The Forest Wedding of Your Dreams

Redwood Forest Intimate Wedding

JENNA & MYLES REDWOOD FOREST INTIMATE WEDDING WITH OREGON COAST ADVENTURE

Jenna and Myles took full advantage of their decision to travel somewhere for their elopement. Instead of focusing on one or two days, they booked a week away from home, and included their closest family members in their plans. 

Knowing wholeheartedly that a traditional wedding wasn’t for them, they still wanted to include those closest to them as a part of their big day. With just their family  present, they shared their vows in an intimate setting among the Redwood trees.

One of the many perks of choosing the Oregon Coast as the destination for your elopement is that the Redwoods of Northern California aren’t far! If you have been struggling with the idea of an elopement destination, and like the idea of the coast and the forest, the Oregon Coast is a great destination to consider!

Jenna and Myles flew from Boston, MA to Medford, OR and were instantly thrown into the mountains. The drive from Medford to the Oregon coast is very scenic, and very polarizing to their hometown’s scenery. Once they arrived in Brookings, OR, the Pacific coast air was more reminiscent of home. 

Brookings, Oregon is a tiny town on the coast known mostly for camping and tourism as it offers great access to the Northern California redwood trees and the rock spires of the Oregon coast. If you like small towns and moody overcast days, this is the place for you! With plenty of outdoor recreation and beauty to experience, there is no shortage of things to do.

Reasons to Elope along the Oregon Coast

• The Oregon coast is known for being a very moody area, with plenty of overcast days. If you like that PNW vibe, Oregon is a great place to consider eloping. 

• Pacific Coast access. Love the ocean? The southern Oregon coast offers some of the most beautiful coastal geography in the country. Rock spires tower out of the ocean floors, making for unique scenery while your feet are in  the sand.

• Incredible sunsets. Being on the west coast always comes with this perk, as the sun will set out over the ocean under the horizon.

• Access to the Redwood forest. Northern California is host to some of the last Redwood groves on earth. There are actually a few in southern Oregon as well! Having access to the forest and the pacific coast is a match made in heaven for a dream elopement. 

Best Time of Year to Elope in Oregon

Summer is the best time of year to visit and elope in Oregon. Mid-June through September is your best bet for the best weather Oregon has to offer. If you are hoping to catch the waterfalls at full flow, you may want to consider springtime, as the snow melt will have the waterfalls in full force! Early summer is fine as well for your waterfall adventure elopement, but don’t wait too long! The waterfalls dry up quickly as summer progresses.

If you are hoping for sunshine in Oregon, aim for late summer. However, don’t get your hopes up too high for sunny days. The Oregon coast is known for being overcoast, giving it that moody vibe that a lot of people desire. It makes for killer photographs! Trust us, we love photographing couples on cloudy days, and even in the rain.

How to Plan an Oregon Elopement

When starting out planning an Oregon elopement, you will want to first choose what type of landscape you are hoping to experience. Oregon has many landscapes; high desert, mountains, pacific coast, redwood forests, waterfalls, and more! There are many to choose from, and prioritizing some of these options will get you a better idea of what areas can work for your elopement day. If you like the Redwood trees and the pacific coastline, we recommend southern Oregon. For waterfalls and the mountains, east of Portland will serve you better! And up north, you can still access the coast very easily.

Once you have determined your location, you should next consider what time of year you want to elope. We will cover this in more detail in the next section, but simply put, aim for summertime for the best weather Oregon has to offer!

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING TO ELOPE IN OREGON:

• Wedding License
  Each county has their own rules and regulations around wedding licenses. Be sure to contact the county you plan to get married in well in advance to ensure that you don’t hit any bumps in the road. 

• Wedding Permit
  Depending on the location you choose to elope in, you will likely need to access a wedding permit. Your photographer should be able to help you navigate this part of the planning with ease. Typically you will be in contact with a ranger at the National Forest to ensure that you have the proper permission to host your elopement. 

• Wedding Officiant
  A wedding officiant must be present to marry you and your partner in the state of Oregon. Travis is ordained and can officiate your wedding if that is something you would prefer. If you are considering guests at your elopement, one of them may love the opportunity to officiate your wedding. Be sure that the person meets the requirements to officiate a wedding! 

• Witnesses
  The state of Oregon requires that you have two witnesses present at your elopement. As your photographers, we would be happy to sign as your witnesses! If you have friends and family present, they can be your witnesses as well. 

Planning Experiences as a part of your Elopement Day

Oftentimes, planning a wedding comes with stress and a long list of to-dos. This eventually leads to a timeline that focuses on wedding things instead of what you want your actual day and experience to feel like! Instead of starting with a long, stressful list of to-dos, consider starting your elopement planning with the mindset of “What do I want to experience on my wedding day?”

This mindset can open up a world of ideas when it comes to planning your elopement. Taking a private helicopter tour, or off-roading up into the remote wilderness of the Colorado Rockies aren’t that far fetched when it comes to elopement activities. You have to start with what you want, first! And if you are looking for something a little less epic, a little less adventurous, aim for hot spring soaks, spa days, or exploring some of Colorado’s famed mountain towns for a more low-key vibe. 

Planning a day with intention

Not every elopement has to be a crazy epic adventure. Low-key elopements are just as enjoyable. What matters is that you plan a day with intention. When we talk about intention, what we mean is that you start with YOU. What are your must haves? What things do you wish you could do on your wedding day, no matter how untraditional? What are your values? Do you want to be alone, or with others? All of these questions are a great starting point to decide how to approach your elopement planning.

Some examples of activities you can plan for your Colorado elopement are:

• Are thrills and adventure your style? Take a helicopter tour through the San Juan Mountain range for jaw-dropping views, or explore an off-roading adventure up into the remote wilderness for views that you can only get by adventuring up there. 

• Looking for something slower? Book a private hot spring soak at sunrise and enjoy one of Colorado’s many mountain towns; explore the shops, try local food and drink, and experience a place you may have never been before!

• Plan a picnic as a part of your adventure or hike! Packing a picnic is an easy way to add some fun and some FOOD to your elopement day! We love picnics as they are easy enough to coordinate and can be such a nice treat to add to your elopement. Champagne, charcuterie, cake or ice cream sandwiches, whatever you like! 

And remember, there are no limits to these ideas. Our goal is to work with you to craft your own day. This is your wedding day! It should be completely unique to you and should be an experience you remember for a lifetime. Let’s start planning together today!