Ruby Beach Elopement, Olympic National Park, Elopements in Washington
Ruby Beach is a gorgeous area inside Olympic National Park and if you’ve ever wanted to visit or share your vows there, I mean count me the frick in lol.
If you want more basic Washington elopement start guide, I got you covered in my How To Elope in Washington blog post!
Why I Love Ruby Beach for Elopements
Ruby Beach makes for some fricken incredible pulled-back landscape photos. The kind where you’re just two tiny humans standing in front of these massive sea stacks, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and the whole photograph feels a little unreal.
That’s probably my favorite thing about this place. There is so much scenery to work with, and you don’t have to hike five miles to find it. You can get these huge, dramatic coastal photographs, wander around the driftwood and still have plenty of time to actually enjoy your wedding day.
And the light? Ruby Beach can give you two completely different experiences. You might get a misty, moody afternoon where the sea stacks are disappearing into the fog, or you might get one of those stunning pink sunsets that makes the whole beach look ridiculous in the best possible way. I love both, and I think that’s part of what makes this stretch of coastline so special.
Personally, I’d plan your Ruby Beach elopement closer to sunset.
When the sun comes out here, IT IS OUT. Middle-of-the-day sunshine can be really bright, and the photographs can start to feel more like a regular sunny beach day than the shocking beautiful coastal landscape we’re here for.
That doesn’t mean we need perfect golden-hour light to make incredible photographs. Some of my favorite conditions to work with are the clouds and mist that roll through the coast. I’d just rather give ourselves the opportunity to enjoy that softer evening light than plan your entire ceremony around the brightest part of the afternoon.
And honestly, I wouldn’t come here expecting to have the beach to yourselves.
Ruby Beach is popular. There are going to be people around, and that’s just part of the experience!!
But one of the things I actually love about that is how excited people get when they see two happy humans dressed up and saying their vows to each other. You might hear congratulations from someone walking by or see a few strangers smiling as they realize what’s happening. It’s a canon event of happiness, and I think that’s pretty freaking sweet.
If you want a completely private ceremony with nobody else in sight, we can look at other locations. But when you’re happy to share the scenery and enjoy a little unexpected encouragement from strangers, Ruby Beach can be such a fun place to get married.
Where Is Ruby Beach?
Ruby Beach is on the western side of Olympic National Park, directly off Highway 101. It’s south of Forks and north of Kalaloch, so it’s fairly easy to include in an Olympic Peninsula road trip.
The beach is known for its massive driftwood, rocky shoreline and sea stacks rising out of the water. It’s the kind of place where you can stand in one spot, turn around and find an entirely different composition.
There’s a parking area, restrooms and a short trail down to the beach. The walk is only about a tenth of a mile, but it’s downhill and can be steep in places. Once you reach the shoreline, you’ll also need to navigate rocks, driftwood and whatever the ocean has rearranged recently.
So while I love Ruby Beach for couples who don’t want a big hike, I wouldn’t show up expecting a perfectly flat little stroll in your wedding shoes. Bring something comfortable with good traction, and we can switch shoes when we get to a spot where you want the dressier look. (I hesitate to say barefeet because there can be some sharp edges over here just use caution!)
What Makes Ruby Beach Such a Beautiful Place for Wedding Photos?
The Huge Coastal Landscapes
Ruby Beach is absolutely a location where I want to pull back and show off the landscape.
Of course we’ll get photographs of the two of you together, your reactions during your vows and all the little moments that happen throughout the day. But I also want those photographs where the scenery takes up most of the frame and you’re standing somewhere in the middle of it all.
The sea stacks give the coastline so much character, and the driftwood and rocky shoreline add all these different textures. You can get a surprising amount of variety without moving very far.
I also think this is a place where you should give yourselves permission to wander a little. We don’t need to march from one photo spot to another with a checklist. We can explore, stop when something catches our eye and let the beach be part of the experience.
The Misty, Moody Weather
I know a lot of couples picture sunshine on their wedding day, but a misty Ruby Beach elopement can be absolutely incredible.
The fog can soften the entire landscape and make the sea stacks look enormous as they disappear into the distance. The colors become more muted, the ocean looks a little moodier and everything has that Pacific Northwest atmosphere people travel all the way to Washington to experience.
I’d absolutely bring a rain jacket and prepare for the possibility of getting a little wet, but I wouldn’t be disappointed just because the forecast includes clouds.
Some days, the coast is going to do its own thing. We might get sunshine, fog, wind and a little rain all in the same afternoon.
Those Ridiculously Pretty Sunsets
Now, when Ruby Beach decides to show off at sunset, it really shows off.
The sky can turn pink, the light gets softer and the water can reflect all those beautiful colors. Even on a day that starts out pretty gray, the evening can surprise you.
This is why I’d personally lean toward a later ceremony and leave ourselves time for portraits as the sun gets lower.
We can’t guarantee a colorful sunset, obviously. But we can plan the day so we’re in a good position to enjoy one if it happens.
And when it doesn’t? We still have those enormous sea stacks, the ocean and the moody coastline. It’s a pretty fantastic backup plan.
