Cannon Beach Elopement : Planning Your Oregon Coast Elopement

cannon beach elopement

Cannon Beach Elopement: A Guide To Planning Your Dream Elopement Day

cannon beach elopement hug point

Elopement Tips, Elopement Tricks, Elopement Locations

So you are looking to plan your Cannon Beach Elopement? Let me be the first to tell you how incredible this location is! The Pacific Northwest has many stunning coastal towns, with Cannon Beach being one of them. As an elopement photographer, I have documented elopements all over the United States and beyond, and documenting Cannon Beach Elopements has always been a personal favorite.

Having a Cannon Beach Elopement is absolutely perfect if you are wanting a dreamy beach wedding with the added beautiful moss-covered trees, mountains, nearby waterfalls, epic cliff overlooks, and perfect weather. A chance of rain can seem intimidating to some, and yes, Oregon weather is known for its frequent rainy days, but personally, I love the added sprinkles and moody weather in Oregon. It makes your photos that much more dramatic!

Cannon Beach is one of the more accessible locations to get to on the Oregon Coast as well, which is an extra added bonus if you are including family or friends who may not be into a big hike on the wedding day. This guide will cover some of our favorite places to hold your Cannon Beach Elopement, what to expect, some top-notch vendors local to the area, and nearby accommodations that you will love!

Scroll on to see our full Cannon Beach Elopement Guide!

Wedding Permits

When it comes to eloping at any state park, it is so important to do your research and make sure you are following the local guidelines. Unless you are planning on having a large wedding ceremony, you probably will not need a permit for your Cannon Beach Elopement; that being said, gatherings do not prohibit the public from also having access to the area, so this is where sunrise or sunset comes into play for a more intimate ceremony. As always, make sure to do your own research as guidelines can change, and you want to make sure you are covering all bases. You can find more permit information here!

cannon beach elopement ecola state park

Where To Hold Your Cannon Beach Elopement

Haystack Rock

Haystack Rock is definitely the most popular and well-known area to elope in Cannon Beach. The enormous rock formation can be seen as you look down the coast and is an incredible area to elope and get some jaw-dropping photos. It is a popular area, so keep that in mind when planning your cannon beach elopement and try to plan for a morning or early evening ceremony if possible!

Silver Point

At the southern end of Cannon Beach is Silver Point. A rocky stretch of beach with a smaller sea stack but still killer views. This part of the beach is not as popular and is not the easiest to access but could be a great option for an intimate elopement for a couple wanting to avoid crowds.

Ecola State Park

Ecola State Park is the whole package for a Cannon Beach Elopement. Ecola’s trails offer stunning cliffside views, lush green forests, secluded coves, and access down to the beach. This is a perfect location to have a mid-day ceremony, picnic, or hike through the forest before enjoying a sunset on the beach.

Hug Point

Hug Point is a stunning location near Cannon Beach with beautiful cliffs, hilly forests, and a waterfall right on the beach; how can you beat that? It is a beautiful rocky part of the coast with craggy ledges and coastal caves that draw people from all over the world to see this beautiful place.

Oswald West State Park

Oswald West State Park has a beautifully secluded sandy beach and miles of trails leading to breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. With beach views, waterfalls, and mountain views, this location has it all. His vast, scenic treasure is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular parks in Oregon. 

cannon beach elopement ecola state park

Best time of day to have your Cannon Beach Elopement

The best time to elope at Cannon Beach is in the early morning or early evening before sunset and on a weekday if possible. Weekends, especially in the summer, are a very busy time for Cannon Beach, so you will want to avoid holding your ceremony during these times if you are a more private person. Morning and evening are also keys to beautifully lit photos, you do not want to have that harsh sun in all of your photos, so making sure to research sunrise and sunset times while working with your photographer is so important to get those beautifully lit photos! Keep in mind that tide tables and weather forecasts are also big factors in locations you can access. At low tide, you are sometimes able to access locations that you can not. Otherwise, conditions can change quickly, though, so keep that in mind and plan safely!

