The Perfect Coastal Elopement Does Exist | Peep the Blueprint 

Andrew and Sadie reached out to us the winter before their coastal elopement. They had their hearts set on Cannon Beach and had chatted with other photographers, but were excited to chat with a duo that was local to the area and had a ton of insight to share. 

They met while living in the PDX area and had a special connection to Cannon Beach. One summer, in the shadow of Haystack Rock, they made their relationship official and started building a life together. 

They wanted their wedding day to feel laid back, care-free, and intentional. It was important to them to say their vows in the sand with their closest friends and fam surrounding them and for them to all experience the beauty of where their story began as a community. 

As Andrew and Sadie shared their story and their vision with us, we felt like we all became instant friends. So many aspects of their relationship, values they had for their day, and their vision had us seriously stoked to celebrate with them. 

Part of the reason these initial calls with couples are so important is because they help us to know if we’re the right fit, have the expertise to support you, and give us all a necessary vibe check. The vibes here were A+++. 

Our goal with every couple during this initial call is to make sure that by the time our convo is over they have:

1. A clear vision
2. Their biggest questions answered 
3. Know what their next steps in the planning process are. 

Planning their Coastal Elopement

The planning process with these two cuties was so fun and chill. Every call felt like chatting with buds and we all felt so excited about each element of their day. 

Our planning process is pretty dialed in and we use thought-out questionnaires and conversations to get a really good pulse on the vision our couples have for their day, their needs, their concerns, and to help them think of all the tiny details that can get lost in the process. 

Combining this with planning calls is intentional and gives us a chance to get to know you two even better and build a relationship with ya!

Choosing the perfect day for their coastal elopement

Andrew + Sadie wanted a summer day for their coastal elopement. They set their date for mid August, wanting to give themselves the best chance possible for good weather. 

Summer weddings are great for predictable weather, lower tides, and warmer temps, but in certain areas of the coast can come with some challenges you’ll want to prepare for. 

Avoiding crowds during your coastal elopement

Let’s start with the biggest challenge for coastal elopements, crowds. The coast is a V popular (for good reason) tourist destination in the summer months. 

Chatting with Sadie and Andrew, we made some plans and incorporated some tips to deal with the inevitable crowds we would need to navigate around:

Planning for bad weather for a coastal elopement

Sadie and Andrew were drawn to an August coastal elopement, and truthfully, if you’re wanting more predictable, sunny weather on the coast, there is no better time to plan for. 

There are of course occasional storms, but during the summer, they rarely last very long and are more akin to light showers. You may experience some ambient, moody fog in the early mornings, but typically the sky, and shores are pretty clear. 

Summer is the perfect time for a coastal elopement if you’re considering a location that really shines during low tide. In general, the tides are lower in the summer months and can make locations more accessible.

Choosing the right location for their coastal elopement

After checking in with Andrew and Sadie about the priorities for their day:

1. Epic views
2. Accessibility for their guests
3. As much privacy as possible during peak season

We quickly came to the conclusion that, while we wanted to make sure Cannon Beach was part of their day, they weren’t having their ceremony there. 

While Cannon is beautiful and totally iconic, the crowds on that particular stretch of beach make it difficult to feel like you have any privacy at all.

They decided to spend their morning together exploring a few different coastal spots. Sadie and Andrew wanted a variety of views, cliffside hangs, rainforest vibes, and rocky beaches. We’re happy to say that their locations checked every box! 

They caught sunrise after hiking to a coastal overlook. We met in the teeny-tiny parking lot and started hiking with them and their videographers, our fave team Alesia Films. 

On our way through a slightly overgrown trail, we watched the moon dip behind the rolling coastal mountains, and caught a glimpse of a few elk heading through the meadows. 

We took them to one of our fave spots that even in their time as locals, they hadn’t had the chance to explore. It felt so special that they were starting their wedding day so intentionally and exploring a new place together. 

Cannon Beach Party Rentals created a morning pic-nic basket for them to take with them, and they spotted birds and snuggled up as they sipped on their coffee above the ocean. 