The Best Time of Day for a Ruby Beach Elopement
My vote is closer to sunset, with one very important exception: we need to pay attention to the tides.
I wouldn’t automatically schedule your ceremony at noon just because it’s convenient. On a sunny day, the light can be harsh, and the beach has a completely different feeling than it does in the evening. I’d much rather have time to explore as the light gets softer.
But the ocean gets a say in our plans, too.
The tides affect how much of Ruby Beach we can explore, which areas are accessible and how safely we can move around the shoreline. The National Park Service recommends checking tide charts before visiting Olympic’s beaches because some coastal areas can become impassable as the tide rises.
Ideally, we’d find a date when a favorable tide and beautiful evening light line up. When they don’t, we’ll prioritize safety and choose the timing that gives us the best experience on the beach.
(Safety is never an option with me, I really want to make sure you guys have fun but are safe!)
I’d also build in time to get down to the shoreline, explore and take photographs before the ceremony. Nobody wants to arrive at a beautiful location and immediately feel like they’re running behind.
When Is the Best Season to Elope at Ruby Beach?
Ruby Beach is beautiful throughout the year, but the experience changes quite a bit depending on when you visit.
Summer
Summer gives us longer days, which means more flexibility with your timeline. You can spend the morning getting ready, grab lunch in Forks and still have plenty of daylight for your ceremony and portraits.
It’s also a popular time to visit, so expect other people to be enjoying the beach.
And remember what I said about the sunshine. Summer can give us an incredible sunset, but I’d rather not schedule all your portraits for the middle of a bright, cloudless afternoon.
Fall
Fall is a beautiful option for couples who love moodier coastal weather. The days get shorter, the temperatures cool down and there’s more potential for rain and dramatic clouds.
You’ll want to bring layers and be flexible with your plans, but that atmosphere can look amazing in photographs.
Winter
A winter elopement on the Washington coast is definitely an adventure. You can get some incredible stormy scenery, but the weather and ocean conditions require more caution.
Powerful waves, strong winds and shifting driftwood can make parts of the beach unsafe. I wouldn’t build a winter timeline around reaching a specific sea stack or tide pool. We’d need to work with the conditions on the day.
Spring
Spring is another beautiful option when you love the moody Pacific Northwest atmosphere and don’t mind the possibility of rain.
You may get a little of everything, so I’d pack layers, keep an eye on the forecast and leave enough flexibility in the timeline to enjoy whatever the coast gives us.
Can You Have an Elopement Ceremony at Ruby Beach?
Yes. Ruby Beach is within Olympic National Park, which has specific rules for wedding ceremonies.
For a tiny elopement, the permit process is pretty straightforward, but we do need to count everybody who’s actually there.
Under the park’s current guidance, wedding groups of five people or fewer do not need to apply for a wedding permit. That total includes the couple, photographer, officiant, witnesses and any guests. Groups larger than five must apply for a permit.
Even when you don’t need to submit an application, your ceremony can’t block other visitors from enjoying the beach. If you do need a permit, the park will work with you on the specific location and applicable conditions.
The park also doesn’t allow you to reserve a section of the beach for privacy. Which, honestly, brings us back to the whole thing about sharing Ruby Beach with other happy humans.
Before finalizing your plans, check the Olympic National Park wedding permit information .
Where to Stay for Your Ruby Beach Elopement
If Ruby Beach is your main elopement location, I’d seriously consider staying somewhere around Forks. (Not just because of Twilight either lol)
I love the idea of having a cozy cabin where you can spend the morning getting ready, make some coffee and enjoy the fact that you’re about to get married. You can grab lunch in town, head toward the beach later in the day and return to your accommodations without a huge drive afterward.
Forks is also a useful home base when you want to explore other parts of the Olympic Peninsula during your trip.
You can look for a cabin surrounded by trees, a vacation rental with enough room for a few guests or a hotel if you’d rather keep things simple.
Kalaloch is another area to consider when you want to stay closer to the coast. Kalaloch Lodge offers rooms and cabins near the ocean, although I’d check availability early for popular dates.
When you’re choosing accommodations, I’d pay attention to the getting-ready space. Good natural light, enough room to move around and somewhere comfortable to hang out before the ceremony can make your morning so much more enjoyable.
Can You Visit Ruby Beach and Other Olympic National Park Locations on the Same Day?
One of the things I really like about staying near Forks is that we have options. We could absolutely visit a couple of locations and get completely different scenery without turning your wedding day into one giant road trip.
Lake Crescent is one of my favorite locations to consider pairing with Ruby Beach. You get beautiful mountain and lake scenery, then finish the day on the wild Pacific coast. It’s such a fun contrast, and the drive is manageable when we give ourselves enough time.
You could also explore the Hoh Rain Forest during your trip, depending on the experience you’re imagining and how much time you want to spend driving.
But here’s where I’d stop us from getting too ambitious. When Ruby Beach is your main location, I wouldn’t try to squeeze four or five other places into the same day.
