Here’s the Chill Surfer Wedding Inspo You Never Knew You Needed

Reasons to have a surfer wedding 

  • It’s the perfect balance of chill and adventurous 
  • You can explore multiple locations
  • You’ll have a wedding day that incorporates something you love
  • You’ll have the most incredible memories (and photos)
During their surfer wedding, a bride and groom cheer on a rocky beach. They raise their hands in exclamation and cheer excitedly after exchanging vows on the rocky beach. Rain pours down on them.

A Chill Surfer Wedding on the Oregon Coast

Elle and Caleb reached out to us about 3 weeks before they wanted to have their surfer wedding and we were of course STOKED (because when are we not). 

They Knew they wanted a wedding day that:

  1. felt authentic to them
  2. Was intentional 
  3. Had a hint of adventure 

Their year had been a beautiful one, buying a house together, welcoming a sweet lil’ babe into the world, and building a beautiful life together.

They wanted their wedding day to celebrate all of these milestones and pieces of their story. 

They also wanted to get married at the end of September/early October, which was approaching V quickly.

As they explore the beach after their surfer wedding, a couple seeks shelter from the downpour inside a shallow sea cave. roots of a tree above them cascade down the side of the cave as they gaze towards the far out ocean.
a beautifully composed parallel image of a couple standing in lush, coastal greenery before their surfer wedding.
during their surfer wedding, a groom carries the sopping wet, and muddy train of his brides dress as they explore the beach.
after their surfer wedding, a couple in their wedding attire explores a moody beach. their footsteps can be seen in the sannd.

Planning their surfer wedding

during their surfer wedding, a bride and groom kiss on the shore of a rocky beach, in front of a beautiful bridge. A wave of white sea foam rolls between them as they embrace.

We had our first call with Caleb & Elle and immediately felt such an amazing connection with them. We chatted for over an hour and pretty much had their day planned on our first call. 

We were all buzzing with excitement when we finished up the flow of their day that incorporated the things that made them happiest. 

  1. A chill family morning walk 
  2. A surf session
  3. Getting ready in their home
  4. Exploring their fave local beach together 
  5. Exchanging vows + celebrating

We work with couples to help plan and document Oregon Coast elopements, so planning a chill surfer wedding in 3ish weeks, was no sweat!

Let’s get to know each other

Surfer Wedding Logistics

Their surfer wedding was less than a month away, and with a “just us” elopement on the Central Oregon Coast, putting everything together was a breeze. 

Here are some of the logistics we considered for their day:

Surfer Wedding Logistic #1 | Weather + Surf

Keeping an eye on the weather and the surf is probably the biggest logistic to consider when you’re planning a surfer wedding. 

Having multiple locations and a flexible timeline made pivoting easy-peasy when faced with the unpredictability of autumn on the Pacific Coast. To check the tides go here.

Let’s talk about your vision
during their surfer wedding, a bride and groom walk through a tunnel of sea grass with their boards. They wear their wetsuits as they prepare for a brisk surf session
During their surfer wedding, a couple heads towards the surf with their boards.
during their surfer wedding, a couple paddles out to catch a small wave on their boards.
during their surfer wedding, a bride and groom dismount their boards from the roof rack of their car. They both wear wet suits as they prepare for a quick adventure.

Surfer Wedding Logistic #2 | Permits

When planning an Oregon Coast Elopement or wedding, you’ll need to be ultra sure you’re getting any necessary permits. If you’re having a surfer wedding that’s just the two of you (plus your Oregon elopement photographers) you likely won’t need to worry about getting a special use permit. 

Surfer Wedding Logistics #3 | The Details

Pulling the details together had to happen quickly. Elle ordered her dress and their vow books from Etsy, and they used a local florist, Florence in Bloom to create some STUNNING florals for their surfer wedding. Keeping the details simple, but intentional was key in making this surfer wedding chill and gorgeous.

Let’s talk about your day
during their surfer wedding, a couple in their wetsuits walk through puddles on the beach. Their steps cause the puddles to splash as their boards frame their feet, becoming the focus of this story-telling image.

The Flow of Their Surfer Wedding

The morning of their day

Caleb and Elle began their day with a chill family walk in the woods with their sweet babe and pup. It was a moody morning and the fog settled in over the treetops creating that iconic PNW feel.

It was important to begin their day with a calm experience to set the tone for the rest of their day together.

After a sweet walk in the woods, we popped over to the beach for a sweet lil’ surf sesh on the chilly coast.

