This Oregon Coast Elopement at Rockaway Beach happened over two separate days. The couple was able to intimately exchange vows on the first day, and on the second they were joined by their family at the courthouse and then enjoyed a delicious seafood reception in town! 

Train tracks and forest and beach, oh my! 

I met up with K & D in Rockaway Beach off highway 101 where they had wanted to get pictures near some train tracks. I was initially hesitant as the last thing I want is for myself or my clients to be struck down by a train, but with both my clients and myself having checked the schedule we were all reassured as the train was not in operation that day. If you DO want to recreate photos of walking along train tracks please please PLEASE make sure you are looking in advance at train schedules and making sure that the tracks you want to walk along will not have a train operating on them. 

They told me they had a specific spot in mind right around the bend that they had wanted to get photos at, and I was BLOWN AWAY when we round the corner and saw this beautiful rock formation rising up out of the water. It made for the most amazing backdrop as they exchanged vows along the rocky coastline. 

We didn’t have a first look as they had gotten ready together and drove in the same car to our meeting location. 

We set aside three different spots for their portrait photos and after taking a few walking along the tracks it was on to the next location! 

The groom’s brother met us at our second location with their dogs in tow, and dressed them in their very own suit and wedding dress which was so absolutely adorable!

I always love it when couples want their furry family members to be a part of their day, and it was so special that they wore matching outfits to suit the occasion.

Then, it was on to our third location, the sandy shores of Rockaway Beach. We arrived just in time for some absolutely stunning views of the sunset, and the beach was surprisingly vacant, allowing the couple to soak in some quality private time together. 

For their second day of coverage we started at the Tillamook courthouse with the couple’s family in attendance where they had a short ceremony to finalize the paperwork, and then it was on to the reception at Jandy’s Oyster Co. in one of their greenhouses. We took family photos, cut the cake, and enjoyed some absolutely delicious shrimp cocktails and prawn tacos. 

A Greenhouse theme 

I think the idea of holding the reception in a greenhouse was brilliant, as November at the Oregon Coast can quite cold. The reception setting had a beautiful green background for family photos, and a beautiful display table featuring the couples’ wedding colors of lavender and sage. They had succulent centerpieces as well as a wooden frame set up with the sola wood flowers that featured photos they had taken from their elopement day back in October. 

Personalized party favors

The bride and groom put together some very special party favors for their guests, having created candles using scents that they both loved and featuring a photo of the two of them from their elopement day. Their candles were dyed in their wedding day colors, featuring lavender and ocean scents. 

Rockaway Beach Old Growth Nature Preserve

The Big Tree Boardwalk was an amazing spot for photos, with a grove of old-growth cedars lining the wooden walkway and leading us to the ancient “Big Tree”. 

This loop was just a 1 mile walk, open year round with an observation deck to stop and soak in the majestic old Cedar here. 

Our third and final location was on the beach itself, where we were easily able to find parking with direct beach access, and take a stroll along the sandy coast line.

Permits & Passes 

Unless you’re planning an event with more than 50 people or want to include a set up with chairs and an arbor, you will not need a permit or parking pass for any of the locations mentioned. If you want to have a county clerk officiate your wedding or elopement you will need to set up an appointment with the courthouse’s office. In this case K & D held their actual ceremony in the Tillamook courthouse and we were permitted to take photos of the ceremony, as we weren’t in one of the actual courtrooms.  

Vendor shout out: 

The bride crafted her bouquet and decorative flowers herself using Sola Wood Flowers, which is such a unique and creative way to have wedding flowers when working on a budget. Jandy Oyster Co. hosted the reception in one of their greenhouses and catered the absolutely delicious food, I was very fortunate to be able to box up some food for the road and let me tell you the po boy and prawn tacos were scrumptious! 

The cake was artfully decorated by Helan Bernhard Bakery, and the wedding toppers were custom made through Etsy. 

The bride’s hair and makeup stayed looking amazing through the windiness of the coast thanks to Beauty and the Brush. 

Oregon Coast elopement & wedding photographer

If you loved reading about this elopement at Rockaway Beach and want to start planning your own, I would love to be your photographer! If you book with me I will send you a personalized location guide as well as an elopement guide with all kinds of helpful hints and tips for planning your day. 

Engagement sessions are 1.5 hours at $625; if you’re looking for elopement day coverage I have packages that start at $2,500 for 4 hours of coverage; if you’re planning a larger wedding and need more coverage, Package One includes 8 hours of coverage at $4,800 and an optional 50% off an engagement session. Check out the starting prices here

Loved reading about this Oregon Coast Elopement at Rockaway Beach and want to inquire about available dates? Contact me here 

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