There is something so incredibly special about the Oregon coast. The drama and moodiness, the trees, the color of the water, the smell. It’s my favorite coastline in the world, and it’s only a couple hours away from Portland. If you are wanting to elope to the coast, here is all of the info. you will need to put things together!

TIPS FOR ELOPING ON THE OREGON COAST:

1. Because beaches are public land, you are going to have to snag your spot ahead of time. I recommend sending a friend to hold down the location at least an hour before the ceremony. If you are bringing chairs, they can work as placeholders to signal to other visitors that you’re planning on using the area for a wedding. People are usually really kind/understanding about this, and will respect the fact that it’s a big day for your bride and groom.

2. Have an umbrella back-up plan. If it’s two week before your elopement, and it’s looking like rain, I highly recommend snagging some clear bubble umbrellas off of Amazon. When guests bring their own umbrellas, you never really know what you are going to get. Someone might show up with a bright pink umbrella. Black umbrellas are pretty, but it’s hard to photograph your guests faces throughout the day because they usually end up getting blocked. Clear umbrellas are super pretty, and they ensure that your photographer will be able to capture guests’ expressions.

3. You’re going to get dirty. I know your dress is gorgeous and was possibly expensive, but if you elope on the coast, plan on it getting covered in sand. My best advice is to just let go! These are your wedding photos, and you will cherish them forever. It’s super obvious when a bride is worried about moving around in her dress—you can usually see it in her face that she is worried, and I usually am not able to get as much of a variety because she doesn’t want to move much. Embrace the sand/water! Look up instructions for washing your wedding dress.. the sand/dirt will most likely come out anyway!

4. Shoot near sunset if possible. I typically like to shoot for 1.5-2 hours before sunset, and for a half hour after sunset. The light at the coast can be pretty bright during the summer, so a mid-day ceremony is not the best idea. The closer to sunset, the better!

5. Weekdays are best for eloping. Because beaches are public land, spots on the coast tend to get pretty busy on the weekends. If at all possible, I’d recommend eloping Monday through Thursday.

BEST OREGON COAST ELOPEMENT SPOTS

Cape Kiwanda

For those of you who know my work, you’ve probably seen quite a few shoots of mine at Cape Kiwanda. What I love about shooting there is that you can really get a big variety of backdrops. There is orange sandstone, caves, a haystack-like rock, and of course, the ocean.

Because there is a 1/4 mile walk on the beach to reach the orange sandstone, this location may not be ideal if you have elderly guests.

Haystack Rock / Cannon Beach

As seen in Goonies. This may be the most famous location on the Oregon Coast, and for a good reason. Haystack Rock is massive. At low tide, you can actually get pretty close to it. People often worry about the popularity of this location because they don’t want tourists in their photos, but because the rock is so big, there is always an area you can use that won’t have tourists, trust me.

This spot is pretty iconic, so it gets pretty popular, I definitely recommend eloping here on a weekday. There’s a little bit of a walk to get close to the rock (maybe 1/4 mile), so plan on guests having to walk a tiny bit.

Oceanside Beach

Caves. So many caves. This one is really special to me because I have a sweet spot for caves. Also, the rocks in the distance here are more jagged, creating a mediterranean feel. The rock surfaces are very useable for photos as well because they have such a unique color/texture. Just keep in mind that you’ll have to walk THROUGH a cave to get to the good stuff. I would bring some tennis shoes for the cave portion.

Hug Point

This spot is not far from Haystack Rock/Cannon Beach and is also very unique. There are some caves, a waterfall, and also some really dramatic trees. I love this location for switching things up and I typically like to shoot here first, then head to Cannon Beach after for engagement shoots. Because this spot is within 5 minutes of Cannon Beach, the two locations pair well together.

Ecola State Park

Just 7 minutes North of Canon Beach is Ecola State Park. You’ll drive through windy roads of forest on your way to the Western edge of the park, which features a large overlook with cliffs and picnic tables. You can head to the edge of the cliff (but not too close) for some dramatic views of Canon Beach from a distance. I would recommend pairing this spot with Canon Beach since they are only a few minutes apart. If you drive to the lower section of the park, you will have easy beach access and can shoot with the dark brown, moody cliffs from below.

About Me:

Hello, I’m Alix! I am a wedding and elopement photographer living in Portland, Oregon and servicing the PNW. I would describe my style as editorial meets adventure, meets documentary. I love a dramatic portrait just as much as I love an epic backdrop, and as much as I love real/authentic moments. I love to incorporate all of these vibes together, in order to create a full and dynamic story of your day.

Pricing:

2 Hour Package: $3,600

Other packages available.

Includes:

—Travel to the coast

—Access to my location and planning guides

—Help with planning.. I gotchu!

—A min. of 100 edited images per hour of shooting

—An online, downloadable gallery

—Full printing rights.. you can print through me, or anywhere you’d like!

—A 90 image sneak-peek gallery delivered within 3 days of elopement

—Full gallery delivered 2 weeks after elopement

*Request pricing for 3 or 4 hour elopements.

Reach Out:

I’d love to hear from you!

Map of Locations