What Weather To Expect For Your Cannon Beach Elopement

Going into your Cannon Beach Elopement with an open mind is key to having the best experience. It is not a secret that the Oregon coast is a wet place; how else would we get all of that beautiful lush greenery? With that being said, the likelihood of getting a little drizzle on your wedding day is pretty likely. Embrace it! There is so much beauty in the unknown of elopement days, and embracing the day as it comes can be such an incredible thing. The warmest months in Oregon are July, August, and September so keep that in mind if you want the best chance of a sunny beach elopement.

cannon beach couples photos

Where To Stay For Your Cannon Beach Elopement

Where you stay during your elopement is such a big part in the whole vibe of the day. We are huge fans of making a weekend or vacation out of your trip and unwinding in a cozy Airbnb or hotel nearby your destination, close to delicious restaurants and shops to make your experience that much better. Having a nice place to relax and unwind is key to having an amazing time! Here are a few of our personal favorites!

Rockaway Beach A-Frame Cabin 36 minutes from Cannon Beach

The Ocean Lodge for a more luxurious stay

Cannon Beach Vacation Rentals for stays directly on the beach

Anchor’s Retreat for larger group stays

Vendor Recommendations

Having great vendors for your Cannon Beach Elopement is the easiest way to ensure you have an experience of a lifetime. Finding vendors who are passionate about helping their couples have an incredible elopement experience is a must, especially if you are not from the Cannon Beach area and do not have an existing knowledge of local vendors.

cannon beach just married

Cannon Beach Restaurants

Bistro: For couples needing to book a private event space for an elopement reception meal or micro wedding. You can book it as a private event space for up to 36 people. It also has live music and incredible food!

Sage Bleu Catering: The perfect option if you are wanting to stay on the beach for a smaller meal or if you are interested in an intimate dinner at your beach house after your sunset elopement!

Cannon Beach Florists

Pacific Coast Floral Design

Cannon Beach Beauty Team

Luxe Artistry Group

The Union Knot

Cannon Beach Officiants

Oregon Beach Ceremonies

Rooted and Wild

A Cannon Beach Elopement can be a beautiful and intimate spot to tie the knot in an intentional way. These are a few of my favorite spots along the coast, and I can not wait to help you plan the perfect Cannon Beach Elopement. If you’re looking to elope at Cannon Beach (or you want advice about other elopement options in Oregon and beyond), let’s get in touch!

Finding The Perfect Elopement Location | Arizona Elopement Photographer

arizona elopement photographer

Finding The Perfect Elopement Location | Arizona Elopement Photographer

Your Guide For Finding The Perfect Elopement Location

No matter where in the world you and your partner decide to elope, the fact that you are making the decision to pledge your lives to each other in such a brave, meaningful and intentional way already makes your wedding day pretty dang perfect. Finding the perfect elopement location is just the cherry on top of that.

When it comes to helping our couples find the perfect elopement location there are several factors that come into play. It is so important to us to find hidden gem locations that cater to the needs of our couples, every couple is different – so naturally, so are each of the location guides we create. When narrowing down your locations you will want to consider locations that speak to your couple, align with their vision, and most importantly fit in line with their beliefs, values and needs for their wedding day.

Finding The Perfect Elopement Location : Choose A Meaningful Place

The first thing you will want to consider when finding the perfect elopement location is a location that is meaningful to both you and your partner. This location can be somewhere you have experienced already together and have memories that you love here or even an incredible new destination that you have always dreamed of seeing. There is something magical in watching a couple experience an epic location for the first time especially on their wedding day. It is also so incredible to see a couple elope in a hometown they grew up in, a family home or their favorite national park hiking trail. There are so many heightened emotions in saying I do in a location meaningful to you as a couple, it only makes sense to make this a big factor in finding the perfect elopement location for your special day.

