Mt Rainier Wedding Permit: How to Get a Special Use Permit for Your Elopement Ceremony

Blog post written by Sonder Studio

As elopement photographers who live at the base of Mt. Rainier, we have to say, there’s something pretty incredible about getting married with one of the most iconic mountains in the Pacific Northwest as your backdrop. But before you can say ‘I do’ in this national park, you’ll first need to get your Mt Rainier wedding permit.

A Mt Rainier Special Use Permit is required if you’re holding your wedding ceremony anywhere within Mount Rainier National Park. If you’re getting married outside the park or you’re already legally married and are only visiting the park for photos, you don’t need a wedding permit.

The permit itself is pretty straightforward, but there are a few things you’ll want to understand before you apply, and that’s what we’ll be sharing in this blog post. We’re breaking down exactly how to apply for your Mt. Rainier elopement permit, what it costs, how your guest count affects your options, and a few things you’ll want to know before you submit your application.

How to Get a Mt. Rainier Wedding Permit

Ok, let’s walk through these steps one by one. 

1. Choose your ceremony location

Before you can submit your Mt Rainier permit application, you’ll need to decide where you want to hold your ceremony. 

The national park website has an interactive Special Use Permit map showing the areas where wedding permits may be issued, but there is a little bit of flexibility within them.

Some locations on the map are specific, pre-approved ceremony sites. Others are larger areas or trails where you can choose a particular spot within the permitted area. For those locations, you can note the specific area or point you have in mind on your application, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that exact spot is guaranteed to be approved. The park will review your requested location as part of the permit process.

We know this might sound complicated, but essentially the important thing to know is that you can’t just choose any pretty viewpoint you find online and put it on your application. Your ceremony needs to take place within an area where the park allows Special Use Permits, and the specific location you request needs to be approved.

Your options will also depend on things like your group size, the area you’re interested in, and the time of year. If you’re not sure which side of the park is right for you, check out our guide to Paradise vs. Sunrise to get a feel for the differences between the two areas.

And if you still don’t know where you want to get married, no worries. Choosing a location is one of the first things we help our couples figure out.

2. Complete the Special Use Permit application

Once you’ve chosen your ceremony location, you’ll complete the National Park Service’s Special Use Permit application. On the application you’ll include information about your ceremony, location, group size, and requested timeframe.

A question we get a lot is who is issued the permit and it’s always issued to you as the couple, not to your photographer, planner, or officiant. We’re more than happy to guid you through the paperwork, but you’ll be the ones to apply and your names will be on any permits issued.

3. Pay the application fee

Before submitting your application to the park, you’ll need to pay a $25 application fee. 

This fee is non-refundable and is paid through Pay.gov. Once payment has been submitted, you’ll receive a Pay.gov Tracking ID, which you’ll need to save in order to complete step 4 (submitting your application). 

4. Email your application to the park

Once you’ve completed the application and paid the fee, you’ll email your application and Pay.gov Tracking ID to: mora_special_use@nps.gov

And that’s it for the initial application!

From there, the park’s Special Use Permit Coordinator will review your request and work with you on the conditions of your permit.

If your application is approved, you’ll pay the $250 management fee (note, this fee is subject to change) before the permit can be finalized and issued.

When Should You Apply for a Mt. Rainier Wedding Permit?

The National Park Service currently accepts wedding applications up to one year before your requested ceremony date, but no later than 72 hours before your ceremony date. Applications are reviewed in the order they’re received.

We recommend getting started as soon as you know your date and location rather than leaving it until the last minute. At a minimum, we recommend giving yourselves 3 months if possible as the application process can take time and it can help you avoid missing out on a permit for your preferred location.

One other thing to keep in mind is that you may not have complete flexibility over your ceremony time or date. The park manages when wedding permits can be issued, and those availability windows can change from year to year. Your requested timeframe is part of the permit application, but the final permitted time is determined by the park.

That’s another reason we recommend starting the process early. The more time you give yourself, the more flexibility you’ll have if the park’s available dates or timeframes don’t line up perfectly with your original plan.

What if Your Mt Rainier Wedding Permit Isn’t Approved?

Permit issues or denials aren’t something we see very often, especially when couples apply with enough time and choose a location that fits within the park’s guidelines. But it is possible that the park may not be able to approve your requested location or timeframe.

One reason could simply be that permits have already been allocated for that location or date. The park also changes its permit availability and rules from year to year, so a location or timeframe that was available previously may not be available when you apply.

Another possibility is that the location you requested isn’t specific enough. Some areas of the park allow you to request a ceremony location along a trail or within a larger permitted area, but the park still needs to know where you actually plan to hold your ceremony. They may follow up with you for more information or ask you to choose a different spot.

