Crater Lake & Hot Springs Elopement with Mt. Thielsen Views

“We don’t like traditional weddings. We both have large, blended families with drama and did not want a big wedding. We wanted it to be intimate and solely about us and our close family who have supported us.“

Julia and Matt have always felt connected to Crater Lake. When these two reached out with such a clear call to Oregon’s only national park, I knew they saw the same magic of the area that I do as a local Southern Oregon elopement photographer.

Day One

Getting ready at Diamond Lake cabins

Crater Lake lodgings are slim inside the park, so I sent Julia and Matt my top recommendations for elopement/intimate wedding lodgings along the North Umpqua and the national park. Diamond Lake’s Retreat Cabin hosted not only their families and themselves, but was also the backdrop to their customized luxury elopement picnic from Beyond the Sorrel.

Their first look was a sweet moment on the deck of their cabin, while their families looked on from the other side of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

We’ve always felt drawn to the area. After we saw your Crater Lake elopement guide and then got on a consult with you, we knew this was where we were meant to elope!

Wedding Portraits at Diamond Lake

Matt and Julia weren’t afraid to be their goofy, touchy, and loving selves all through their adventuring and sightseeing. And that, my friends, is one of the keys to loving your images. Staying physically connected (even if it’s just a gentle arm touch or brief handhold) helps convey the connection of your relationship. On top of that, touching activates happy hormones, allowing you to feel even better in the moment. And when you look back on your images, half of your nostalgia for that moment comes from how you felt.

These two chose to really focus on one another and spend some time together before their ceremony. They took in striking views of Mt. Thielsen (AKA The Lightning Rod of the Cascades) in the distance and got to see the aftermath of wildfires that have dotted the area.

What sounds relaxing to you? Could it be a few moments lying on a dock with light waves lapping against the wood, while the sun peeks between clouds and gently warms your skin? While exploring around the lake, that’s exactly what Julia and Matt were treated to. Imagine closing your eyes and taking all that in, knowing that in just a short while, you’ll be connecting with your partner in a whole new way by saying your vows.

Diamond Lake Luxury Elopement Picnic

Before J&M headed up the road to Crater Lake National Park for their wedding ceremony, they tucked into a delicious picnic spread. They really resonate with spiritual practices like tarot and crystal energy, so Jinny with Beyond the Sorrel seamlessly incorporated those beautiful details into their boho/witchy picnic.

Crater Lake Portraits and Wedding Ceremony

It was time. Time to soak in Crater Lake and the technicolor blue waters. We managed to catch a glimpse of Wizard Island before a thick layer of fog socked into the caldera. You could definitely tell Fall and Winter were on the way — Crater Lake itself is really only visible in Winter around 25% of the time.

Julia and Matt’s officiant began the ceremony with their closest friends/fam by calling the Five Directions: East/Air, South/Fire, West/Water, North/Earth, Center/Spirit. They united their families with herbs and other symbolic working elements in jars. Orange blossoms represented Sicily, cornflower for Germany, daisies for Denmark, andromeda for Ireland and other ingredients were combined and corked. After personal vows, they sealed the deal by handfasting with a clean white background of moody fog.

Did you know that Crater Lake is only fed by rainwater and snow runoff, and there’s only one small spring outlet that they only recently found?

Day Two

Umpqua National Forest Hot Springs Adventure Session

Unfortunately, these springs have gone viral online (you’ve probably seen them on Instagram or TikTok) and so in order to avoid crowds, it’s crucial to go in the shoulder season and early in the day or much much later in the evening. And truthfully, even then you won’t be alone.

These clothing-optional hot springs are perched on the cliffside above the North Umpqua River and once I showed Julia and Matt this gem, they were instantly game. And boy did they get steamy in springs.

Their goal on this trip, past getting married (duh), was to spend time enjoying each other’s presence, relaxing, and getting away from the hustle of Sacramento. Umpqua Hot Springs was exactly what the doctor ordered, according to Julia.

“This is so nice. It’s exactly what we needed.”

Lunch stop at Colliding Rivers Drive-In, Glide OR.

We had a little time left, so I suggested we hit one of my favorite places for a chocolate milkshake. Colliding Rivers is one of those establishments who actually makes a chocolate milkshake using chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla ice cream and chocolate syrup. That, turns out, makes all the difference in a truly delicious milkshake. Colliding Rivers and the K&R Drive-In along I-5 are the only two places I’ll dare to get a chocolate milkshake because they do ’em right.

I promised Julia that the chocolate milkshake would be borderline lifechanging. Judging by the expression on her face when she first tasted an Umpqua Ice Cream chocolate milkshake, I think I have a convert 😏.

When we hopped on their gallery reveal call, Matt and Julia revealed that they’ve been so inspired and infatuated by the Crater Lake and Umpqua area that they can’t wait to move nearby.

My Top Tip for an Elopement Like This: Hire a Local

Julia and Matt’s intimate wedding went off without a blip, but it pays to have local knowledge in case you need to pivot locations. There are so many hidden waterfall gems and mountaintop views that aren’t on AllTrails or have gone viral. Those are the ones that mostly locals know about and destinations that are almost guaranteed to be a completely unique ceremony backdrop. Imagine being the first wedding in such a breathtaking place like this Umpqua NF mountain elopement inspiration.

If you’re dreaming of a day like this, full of intention and connection, reach out, and let’s co-create an Umpqua and Crater Lake elopement adventure together that sets the bar…