Pacific Coast Wedding Inspo is Here and it’s Giving Effortless

Adventure Elopements, Oregon elopements

January 16, 2024

During their Pacific Coast Wedding, a couple walks a long the edge of a coastal cliff. The weather is moody and the ocean waves swirl beneath the basalt cliffs

Morgan and Quinn reached out to us just a few months before their Pacific Coast wedding. They had their hearts set on a Cannon Beach ceremony and wanted to explore some of the other trails nearby. They wanted Oregon elopement photographers that could help them plan and document their Pacific Coast wedding and keep things effortless.

They both wanted to focus their day on being present with each other, spending time with their sweet family, while also carving out moments for themselves to explore alone.

On our first call, we zeroed in on how they wanted to feel through each part of their Pacific Coast wedding, how they wanted to remember each element, and their biggest intentions.

While they wanted to let go of any of the traditional elements of a wedding, they still wanted their day to feel special and incorporate a few details to make their day feel special.

during their Pacific Coast Wedding, a couple in their wedding attire sits on a coastal cliff. They gaze out at the jagged cliffs and ocean below them.

during their Pacific Coast wedding, a couple walks towards Haystack rock in their wedding attire.

a couple in their wedding attire stands on a grassy cliff pointing out into the distance. They embrace as the groom points out into the distance.

a large landscape shot of a couple in their wedding attire walking along a trail that is carved into a green cliff. The camera is far away, making the couple appear tiny as they explore during their Pacific Coast Wedding.

A romantic bouquet of roses and eucalyptus lay delicately on a rocky seaside cliff. The bride has laid them down as she explores during her Pacific Coast Wedding. The wine colored, silk ribbon billows in the wind.

A shot to show off the landscape this couple chose to explore during their coastal elopement. They stand on the edge of a sea cliff with choppy ocean waves beneath them. They embrace in their wedding attire.

Planning for Bad Weather during a Pacific Coast Wedding

As their day approached, some gnarly weather began to move. We shoot in the rain allllll the time and hopped on a few calls with M+Q to create backup plans to help them craft their day around the storms that were beginning to develop.

While we shoot rain or shine and encourage embracing the elements, having a bad weather backup plan is always a good idea when you’re planning an Oregon Coast Elopement.

The pivot for their day was an easy one and we ended up being able to completely avoid the rain.

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Planning their Pacific Coast Wedding

The planning process with these two cuties was so relaxed. During our initial call we helped them get a super clear vision of their day and that always makes the rest of the process a breeze.

Our planning process is built to prioritize intentionality by using thought-out questionnaires and multiple planning conversations to get a really good pulse on the vision our couples have for their Pacific Coast wedding. It’s important for us to fully understand every couples needs, concerns, and to help them think of all the tiny details that can get lost in the process.

This entire process helps us help couples curate days that are totally unique to them, and also result in some pretty amazing friendships. The story of your day and the beautiful images that you’ll look back on start on your first call with us.

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a couple in their wedding attire kiss in front of the iconic haystack rock on cannon, beach. The fog rolls in and creates a moody vibe for their Pacific Coast wedding.

Vendors for their Pacific Coast Wedding

While M+Q wanted to keep their Pacific Coast Wedding super laid back, they knew they wanted to hire a few local vendors to add an extra element to their day.

Morgan wanted to bring in a local hair and makeup artist to help her get ready for their sunrise ceremony. The Union Knot is local to Cannon Beach and a fave vendor of ours and met Morgan before dawn to help her get ready for their sunrise ceremony.

We got to work with another of our fave local vendors, Oregon Coast Wedding Flowers as she provided some gorgeous and super romantic florals for their day.

M+Q also booked out some rooms at the Hallmark Resort and Spa. This was the perfect space for the to get ready with their crew and have views of the iconic Haystack rock on Cannon Beach.

framed by green grass, a couple in wedding attire explore the ocean cliffside during their Pacific Coast wedding.

Let’s talk about your day!

A bride gazes out at a large haystack rock on an empty beach as she gets ready for her Pacific Coast wedding.

Pacific Coast Wedding Permits

Depending where you’re tying the knot on the Pacific Coast, and the details of your celebration, you may need to get a special use permit for your ceremony. For the Oregon Coast, this is only required if your group is 50+ or you plan to use any “structures”. Read more about special use permits here.

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Their Pacific Coast Wedding

After getting ready, M+Q shared a private forst look on Cannon Beach. It was a moody morning and the tiniest sliver of fog rolled onto the beach.

Those chose to have their immediate family present as they exchanged vows and promised the rest of their lives to each other. Sam served as their officiant, and we all cried together as they read the most heartfelt vows to each other.

When their ceremony ended, we hopped over to a coastal trail to allow M+Q some time to soak it all in together.

Under the haze of another overcast day out on the coast, they watched the waves until it was time to meet their crew for a bonfire reception.