Epic All-Day Adventure Elopement on the Oregon Coast

This entire day (and I mean, ENTIRE day) with Morgan & Eddy on the Oregon Coast will forever live rent-free in my head. Choosing a selection of photos to showcase their day for this blog was nearly an impossible task. There were so many moments of just pure bliss and fun, and it was a day incredibly well-spent from beginning to end.

When M & E first reached out to me, they told me that they were open to anywhere that would give them magical forest vibes… but that they’d be open to other ideas too. They started with a broad idea of the Pacific Northwest or Northern California… and then eventually settled on Oregon. Even though we had narrowed it down a state, nailing down an actual area/town in Oregon was a challenge in itself… especially when there are literally THOUSANDS of options to choose from. It took a while to make a decision (understandably!), and I think they absolutely NAILED it. Cliffs, beach, forest, sand dunes… this day had it all.

PART 1

M & E truly let themselves DREAM when it came to planning/envisioning their day. When asked whether they envisioned a sunrise or sunset elopement, they said “both!”. And so both it was.

While the town was still asleep, I met up with Morgan, Eddy, and Morgan’s sister Megan at their airbnb where they were all getting ready. There’s something so special about waking up before the sun, excitement and anticipation building for the day ahead, and watching the skies slowly get light.

Oregon treated us with a classic moody morning that day. As thick fog hung low over the treetops, we made our way down a trail where M & E shared their first look (after arriving in separate vehicles) — scroll to see Eddy’s A+++ reaction at seeing his wife for the first time in her dress!

After their sweet first look, we made our way down to the cliffs where two bald eagles (!!) awaited us. We stood awestruck as the vistas opened up around us and M & E saw — for the first time — the dramatic cliffs dropping into the roaring ocean below. We had this whole place to ourselves. M & E shared private vows against the backdrop of these dramatic cliffs, as their dog and Megan watched from a distance. We explored the area together for sunrise portraits, then hiked back to our cars to meet their 4 other guests for the next part of their day — a small ceremony on the beach :’)

We hiked through a stunning forest and arrived on a beauuuutiful Oregon beach as the clouds parted slightly to give us the most magical light for their ceremony. We spent the rest of the morning visiting a waterfall at the other end of the beach, running freely on the shore, toes digging into the sand, so carefree and SO happy.

PART 2

After our little beach adventure in the morning, we parted ways for several hours to nap/grab lunch/rest. I met up with the crew at their cabin in the evening, where they were hanging out and relaxing. I used this time to photograph their elopement details, which included Morgan’s dress that held evidence of all the fun we had that morning. I LOVE a good ol’ dirt-stained dress — it’s such a strong and tangible reminder of the adventure you went on! As the dress hung on the mantle, Morgan said to me, “I don’t even know if I want to get it dry-cleaned anymore… all the memories!!” I knew exactly what she meant :’)

While the morning was adventure-filled, the evening was chill and relaxed. We hung out at their airbnb for a couple hours until it was time to cut the cake and head to the local winery to unwind. We sat around a fire exchanging stories, and as we neared sunset, we headed down to the beach for sunset portraits… which really mostly involved running around on the expansive beach, and witnessing these two having THE most fun. It was absolutely magical in every sense of the word.

From sunrise to sunset… or pre-sunrise to post-sunset, every minute of this day was incredible and fun-filled. Thank you M & E for having me on your day, for choosing a day such as this, and for being literally the best people to share this adventure with. What a way to get married, and to celebrate your new chapter together. :’)

Photographer: me!
HMUA: The Union Knot
Vow books & Florals: Etsy