Andrew surprised Sadie with additions that he secretly made to their adventure book and read them to her as they snuggled up with their pup, only a few miles south from where their relationship began. 

Exploring multiple coastal elopement locations

As sunrise slipped into golden-hour, we popped about 3 minutes north to one of our fave beaches to watch surfers catch the morning waves.

Walking through the rainforest, we listened to the sound of the rushing creek that ran in-line with the steady trail, and stopped to admire the massive old growth trees. 

We built Andrew and Sadie’s timeline with the intention of striking a balance between:

1. Celebrating with guests
2. Creating moments for them to be alone with each other. 

We also wanted to make sure that we were building in enough time so that each element of their day felt super chill and they had an opportunity to soak in each moment as it happened.

Perks of a timeline for your coastal elopement

Having an intentional timeline is 10000% the move if you’re wanting a day that feels chill and purposeful. We build timelines for all of our couples and take into consideration all of the logistics that often get left out.

Timeline logistics we consider for a Coastal Elopement

1. Crowds: We chatted about this before, but it bears repeating, planning ahead for there to be a lot of folks out and about will help alleviate so much stress. Worst case scenario is the beaches are crowded and your timeline already accounts for that. Best case scenario, there aren’t crowds and you have more time to vibe.
2. Light: We always take lighting into consideration when we build your timeline to make sure your photos look amazing. Not every location pops off at sunrise, and sunset could be better enjoyed from certain locations. We factor all of this in and can walk you through it!  
3. Tides: This aspect of a timeline gets forgotten about often, but honestly it can really throw off your whole day in certain locations. Many beaches have rocky features that you can only experience during low tide, and some locations may even become unsafe as the tide starts to roll in. To check tides for your cannon beach wedding location, go here.

Crafting a Personalized Ceremony for their Coastal Elopement

Sadie and Andrews’ ceremony was honestly so dreamy. They exchanged vows on a beautiful patch of beach with their 20 guests and some scattered onlookers. 

They had a close friend of theirs become ordained to officiate their ceremony. In our opinion, this is 100% the way to go if you’re having guests witness your ceremony. 
You can have a family member or friend become ordained online here. It’s free, it’s fast, and it’s super easy. This is a great option for couples that want to have someone that really knows them and their story leading them through a ceremony.

For their ceremony, Sadie and Andrew opted for an aisle first look. Andrew and their guests, set up for the ceremony on the beach, and we timed Sadie’s arrival so that she could hang back without worrying about being seen before the ceremony. Sadie’s dad walked her down the aisle, and their ceremony began.

Ceremony Details

For their ceremony, Sadie and Andrew opted for an aisle first look. Andrew and their guests, set up for the ceremony on the beach, and we timed Sadie’s arrival so that she could hang back without worrying about being seen before the ceremony. Sadie’s dad walked her down the aisle, and their ceremony began. 

Their officiant (and close friend) addressed their guests, and offered up a reading to set the tone. After, she stepped aside and Andrew and Sadie exchanged their own personal vows written on their vow books from Way Out West Leather.

Their personal vows had us all laughing and tearing up. They ended their ceremony with traditional I do’s, exchanging rings, and then shared their first kiss. 

To end the ceremony, they popped champagne and hugged their loved ones as we all gathered on the shoreline to watch a whale splashing in the distance. What a friggin dream, right?!?!

 Adventures after their Coastal Elopement

After some quick photos with the fam jam, their guests headed off to meet them for the next portion of their day (more on that later). We wanted Sadie and Andrew to be able to have a moment to take it all in, so with our cameras down and hearts full, we had them take a few minutes completely to themselves before having some golden-hour fun. 
We were able to explore and let these two show off their dynamic and really let loose after their ceremony. The light was INSANE and omg the Honey silk dress Sadie got from Grace Loves Lace was perfect for a coastal elopement.

Witnessing these two love on each other and be their goofy, authentic selves was such an honor.

