Why Wellspring Spa?
It takes a lot for me to be wowed by a wedding venue. After all, I specialize in national park weddings, so it’s pretty hard to find a venue that can even come close to matching the kind of scenery you can easily find in a national park. And while there are so many small wedding venues in Washington State that I genuinely love, very few of them have actually blown me away.
But boy oh boy, Wellspring Spa absolutely lived up to my high standards.
First, the location. Wellspring Spa is located in Ashford, literally at the base of Mt. Rainier National Park. Honestly, do I even need to say anything else?
Second, the vibes. I truly cannot think of a better word here, but trust me on this one. This is the venue for couples who want to fully commit to a summer-camp-in-the-mountains kind of wedding weekend. Not only can up to 40 guests stay overnight in the surrounding cabins, but everyone can take full advantage of the sauna, barbeque grills, hot tubs, forest trails, and more.
Oh, and did I mention that Wellspring allows you to do whatever you want? Seriously. Bring any caterer, decorations, or music you want. There are no restrictions or rules like other venues have.
Third, the spaces. The ceremony area is gorgeous. Tucked into the forest, it has enough space for up to 200 guests to celebrate with you while still somehow feeling super intimate. On top of that, Wellspring has a beautiful white cabin for getting ready along with a huge covered area for dancing, dinner, drinks, and all the wedding weekend chaos that inevitably follows.
All of this to say, I genuinely think a Wellspring Spa wedding is something every couple should consider, especially couples stuck somewhere between wanting a traditional wedding and wanting to elope.
That’s exactly where Audrey and Taylor found themselves.
Audrey and Taylor’s Elopement at Rainier and Wellspring Spa
When these two first reached out, they had one vision in mind: summer camp in the mountains. Most of their loved ones were flying in from all over the country, and with the number of guests they were inviting, finding a mountain ceremony location that actually worked logistically started getting complicated. We looked at locations in both the Cascades and Olympic National Park, but nothing was really clicking until we found Wellspring.
Naturally, we turned their celebration into a two-day event.
Having private vows and intentional alone time together was incredibly important to them. They wanted the intimacy and freedom of an elopement, but they also wanted to celebrate with their family and friends. I’m a bit biased, but I think this was the perfect way to do both.
On the first day, I met up with these two in Mt. Rainier National Park where we laced up our hiking boots and headed into the mountains. Wildflowers, marmots, waterfalls, the whole area was showing off. As the sun disappeared behind the mountain, Audrey and Taylor exchanged private vows with not another person around.
The next day was all about celebrating with the people they love most. Back at Wellspring Spa, they shared a first look, exchanged rings beneath the trees, listened to heartfelt speeches, danced the night away, and fully embraced the summer camp wedding weekend they had imagined from the very beginning, mementos of their dog and all.
This Wellspring Spa wedding felt like the perfect reminder that couples don’t really have to choose between an elopement and a traditional wedding anymore. You really can (and should) have both.
- Photographer: Brianna Parks Photography (me!)
- Videographer: A Beautiful Union
- Hair and Makeup: Blush and Braids Beauty Bar
- Florist: Breilee Flower Farm
- Rentals: Olympic Farm Style Events
- Chef: Jeremy’s Farm to Table
Like what you see? You might want to check out my guide to eloping at Mt. Rainier National Park!
Don’t forget your FREE elopement guide!
An all-in-one planning guide for all things elopements! Whether you’re hoping to hike through the mountains of Washington or sip a margarita on the beaches of California, this comprehensive elopement guide has everything you need to know about how to plan the perfect elopement.
You? You’re the kind of person that gets a lil’ teary eyed looking at an epic view…
That moment when you turn to the person you’re with and ask, “Are you seeing this?” I live for it. Places with trees and mountains and soft breezes that make you say, “I can’t believe this place exists,” I spend pretty much all of my free time searching for and exploring them.
These places have always felt like home to me. And if you’re the kind of person who also feels more at home surrounded by trees than by people? Then we’ll get along really well. The Pacific Northwest is full of secret spots that are too special to share with just anyone. But it would make me happy to share them with you on your wedding day.
If the mountains/beaches/redwood forests are calling your name, go ahead…
(I promise you won’t regret it.)
P.S. I’m Brianna. I’m a Pacific Northwest elopement photographer whose mission is to create custom, one-of-a-kind elopement experiences in the Pacific Northwest that allow couples to fully immerse themselves in the highest levels of excitement and wonder on a day designed exclusively for them.
