

Any advice for other couples thinking about eloping?

It’s okay not to do the big wedding if it doesn’t feel like you. Eloping gave us the freedom to focus on what mattered to us. You can always throw the party later.

If we had gone the traditional wedding route, we wouldn’t have had the time or budget for the month off or the three-week honeymoon in Costa Rica. It gave us space to just enjoy each other. No regrets.

Photography by Chasity Raley