Oregon Coast Elopement Photographer

Small weddings + Elopements + Adventure sessions on the Oregon Coast

Imagine Your Oregon Coast elopement, told the way it actually felt.

If you’re dreaming of a day spent barefoot on the sand, wrapped in salty air, saying your vows with the sound of crashing waves echoing around you, celebrating with a beach bonfire, an Oregon Coast elopement might be exactly what you’re looking for. The Oregon Coast is wild, moody, and endlessly beautiful, with dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, misty forests, and stretches of shoreline that feel completely untouched.

Whether you want a day full of adventure exploring sea caves and hiking along the cliffs at sunrise, or a slow morning tucked away in a cozy oceanfront cabin before sharing a private dinner by the fire, your Oregon Coast elopement can look however you want it to. There’s no right way to do it here. Just the two of you, the ocean, and a day that actually feels like yours.

Let's Elope

Hey There!

I’m Katie Dawn, your Oregon Coast elopement photographer

And I can’t wait to show you all my favorite places when you decide to elope on the Oregon coast. The Oregon coastline is so expansive and rugged, it’s one of my favorite places in the US, and such a dramatic landscape to elope. You can spend hours exploring the sea life in the tide pools, hiking up to vistas that overlook the beach, snuggling up by a beach bonfire, or eating fresh seafood caught at the docks. My first time ever visiting the Oregon coast absolutely took my breath away, and I want to be able to give all my couples that experience as well.

I’m local to Oregon and have been all up and down the coast, so if you’re looking for a cute beach cottage, an epic trail to hike, or some mossy cedars to say your vows under, I’ll know a spot!

Contact Me

I help plan elopements for couples who are chasing feeling over performance

I’m here for the couples who want wind in their hair, dirt on their hemlines, and photos that show you how it felt to elope with just the two of you in the wilderness.

I’m here for unconventional souls who want genuine, imperfect, and unforgettable memories.

I walk my couples through the planning process from start to finish to create a seamless elopement day. We’ll talk about the best, most secluded locations in Telluride to say your vows, the prettiest cabins to stay and get ready in, where you can eat and what activities you can do, and everything in between to make your say special and unique to you.

Let's plan

Step 1

We find your dream elopement location

This is the biggest part. I give all my couples a detailed location guide with photos and information to help you decide where you want to elope, whether it’s someplace close to town and easy to drive up to, or somewhere that’s more of a trek, we’ll find what fits you for your day. I specifically try to find my couples places that are not only stunning backdrops, but also somewhere they can be alone and truly feel like they’re someplace special that feels like their own for the day.

Step 2

We plan the Little details

After we’ve done the bulk of the work figuring out your backdrop, we can talk about the other parts that will make everything come together to make your day special. We’ll create a timeline that works with the best lighting for photos, I’ll recommend all my favorite vendors that will make your day feel like magic, and we’ll plan the activities you want to include that will really make the day feel like you. There’s tons to do on the Oregon coast, we’ll find something that will make your day uniquely yours.

Step 3

You live your elopement day

The hard part’s done, you get to just enjoy your day and bask in the nature of the Oregon coast with the love of your life, and I’ll be handling all the logistics. We’ll spend the day hiking, driving, adventuring however you feel, taking in the view, and taking things at a slow pace where you’ll actually remember your elopement day. I’ll be taking photos that already feel like memories, and you’ll leave with moments you can relive over and over again.

Let's get planning.

How to plan an elopement on the Oregon Coast

If you want a more in-depth guide to planning your Oregon Coast elopement, check out my guide here

Pick a location:

The thing about the Oregon coast is that it’s pretty remote. Most places you choose (with the exception of maybe Cannon beach in the summer) will probably be pretty quiet. All the towns up and down the coast are pretty small and quiet, and there’s no big travel hubs or cities, so the beaches can be all yours. There’s amazing rock formations, cliffs, and forests in every location, it’s just a matter of choosing where is your favorite.

Pick up your license&Hire an Officiant:

All of Oregon’s coastline is public space, and you can elope anywhere with 15 people or less. You will need to pick up your marriage license before the wedding, sort out an officiant, and make sure you have two witnesses- I can sign as a witness, and I’m ordained as an officiant, so I can sign for either one if needed. If you want to skip that part, though, you can always get married legally at the courthouse before your elopement day, and just have a symbolic vow reading for your actual elopement.