I want us to have time to actually enjoy the beach. I want you to be able to walk around, take in the scenery, say your vows and maybe sit on a piece of driftwood together for a minute without worrying about making it to the next stop.
Driving a ton on your elopement day isn’t the goal.
I’d rather choose two locations that you absolutely love than spend the whole day rushing through five of them.
For couples who want both landscapes, I’ve also put together a sample timeline for visiting Lake Crescent and Ruby Beach in one day.
A Sample Ruby Beach Elopement Timeline
This is how I’d imagine a relaxed summer elopement when Ruby Beach is the main event. The exact timing would depend on sunset, the tide forecast and where you’re staying.
| Time | What we’re doing |
|---|---|
| 10:00 a.m. | Sleep in a little, enjoy coffee and have breakfast at your cabin |
| 11:30 a.m. | Start getting ready |
| 1:00 p.m. | First look and some photographs around your accommodations |
| 2:00 p.m. | Grab lunch in Forks |
| 3:30 p.m. | Head toward Ruby Beach |
| 4:00 p.m. | Walk down to the beach and spend time exploring |
| 5:30 p.m. | Your ceremony, at a time that works with the tides |
| 6:00 p.m. | More coastal portraits, wandering and enjoying the beach |
| Evening | Sunset photographs, then dinner and celebrating |
I don’t want every minute of your wedding day accounted for. We need enough structure to make sure we get where we’re going, but I also want time for the things we didn’t plan.
Maybe the light gets incredible and we spend an extra half hour taking photographs.
Maybe you want to sit together and watch the ocean for a while.
Maybe we end up laughing because the wind has completely destroyed whatever your hair was supposed to be doing.
Those moments are part of the day, too.
What to Wear for a Ruby Beach Elopement
You can absolutely wear your dream wedding outfit to Ruby Beach, but I’d plan on getting a little adventurous in it.
The shoreline has rocks, sand, driftwood and potentially some wet areas to navigate. Comfortable shoes are a must, especially for the walk down to the beach.
You can bring dressier shoes to change into for certain photographs, but I’d rather have you comfortable and able to move around than worrying about every step.
I’d also bring a warm layer and a rain jacket. Even when the forecast looks beautiful, the wind coming off the Pacific can get chilly.
And if your dress ends up with a little sand on it? Personally, I think that’s part of getting married on the coast. 😉
Frequently Asked Questions About Ruby Beach Elopements
Is Ruby Beach a good place to elope?
Absolutely, especially when you love dramatic coastal scenery and don’t mind sharing the beach with other visitors. The sea stacks, driftwood and changing light give us so much to work with, and you don’t need a long hike to reach the shoreline.
Is Ruby Beach crowded?
It can be, particularly during summer and on weekends.
I wouldn’t choose Ruby Beach expecting to have the entire place to ourselves. But I also wouldn’t let the presence of other people put you off when this is the scenery you love. We can find beautiful compositions, give ourselves time to explore and enjoy the fact that people tend to get pretty excited when they see a couple getting married.
Is sunrise or sunset better for Ruby Beach elopement photos?
I’d personally lean toward sunset because I love the softer evening light and the possibility of those incredible pink skies.
However, the tide forecast matters just as much. We’ll choose a time that lets us explore safely rather than chasing a particular photograph.
How difficult is the walk to Ruby Beach?
It’s a short walk from the parking area, but the trail is steep in sections, and the beach itself has uneven terrain and driftwood. I’d bring comfortable shoes and plan for a little extra time getting down to the shoreline.
Can you elope at Ruby Beach with guests?
Yes. Just remember that the park counts everyone present, including the couple, photographer, officiant and guests, when determining whether a wedding permit application is required.
I’d also think about your guests’ comfort walking down to the beach and navigating the shoreline. Also parking can be a lot because it fills up quick, for sure need to car pool!
Can we visit Lake Crescent and Ruby Beach on our elopement day?
Yes, and I think they make a beautiful combination when we plan enough time for the drive and both locations.
I’d just resist the temptation to keep adding stops. Two incredible locations with time to enjoy them sounds much better to me than spending your wedding day trying to see the entire Olympic Peninsula.
👉🏻 Keep reading if you want both Lake Crescent + Ruby Beach
Let’s Plan Your Ruby Beach Elopement
Ruby Beach is for the couples who want to feel tiny in a really beautiful landscape, who are happy to embrace a little coastal weather and who don’t need their wedding day to look perfectly polished from beginning to end.
We might get mist rolling through the sea stacks.
We might get a ridiculous pink sunset.
We might get a few strangers cheering you on after your vows.
And honestly, all of those sound like a pretty incredible way to get married.
I’m Jamie, the photographer behind Jamie Tobin Photography. I love creating elopement days that give you room to explore, have fun together and actually enjoy the place you’ve chosen to get married.
If a Ruby Beach elopement is calling your name, I’d love to hear what you’re imagining and help you create a day that feels like you.
- Ready to elope in Washington? Reach out to me and tell me the vision you want.
- Keep reading, Check out my opinion on Lake Crescent, Hoh Rainforest, and Mountain views inside Olympic National Park
