experience-centered photography for couples that want a beautifully documented + meaningful wedding day

Ecola State Park Elopement

Elopement, Love, Wedding

Ecola State Park is the perfect spot for an intimate wedding with stunning backdrops.

Having an intimate wedding or elopement at Ecola State Park is sure to be a memorable experience. Oregon has so many stunning locations for elopements, but this area of the Oregon Coast is especially gorgeous.

black and white photo of bride and groom walking

How to Plan an Intimate Wedding at Ecola State Park

Planning an intimate wedding in Oregon is SUPER easy! There are so many options for locations, and I am always happy to assist my clients in choosing the perfect spot for them. There are several things to consider before committing to an intimate wedding; here’s a few things to get you started!

bride and groom walking along beach together in misty weather at Ecola State Park

1. Envision your perfect day (as a couple!)

Think of what environment you two love and are most comfortable in, and incorporate things you love to do together! Think of how you want to feel and go from there! Season and location can be a big part of this, and is always something to consider! If you want an intimate wedding on the Oregon coast, for example, I recommend between August-October.

There are so many ways you can customize your day at Ecola State Park, whether that’s going hiking, hanging with your pup, or grabbing a melt at your fave place by the beach. I’ve had couples who rent cabins or homes in the area and celebrate the morning with intimate time together drinking coffee and playing board games.

2. Consider who you want to be there

When deciding the guest list for an intimate wedding, think about who you are most comfortable being around, and who you have the best time with. While some may choose guests based on obligation (and that’s totally understandable with family!), really consider who will make the day as least stressful as possible. If you can’t narrow down a list and the idea of picking who can and can’t come overwhelms you, then maybe consider a private elopement or minimony, and then a reception or party with more people later!

The area around Ecola State Park is perfect for this combination of an elopement and celebrating with a small group of loved ones. You can celebrate an intimate elopement with your partner on the beach and then meet up with loved ones at a nearby restaurant.

3. Choose the right vendors

While elopements and intimate weddings tend to have much fewer moving parts than a traditional wedding, there are still some things you might want to book in advance! Vendors such as photo + video, hair + makeup, and flowers tend to be the most common for intimate weddings, but there is no limit on what you can include on your day! Always ask your photographer for vendor referrals, as we most often have a list compiled of fellow artists and vendors whose work we are familiar with and can recommend!

Here are some of my favorite vendors that will travel to or are located in the Ecola State Park area:

Florists

These florists specialize in packages that are perfect for micro weddings or elopements.

Novella Theory

You can check out their website and Instagram:

https://www.novellatheory.com/

https://www.instagram.com/novella_floral/

Wildflower Portland

https://www.instagram.com/wildflower_portland/

https://wildflowerportland.com/

Brier & Ivy

https://www.instagram.com/brierandivy/

https://www.brierandivy.com/

Makeup and hair artists

I love these makeup and hair artists for Cannon Beach elopements. They’re able to help you get an effortless, beautiful look.

Bakers

Cannon Beach bakery is a great local option to find your wedding cake. Dream Cakes is based in Portland but a great fit for getting a beautiful, custom cake for your Cannon Beach elopement.

Cannon Beach Bakery

cannonbeachbakery.com

https://www.instagram.com/cannonbeachbakery/

Dream Cakes

https://www.instagram.com/dreamcakespnw/

https://dreamcakespnw.com/

Planners

Curated Mess Co

https://curatedmess.co/

https://www.instagram.com/curatedmess.co/

For more inspiration for your Oregon Coast elopement, check out my Cannon Beach blog!

Cannon Beach is pretty close to Ecola State Park so you can easily hit up both areas in your time here. You can also download my freebie where I give you 13 Airbnbs to host your elopement, plus three timeline ideas if you’re opting for a Cannon Beach/Ecola State Park elopement!

Kourtney and Sage’s wedding at Ecola State Park

Kourtney and Sage dancing on the beach at Haystack rock in Cannon Beach, Oregon

To say that this intimate Oregon coast wedding was much anticipated would be a total understatement! Kourtney and Sage had originally planned to get married in Hawaii, but due to the craziness of the pandemic…well, that didn’t get to happen. However, plan B turned out to be SO perfect! They hosted the sweetest intimate wedding at Ecola State Park surrounded by their closest people!!

After their cliffside ceremony (and lots of hugs to go around) we headed out to Cannon beach! The perfect spot for some epic PNW elopement portraits of the bride and groom! And then we went to the couple’s favorite food spot on the coast and they got some melts (their first meal as Mr. and Mrs!) They ended the day back at their Airbnb, where they continued to celebrate with their loved ones. Literally the most intentional and intimate wedding, my absolute favorite to document!!

Intimate Weddings

While just a little different than an elopement, intimate weddings are truly the perfect way to include your loved ones in your day while still keeping it low-key. Choosing to invite only a few people may cause some initial concern (no one wants to feel left out after all.) But defining your priorities and planning the most perfect day that best suits you two is ALWAYS most important. I loved how Kourtney and Sage invited 8 of their family members to witness their wedding, while still staying true to them and making the day fun for everyone!