Pacific Coast Wedding Inspo is Here and it’s Giving *Effortless*

During their Pacific Coast Wedding, a couple walks a long the edge of a coastal cliff. The weather is moody and the ocean waves swirl beneath the basalt cliffs

Morgan and Quinn reached out to us just a few months before their Pacific Coast wedding. They had their hearts set on a Cannon Beach ceremony and wanted to explore some of the other trails nearby. They wanted Oregon elopement photographers that could help them plan and document their Pacific Coast wedding and keep things effortless.

They both wanted to focus their day on being present with each other, spending time with their sweet family, while also carving out moments for themselves to explore alone.

On our first call, we zeroed in on how they wanted to feel through each part of their Pacific Coast wedding, how they wanted to remember each element, and their biggest intentions.

While they wanted to let go of any of the traditional elements of a wedding, they still wanted their day to feel special and incorporate a few details to make their day feel special.

during their Pacific Coast Wedding, a couple in their wedding attire sits on a coastal cliff. They gaze out at the jagged cliffs and ocean below them.
during their Pacific Coast wedding, a couple walks towards Haystack rock in their wedding attire.
a couple in their wedding attire stands on a grassy cliff pointing out into the distance. They embrace as the groom points out into the distance.
a large landscape shot of a couple in their wedding attire walking along a trail that is carved into a green cliff. The camera is far away, making the couple appear tiny as they explore during their Pacific Coast Wedding.
A romantic bouquet of roses and eucalyptus lay delicately on a rocky seaside cliff. The bride has laid them down as she explores during her Pacific Coast Wedding. The wine colored, silk ribbon billows in the wind.
A shot to show off the landscape this couple chose to explore during their coastal elopement. They stand on the edge of a sea cliff with choppy ocean waves beneath them. They embrace in their wedding attire.

Planning for Bad Weather during a Pacific Coast Wedding

As their day approached, some gnarly weather began to move. We shoot in the rain allllll the time and hopped on a few calls with M+Q to create backup plans to help them craft their day around the storms that were beginning to develop.

While we shoot rain or shine and encourage embracing the elements, having a bad weather backup plan is always a good idea when you’re planning an Oregon Coast Elopement.

The pivot for their day was an easy one and we ended up being able to completely avoid the rain.

Planning their Pacific Coast Wedding

The planning process with these two cuties was so relaxed. During our initial call we helped them get a super clear vision of their day and that always makes the rest of the process a breeze.

Our planning process is built to prioritize intentionality by using thought-out questionnaires and multiple planning conversations to get a really good pulse on the vision our couples have for their Pacific Coast wedding. It’s important for us to fully understand every couples needs, concerns, and to help them think of all the tiny details that can get lost in the process. 

This entire process helps us help couples curate days that are totally unique to them, and also result in some pretty amazing friendships. The story of your day and the beautiful images that you’ll look back on start on your first call with us.

a couple in their wedding attire kiss in front of the iconic haystack rock on cannon, beach. The fog rolls in and creates a moody vibe for their Pacific Coast wedding.

Vendors for their Pacific Coast Wedding

While M+Q wanted to keep their Pacific Coast Wedding super laid back, they knew they wanted to hire a few local vendors to add an extra element to their day.

Morgan wanted to bring in a local hair and makeup artist to help her get ready for their sunrise ceremony. The Union Knot is local to Cannon Beach and a fave vendor of ours and met Morgan before dawn to help her get ready for their sunrise ceremony.

We got to work with another of our fave local vendors, Oregon Coast Wedding Flowers as she provided some gorgeous and super romantic florals for their day.

M+Q also booked out some rooms at the Hallmark Resort and Spa. This was the perfect space for the to get ready with their crew and have views of the iconic Haystack rock on Cannon Beach.

A bride gazes out at a large haystack rock on an empty beach as she gets ready for her Pacific Coast wedding.

Pacific Coast Wedding Permits

Depending where you’re tying the knot on the Pacific Coast, and the details of your celebration, you may need to get a special use permit for your ceremony. For the Oregon Coast, this is only required if your group is 50+ or you plan to use any “structures”. Read more about special use permits here.

Their Pacific Coast Wedding

After getting ready, M+Q shared a private forst look on Cannon Beach. It was a moody morning and the tiniest sliver of fog rolled onto the beach.

Those chose to have their immediate family present as they exchanged vows and promised the rest of their lives to each other. Sam served as their officiant, and we all cried together as they read the most heartfelt vows to each other.

When their ceremony ended, we hopped over to a coastal trail to allow M+Q some time to soak it all in together.

