October Alpine Lake Sunrise Elopement with Dogs in North Idaho
- 6 days ago
- 7 min read
My last elopement of the year started with a 3am wake up call to drive up a mountain road in the dark, followed by arriving at an absolutely breathtaking alpine lake at sunrise with Jess and Zach 🌅
The fall colors at this location were absolutely unreal, and the mountaintops were covered with fog and mist as Jess and Zach had their first look and then a sunrise ceremony on the lakeshore.
They brought their fur babies along for the adventure, and they even got to “sign” their marriage license with paw prints! 🐾
Next up was some hiking amongst burgundy red leaves and the most insane colors and scenery. My couple came up to this location earlier in the year and scouted out some spots, and they picked the best spot for their private vows, overlooking unending forest that goes on for miles.
The day got even better when we drove back to their Airbnb and had a home cooked spaghetti dinner 🍝 and we kept singing SpongeBob songs together in the kitchen! With this October Alpine Lake Sunrise Elopement with Dogs in North Idaho, there was no better way to end my last elopement of 2025 🥹
Getting Ready at the Lake Trail
For this particular location, I like to have my couples meet me at a certain local gas station before heading out! This is a good spot to fuel up, use the bathroom, get some snacks, and I'll lead the way so my couples can follow me up the mountain road. Jess came all ready with her hair all ready to go (huge shoutout to her hairstylist for being up in the wee-hours of the morning to do a stunning updo)!
As we arrived at the parking lot to the lake, we were greeted by the most breathtaking yellow and orange landscape! The crisp fall mountain air was the only witness to our intimate group, and the guys headed to the shore of the alpine lake while the girls stayed back to help Jess get into her absolutely stunning gown.
They hung the dress from the trunk of their vehicle which was perfect for that dress hanging photo that I love to get! The classy look with floral details looked amazing on Jess (also the veil she chose?! I'm still not over it), and Zach rocked a classic black look with a bowtie. We were then ready to head to the shore for a first look!
First Look + Sunrise Ceremony at a North Idaho Alpine Lake
We found a perfect spot right on the shore to the lake for their serene first look followed by a sunrise ceremony (shoutout to the officiant for also following us up into the mountains before sunrise)! The group size was 7 people including the bride and groom, along with 5 doggos, which is such a perfect elopement group size!
Since Idaho doesn't require witnesses to sign the marriage license, Jess and Zach had their dogs sign their personal copy of the license! I've always wanted to photograph dogs getting to do that and it was so great and unique, and a perfect way to include your fur children in a meaningful way!
How to Have Your Dog "Sign" your Marriage License in Idaho:
Don't do this on the official document that you send in! If you plan to have your dogs "sign" the marriage license for your elopement, let your officiant know. I'd also recommend going to an Idaho courthouse at least two months early if you're local to fill out and apply for a marriage license, and when you get your personal (decorative) copy in the mail (about 3-5 weeks later depending on the county), then you can have your fur baby sign it for you to have as a keepsake. Or if you are able to get the decorative copy when you apply when you come into town, then you can do it that way too!
Get an ink sheet like this one so you don't get ink on your dog's foot. These make it super easy to get the print of the paw on the paperwork without the mess.
Idaho doesn't require witnesses, so that's why dogs "signing" the license is a fun option! Idaho is also a very easy state to get married in, there's no waiting period, so the day you get the license you can get married. But definitely come into town a few days early to get that taken care of so there's less stress.
Private Vows at a Scenic Mountain Overlook
Jess and Zach live over in Montana, so they came to Idaho back in August to scout out some potential spots for photos on this hike. They found this scenic mountain overlook, and knew it was going to be the perfect place to say their private vows to each other. I mean, just look at those views! You can see mountains for miles, and the rocks act as the perfect "stage" to stand on as you say your promises to each other.
Mountaintop Bridals with Floral Embellished Cathedral Veil
We of course then just had to take bridal photos here with Jess and Zach! Jess had her jaw-dropping veil, so we were gonna put it to use! The wind caught it and made it look like an effortless dream, but when the wind wasn't doing it's thing, Zach volunteered to be the wind and threw the veil and quick dropped onto the ground to hide himself 😂
Jess also wanted some photos of them under the veil, and these are the set of photos that I have on my website homepage (I'm sure you can see why, these are some of my absolute favorites). If you're a bride wondering if you should have a long veil, just PLEASE do it!! It'll be so worth it I promise!