Do something fun:

You can just say your vows and then be done with the day, but its so much more fun and memorable to incorporate a fun local activity into your day. Telluride is known for its skiing, but there’s so much to do beyond that. You can traverse Jeeping trails to breathtaking views, soak in hot springs, hike some of the most beautiful mountains in the country, leaf peep in the fall, climb the via ferrata, and come home to sit by the fire. What activities will be options will depend highly on the time of year, so be sure whatever you want to do is actually available and open when you visit.

Best time of Year to elope on the Oregon Coast

Summer: Late June-August

Summer is one of the best times to elope on the Oregon coast. When the rest of the state is heating up, the temps on the coast are typically in the 70s most days, and the chance for rain is at its lowest, perfect weather for beach bonfires.

On the flip side, this is also when the coast is busiest. Popular beaches like Canon beach are going to be a zoo this time of year, but you can always walk down the beach a ways to find some solace- the beaches in Oregon are huge. Even though this is the driest time in Oregon, you should still prepare for rain just in case, you can never really predict the weather here!

Fall: September-early October

Fall is an absolutely lovely time in Oregon, the colors changing on the trees is a sight to behold. Fall is when the rain starts to pick back up, typically, but it’s less rainy this time of year than it is in the winter. Bring some umbrellas and prepare for the worst but hope for the best.

There’s significantly less people on the beaches this time of year, which makes for a nice, quiet place to say vows all to yourself along the stretch of ocean. Fall is an ideal time to miss all the summer crowds and have the beach all to yourself while still being able to luck out with the weather.

Winter: November-March

Winter is the rainiest season in Oregon, but if you don’t mind packing an umbrella and embracing the weather, that won’t be an issue. Moody, foggy coastal days are some of my favorite- think total Twilight vibes all the time.

The coast is significantly warmer this time of year compared to the cascade mountains where it’s snowing. If you want to avoid snow, it almost never hits the coast. There’s very few people around this time of year as well- hiking trails and beaches will be secluded and quiet, and accomodations will be cheaper as well.

Spring: April-early June

Spring is less rainy than winter, but if you’re eloping this time of year, still prepare for rain- it is the Pacific Northwest, after all. This time of year, bushes and trees begin to bloom, and waterfalls start flowing at their peak. The weather is a bit warmer and a mix of sunny and moody days.

Spring is still less crowded than summer, but crowds start showing up on the weekends later in the spring when temps start to heat up in Portland. If you want to avoid people while having less rain but still foggy, moody days, early spring is a great time of year to elope on the Oregon Coast.

Where to elope on the Oregon Coast

The Oregon coast is packed with hidden spots that feel like your own little corner of the world. From rugged cliffside overlooks and quiet beaches to coastal forests and windswept dunes, there are so many places to explore beyond the typical tourist stops. I put together a detailed location guide for all my couples with some of my favorite places along the coast, whether you’re wanting something dramatic and adventurous or slow and secluded. My full day elopement packages are built so you can experience more than just one spot. We can spend the day chasing fog through the cliffs, wandering empty beaches at sunset, and soaking in every part of what makes the Oregon Coast feel so wild and magical.

These are a few of my favorite places to bring my couples:

Samuel H Boardman State Park
Secret Beach
Hug Point
Ecola State Park
Devil’s Cauldron
Indian Beach
Cape Kiwanda
God’s Thumb
Cannon Beach

Venues on the Oregon Coast

If you have a group over 15, you’re verging into micro wedding territory now, and you’re going to have to rent a venue or VRBO of some kind to host your guests for your ceremony.

These are my personal favorite venues in the area:

Best accommodations On the Oregon coast for your elopement

Having a beautiful space to get ready for your elopement day and to retire to after a long day of running around the mountains adds a little cherry on top of an already lovely experience. There are really beautiful luxury accommodations and unique spaces all over Telluride, but these are my personal favorites:

Airbnbs

Oregon Coast Elopement Packages

All my packages are meant for a day full of adventures, so they start at 4 hours and range to multi-day experiences. All packages include planning and location assistance as well as a full gallery of images. My packages are all inclusive, no hidden fees or additional travel costs. Get in touch to get a full pricing guide and to set up a free consult to talk about your dream elopement.