Why you should choose Central Oregon as your elopement destination

You’ve probably seen the mossy waterfalls, lush forests and rugged coastlines of Oregon– in fact that’s probably what comes to mind when you think of “Oregon.”

But did you know that more than half of the state is desert? Or that there are incredible volcanic landscapes to explore?

If you live in the PNW, you probably know about Bend… but, out-of-staters, have you?

Bend, OR (and Central Oregon in general) is an overlooked destination for adventure elopements, but I seriously don’t understand why… my theory is that it’s just a lack of awareness.

So in this article, I’m going to go over the 7 reasons that Bend, OR is the perfect choice for an adventure elopement. Let’s get into it.

The top 7 reasons to elope in Bend, OR—

1. Bend is a popular vacation destination.

Kicking it off with a rather obvious reason, but it feeds into many of the rest of the following reasons– it’s great here! People travel from all around Oregon and the greater PNW to visit Bend.

I would argue that the combination of the following factors is what makes Bend such an amazing elopement destination. And just a great vacation destination.

2. The weather is great.

Oregon has the reputation of being rather soggy for much of the year. It’s what makes the lush forests and misty coastlines that we’re famous for.

But the state is SO much more than that. The spine of the Cascade Mountains running North to South through the state splits Oregon into a wet side and a dry side. Bend is on the dry side. Plus it has the added benefit of being DIRECTLY in the rain shadow of 3 major peaks that jut up above the rest of the mountains. The Three Sisters catch a huge amount of moisture, leaving many sunny days for Bend.

Many of the days in summer can be quite hot, but an early morning start to an elopement can remedy that. You can cool down at any of the amazing alpine lakes up the Cascade Lakes Highway, or in the Deschutes River that runs right through town.

And in the winter, we do get some snow. But, depending on the year, it is very manageable… it’ll snow, drop some fluffy powder, then clear and the snow will melt… then it’ll snow again in a couple weeks. The snow is all up in the mountains, where we want it for fun winter activities like skiing or snowshoeing.

3. Bend has amazing eateries.

Being a town that has been up and coming for quite a while, there have been a number of amazing restaurants that have established themselves, and there’s more ever year.

There is a range of fanciness. Whether your vibe is more casual or you want an upscale experience, you’ll find something to your liking.

A few ideas for places that I really like–

An early morning stop at Sisters Bakery for Central Oregon’s best donuts (in my humble opinion).

A stop at Spork for fusion cuisine inspired by street food from Latin America and Asia. The line can be long… but that’s because it’s worth it.

Mid morning coffee and some book browsing at Dudley’s Cafe. My favorite establishment in Bend, hands down.

A riverside bowl of Ramen at Sen. This spot overlooks Bend’s famous River Trail, which winds all the way through town.

A lively dinner at Wild Rose, the best Thai restaurant I’ve ever been to. It also happens to be across the street from an old school arcade, which is another fun elopement idea…

A late night stop at the drive thru window at Taco Salsa… don’t let the name fool you. This is some of the most authentic Mexican food in Bend… and I’m from the Bay Area, so my standards are quite high…

**As I’m writing these, I can see all the photos in my mind’s eye… **

Bend also has a number of food truck pods, where people can pick from several different cuisines and still eat together. Bonus, they are often connected to a tap room of some sort, which leads nicely into the next reason to pick Bend as an elopement destination.

4. Bend has so many amazing breweries.

Seriously, a world class selection of small, craft breweries and larger breweries that distribute nationwide. It is a major part of the culture here, and there’s even a race that stops at breweries along the way.

Some of my favorites–

10 Barrel West Side – underrated spot for pizza, honestly.

Bevel – So named for the disc golf discs that line the walls.

Silver Moon – Also a great venue for music. Check out their upcoming shows!

Avid Cider Co. – Just great cider.

Monkless – Specializing in Belgian style ales, they also have a picturesque deck overlooking the river.

Van Henion – Their velvet wallpaper makes me feel like I’m in a Christmas movie in a good way.

Bend Brewing Co. – A classic, and right on the Deschutes River Trail.

The Bend Ale Trail is a resource that you can use to decide which spots you want to visit.

*Just so you know: I personally would not patron Deschutes Brewery, as they have a history of ignoring rampant sexual harassment among their staff, and they have employed known abusers, protecting them from any repercussions.

SIDENOTE: If cocktails are more your thing, there are some great options for you too.

San Simon, The Flamingo Room, Dogwood, The Broom Closet at McMenamins, and Velvet are some of the places I like to go.

5. In terms of scenery, Bend has it all.

Ok, well, not Bend Proper, but Central Oregon. The region is the meeting point of many different eco regions, creating a diverse tapestry of landscapes to choose from.

