So you want to starting planning your elopement in Oregon and you need a place to start! I am so excited for you and would love to help you start the process stress-free. Let me walk you through some of the steps you’ll need to take to plan your perfect Oregon elopement and a few tips and tricks for the planning process.
The goal is to have a day that feels seamless, bespoke to you and your partner, and is FUN and full of love!
Step 1: Choose the Season for Your Oregon Elopement
If possible, before you get your heart set on a specific date or day of the week, first consider the season!
Depending on where you want to elope (the coast, a forest, the mountains etc) different seasons offer different pros and cons. For example, September and October actually tend to be the best time to elope on the Oregon coast s the summer crowds have gone, but the winter weather hasn’t quite arrived yet. Another example is that if you’re wanting fall leaves/foliage, here in Oregon the end of October and beginning of November tend to offer glimpses of peak color, whereas it’s different in other climates. Want sunny weather but not too hot? Late May/June is most likely your best bet!
Choosing a local photographer like me offers you a HUGE advantage when it comes to planning this part of your elopement, because they will be able to tell you if your dream mountain location will actually be covered in snow in May or if that section of the coast will be crawling with tourists in August.
HOT TIP: eloping on a weekday usually means less crowded locations and more vendor availability!
Step 2: Choosing A Specific Location in Beautiful Oregon
There are so many beautiful locations in Oregon, and it can feel so overwhelming to choose. I recommend narrowing your search down by a type of landscape first. Decide what speaks to you most; snowy mountain tops, crashing ocean waves, towering green pines….
In Eastern Oregon we have High Desert featuring arid landscapes, insane rock features, and amazing lakes and mountains. In Southern Oregon we have towering forests and trails through lakes and waterfalls. Then, of course, the entire stunningly beautiful Oregon coastline dotted with small towns that all offer something different. And, all along the I-5 (main freeway) corridor features spectacular forest, rivers, lakes and mountains. It can be a tough choice to pick the perfection location for your Oregon elopement, so ask your local photographer (hi that’s me!) for recommendations based on the vibe you are looking for. And, if needed they can also help advise you on permits for your chosen location!
As one of my couples, you’ll have access to my curated recommended Airbnbs for whichever part of the state you choose, as well as my help with any/all travel logistics and planning.
Step 3: Booking Your Local Oregon Vendors
This part of the process looks different for everyone, as not all couples will want or need the same services going into their elopement day. If you’re choosing to have guests at your elopement, you may want to book a place for a dinner. If it’s just the two of you, you may want a small little dessert to celebrate all to yourselves. Whatever vendors you decide you need, when you hire me as your photographer, you’ll receive a curated list of friends and peers in the industry tailored to the location you’ve chosen to help you hire the perfect people for your day.
Some vendor examples you may want to consider include; an officiant, a hair and makeup artist, videographer, florist, private chef or caterer, bakery or pastry chef, a tattoo artist, a tarot card reader, a live painter and the list goes on.
Step 4: Acquiring Your Oregon Marriage License
Whether you’re from Oregon or not, to legally get married here you will need an oregon marriage license. If you are from Oregon, you can obtain your marriage license at your home county courthouse a minimum of 3 days before your wedding day, however I recommend giving yourself time and getting at least a few weeks in advance. It will then need to be post-marked or returned to the courthouse in person within 3-5 business days after your ceremony.
If you are not from Oregon, plan on flying at least a day in advance on a weekday before your ceremony so that you can apply for and pick up your license in whatever county you are staying. Oregon does allow you to pay an extra fee to waive the 3 day waiting period so you can use your license right away. make sure you have a plan to return your license, but some officiants will offer to do that part for you as well.
You will need two witness signatures on your license as well. If you choose not to have guests at your ceremony and to have me sign as your officiant as I’m ordained, keep in mind we will still need to ask a few passersby to sign your license!
Step 5: Choose Your Seasonal Oregon Activities
Once you’ve chosen your season, a date, and a place… so let’s talk vendors and activities. There are a lot of choices, but it comes down to the kind of experience you want to have on your elopement day and what landscape/season you choose to elope in. A full post on elopement activities is coming, but I’ll list a few of them here to get the ideas flowing.
- visit wildflower blooming locations to see the seasonal beauty
- bring binoculars for bird/wildlife peeping
- collect fall leaves to press for later
- plan to swim, kayak, or paddleboard
- hire a local company for horseback trail or beach riding
- have a bonfire on the beach and roast smore’s
- build a snowman
- cook your favorite meal to share together
- play games at an arcade
- play your favorite board or video game together
- open Pokemon card packs together
- pick blackberries together
- look for shells and go tidepooling at low tide
Some of these may sound silly, but the idea is to choose to spend your day doing something fun and meaningful to you and your partner, whatever that looks like for you. If that just looks like exploring or hanging out together, that’s totally fine too. It’s 100% up to you two!
Ready to plan the Oregon Elopement of your dreams?
Fill out my contact form and we can make it official! When I am a part of your elopement, you can expect me to put my all into making it the day that you are envisioning. I can’t wait to chat with you!
