THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR ELOPING ON
THE OREGON COAST
A step-by-step guide that will help you plan your 2025 - 2026 elopement seamlesslyÂ
HOW DO YOU PLAN AN OREGON ELOPEMENT?
Where do I start? Planning is so hectic… I totally get how you feel. When I was planning my wedding, I was completely overwhelmed. If you are planning on eloping on the Oregon Coast and just want all the info in one place, well, here you go! This blog contains all you need to create a fantastic elopement experience—it is a one-stop shop—one you will never forget. So, Let’s get started!
KEEP SCROLLING IF YOU WANT ALL THE INFO AND HELP!!
IS IT ACTUALLY CHEAPER TO ELOPE?
The short answer is YES! On average a couple may pay up to $150-550+ per guest for them to just attend their wedding on top of all the cost of the wedding itself. Traditional weddings can cause numerous stresses, have many hidden costs, and sometimes not all the time become less about the couple themselves and more about the family and guest's experience. This is why elopements have become even more of a trend in the last 10 years. The price tag can vary depending on if you just go to a courthouse and sign the papers well that will just cost you the marriage license fee of $100 on average. But come on you deserve to have a smashing elopement experience! Especially if you are considering Oregon as the possible destination for your elopement.
Here is a breakdown of costs on average what the total price of an Elopement could look like:
Marriage License: $100
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Permit for your ceremony if it is on the coast it will most likely happen in a state park: $100-$200
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Videographer (Hey there, is it me you are looking for... haha ;) $3500 - $6500+
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Photographer $2500 - $5500+
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Officiant $550-$1050+
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Travel & Accommodations (this depends on how luxury are we going) - $1500-$6000+
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Hair & Makeup $550-1200+
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Florist $150-$1500+
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Food (depending on guests but also location) $250-$1500+
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Gas and Rental Cars: $600-$1000+
Total Costs: $9,750- $24,500+
STILL WITH ME??
This isn’t a 100% calculation of costs, as a lot depends on where you are travelling from, where you want to stay, your location on the coast, how many spots to visit, how many days of service, do your hair and makeup or hire someone… etc… Most elopements usually occur in state parks and national parks, you are guaranteed to be saving money on the venue, catering, services, liquor and more…If you are one of those couples that are worried about the costs yet still wants to have a celebration well this option is fantastic for you because you not only get to celebrate it with your partner but if you like you get to go home and can have a celebration at a fraction of the cost it would be if you were having a traditional wedding. A lot of the time when you are having a wedding you have to disclose this to your venue and vendors for many reasons. (Please don’t lie to vendors) but because you had your wedding all is done the knot is tied, why not rent a venue or celebrate in your backyard with all your loved ones? This not only saves lots of money but also you get to celebrate your love for more than just one day! This can be so much fun a way to continue the celebration. I have been having more and more clients do this now as a way to not only save money but to enjoy the best of both worlds. The best part as some of my clients have done is showcasing their wedding films as it would be like at a movie premiere. This makes my heart… I love it when clients do this, it’s such a great way for others to feel like they were there during such special times.
PHEWF, WE CAN KNOW MOVE ON TO THE FUN PART!!
What Do You Need To Elope On The Oregon?
Your wedding attire
Recommend Vendors:
Videographer
Photographer
Officiant
Florist
Hair and Makeup artist
A heck of a good time!
Bonus: Food Truck/Private Chef
Fun activities: Horseback Riding
Crabbing
ATV Rentals
Whale Watching
Wine Tasting
Step by Step on how to get hitched on the coast:
Firstly GET THAT WEDDING DRESS (if applies to you)!!! I can’t stress that enough! My favourite part was picking out my wedding dress. However glad I did it when I did. It took a hot minute.
Next would be to pick a location, do you want ocean, cliffs, and views for days or do you want forests and beach vibes? After that select a date, a good time of the year when the weather is at its prime. In general, most of my couples select dates on the weekdays, which allows for a full week of fun. After that make sure you hire your VENDORS! That’s Me… seriously get those vendors locked down in place ASAP. I love helping my clients through the whole planning process, I keep in the loop with all the other vendors, draft up the timelines, help select the best locations, and best part, help you envision what the day will look like.
The next step is to get travel plans in place, and book flights, accommodations, rental cars, etc… these can fluctuate in price so I will give you some hot tips later in the guide. Other things to consider are ensuring you have all your wedding attire, and securing your marriage license, insurance and permits.
NOW LET'S PICK A LOCATION
EEEEKK Best part of this guide! The Best local spots to elope and timing to do so to avoid the crowds…
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CANON BEACH
We will first off start with the Elephant in the room Canon Beach. NOW I know I get it… This is an Iconic place, super well known and it would be super cool to elope but comes with a price and that price is gob smacks of crowds who stare at you or congratulate you. (Of course nothing wrong with that) however when I think of intimate elopement… I don’t believe Canon Beach. Also, a fun fact is that drones are not permitted here… so no fun cool landscape shots of the scene. If it is your dream to elope here well, let's do it! The best recommendation is to consider it a portrait session destination or do your elopement in more of the off-season months. (October - May) this way we avoid the crowds and still get to enjoy what the beach has to offer.
ARCADIA BEACH, HUG POINT STATE PARK AND ARCH CAPE AND
Okay, these are some of my FAVORITE BEACHES. All of them are very close to each other and have similar features. Dramatic rock formations, talk trees, easy access, and little caves that you can pop into when the tide is low. I really love these spots because even in the high tourist season I never felt that they were overly crowded and felt like my couples could just be themselves with no pressure. Also felt like they give off gorgeous vibes true to the West Coast PNW. Hug Point even has cute little falls depending on the time of year as I would say it is way more prevalent in the spring early summer depending also on rainfall.
SHORT SAND BEACH