 The Secret to beautiful photos

We have found that giving couples space to explore and be fully present in their day is what leads to the most incredible images.

The experience of our couples will always be our top priority, because what good are photos that aren’t tied to an amazing time?

If you want to craft a day full of intention and incredible experiences, check out our guide to planning your Oregon Coast Elopement

Our philosophy has always been that beautiful photos are a product of a damn good time.

Ready to craft an incredible, and unique coastal elopement?

Tips for getting the best shots during your coastal elopement

Hiring a team you vibe with for your coastal elopement: This is probs the most crucial tip! A strong connection with your team is sooo important for beautiful photos.

Here’s what you want to have before your big day:

1. A really good pulse on their posing style and philosophy.
2. A relationship with them, so it doesn’t feel like hanging out with strangers.
3. To feel like you can be your honest selves around them.

If you have guests joining you for your coastal elopement, then you’ll absolutely want to make sure that you are prepping them. Making sure your guests know what to expect will prevent you from having to answer 5000 questions on your wedding day.

Tips for prepping  your guests for your coastal elopement 

Tell them what to wear for your coastal elopement: Give them a heads up about footwear and layering for cooler temps. If bad weather or rain is a possibility (it always is), tell them to pack accordingly. You don’t want your guests exposed to the elements. If you have a certain dress code you’re aiming for, like neutrals or earth tones, give them plenty of notice. 

Tell them where to go during your coastal elopement: send out an email with your locations, so they know where they need to be and how to get there. We prep this for our couples and include coordinates, tips, and a breakdown of the facilities that will be available. 

Tell them when to be there for your coastal elopement: This is where the timeline shines once again! Folks need to know when they need to be where, so share your timeline with them so no one is asking you what they’re supposed to do next.

Having guests join you during your coastal elopement definitely adds to the the planning logistics you need to consider. But, we offer up resources to make communicating all the necessary info a breeze!

For more info about having guests at your coastal elopement, check out this blog we wrote about an elopement vs. wedding. For more coastal elopement planning tips, check out our Oregon Coast Elopement Guide.

A Beach bonfire wedding reception after their coastal elopement

After exploring during sunset, we headed up to Cannon to meet their guests for an insanely awesome beach bonfire wedding reception with their fam jam and friends. Our faves, Cannon Beach Party Rentals set up a cozy bonfire with chairs, pizza, and small decorations to make their bonfire unique.

As they met their crew for their celebration, everyone gathered around the bonfire for pizza and hangs. We were even able to capture a few shooting stars as the sun dipped behind the iconic haystack rock.

Final Tips for Planning a Coastal Elopement

Ok, we know we’ve given you a ton of info here, but there a few more things we want to make sure you plan for!

Permit for a coastal elopement  

If you have 50+ folks joining you for your ceremony (this includes vendors), you’ll need to make sure you obtain the necessary permits.

You can read more about getting a permit for your Cannon Beach Wedding here. 

Hire bomb af vendors for your coastal elopement

Hire vendors that you love an d trust to help you create a day that is beautiful, unique, and a damn good time. 

“If you’re searching for wedding/elopement photographers, look no further! We couldn’t be happier with the service they provided and the high quality photos they took. Wedding photographers can be expensive, but Sam and Kyle’s prices were very reasonable. For all the planning and preparation they did, it was such a great deal. We feel as though we got more than what we paid for. You are not getting *just* AMAZING photographers; you are getting people who genuinely care about, and help orchestrate, your big day. They went above and beyond to help us plan every detail and address every concern. On the day of, they captured every moment in the most beautiful way. They made us feel so comfortable, which allowed us to act naturally, and it shows in our pictures. We could not be happier with how our wedding day went and how our pictures turned out. Sam and Kyle were hired to be our wedding photographers, they quickly became our wedding planners, and by the end of the process, we’re happy to call them friends. If you’re reading this, you can finally stop looking. You’re in great hands, and we couldn’t recommend them more!” – Andrew+Sadie

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