Their home provided the perfect, cozy setting for them to get ready

Let’s talk
The morning of their elopement, a couple sets the tone by sharing a quiet walk through the woods. They gaze at the dense fog that clings to the tops of the lush canopy.
A wide shot of a couple walking among the lush greenery of a forest.
A family hikes and pauses together holding their baby as the lush greenery surrounds them
A smiling couple embraces while walking through the woods
A bride admires her wedding dress with her baby in her hand, as she prepares for her surfer wedding.
A black and white image of a bride helping a groom get dressed for their surfer wedding.
A black and white image of the details of this couples surfer wedding. Their details include their vow books, rings, and the grooms boutonnière.
A couple in their wedding attire pop a bottle of champagne as they celebrate their surfer wedding
A groom stands in a coastal forest while wearing his suit for his surfer elopement
A bride walks through a coastal forest in her dress, holding her flowers as she prepares for her surfer wedding.
A story telling shot of the moody beach with an iron bridge where this surfer wedding will take placce
A black and white image of a bride and groom hiking through a coastal forest before their surfer wedding. The image is black and white, bringing highlight the shadows of the forest, drawing focus to the couple on their journey.
A black and white photo of a couple kissing at the base of a light house in wedding attire. There is wind whipping through their clothes.
A bride walks on the beach during her surfer wedding as the wind billows her dress and whips her hair around wildly.
An image of a groom reading his vows to his bride on a moody beach during their surfer wedding

Their laid back beach ceremony

A black and white image of a story telling shot of a brides vows. She reads them to her groom on a moody beach during their surfer wedding.

After getting ready in their sweet home, we arrived at their favorite local beach. The one where they had spent countless mornings watching the sun rise and set, where they explored tide pools for endless hours, where they felt grounded in themselves.

We hiked around the bright, green coastal woods, popping over to the popular lighthouse that stood watch over the sea.

As we explored, the wind began to pick up and the surf started to churn, creating thick, white sea foam and icy waves.

It felt like the weather was matching the excitement and adventure we were all feeling.

Caleb and Elle wanted to embrace the elements and lean into the what the day had in store for them.

A bride and groom exchange vows on a moody beach during their surfer elopement. It is raining heavily, but they are thrilled.

Under the billowing sky, standing by the roiling waves, Elle and Caleb exchanged hand written vows.

The salty air wiped through their hair and their clothes accentuating the drama of the weather.

Warm from the excitement of their ceremony and inspired by the scenery, we explored the sea stacks and ran through waves until we lost all the feeling in our fingers and toes.

As their day came to a close, we all shotgunned a beer to celebrate their epic day, their sweet new chapter, and the beautiful life they had cultivated together.

We want this day!
A tattooed bride slides a ring onto her grooms finger during their surfer elopement
A black and white image of a bride and groom sharing their first kiss on a moody beach during their surfer elopement.
a bride and groom kiss on a moody beach following their surfer wedding. The waves roll over their bare feet.
A bride and groom traipse through the tide as they explore a moody beach after their surfer wedding.
A landscape shot of a lighthouse on a seaside cliff. Its line shines brightly through the moody storm that has rolled in
A black and white image of the texture of the sea foam witnessed during this surfer wedding
As the tide rolls in and the icy waters roll over them, the couple from this surfer wedding remains embraced, not caring that the water has risen to their knees.
Joy exudes from this couple after they are pronounced married after their surfer wedding. They jump, shout, and throw their hands up in celebration.
After their surfer wedding, a groom stands at the door of their car, warming up and enjoying a celebratory beer
A detail shot focusing on the footwear of the bride from this surfer wedding. her dress billows over her Blundstone boots, and the ends of her camp blanket hang near her ankles
After their surfer wedding, a bride and groom hang a celebratory "just married" banner on the back of their car.
Let’s get started

Working with us for their surfer wedding

Here’s what these two amazing folks said about their day and working with us:

“WOW. We wish we could leave a 10 star review for Sam and Kyle! My (now husband) and I were searching for the right photographer on the central Oregon coast for our private elopement. After reaching out to many, we scheduled a phone call with Sam+ Kyle. We immediately noticed how much these two truly care about your wishes for your special day(s). They want to work WITH you and made our sessions so natural. They are extremely prompt with communication + planning, and having two skilled photographers working with you makes a world of difference as well. Sam and Kyle spent a couple of days with us on the Oregon coast, multiple adventure sessions and included sweetest moments with our new daughter as well. We will cherish our photos from The Dropped Pin, and our friendship with Sam + Kyle, forever! If you’re looking to step out of the traditional wedding box and do it your own way, hire them. “

A black and white image of a couple shotgunning a beer to celebrate their elopement on the moody coast.

Genuinely, there’s no better way to get married than by planning a day that feels equal parts adventurous and peaceful. From the very beginning, working with these two gems to make their surfer wedding unfold exactly as they dreamed it would was absolutely incredible. It is always an honor to witness two folks who love each other so deeply embark on a new chapter, and creating a day that celebrated the story that got them there felt even more sacred.

For more inspo, check these resources and guides:

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