Under the haze of another overcast day out on the coast, they watched the waves until it was time to meet their crew for a bonfire reception.

during their pacific coast wedding explores a coastal cliff looking over the ocean.
An empty beach with a large haystack rock.
as she prepares for her Pacific Coast wedding, a bride gazes at her wedding dress that hangs outside. The silhouette of a foggy, rocky beach can be seen in the background.
a mother helps her daughter prepare for her pacific coast wedding. She stands to the side of her daughter and helps to secure the straps of her wedding dress.
a bride laces up her Nikes, her chosen shoe for her pacific coast elopement.
a boutonnière is fastened to the lapel of a grooms suit. Two pale, pink roses nestled with greenery.
A mother fastens the boutonnière onto her sons suit jacket as he gets ready.
A young girl in a pink and white dress helps her mother prepare for her Pacific coast wedding. Her mother gazes towards the beach as she zips her dress.
A bride walks out onto the empty, foggy beach to her groom. he faces away from her, waiting to be turned around for their first look during their pacific coast wedding
a groom smiles and laughs joyfully as he sees his bride in her dress for the first time during their Pacific coast wedding
a bride and groom exchange vows in front of a haystack rock on a gloomy beach. They are surrounded by their family during their pacific coast wedding
a groom smiles as his bride reads her vows vows on a gloomy beach. They are surrounded by their family during their pacific coast wedding
a detail shot of the brides vow book as she reads from it during her pacific coast wedding
a detail shot of this couples vow books laying displayed in the sea grass. their wedding bands lay on top of them
a perspective shot of the father of the bride crying joyfully. he is framed by the bride and groom. The groom is reading his vows to the bride during their pacific coast wedding.
A shot of the grooms family reactions during the vow exchange on the gloomy beach. his mother, dressed for the occasion smiles excitedly as she witnesses their union during their pacific coast wedding
a close up shot of a bride placing the wedding band on her grooms finger
A bride clutching her bouquet of roses and greenery smiles lovingly at her groom. The wind blows the ribbon of her bouquet during their pacific coast wedding
a detail shot of the brides romantic bouquet. It is is filled with white, red, and merlot colored roses. Soft greenery adds depth to this romantic arrangement.
a bride and groom exchange their first kiss as married. they kiss on the empty, moody beach as they celebrate their pacific coast wedding
a bride and groom exchange their first kiss as married. they kiss in front of haystack rock as they celebrate their pacific coast wedding
a bride holds her romantic bouquet and smiles at the camera during her pacific coast wedding
a groom fastens his suit jacket and smiles as he looks out during his pacific coast wedding
a bride and groom stand atop a green cliff. they kiss in their wedding attire. the cliff slopes down to the corner of the frame and the sky is gray and frames them.
a groom smiles at his bride on a green trail as they explore during their pacific coast wedding
a close up shot of a bouquet being carried by the groom as he and his bride explore during their pacific coast wedding
a wide landscape shot of a bride and groom explore a green trail that leads to an open cliffside during their pacific coast wedding
a close up shot of a groom lovingly holding his brides arm. they are embracing.
during their pacific coast wedding, a bride and groom kiss on the side of a cliff. the background is the icy gray ocean.
a close up shot of a bride and groom interlacing their arms
a close up shot of a brides ring on her hand. her hand rests on her grooms chest
during their pacific coast wedding, a bride and groom snuggle and smile as they sit on a blanket in their wedding attire
a perspective shot of a groom gazing lovingly at his bride. his face is in focus and is framed by her silhouette during their pacific coast wedding
a perspective shot of a bride gazing lovingly at her groom. her face is in focus and is framed by his silhouette during their pacific coast wedding
after exploring, a bride and groom in comfortable clothing head down a wooden staircase to their beach reception to celebrate their pacific coast wedding
a detail shot of a small wedding cake topped with romantic, pink roses. it sits a top a round piece of oak. two golden forks lay near it with the intials of the bride and groom celebrating their pacific coast wedding
a detail shot of the red and white roses of this romantic pacific coast wedding bouquet.
a detail shot of the reception table for this pacific coast wedding. it is decorated with roses, a wedding cake, an elopement sign, and local wine
a bride and groom kiss in front of haystack rock. they are in comfy clothing and are celebrating their pacific coast wedding on the beach
a detail shot of the celebratory bonfire for this pacific coast wedding. it blazes in front of haystack rock.
a detail shot of the initials of the bride and groom inside of a heart that is drawn in the sand to commemorate their pacific coast wedding