Golden Light, Secret Trails, and Fairytale Dreams

When McKenzie and Eric invited us out to their family property for their Eatonville engagement photos, I had no idea I was about to step straight into the pages of my favorite fantasy novels. I’m talking full-on C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien vibes. It’s hard to accurately describe this session without sounding like I’m making it all up. But the golden hour lighting, moss-covered trees, secret trails, and even a hidden swimming hole made us feel like we’d stepped into Rivendell itself.

As wedding photographers and videographers who live for documenting real, beautiful love stories, Jake and I are constantly chasing those moments that feel both natural and epic at the same time. McKenzie and Eric’s Eatonville Engagement session? It was a dream come true. And honestly, their Eatonville engagement session has set the bar pretty high… I can only imagine how stunning their wedding will be on this incredible property.

If you’re dreaming of your own sentimental engagement session or wondering if a backyard wedding can really be magazine-worthy, McKenzie and Eric’s story is living proof that the answer is a big, sparkling YES.

Eatonville Engagement + Hidden Gem = Magic

Now, you would think after photographing so many incredible weddings and engagements around the Pacific Northwest, I would have a pretty solid handle on the hidden gems tucked away out here. However, Washington is packed full of so many incredible places that it’s never really surprising when clients have spots they love and I’m unaware of. McKenzie and Eric’s family property for example took me completely by surprise, even though they’d shown me photos from other sessions they’d done with her family out there. 

We drove down a side road that felt like it might be a dead-end at any second, winding around a gravel drive that twisted its way up a hillside. And at the top? The most breathtaking view of Mount Rainier, clear enough to see every snow-dusted ridge. I literally gasped when we pulled up.

This spot isn’t just gorgeous, it’s sentimental. Their family has poured love and time into this land, carving out beautiful trails through the trees, and creating secret spaces that feel untouched by time. It’s the kind of place you can tell holds a thousand memories already and now, it’s going to be the backdrop for their new memories too, starting with their wedding this summer. 

(And yes, if you’re wondering you absolutely can create a backyard wedding that feels luxurious, meaningful, and drop-dead gorgeous. This property proves it. Your sentimental spots top fancy venues every time.)

Fairytale Trails and Secret Swimming Holes

After some photos around the main property featuring McKenzie and Eric giggling, twirling, and soaking in all that golden hour goodness, we headed to what I thought would be the “main” attraction: the trail system their family has built.

Oh, friends. Nothing prepared me for this trail… The moss-covered trees. The ferns curling in the undergrowth. The golden light beaming in at just the right angle through the forest canopy. It was like every magical forest I imagined as a kid, right there in real life. It felt like Mr. Tumnus might just wander around the corner at any moment.

McKenzie and Eric strolled through it like they were straight out of a storybook. These two are so natural, so full of joy. They were playful and sweet, completely themselves. It’s those unscripted moments that make engagement sessions sing.

Just when I thought it couldn’t possibly get any better… McKenzie had planned to finish out their Eatonville engagement in her favorite secret spot, a swimming hole she grew up visiting. Naturally, we followed and that’s when we stepped straight into Tolkien’s world.

This hidden swimming hole was tucked away along a river, where moss-covered stones and gnarled roots made little nooks to sit and snuggle. The water trickled by quietly, and the last rays of the sunset filtered through the trees, turning everything gold and green and just… magic.

Why Sentimental Locations Matter

One thing I absolutely love about sessions like McKenzie and Eric’s is how them the whole session felt. Their location wasn’t picked because it was trendy. It wasn’t picked because it was “Instagram famous.” It was picked because it means something.

When you choose a location that’s part of your story, it shows. The way you light up. The way you relax into each other. The way the memories start building before you even realize it. It’s no longer just “taking pictures.” It’s telling your story. And honestly? That is where the magic happens. As documentary-style photographers and videographers, Jake and I thrive on these real, connected moments. We’re not about stiff poses and forced smiles. We’re about golden-hour twirls, whispered jokes, muddy boots from wandering a little too far down the trail, and genuine belly laughs. We’re about capturing you as you are, in places that feel like home.

McKenzie and Eric’s Eatonville engagement session was everything we love about what we do. Heartfelt, full of laughter, a little bit adventurous, and packed with personal touches that made it so much more than just a pretty shoot. Their wedding later this year is going to be nothing short of spectacular and you better believe we’re already crossing our fingers for another golden-hour glow at the top of that magical hill.

Planning your own engagement session? Whether you’re dreaming of Eatonville engagement photos, golden hour sessions, or something uniquely you, we’d love to help you tell your story.

Head to www.markiejonesweddings.com to learn more or find us over on Instagram at @markiejonesphotographyllc or Facebook at Markie Jones Photography LLC.

Let’s make a little magic you can call your own.