An intimate wedding on the Oregon Coast featuring Pacific City and Oceanside, OR

There’s so many definitions for the different weddings nowadays that it can be hard to keep them straight. At the end of the day, it really only matters that you make a wedding experience for YOU regardless of whether it fits into any specific definition.

For these two though, they opted for an experience that landed in the intimate wedding area. Their day incorporated a lot of traditional wedding elements and involved close friends and family while keeping the guest count down. They also added that nontraditional touch by adventuring together in their fancy outfits and getting married on the beach in the rain.

The main difference between an elopement and intimate wedding is guest involvement. Many intimate weddings look like a traditional wedding with a far smaller guest list and low key settings. Elopements can have guests but they often involve the couple spending most of the day without their guests.

These two actually split the experience into two days. We did sunset portraits the day prior (which worked out great considering how much it rained the following day) and celebrated with their guests the next. It’s a great reminder to make the wedding experience work for you rather than trying to fit your day into the pre-existing expectations.

---

Elopement Portraits in Pacific City on the Oregon Coast

Living on the Oregon Coast has played a really important role in helping my couples with their elopement experience. This is a special location that is only accessible at certain tides. The beach also creates this wonderful mirror effect at certain times and I love to help my couples visit at times they can get that extra element to their images.

These lanterns are one of my favorite accessories! I bring them along for all elopements. Once the sun goes down and blue hour begins, the lanterns add the perfect pop of color and light.

The photo below was actually featured by Rangefinder Magazine. Check it out here!

---

Getting Ready Photos in Oceanside, OR

Getting ready photos are a wonderful addition, especially if you have family and friends there. It’s a relaxed, natural environment to get lots of candids and get used to the camera.

---

Rainy Ceremony and Portraits on the Oregon Coast

Rain is nothing to be afraid of for your wedding! While it’s never the ideal circumstances, you can still get great images and make amazing memories. It usually doesn’t rain all day (we only got 45 minutes of rain during this elopement) and we can always stay flexible on when the events take place during the day. Clear umbrellas are always in my elopement kit just in case. Photo wise, rain rarely shows up in the images.

I recommend being prepared for rain in the Pacific Northwest but don’t let it stress you out!

---

Dreaming of an Oregon Coast elopement? Check out these other resources!

The Ultimate Guide to Eloping on the Oregon Coast

Secret Beach Elopement on the Southern Oregon Coast

Best Places to Elope in the Pacific Northwest