A Moody Day in June – Cannon Beach Elopement in Early Summer

Cannon Beach is one of the most iconic landscapes in the Pacific Northwest, and as such, it draws the eye of many who want to elope on the Oregon Coast. 

The town of Cannon Beach is a unique spot as it does not allow any corporate chains of any sort. Therefore, you’ll need to plan fuel up before you get there, because that includes gas stations. Although slightly inconvenient, this quirk makes it a very idyllic vacation destination, and a beautiful place to stay for an elopement. 

Deciding to elope on the Oregon Coast is an exciting decision, but can be a bit overwhelming. For more resources, here’s an article on how to elope on the Oregon Coast.

Getting Ready for an Oregon Coast Elopement

Slightly north of the coast is the town of Seaside. A bit larger, with a carnival-like atmosphere in the evenings, there are tons of amazing spots to stay here as well. Laura and Joe opted for an AirBnb along the famous promenade in Seaside. 

For their AirBnb, they watched the waves and clouds roll by as they got ready for their big day. When I arrived, the two just needed to take care of a couple of finishing touches before heading out to our first stop of the day.

First Elopement Adventure of the Day– Short Sands Beach

Short Sands Beach is one of my favorite spots along the Oregon Coast. I love watching the surfers who flock to the area. 

The best part of this beach, in my opinion, is that you get to go for a mini hike through the forest to get there. And it’s not just any forest… a gorgeous remnant of some epic old growth. 

And it’s special in any season. I love the springtime, when the sky may be a bit misty and moody, and there’s patches of large yellow skunk cabbage flowers along the path. In early summer, when Laura and Joe decided to elope, the flowers are still around, with salmonberry, cow parsnip, colt’s foot, salal, oregon grape, and other classic PNW blooms lingering.

Laura and Joe traveled from Pennsylvania for their Oregon Coast elopement, and it was their first time visiting the Pacific Northwest. They were completely mesmerized by the enormous trees, and statements like, “I’ve never seen anything like this” were often overheard by me. 

And the two got to experience the full magic of the PNW for their elopement, which is to say, they got a quintessential moody coast– sprinkles, short sun bursts, and low hanging mountain clouds. I particularly like the images of Laura walking through the forest with her jacket held over her head, covering her bridal hair. 

Seeing Short Sands Beach for the first time is magical, and I love the part of my job where I get to see other people see it for the first time. 

Especially people from the East Coast, where beaches are nothing like those found on the Oregon Coast. It’s not hard to understand why folks choose these landscapes as an elopement destination.

One of my favorite parts of this beach is the waterfall cascading into the ocean. During certain low tides, you can scramble (carefully) over the rocks to reach it. 

Naturally, Laura and Joe took a walk along the beach to the falls. It’s not a long walk, and it is always worth it. Even when the waterfall is not accessible due to the tides, the view from the north end of the beach is *chef’s kiss.*

Elopement Adventure Stop No. 2 – The Cliffs at Elk Flats

After saying goodbye to the beach and heading back through the forest– passing creek canyon walls covered in lush ferns, and listening to the ethereal sounds of the Pacific Wren– we hopped into our cars and shuttled over to the next stop along the northern Oregon Coast. 

Just a 5 minute drive from the parking lot at Short Sands Beach is the true glory of an elopement at Oswald West State Park. It’s not really a secret, but I still seldom see folks there– Elk Flats.

And even better than introducing folks to Short Sands Beach is taking people to the cliffs at Elk Flats. It really is one of the most spectacular, dramatic landscapes in Oregon, and it was the perfect backdrop for Laura & Joe’s vow exchange. 

To people from the east coast, the topography of the Oregon Coast is surprising… quite steep! Laura and Joe took the trail to the cliffs in stride, and set out to the point to read from their personal vow books. Laura’s got a little crinkled during travel, and most folks would be upset about that. But Laura thought it was funny, and I thought it was endearing.

The cloudy day had altered our original game plan a bit. Normally, I try to catch golden hour at the cliffs, but without a clear sky, we pivoted and were able to incorporate a third location after the cliffs.

Last elopement adventure– Campfire at Cannon Beach

It’s true… Cannon Beach was not in the original plan. Kind of crazy to think about because it fit so perfectly into the day. Elk Flats was our priority with the extreme drama… but Cannon Beach is literally iconic… Haystack Rock is on much Oregon travel merch.

I met Laura and Joe at the beach after picking up a couple bundles of firewood. We took some classic portraits in front of Haystack Rock, wondering around the sandy beach. Then, while I got the fire started, Laura and Joe put comfortable clothes in my popup changing tent.

I love a campfire. I started my career in Outdoor education, teaching kids and adults a variety of outdoor skills. I live in a bubble of outdoorsy folks, so I often forget that lots of people don’t have this knowledge. Laura, Joe and I talked about outdoors skills, like starting fires, plant identification and archery… One of the reason I started this business was to help people connect more deeply with the outdoors.

Cannon Beach Elopement Photographer

People who elect to spend their wedding day outdoors are a special breed. I love connecting with people like Laura and Joe who trust me to plan their best day ever.

I’m all about curating your elopement day to fit your needs and your style. Obsessed with wandering through nature, authentic moments, and telling your story. If you’re looking for an Oregon Coast Elopement Photographer to document your day, whether it involves trekking miles to the perfect spot for vow exchanges, or relaxing at a charming AirBnB all day, I’ve got you covered.

If you’re looking for more Oregon Coast elopement resources, check out these posts.

Best Places to Elope on the Oregon Coast

How to Elope in Brookings, Oregon

Windswept Engagement Session on the Oregon Coast

Beautiful Family Elopement Celebration on the Oregon Coast

7 Reasons Why Elopements are Perfect for Nature Lovers

Intimate Boho Elopement on the Oregon Coast

Oregon Coast Elopement Packages & Pricing

When you are ready to hire an Oregon elopement photographer, I’d be honored to be considered. 

I love all things Oregon Elopement and  would be so excited to help you plan your magical day in this beautiful state, whether it’s at Smith Rock or some other awe inspiring elopement location (there are so many in Oregon).

Check out my pricing page for more information.