The good news is that you usually have options. There are multiple permitted locations throughout the park, so you may be able to adjust your ceremony location or choose a different timeframe. And if the experience you want doesn’t work within the park’s current permit restrictions, you can always hold your ceremony outside the park and then head into Mount Rainier National Park for your portraits and adventure afterward.

This is another reason having someone who knows the area can be helpful. We can help you understand your options and find a backup plan that still feels like the day you dreamed of having.

Does Your Wedding Permit Cover Photography?

This is another question we get a lot, and the short answer is yes!

If you’re having your wedding ceremony inside Mount Rainier National Park, your Special Use Permit covers the ceremony along with associated photography and videography within the permitted timeframe and general area. The current guidelines allow a three-hour timeframe, which includes travel to and from your location, your ceremony, and photography and videography in the same general area.

If you’re already legally married and are only visiting the park for Mount Rainier wedding photos, you don’t need a permit. The Special Use Permit is specifically for wedding ceremonies taking place within the park.

Who is Included in Your Guest Count? 

Before you fall completely in love with a ceremony location, you’ll need to know your exact guest count as that number determines which ceremony sites are available.

One of the questions we get asked the most is, “Who should we include in our guest count?” When filling out your application, the park wants to know your total participant count. This includes:

• You and your partner
• Guests
• Officiant
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Witnesses
• Any other participants or vendors

Many Wilderness areas and trails have a 12-person total limit for weddings, though there are a few locations that allow groups of up to 24 people.

So if you have 10 guests, your photographer, and your officiant, you’re already at 14 people. That can completely change which locations are available to you.

This is why we recommend thinking about your guest list and ceremony location together rather than making those decisions separately. 

And if what you’re envisioning doesn’t quite fit within the park’s rules, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on the experience you want. We can help you find a ceremony location outside the park that works for your plans, then take you into Mount Rainier National Park afterward to explore, hike, and adventure around the incredible landscapes together.

What Are the Rules for Weddings at Mount Rainier?

As cool as it would be to rent out the entire mountain for your day, that’s not really how Mt Rainier wedding permits work. 

Mount Rainier is still a national park, and your ceremony needs to happen in a way that protects the landscape and allows other visitors to enjoy the park, too. This means there are a few rules you need to follow even if you obtain a special use permit. 

• Ceremony areas can’t be closed off to the public.
• You can’t reserve parking spaces.
• Ceremonies and photography need to stay on durable surfaces such as trails, rock, snow, or pavement rather than fragile vegetation.
• Tables, chairs, food, and reception setups aren’t permitted unless specifically approved.
• Decorations, arches, amplified music, generators, and similar equipment aren’t permitted in Wilderness, on trails, or at roadside locations.
• Rice, confetti, and similar materials aren’t allowed.
• Any equipment you want to bring needs to be requested and approved.

It might sound like a lot of rules, but we actually love that the park takes protecting this place seriously. It’s what allows you to get married in such a beautiful location and for all the people who come after you to enjoy this landscape, too.

And one other important thing we always like to share: there is a chance a ranger may stop by your ceremony. They don’t attend every wedding, but we’ve had rangers show up around the time of permitted ceremonies to check that couples have the proper permit and that everything is happening as planned. It’s not something you should expect at every elopement, but it can happen, so we always like to share that with couples so they are prepared

What If You Don’t Know Your Ceremony Location Yet?

If you don’t know yet where you want to get married in Mount Rainier National Park, that’s ok. You can (and should) wait to submit your permit application until you’ve figured out what kind of experience you want.

There are a lot of incredible places to elope around Mount Rainier, and the right location depends on things like your hiking ability, guest count, season, scenery, accessibility, and what you want your wedding day to feel like.

That’s why we help our couples narrow down their options before they ever submit their permit application. When you work with us, you’ll have access to our Mt. Rainier location guide, and we’ll talk through what you’re looking for so we can find a spot that fits your vision for the day.

Once you’ve chosen your spot, we can then help you make sure your permit application, guest count, timeline, and overall plans all line up with what the park allows.

Ready to Start Planning?

The good news about Mt Rainier wedding permits is that the application itself isn’t terribly complicated. Once you know where you want to get married and how many people will be there, you can get the process started.

The most important things to remember are that you will need a Special Use Permit for any wedding ceremony inside Mount Rainier National Park, and you’ll want to apply as soon as you’ve decided on your location and guest count.

And if you have questions about the permit, your location, or what you need to include on the application, talk to your photographer. If they photograph elopements at Mt. Rainier regularly, they should be able to help you navigate the logistics and point you in the right direction (and yes, that’s definitely something we’re happy to help with!).

If you’re still in the early stage of planning your Mt Rainier wedding, check out our Complete Guide to Planning a Mt. Rainier Elopement. It walks you through everything from choosing the right season and area of the park to building your timeline and figuring out all the other logistics that go into an incredible Mt. Rainier adventure.