The Top 5 Things To Consider When Eloping In Oregon
Whether you’re considering an elopement in Oregon or you’re actively planning one, the possibilities are endless! Oregon basically has it all - you can say your vows with iconic views or along side your favorite hiking trail, you could rent a unique Airbnb and make it a destination or you could have your closest friends come kick it in your backyard for post “I-Do” beers. You get my point. But before making all the epic plans, there are a few things to consider before eloping in Oregon.
Location
Choosing a location is probably the most challenging part of planning an elopement, so bare with me as we dive into this. First of all, Oregon is an extremely diverse state in terms of landscape so your options are endless! Deciding what type of landscape interests you the most (high desert, coastal, lush forests, etc) is probably the easiest way to start narrowing it down. Once you’ve decided on a general location or vibe, the next thing to think about is travel costs to get there (unless you’re local of course), permit costs, or any other associated fees you would need to know about! Most National Parks or State Parks have regulations around getting married in the park so leave a little extra wiggle room in your budget for those potential permit fees.
Next, consider the popularity of a location and if you’re down with the crowds. For example, a lot of people come to Oregon and want to elope at these very high-profile locations, but forget that there are typically a lot of other people around. If you’re down to maneuver around people or kiss in front of others then more power to you! However, if you’re really hoping for something more private, make sure you consider some other options. If you’re thinking about eloping in Oregon and need location suggestions, let’s chat. I’ve got a lot of suggestions for all types of landscapes that are typically more private than the big name spots!
2. Your Priorities
Having a wedding of any kind means deciding what each partner’s priorities are and likely making some compromises. So when you’re deciding to elope in Oregon it’s important to consider your priorities! Do you want to spend the day hiking and tie the knot on the top of a mountain? Or do you want to do a chill ceremony somewhere and then have a house party after? Is your number one priority quality time with each other? Or having some damn epic photos? There is no wrong answer here, just make sure and consider what’s MOST important to the two of you for your big day so that you can make it the absolute best elopement for you.
3. Guest List
A common misconception when it comes to eloping is that you have to do it “alone” when the reality is, you can certainly bring some people with you! Naturally the more people you invite, the more it becomes a wedding (by all traditional standards), but of course that’s entirely up to you. Just consider how many people you want to attend because the more people you bring, the more it begins to effect your location plans (ie. if you have more people, you’ll need more space). Also when you consider the guest list, think back to your location. Will you need chairs or can people just stand? Does it need to be ADA Accessible for your crew? Often it’s so much more intimate to have just you two and a couple witnesses, but if you want five or six family members to tag along, it’s an important thing to consider ahead of time!
4. Weather
With a beautiful diverse landscape comes some unexpected weather in our beautiful state of Oregon. Even in the more predictable months, we can get crazy heat waves, wild winds or dense forest fire smoke. That being said, it can be disappointing to plan your elopement expecting unreal views and then getting clouds. All that to say - be prepared to pivot your plans a little (or just dance in the rain like the cliché says). Sure it might be smoky but the haze makes beautiful soft photos! Or maybe it’s raining so you decide to sport a clear umbrella. There are always ways to be prepared and not let a little rouge weather ruin your big day.
Another thing to consider is a backup plan! If you really don’t want to deal with the rain, consider booking an Airbnb with a cool interior so you could get married inside. Or if it looks like it’ll be colder than you had hoped, pick out a jacket that you can rock over your outfit! Either way, the weather is all part of the story of your wedding day, so don’t be afraid to roll with it. No matter what it’ll be perfect.
5. The Details
When it comes to eloping there is soooo much opportunity for creative details! Chances are, if you decided to elope, you’re saving a pretty penny on big items like a venue or catering, etc. Why not use a few of those extra dollars to really decorate your day?! Little details can make an intimate elopement day feel like a big celebration. It’s an opportunity to really customize your experience and have some creative fun! Even if you’re planning on hiking up a mountain and you wanna pack light, you can get custom made snack packages, stickers for your water bottles, or signs to hang from your day packs. There are endless options for fun. One of my favorite examples of customized details for an elopement day is Branden and Meryl’s wedding (you can check out the full spread here). They only had an officiant, their siblings and the dogs in attendance, but they were so intentional about every small detail that it felt so celebratory and unique! Not only that, but Oregon has some amazing small businesses and wedding vendors that can really help you customize your elopement day, from floral artists to calligraphers to clothing designers. If you’re curious about vendors in Oregon, I have an extensive list of amazing creatives to recommend! How cool would it feel to tie the knot knowing you’re supporting some dope local artists and NOT breaking the bank while doing so?! So cool.
Listen, chances are if you’re eloping you’ve already got a certain level of chill so I don’t expect anyone to read this and be totally shocked. However, I do think it’s so important to be prepared for whatever might happen on your elopement day because, let’s face it, Oregon is a wild place. That’s why we love it! And it’s also why sometimes we don’t love it! Hence why we always have a rain coat in the car… or a snow jacket. Or both.
Not only that, but you can also always expect me to show up prepared. Worried the snow is gonna ruin your photos? Think again baby, I’ve got my snow boots and I’m ready to party. It’s part of my job to know what to bring, to show up with the rain covers for my camera, and to always have a couple extra batteries. Your job is to get married, and have a god damn phenomenal time no matter what. If you’re looking to start planning an elopement and all of this just makes you have MORE questions, let’s chat! I’ve got answers!