Cannon Beach Elopement Guide

We highly recommend finding a photographer first to make sure that he or she is available during the timeframe that you plan to elope in Oregon. We recommend choosing a photographer that you feel relaxed and confident that you’ll be able to be your natural selves. Every photographer has a different approach to how they capture moments throughout the day, so we think that it’s a good idea to ask how the photographer will guide you throughout the entire experience.

Our photography style is documentary focused to create a safe space for you and your other half to share authentic moments on your wedding day. We create a balance of guiding you if we have a specific vision for a shot, and allowing you both to melt into a private moment or experience. Our goal is to make you feel as if you’re adventuring with good friends that happen to take epic photos as we explore together!

There’s no denying it: Oregon – and the Oregon coast – can be a pretty wet place! Oregon has more than 200 waterfalls across the state, and all that moisture across the state makes Oregon a lush and magical spot to elope. 

But…it also means there’s a pretty good chance you will encounter rain (or some sort of downpour) during your elopement trip. Rain isn’t the end of the world, though! If you want to elope in Cannon Beach, just know that you might not get that perfect, sunny beach weather. You should plan to embrace whatever weather comes your way, because even some clouds and rain can make for absolutely magical photos. 

So what’s the best time of the year to elope in Cannon Beach? In Oregon, the late summer months – July, August, and September – have the driest and warmest weather. During these months, you will also maximize your chances of sunshine, particularly at Cannon Beach!

We will provide a detailed guide for you immediately after booking with us! The elopement guide will have our recommendations from years of visiting this incredible part of the country. We’ve worked with several other wedding vendors that we highly recommend, which helps speed up your research process and allows you to book whichever vendor that you connect with the most.

We do not recommend booking an all-in-one elopement package because it doesn’t allow you to have options. We’ll share recommendations for videographers, officiants, florists, hair + makeup artists, musicians, and specialty bakeries.

You’ll need to decide whether you want to get legally married in Oregon or your home state. Depending on the location of your elopement on the coast, your wedding permit will fall under different jurisdiction.

In Oregon, you can get your marriage license at any Oregon county courthouse. That means if you plan to stay in Portland for a few days before driving out to Cannon Beach, you can get your marriage license there!

However, if you do plan to get married at Cannon Beach and want to take care of everything in that area, you can file your paperwork in Astoria. You will need to bring the printed application with your signatures, your photo IDs for both of you, and a cashier’s check or money order for the marriage license fee.

Unless you’re planning on having a large wedding ceremony, you won’t need a special use permit for your Cannon Beach elopement. In the Cannon Beach area, most intimate gatherings (like elopements) that do not prohibit the public from entering the beach are allowed to happen without a permit. 

However, if you plan to use any tables, chairs, or any other large object that requires assembly with nails or screws, you will need a permit. One workaround? Working with a vendor who has a permit. 

Like with every elopement, we will specifically examine Oregon State Park rules to make sure everything we are planning falls within the realm of possibility. 

Cannon Beach is situated on the Northern Oregon coastline. When you’re planning your elopement, you have two ways to get to Cannon Beach. 

The quickest option: plan to fly into Portland and rent a car. Cannon Beach is about 80 miles from Portland, or just about two hours away from Portland International Airport. It’s a straightforward drive, too. You’ll take Highway 26 West until you reach Highway 101 and then drive four miles south on Highway 101 until you arrive. 

The road trip option: Looking to extend your trip a bit? Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and drive down to Cannon Beach from there. The drive will take around four hours, but there are lots of great areas to stop if you plan to make a trip out of it.