Last light in the mountains

Sunset Elopement at Diablo Lake & Thunder Knob

As the sun dipped behind the peaks of the North Cascades, these two shared their vows above the turquoise waters of Diablo Lake. Their evening hike up Thunder Knob turned into one of those perfect, golden, quiet moments that linger long after the day ends.

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A quiet celebration in the heart of Washington’s North Cascades

June and July are funny months for elopements in Washington. The snow is finally melting at the lower elevations, the rivers are rushing, and the trails are starting to open — but the higher peaks can still hold onto winter. That’s what makes planning a North Cascades elopement a bit of an adventure: you’re always chasing that balance between accessibility and wild beauty.

When I first started chatting with Joe and Rachal, we tossed around a bunch of ideas. They wanted someplace beautiful, mountain-filled, and quintessentially Washington — a place that felt wild but wouldn’t require ice axes or snowshoes. We landed on Thunder Knob and Diablo Lake Overlook, two spots that are easily accessible in early summer, snow-free by June, and full of those big North Cascades views that just stop you in your tracks.

We met up in the afternoon, backpacks loaded and cameras ready. The hike up Thunder Knob isn’t too long — a few miles of steady climbing through the forest until it opens up to sweeping views of Diablo Lake, glowing that unreal turquoise color it’s famous for. The sun was dropping low by the time we reached the top, and the air had that perfect mix of warmth and mountain breeze.

Joe and Rachal changed right there at the summit. It was just the three of us — no officiant, no guests, just quiet wind through the trees and the slow, golden shift of evening light. There’s something really special about moments like that. Without the crowd or the noise of a traditional wedding day, you can feel everything more clearly: their laughter, the nervous excitement, the way they looked at each other as they said their vows.

Both Joe and Rachal are in the Army, and they’d spent time stationed here in Washington. They fell in love with this landscape — the dramatic peaks, the alpine lakes, the smell of pine and rain. This place had become a part of their story, so it felt right that their wedding day would too. They were some of the most joyful, easygoing people I’ve ever photographed. The kind of couple who makes you feel like you’ve been friends for years. Watching them together, you could see how deeply they cared for each other — quiet gestures, shared laughter, small looks that said everything.

After their ceremony, we lingered in that soft, amber light at the top. We explored a few ridges, chased the last rays of the sun, and then began the hike down. They stayed in their wedding attire — and honestly, the descent wasn’t too bad. As long as you don’t have a massive train, Thunder Knob is pretty forgiving on the way down. There was something magical about it: two people in wedding clothes walking through the woods at dusk, the lake fading into shadow below, and the mountains holding the last light of the day.

From a photographer’s perspective, this day was an absolute dream. I’ll usually bring four cameras to a wedding — that’s about the limit of what my brain can handle — but this time I broke my own rule. The hike isn’t tough, and I knew the light would be incredible, so I packed a few extras.

For digital, I carried two Canon R6s, one paired with the EF 50mm f/1.2L and the other with the EF 24mm f/1.4L. For film, I brought my Hasselblad 500CM with an 80mm f/2.8 and Kodak Portra 400, plus my Leica M6 with the Voigtländer 35mm f/1.4 Nokton Classic and a roll of Fujifilm Superia 200 — my last roll of that discontinued stock, and one of my all-time favorites. I also tossed in the Leica CL with a Minolta 28mm f/2.8 lens loaded with Kentmere 400 for black-and-white shots.

It was a lot of gear, but totally worth it. My goal was to create images that felt both vast and intimate — to show how small two people can look against the enormity of the mountains, but also how powerful their connection feels when the world goes quiet around them. With just the three of us, there was space for that balance.

As the light faded, we wrapped up at Diablo Lake Overlook, where the water was still glowing blue even after sunset. Joe and Rachal had brought along a couple of small cheesecakes from Hood Famous in Seattle, and we ended the night there, laughing, eating dessert out of the box, and soaking in the last few moments before the drive back down Highway 20.

Days like this are why I love photographing elopements in the North Cascades National Park. The mix of intimacy, adventure, and raw natural beauty is unmatched. You don’t need a big production — just two people, a trail, and the willingness to chase the light together.

Thinking about your own North Cascades elopement?

I’ve put together a full guide with everything you need to know — from choosing the right season to finding the best trails and planning your timeline.

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