It goes without saying that I’m always excited to work with couples on their wedding day. Having the responsibility to document meaningful moments never gets old. When I was asked to photograph this couple's sunrise elopement on the Oregon Coast, I was especially excited. Not only was it going to be a beautiful and intimate wedding, but it would also be an opportunity to show the couple the stunning beauty of the Oregon Coast for the first time.
These two are from Kentucky and came across my photos on Pinterest. They had never been to the Oregon Coast before but knew it was exactly what they wanted for their wedding ceremony. Leading up to their day I helped provide recommendations and coordinate a timeline relative to light. I shared with them my Cannon Beach Elopement Guide and list of locations around Cannon Beach for ceremonies, portraits, etc. They were in good hands as they packed their bags and flew out to the Pacific Northwest for their dream wedding.
The original plan was to meet at sunrise at Hug Point and exchange their vows on the beach but as they settled into their trip they realized that sunrise in the summer in Oregon is pretty dang early! You've really got to be a morning person to be up for the challenge. Is it worth it? Sure but it doesn't have to be the highest priority that dictates your whole day. Instead we decided to kick things off around 6:30am with some getting ready photos followed by a short drive to the beach for their ceremony.
Despite the early hour, the couple was full of energy and joy as they exchanged vows and celebrated their love for one another. The tide was low that morning and allowed us to access areas of the beach that wouldn't otherwise be reachable. We settled on a spot that had cool mossy rocks and tide pools that created fun reflections of the couple.
They shared their vows in an intimate ceremony with just me, Jenny as a witness, and their wedding officiant, Zach of Old Ways Ceremonies, who I had recommended while planning. Zach is such a great celebrant who works with you ahead of time to prepare a ceremony that celebrates your relationship. He’s kind and just an overall great person to be around.
After the ceremony, Jenny and I helped to set up a celebratory brunch with champagne and pastries on the beach. We then spent the morning exploring Hug Point and capturing beautiful photographs of the two of them. I love having the opportunity to show people locations in Oregon that I love and that they haven't seen before.
The couple's (almost) sunrise elopement on the Oregon Coast was a truly memorable and unique experience. It was such a pleasure and honor to be a part of their wedding day and capture these once-in-a-lifetime memories for them.
