Grace and Scott + Sunrise Mountain Elopement near Bend
Tumalo Mountain is the Perfect Mountain View Elopement Location Near Bend.
Tumalo Mountain is directly across from Mt Bachelor Ski Resort, about a 30 min drive from Bend on the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway. The trailhead is located at the Dutchman Flat Sno Park (another favorite spot!) and is just a few minutes down the highway from Sparks Lake, Todd Lake, and the popular Green Lakes and Soda Creek Trailheads.
This phenomenal hike leads to 360 summit views of Mt Bachelor, Broken Top, and the Three Sisters. It is unbeatable for it’s dramatic landscape, and is perfectly positioned for an epic sunrise display.
Part I - Sunrise Elopement at Tumalo Mountain
Grace and Scott’s wedding weekend began in the best way possible: at a trailhead at 5:30 am.
It was dark and freezing, but we bundled up, grabbed our headlamps, and set out. This trail has a lot of gain quickly- over 1400′ over 2 miles. We got warm pretty quickly!
When we were planning, Grace and Scott were enthusiastic about a morning like this- exactly the right reflection of the types of things they already love to do together! They’ve nurtured their love story through many trips cross country skiing, exploring snowy trails in the backcountry.
As they put it, “Grace is not done adventuring until she’s ready for bed. Scott loves letting Grace drag him around, pushing him to never let an adventure opportunity go to waste.”
They have a shared love for adventure, new experiences, and incredible views, and they aren’t afraid to work to get them. I knew they would love where we were heading- one of my favorite places near Bend to catch sunrise.
For me, this hike is always a bit steeper than I remember, but the views are always worth the effort.
When they were ready, we braved the whipping wind and trekked the final way. The view was incredible, and dynamic. The best light a photographer hopes for- the light of sunrise mixing together with dark clouds from the snowstorm hanging low over Broken Top; magnificent in the distance.
At the summit, Scott shared his vows with Grace. Afterwards, we decided we should carry on with Grace’s vows in a more wind-sheltered location. I love this about elopements- without the pressure to perform for an audience- it’s always OK to take a break and get warm if we need to!
The sunrise was so brief and beautiful before it was swallowed by the snow clouds, and I found it to be extra special this way. We had the best light and the best view completely to ourselves, at the perfect time.
Out of the wind and slightly warmed, Grace shared her vows with Scott. I loved the view here too, and was thrilled we had such different landscapes, and a bit of a funny story about how cold all of our fingers and faces were! I love the idea of Grace and Scott sharing these memories- the fun- the craziness of wind and hair whipping about- and of course the epic photos from such an environment.
Part II - Sparks Lake Portraits
Vows done and epic pictures achieved, we headed back to our cars. We had hot coffee waiting for us- and Grace had brought pop tarts- something she and Scott always share after such an adventure!
We drove a short way to Sparks Lake to eat and warm up and get a few more photos. The snowstorm was moving in, but we were much warmer down the mountain, and had that crazy energy you get from too much caffeine, too little sleep, and the thrill of a perfect sunrise.
Part III - Intimate Wedding Ceremony at Hollinshead Barn
The second part of the adventure was meeting friends and family at Hollinshead Barn for a more traditional wedding ceremony and celebration! Grace and Scott were able to truly have the best of both worlds for their wedding weekend, and I had the opportunity to capture so many heartfelt moments with their loved ones.
At Hollinshead Barn, the usual wedding events were underway. Guests were arriving and mingling, and the couple was out and about to greet everyone. I loved helping Grace coordinate her dress reveal to bridesmaids, family, and friends gathered up in the loft at the barn. The reactions from Grace’s grandmother was especially heartwarming!
Outside Scott’s mother was helping him get ready for their public ceremony, and we did some fun photos with the groomsmen in the meantime.
The ceremony itself was absolutely stunning. Grace’s bridal party was perfectly matched against the brilliant fall colors on the grounds. The couple exchanged a second set of vows (I love this!) and it was on to the party!
Congratulations to these two, all of their families and friends, and their perfect wedding adventure weekend!