Mountain Road Forest Bridals
On our way back down the mountain, we pulled over to take some photos on a really pretty section of the road! I had Jess and Zach frolic on the forest service road, and we even saw some company on the way down too! 🦌
Pumpkin Ice Cream + "Champagne Pop" at Lake Pend Oreille Cottage Airbnb
On our way back to the Airbnb in Sagle Idaho (which has so many incredible lakeside rentals available by the way), we stopped in downtown Sandpoint and got some pumpkin ice cream at Panhandle Cone and Coffee. (it's never too cold for some ice cream if you ask me). The were featuring the perfect fall flavor so that became the go-to order for us! 🍂🍨
We then drove to this lakeside cottage Airbnb which had a really pretty dock that went out over the water, and we took some fun photos here. I always bring sparkling water in a nice glass bottle so it looks like you're popping champagne, but it's just water so it doesn't harm the environment. So Jess and Zach popped some "champagne" before heading inside for a little outfit change!
Outfit Change with Mini Cheesecake + Homemade Spaghetti Dinner
In the planning stages, Jess asked me if she could have a second dress, and I said HECK YES. She found an adorable fringed dress and Zach put on a cowboy hat to add a bit of a Western touch. They shared a mini cheesecake together out on the back deck overlooking Lake Pend Oreille.
Then Jess and Zach treated everyone to a homemade spaghetti dinner with moose meatballs! It was so fantastic, and during the cooking process, we kept quoting SpongeBob together and it was so fantastic (I believe the Best Day Ever song made an appearance here, which I think it very suiting).
Fall Mountain Elopement Inspiration
Mountain Elopement Wedding Vendors
If you're having a mountain elopement, be sure to check out these vendors! They are absolutely incredible and do such amazing work.
Photography (hey that's me)! @karlielarsonphotography
Hair: @thewildhare.mt
Officiant: @flythecoopelope
Dress: @believebride
Local North Idaho Elopement Photographer
Hey there, it's Karlie! Your Idaho elopement photographer helping you create a memorable and meaningful wedding experience in the outdoors and across Idaho! I help couples that come from all over the country to elope in Idaho, even if they've never been here before, so don't worry, I have all the needed resources to help you plan the elopement of your dreams in the mountains.
Jess and Zach's Review from Working Together for Their Fall Mountain Adventure:
"I cannot begin to say enough wonderful things about Karlie and her photography. I saw her photos on Instagram and instantly fell in love. Karlie took the time to really get to know us as a couple and gave ideas to make our day so unique and special. We would have been completely lost without her.
She helped us pick our location, gave us ideas for photos, and had a wonderful elopement guide. She puts so much time and energy into the clients that she works with to make their day incredibly special and perfect. She was up for anything! She made us feel so comfortable and like we have known each other forever. Zach and I are not good with knowing what to do when getting photos taken but she was able to give us direction and pose us in a way that felt natural.
We received our sneak peeks from Karlie a few days after our elopement and OH MY GOODNESS they are AMAZING. These photos brought me to tears. She did such an incredible job not only capturing us but also the beauty that was all around us. She is so talented. I loved every single photo she sent us. I could not have asked for a better experience or photographer."
Fall Mountain Elopement Packages
Listed below is what comes with my Fall Mountain Elopement Packages!
↠ Booking Gift
↠ 72 Hour Turn-Around Time for 30+ Sneak Peek Images
↠ Day of Elopement Gift
↠ Beautifully Edited Final Images
↠ Access to High Quality Print Products
↠ Free Video Consultation
↠ Timeline Creation
↠ Leave No Trace Guide
↠ Idaho Location Guide
↠ 90+ Page Elopement Planning Guide
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↠ Travel & Accommodations are Covered for Photographer
Learn even more about my pricing and packages for Idaho here.
More North Idaho Elopement Inspiration
How to Elope in Idaho Free Resource:
More North Idaho Fall Mountain Elopements:
Fall in North Idaho is such a magical time to elope, especially in the mountains! If you're feeling inspired by this October Alpine Lake Sunrise Elopement with Dogs in North Idaho, feel free to reach out and I'd love to chat with you to help you create a magical fall day in the mountains too!
Contact me for your Idaho Elopement here!🌲
