Cannon Beach, Oregon: Elopement Location Spotlight
If you don’t know by now, I absolutely love natural landscapes and being outdoors. While I didn’t elope myself, I’m a huge fan of elopements. I love the idea of getting married, just you and your very best friend in an incredible location of your choosing — the locations are literally endless, but the Pacific Northwest and Oregon have some seriously top-notch elopement locations.
Cannon Beach is a classic spot on the northern Oregon Coast and it’s just a hop, skip and jump from Portland, Oregon’s largest city. Okay, so it’s not really a hop, skip and jump away, it’s technically an hour and a half away (less if you’ve got a lead foot), but pretty close if you ask me. Eloping in incredible landscapes doesn’t always mean you have to drive or fly to somewhere really remote. Cannon Beach is extremely accessible. It’s a breathtaking landscape and the town has all the amenities you need.
Things to Consider When Planning a Cannon Beach Elopement
Unlike many national parks that require a permit to hold an elopement or small wedding, you do not need a permit to elope or have an intimate wedding in Cannon Beach, or beautiful nearby Ecola State Park (less than 50 people, including your officiant and photographer).
Obtain Your Oregon Elopement Marriage License
What you do need to elope in Cannon Beach or any other location in Oregon is a marriage license. You can obtain a marriage license in any Oregon county, regardless if where you live and where you’re marrying in Oregon. However, you must submit your paperwork after you get married to the same county that issues your marriage license.
Licenses are valid for 60 days after a three-day waiting period. You can find out more information on obtaining marriage licenses in Oregon here.
Weather + Time of Year for an Oregon Coast Elopement
Aside from the required marriage license, a couple of major considerations for eloping in Cannon Beach are the time of year you choose to elope and what day of the week you choose to elope. Coastal Oregon can be incredibly wet, so in terms of clear skies on your special day, getting married in the summer months will give you the best shot at a dry and sunny day. With that said, Cannon Beach is certainly a tourist destination in Oregon and the summer months make it a really popular place to be.
Choosing a weekday is best to avoid the crowds that will undoubtedly be in the area. If you’re willing to wed in a slightly chillier time of year where drizzle isn’t out of the question, spring and fall are still beautiful seasons at the coast and really do showcase all of what the PNW is renowned for — moody, foggy and overcast vibes. Another important consideration are the tide patterns. The Oregon Coast is raw and stunning, but you’ll want to make sure it’s safe to be on the coast on your wedding day.
Cannon Beach Elopement Locations
Due to the popularity of Cannon Beach, it’s not a bad idea to have a few locations in mind for your elopement or intimate wedding. A few options to consider are:
Haystack Rock (main beach in Cannon Beach)
Ecola State Park (just north of downtown Cannon Beach)
Hug Point State Recreation Site (just south of downtown Cannon Beach)
If you’re thinking about eloping or having your wedding on the Oregon Coast and need florals for your event, I’m always happy to travel to work when my schedule allows. Connect with me here and I’d love to discuss your floral needs.
Photography: MacCoy Dean
Planning: Kamea Events
Hair + Makeup: Dallas Merkley