Desert – Bend’s high desert landscapes themselves vary widely. There are towering cliffs at Smith Rock are one of Central Oregon’s most popular sites to visit. But just a little farther afield, in Lake County, there are vast sand dunes, craters, seas of sage brush and cracks in the ground… The crack in the ground is called Crack In The Ground… I wonder who named it.

I’m going to take this opportunity to make a plug for Eastern Oregon if the desert is your fancy… It is the most underrated outdoor playground in the PNW, in my opinion. Here’s a post about the best elopement locations in Eastern Oregon.

Mountains – From Crater Lake to the Jefferson Wilderness, there are so many montane vistas to choose from. Oregon’s tumultuous volcanic history has shaped them into tall strata volcanoes, expansive lava flows and deep canyons.

And one thing that often comes with mountain landscapes… alpine lakes! The Cascade Lakes Highway has many to choose from. Sparks Lake has the best accessible views, Elk Lake is the perfect swimming temperature by July, Hosmer has the best wildlife and equally epic views if you’re willing to paddle a little.

Bonus! The volcanic landscape also means hot springs 🙂

Rivers – Oregon has the highest number of Wild and Scenic Rivers of any state, and a number of them are within a very reasonable driving distance from Bend, including the Deschutes, Crooked, Metolius, Whychus, and McKenzie, among others.

Plus, at the risk of sounding patronizing… rivers and creeks are the things that make waterfalls. Oregon has the best waterfalls… I’ll die on that hill.

Forests – Because of that aforementioned meeting of eco regions, we also have a diversity of forests. There are a number of National Forests surrounding Bend that each boast a unique ecosystem.

Old growth ponderosa forests, juniper woodlands, mixed conifer forest with cedars and douglas firs. There’s even groves of larches that turn bright yellow in the fall.

And if you want to see more than conifers, the understories have gorgeous dogwoods, vine maples and big leaf maples. The rivers are lined with willows and alders.

Tree nerd’s paradise, really…

Here’s a gallery of all the different types of elopement scenery Central Oregon has to offer.

6. There is so much to do in Bend.

A lot of people wonder how they’ll fill a full-day elopement… well, the answer is simple: do activities that feel meaningful or fun. Bend has a plethora of activities in any season.

Many of them are sporty, like hiking, climbing, paddling, biking, etc. And I’m a big big fan of hiking and paddling elopements…

But there is so much to do–

Float the river.
Ride the ski lift at Mount Bachelor.
Do the zipline.
Take a dip in the river.
Paint mugs for each other at a ceramic shop.
Hit the arcade.
Visit a local bookshop.
Go dancing.
Visit an alpaca farm (fun fact: Deschutes county has the second highest number of alpacas in the country).
Go fishing.
Get a flight at one of the breweries.
Visit the High Desert Museum.
Go to a concert at Hayden Homes Amphitheater (surprisingly big names for a small town– Hozier, Glass Animals, The Head and The Heart, Lake Street Dive, The Lumineers… just to name a few in the past few years). Tip from a local: Float the river during a concert and just listen!
Attend one of Bend’s many events! There’s honestly live music and shows happening all the time at different bars and breweries. The smaller ones are really fun. In a similar vane, there are seasonal festivals that take over the downtown area that are super fun… during the last Summer Fest, I went up some stairs I’d never noticed and found an art gallery giving out free wine! Plus every Thursday in the Summer, there’s Munch N Music at Drake Park.
Rollerskate (or ice skate) at the Pavillion.
Go cross country skiing or snowshoeing. (In the winter they host a concert series where you can do this with special headphones and listen to live a piano player. It’s so lovely.)
Go skiing or snowboarding at Mount Bachelor.

Anywhooooo… you get the point. There’s so much to do and ways to celebrate your elopement in Bend.

7. Bend is incredibly dog friendly.

This won’t move the needle for some of you, but it might be an important consideration for some people. It’s nice to know that if you choose to bring your pup, there are many places where they are allowed to join.

Most of the land around Bend is either National Forest or Bureau of Land Management, so dogs are allowed unless otherwise stated. And the state parks usually allow dogs, as long as they stay on leash.

There is a wide range of restaurants where dogs are allowed, and there are top tier dog sitting services in town, including one that takes your dog on an epic off leash adventure with a pack of other dogs!

I hope this article has done a little bit of work in convincing you to at least consider eloping in Bend.

Bend, Oregon Elopement Photographer

As you embark upon your elopement planning journey, I’d be honored to be considered as your photographer. Since hiking across Oregon on the PCT in 2016, I have explored so many nooks and crannies of this state, and ultimately made it my home in 2019.

Whether you’re seriously considering a Central Oregon elopement or have your sights set wider to the Greater PNW, I’m here to help you narrow down the perfect location and plan the perfect elopement day.