How to plan an
oregon coast
elopement

updated February 20th, 2024

If you’re considering eloping on the Oregon Coast, you’ve come to the right place! The Oregon Coast is filled with beautiful landscapes ranging from breath-taking beaches, rugged cliffs, & beautiful greenery/forests. The Oregon Coast is a great elopement locations for couples who love the ocean, beaches, and epic coastal rocks.

I know planning an elopement can feel a bit overwhelming at first, there are so many questions like and it can be hard to know where to start- that’s why I created this guide. This Oregon Coast elopement guide breaks down the major steps in planning an elopement or adventurous wedding in Oregon (specifically on the coast).

Keep scrolling if you want to learn everything
you need to know on how to elope on the oregon coast!

Before I breakdown the steps to planning your elopement, let’s talk about the most common questions I get asked about eloping on the Oregon Coast:

“Where can you elope on the Oregon Coast?”

There are plenty of locations to choose for your Oregon Coast elopement, with the coast spanning 363 miles, that leaves a lot of options to choose from. Here are some of my favorite locations for Oregon Coast Elopements

best places to elope on the Oregon Coast:

• Samuel H. Boardman Scenic corridor

• Cape Kiwanada

• Cannon Beach

• Ecola State Park

• Hug Point

  Related: Check out this beautiful Oregon Coast Elopement in Samuel H. Boardman here!
  

“Can you get married on the Oregon Coast?”

You can get married on the Oregon Coast! To legally get married on the Oregon Coast you need to have a Oregon marriage license, two witnesses and an officiant. Depending on your guest count you may also need a wedding permit to get married in certain locations, but typically if your guest count is under 50, you do not need a permit to get married on Oregon’s beaches.

“How much does it cost to elope in Oregon?”

An elopement in Oregon can cost anywhere between $5,000-$20,000 depending on what you want to spend your money on. Here is a price breakdown of the different things you can spend your money on with elopements:

Vendors:
Florist: $200-$1500 (or you can go lower and get a store bought one, or make your own at a flower market/whole foods so $25-75 if you do that)
HMUA: $400-$1000 (or you can do your own hair and makeup to save money)
Photographer: $4k-10K
Cake: $50-$150
Officiant: $200-$900 (or I can sign as your officiant and have a family member run the ceremony)
Videographer: $2.5K-$7.5K

Adventure Wedding Things:

Lodging: $500-$1500K
Travel: $200-$1000
Wedding Attire: $300-$5000
Food/Caterer: $50-$500
Permits: $50-$300 
Adventurous Activities: $250-$2000

”What do you need to elope in Oregon?”

To elope in Oregon you need a marriage license, officiant, witnesses, proper permits (not every location/elopement needs permits- it varies). Other things couples typically have to elope in Oregon are:

• Wedding Attire

• Flowers

• Photographer

• Officiant

• Food/Catering

• Fun Activities

• A Celebration

the 7 steps to planning An Oregon Coast Elopement:

Step 1: Choose a Location & Pick a Date

Step 2: Find Your Ceremony Location and Apply for Permits

Step 3: Book Vendors & Find Lodging

Step 4. Plan your Elopement Activities

Step 5. Create a Timeline

Step 6: Have the best elopement day EVER.

how to find your oregon coast
Elopement Location:

When it comes to planning an elopement, the first step is to figure out your general location and pick a date! With traditional weddings, the first thing you decide on is your venue & date- since your location/nature is your ‘venue’ that’s the first thing you want to figure out! The Oregon Coast is 363 miles of different scenery & terrain, so you’ll still want to narrow it down from there, here are some questions to ask yourself when picking a location on the coast:

1. What type of scenery do you want to be surrounded by on your elopement day? (Ocean, Cliffs, Sandy Beach, Forest, Trees, Rocks, etc)

2. What type of activities do you want to do on your day?

3. Are you looking for an accessible or hard to get to ceremony location?

4. How far are you willing to drive to from your lodging to your ceremony location?

5. What’s most important to you on your elopement day?

The answers you come up with might give you a better idea of which area is the best place for you. Each location has its own unique features to it, some are easier to get to, while others are more ‘out there’ so it’s important to consider all these factors before picking your location.

how to Pick a date for an oregon coast elopement:

To choose a date for your Oregon elopement, consider the weather on the coast and the average temperature during each month and pick a time that’s best for you.

Summer:

The Oregon Coast is beautiful in the summer. With warm weather and minimal rain fall (compared to the other seasons)- the coast is beautiful this time of year. The only downfall is summer tends to be the most crowded season for the coast.
Fall: 

Fall has similar weather patterns to summer, and from mid September to October you can get a great balance of good weather & lesser crowds than the summer season. Towards the middle of October you start to get a bit more rain on the coast- so I’d lean towards mid Sept to mid October if you’re considering a fall Oregon Coast elopement.

Spring:

Spring is a great time to visit the coast to minimize crowds, and see the beauty of a chilly rainy coast. The spring does bring rain, but there are plenty of breaks in the clouds where the sun peaks in. If you’re interested in eloping in the spring, I’d lean towards the late springtime, May-June.

Winter:

Winter is chilly on the coast and has some of the highest rainfall. If you’re looking for a moody elopement and love cooler temperatures, winter could be the best time for you. 

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO ELOPE on the Oregon Coast?

The best time to elope on the Oregon Coast is June to Early October. This is when there is the least amount of rain and warmer temperatures. As mentioned above, leaning towards the ‘shoulder seasons’ which would be in between spring/summer (Late May/Early June) and summer/fall (Late September and Early October) will reduce the crowds, but have a little bit higher chance of rain.

Want to learn how to avoid crowds on your elopement day?
Read more about it on my blog post here!

Once you decide on your general location and date- the next part is figuring out where to have your ceremony! It’s essential to figure out permit requirements in the area you are looking to elope at. Every public land area has their own specific rules, so make sure to do your research! Land is owned by different groups on the Oregon Coast, so their rules/regulations may vary. It’s best to narrow down your location and then look into permits requirements for that local area!

If the thought of doing this all by yourself is overwhelming, I can help! As an elopement photographer who specializes in the PNW, I help all my couples with permits, locations, planning, and I design a customized elopement guide for their day. If you’re interested in hiring an elopement photographer who can help you with all of this, fill out my contact form below to get in touch!

The last step in planning an Oregon Coast elopement is creating a timeline! Elopement timelines depend on your activities, ceremony location, where you want to explore, and what you want to do for a celebration. Here is an example of a Southern Oregon Elopement Timeline:

Southern Oregon Elopement:

11:30am: Getting Ready 

1:00pm: Head to First Look Location

2:00pm: First Look in Redwoods

2:15pm: Exploring & Photos in Redwoods 

2:30pm: Ceremony & Vows

3:15pm: Head to Beach for picnic

4:00pm: Picnic at Beach & Read Letters from Family

5:00pm: Head to Adventure Location

5:15pm: Hike & Explore at Adventure Location

6:30pm: Leave for Sunset

6:45pm: Golden Hour Photos at Sunset Location

8:04pm: Sunset

8:15pm: Cake & First Dance Under Lights at Airbnb

YOU’VE MADE IT!! Once you’ve finished all these steps you are well on your way for an EPIC Oregon Coast elopement. If you you have any questions or are looking for an elopement photographer who can help guide you through the planning process get in touch with me below! I would love to be apart of your wedding day.

Oregon Elopement Packages:

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