Macayla Lottmacaylalottphoto@gmail.comEdit Profile
From Nebraska to the PNW (with their dog, of course)
Brenna and Zach reached out to me at the very beginning of 2025 with a dream that immediately excited me: an Olympic National Park Elopement with allllll the moody, mossy, Twilight-inspired vibes. Brenna is a huge Twilight fan, so the Pacific Northwest had been calling her name for a long while. And when they told me they were road-tripping all the way from Nebraska to Washington (and bringing their dog along for the adventure) I was so excited for them. Whenever I meet a couple who wants to turn their wedding into a full-on experience, not just a single day—it truly lights my soul on fire!
An Intimate Ceremony in the Hoh Rainforest
September in Olympic National Park is unreal, especially in the Hoh Rainforest and Quinault areas. Everything stays green year-round, but early fall sneaks in with subtle pops of color that make the forest feel even more magical. Brenna’s dad and stepmom were their only guests, which made the day feel incredibly intentional and intimate. They signed as witnesses, helped hold flowers, tenderly held Brenna’s dress and green cape as we walked through the woods, and were genuinely so excited and giddy to be included.
We started their day with a quiet first look on a forest trail before hiking toward the Hall of Mosses loop for the ceremony. There’s a little lookout area just off the main trail—fenced in, tucked away, and surprisingly private. We had the entire spot to ourselves and their ceremony was short, simple, and deeply meaningful. No fluff, just sweet and unhurried love.
Forest Trails, Then a Coastal Sunset
After the ceremony, we continued hiking the loop and took portraits along the way before heading back to the car and driving out to Rialto Beach for the last hour. The forecast had called for heavy clouds and rain, but instead we got soft light in the forest, ZERO rain, and the most unreal sunset at the coast. The sunset photos from this evening are barely edited (it truly looked that wild in real life).
I also love to bring lanterns to every elopement where we’ll hit a bit of blue hour, and the early evening lantern photos were the perfect, cozy way to end the day. Even though Brenna and Zach’s elopement was on the shorter side, it was easily one of my all time favorites. Everything came together so naturally, and I loved getting to experience such a gorgeous, meaningful day alongside them.
And I would love to help make your day one that feels effortless and true to your love, especially in a beautiful outdoor space. Head here to start a conversation!