Finding The Perfect Elopement Location : Consider Seasons

Seasons play a huge part in finding a perfect elopement location. Different locations throughout the world will have peek and off seasons during the year. For example, where I live in Arizona, it is common for our couples to elope in Arizona in the spring or fall. Summer season in Arizona is extremely hot and unsafe to be outdoors and hiking in these higher temps. When researching different elopement locations you will want to consider the best time of year to elope here. What will the weather look like? Will you need rain boots or an umbrella? Or will you need extra water, cool clothes and a way to cool down? Will this location be busier during peek season? Are there road closures during this time of year? These are all important things to consider when eloping during different seasons of the year. Road closures during winter may prevent easy access to popular locations or you may require snowshoes to hike a snow packed trail – which is absolutely okay, but it is something you will need to consider! During peek season you may need to plan further out to secure permits in time for your elopement along with accommodations since it will be a busier time of year. For popular locations you may need to consider a sunrise ceremony or a remote location to keep things intimate and avoid bigger crowds.

Finding The Perfect Elopement Location : Let An Activity Guide You

The possibilities are endless when it comes to incorporating activities into your elopement day. Whether you are an avid hiker or just love the idea of saying your vows at the top of a beautiful mountain peak, letting an activity guide you to finding the perfect elopement location is key. If your dream has always been to elope in Alaska with glaciers, you know immediately that one of your activities could look like a helicopter tour to the glacier, personal vows and if you are feeling extra brave, even taking a polar plunge. Or your vision for ending the day could look like a sunrise hot air balloon ride, a helicopter tour over the state, horseback riding, kayaking, rock climbing at your favorite trail, a sunset hike, the list goes on and on. Sometimes our couples come to us ready to go and already have a plan for the day for what they would like to do and some have an idea but need help with the logistics, that is where we come in. Your elopement photographer and guide can help you find a location suitable for the activity you want, the best time of year and other experiences that will give you the wedding experience of a lifetime.

Finding The Perfect Elopement Location : Research Research Research

We can say with confidence that some of the most incredible places to elope in the United States are on the roads less traveled, but that does not mean you can’t get a little inspiration from researching through social media platforms. Google, Instagram and Pinterest are all really helpful in the early stages of planning to help give you an idea on what locations pull at your heart strings. Once you have an idea of what you like it will be so much easier finding the perfect elopement location for you and your partner.

This is where we would come in – as your elopement photographer and guide we love helping our couples see these less popular locations because they are less crowded, more intimate and insanely beautiful. The popular places on social media are easier to envision, sure. That is because there are thousands of photos that help make the idea seem more real, but with that also comes crowds and a less intimate setting. When you are willing to step outside of the trendy locations on Instagram there is a world of opportunity in dreamy off the beaten path locations. Wandering Weddings has a great blog about different locations to elope if you need any inspiration to kick start your location planning!

Accessibility

A big factor to consider when finding the perfect elopement location is accessibility. Accessibility is important for a few reasons, whether you are making the decision to elope just the two of you or to include close family or friends, considering how accessible locations are will help to narrow it down to a location that checks all of your boxes. In cases where couples decide to elope just the two of them, it is easier to pick an off road epic adventure location because you are able to make the hike or pay for an off-road vehicle tour or if you are feeling especially adventurous renting a 4×4 yourself and making an off-road activity part of your elopement plans. With guests into consideration, it is typically more difficult to coordinate getting several other guests off-road up to an epic location. Or maybe you have family who are older and have a harder time walking longer distances. In these instances it is best to have a location that has an accessible trail for ease to all members attending and then after ceremony you and your partner can escape for your adventure and some time alone for experiences just the two of you.

At The End Of The Day

Eloping is intentional. Eloping is making the decision to make your day about you instead of social media, instead of family or any one else’s needs or wants. It is making the brave decision to not only do something different but to have an experience true to you as a couple. When finding the perfect elopement location absolutely allow yourself to search all outlets but give yourself the space to be creative and think outside of the box. You never know what trail you might end up on. After all is said and done, what matters most is YOU ARE MARRYING YOUR PERSON. Your dream elopement location will help create an unforgettable experience and memories that will last you a lifetime. But this is only the start of your adventure!

Need help planning? Reach out to us here! Let us help plan your dream elopement experience!

Check out our 10-step-guide on how to elope here!