A micro wedding in Oceanside, OR featuring Cape Lookout State Park on the Oregon Coast.
This micro wedding is the perfect example of incorporating elopement elements into a wedding day that also incorporates friends and family. The couple ended up with a day that was around 50/50 between time with just the two of them and time with family. This is a great option if you want a private experience but don’t want to leave your family out of the celebration.
We started the day with getting ready photos at Sheltered Nook in Tillamook. These tiny homes are great if you want your guests to be able to stay close by while still having your own space. It’s also a great option if you want to get ready separate from your spouse but close enough for an easy first look.
After a first look at Sheltered Nook, we all went to Cape Lookout State Park for the ceremony. This is a good fit for events with guests. It has lots of parking, bathrooms, picnic tables, and easy beach access. It can get busy in the summer and on weekends but not nearly as much as places like Cannon Beach.
Following family photos, the couple left the group for some privacy. We hiked into a gorgeous beach where they had the cutest picnic, private vows, and some portraits. It was like having an elopement day within a mico wedding.
Getting Ready and First Look at Sheltered Nook, Tillamook
Ceremony at Cape Lookout State Park
A ceremony setup like this requires a permit on the Oregon Coast. Whether a permit is needed is determined by the number of guests and whether any structure is being setup. The rented chairs and able are classified as structures so this event required a permit. If there’s no structures and less than 50 guests, you do not need a permit.
Vows and Picnic in Oceanside, OR
The best part about eloping is the opportunity to break tradition again and again. Shifting their day halfway into a private picnic and vow exchange is a prime example of taking traditional wedding ideas and turning them into your own. There’s no rule saying you can’t have a micro wedding and elopement type experience in one. You can have family present AND have a private space for just you two.
I’ve seen all sorts of creative variations over the years. For a more traditional experience, people will have a traveling elopement with just the two of them and a reception with family 1-12 months afterward. This gives you an entire day to yourself and an entire day for loved ones at a different time (I’m a firm believer that we need to stop thinking of weddings as single day events). These receptions range from basically being a traditional wedding to a casual hang out and dinner. Some folks will sneak away in the evening like these two and others will start their day privately then end with a ceremony and dinner with guests.
Take this as your sign to incorporate different elements however you want to get the experience that fits you two!
Oceanside, OR Micro Wedding on 35mm Film
All of my elopement packages come with one roll of 35mm film. While 95% of galleries are in digital, that roll of film adds something special to the gallery. Here’s some of my favorites from these two’s day.
If you’re feeling inspired by this Oceanside, OR micro wedding on the Oregon Coast, check out these other resources!
Ultimate Guide to Eloping on the Oregon Coast
Another Micro Wedding Story – Cape Kiwanda
How to Include Friends and Family in Your Elopement
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