As a destination elopement photographer, I feel so privileged to get to visit picturesque places for nearly every elopement or photoshoot I take on. I was lucky this past year to venture to one of my favorite parts of the Pacific Northwest, the Oregon Coast, to photograph an intimate beach elopement, and I have been so thrilled to share the images with you all. This real Oregon Coast elopement was styled by two incredible vendors in the elopement industry, Dawn Photo, and Brier & Ivy, and it was such a blast getting to spend time with Jenn, Gavin, and their sweet daughters during the shoot. What a spectacular day at one of the most picturesque locations in the Pacific Northwest!
Jenn + Gavin’s Romantic Oregon Coast Elopement
In order to give my couples the most authentic and comfortable experience in front of the camera as possible, I usually like to get on a Zoom call before booking to get to know each other and better understand you and your relationship. So, I loved that we got to know Jenn and Gavin at the beginning of their elopement and continued learning about their love for each other as we photographed their day on the beach. I am a sucker for a cute love story, and these two definitely have one!
They originally met at a party through mutual friends and have been together for eight years. Gavin proposed to Jenn in front of a movie theater—the one where they had their first date; how adorable is that? Their favorite way to spend an evening is cooking together for their girls, taking them for a walk, and ending the night with snuggles on the couch together. They are such a sweet family; it was a gift to watch them interact on this special day and to have their girls present as they exchanged their vows.
Speaking of Jenn and Gavin’s daughters—if you are wondering how to elope with your own kids, check out this blog post, where I give you a list of fun ways to include your kids in your elopement.
A dreamy day in Manzanita, Oregon
Jenn and Gavin’s destination elopement took place in Manzanita, Oregon, a small oceanside village in Tillamook County. It’s located right along the Pacific Ocean (obviously) and near the beautiful Neahkahnie Mountain & Nehalem Bay, which all make up an incredible area full of natural beauty, stunning coastal views, and cozy beach towns. Manzanita is most known for its coastal scenery and its many dramatic cliffsides. It is a popular summer vacation spot for tourists—especially with its many oceanfront homes, hotels, & cottages. If you love being by the ocean and experiencing the foggy beaches of the PNW, beautiful blue horizons, and gorgeous sunsets over the water, then Manzanita would be an amazing elopement location for you too! I can easily see why any couple would choose to elope in the Oregon Coast, especially in this charming little beach town.
Getting ready in a cozy coastal cottage in Seaside
Jenn and Gavin started their day by getting ready in a quaint cottage by the ocean, joined by their daughters and a few loved ones. Getting ready is often overlooked when it comes to photographing the main parts of your elopement day, but I personally believe it’s one of the most significant, meaningful moments of them all: you are likely feeling all the emotions of the day, the anticipation, surrounded by the people you love most. Maybe you are sipping champagne, exchanging gifts with your friends, or helping your kids get dressed up; no matter what, this slower portion of the day deserves to be documented as much as the rest. In fact, I’ll make an educated guess and say that they may turn out to be some of your fondest memories of the day to look back on.
It was so sweet watching Jenn and Gavin get dressed with their girls. Jenn wore the most gorgeous white bridal set while she spent time with her daughters, with the addition of a whimsical, sheer, pearl-studded robe. I was so in love with this addition to the comfortable silk bridal set; she wasn’t even in her elopement gown yet, but she looked stylish the entire time! It is such a great touch to really elevate your getting-ready photos. Once it was almost time to head out for their first look, Jenn put on her breathtaking gown, a strapless piece with a fitted corset top, a fluffy tulle skirt, and flowy, detachable sleeves. What a stunning look for this laid-back, romantic beach elopement!
Meanwhile, Gavin was putting on his fantastic cream-colored suit, which I loved because it coordinated perfectly with the neutral coastal landscape. You can never go wrong with neutral tones; they will look good with any color and against any backdrop. He danced around the cottage’s patio with his daughter, which was the most heart-melting moment to capture.
By the way, the cottage they got ready in is actually a vacation rental home that you could rent for your elopement, too—it’s called Sandpiper Cottage, and you can find more information about it here!
We headed outside into the beachgrass, where Jenn and Gavin had their first look. Although the skies were a bit cloudy, these two didn’t let it affect them and simply spent this time being present with one another, taking a moment to slow down and enjoy the picturesque scenery all around them.
Whimsical beach-themed elopement details
Before we get to the ceremony, I had to include a section dedicated to Jenn and Gavin’s elopement details. Every little thing was stunning and planned out very purposefully, all designed to match the beach elopement theme and the color palette of neutral tones, dusty pink, and mauve. I loved all the jewelry Jenn chose, including pearls to go with the ocean setting and the shells we used to hold their wedding bands in the photos. Even the envelope that was decorated to use in the stationary shots was covered in coastal-inspired stamps; truly, everything was so carefully thought out, and it paid off for the gorgeous photos we got.
A breathtaking ceremony by the ocean
Jenn and Gavin were surrounded by only their daughters and two of their loved ones, as well as all the calming sounds of the beach: the birds flying overhead, the beachgrass blowing in the breeze, and the waves hitting the shore behind them. It was a beautifully minimalistic ceremony, with a gorgeous setup bursting with elegant flowers, organic shapes, and soft candles. This shows that you truly don’t need anything fancy to have a meaningful elopement; often, you just need the people you love most by your side and a few simple decorations if you choose to have any. A beautiful backdrop like this also helps, of course!
A romantic elopement picnic on the beach
Although I loved every moment of this elopement, my favorite part may have been the picnic that Jenn, Gavin, and their daughters had after the ceremony. They enjoyed a delicious meal and refreshing drinks while seated at the most gorgeous table setup, complete with flowers, candles, elegant plating and silverware, and even beautifully designed menus. Every little detail counts, and there’s no more fun way to spend an afternoon at the beach than with a picnic, is there?
Gorgeous Oregon Coast elopement portraits
We ended this elopement by heading down to the shores with Jenn and Gavin for some dreamy Oregon Coast elopement portraits. The sky had cleared up for the most part by then, with the exception of a few dark gray clouds in the distance, so we fully took advantage of the blue skies that appeared for us. Jenn and Gavin looked absolutely beautiful running along the ocean shores in their whimsical elopement attire, hand-in-hand as they strolled through the sand, danced by the waves, and picked up seashells along the way.
What a beautiful day this turned out to be with Jenn and Gavin! I am so glad I was able to be a part of it and meet this amazing couple!
Oregon Coast elopement vendors
Hosts – Dawn Photo, Brier & Ivy
Design & Florals – Brier & Ivy
Photographer – Nicole Adrianna Photos
Stationary – Studio Sotrel
Oregon Coast Elopement Photographer
Ready to plan your own Oregon Coast destination elopement or intimate beach wedding?
Reach out to me here, and we’ll start the process! I can’t wait to help you plan the day of your dreams, which you will look back on forever.
If you are searching for more intimate wedding and elopement inspiration, here are a few of my recent blog posts that feature some pretty amazing couples.
