Top 5 Elopement Locations in Oregon

As an Oregon wedding videographer, these are my top 20 Elopement Locations in Oregon. I’ve had multiple opportunities to venture through the gorgeous locations that my home state has to offer. This Oregon Elopement Location guide will help you choose the most picturesque spot for your day. Comment below which place is your favorite!

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When’s the Best Time to Elope in Oregon?

Oregon is known for its yearlong rainfall and forest vibes. For Twilight lovers and for a more moodier atmosphere, you would want to elope in Oregon during the months of November-March!

If you’re a flower child like me, then the spring time is a beautiful time to elope in Oregon! There’s still a high chance of rain, but on a sunny day, you can catch the cherry blossoms in downtown Portland, meadows of daisies on the side of road and the Gorge filled with an assortment of wild flowers!

The BEST time to Elope in Oregon, in our opinion is the early summer. It’s still not too hot, you might catch some of those late blooming flowers and the sunlight peeking through those trees and mountain ranges are just the most amazing backdrops to your ceremony!

Unless you’re into a more moody aesthetic, then the best time to elope in Oregon is the fall. The Columbia River Gorge explodes with red, yellow and orange trees before the leaves fall. It makes for a great backdrop, just don’t expect a lot of sunshine during this time!

Why Choose Oregon for Your Elopement?

There’s so much I could say about why you should choose to elope in Oregon (totally not biased, can you tell)! Oregon is such a versatile place with different types of settings: there’s the city vibes in downtown Portland, different mountains filled with wildflowers to hike up (or snow to trek through in the winter), rain forests to walk through, waterfalls to chase and beaches to catch sunsets at!

That being said, I know it can feel a little overwhelming on which location to elope at! So I’ve come up with a list of my top 5 elopement locations in Oregon!

Where to Elope in Oregon

Our favorite Portland, OR Elopement Spot

I know what you’re thinking, “But Alesia, we want to elope because we want to be in nature!”

Well did you know Portland has a redwood forest in the heart of downtown?! It’s called the Hoyt Arboretum!

Portland Elopement Location: The Hoyt Arboretum

The Hoyt Arboretum has a few options for elopements, whether it’s at the Redwood Deck or the Wedding Meadow. It’s perfect for privacy. Especially if you’re looking to keep your guest count small. The Redwood trees provide a stunning and majestic sight as the backdrop to your elopement.

See for yourself here in the video we made for Eugene & Jeffrey!

How to Elope at Hoyt Arboretum

The Hoyt Arboretum is a state park, so there are a few regulations to keep in mind. There’s a deposit fee of $250, and a non-refundable application fee of $242.50. The rental fees will vary according to which spot you want to elope at within the park, and you’ll want to make sure to reserve your spot in advance!

Oregon Waterfall Elopement Locations

Do you and your fiance love to hike, and be surrounded by the mist of waterfalls? If so, then watch this video of the Tamanawas Falls in Mt. Hood, Oregon elopement! There’s even some cabins nearby if you’d like to stay there with your whole wedding party for a night before the big day. We love Tamanawas Falls for how close it is to Mt. Hood and how easy this 2 mile hike is for families!

Do you and your fiance want to say your vows under a waterfall and be back in Portland in time for dinner? Well you can do what Akeeli and Lorin did! Check out their 10 year vow renewal video where they said their vows to each other in front of Latourell Falls with their kids, tattoo’d X’s on each other’s hands and then did a color bomb fight in downtown Portland!

Or, check out this list of our favorite Oregon waterfalls to elope at!

Click on the photo to be taken to the trail information.

Oregon Coast Elopement Locations

The Oregon coastline is filled with a variety of sea cliffs, waterfalls, rainforests and crazy rock formations! If you want something that will give you the most variety in one area, you cannot go wrong with the coast.

If you’d like a more in-depth guide of how to elope at the Oregon Coast, check out this page!

For Oregon Coast Elopements, we suggest an all day adventure in one of two areas:

Oregon Coast Elopement Location #1: Cannon Beach

Here’s a handy itinerary for an elopement in Cannon Beach!

• Get ready in a cute airbnb in Cannon Beach: the most central spot to your full day elopement!

• Then, say your vows somewhere epic like Hug Point State Park or the Elk Flats.

• End your day with a sunset at Haystack Rock and get dinner and beers at the Pelican Brewery.

Or, Check out this couple’s elopement day well spent in the Cannon Beach areas!

Oregon Coast Elopement Location #2: Brookings, OR

Boardman State Park is located in the Southern Oregon Coast town of Brookings, OR. It is a gem for elopement couples that are into beautiful rock formations, misty/moody beach vibes and a convenient 1 hour stop from the Redwoods National Park!

Start your day by getting ready in a cool treehouse waterfall airbnb like this couple did (see their video below).

Then, say your vows on a natural rocky bridge over the crashing waves in Boardman State Park.

Tie the knot in the Redwood Forest (Yes, the actual Redwoods!)

End the day watching the sunset at Secret Beach with a specially curated charcuterie board and cake from Dakota Eats.

Love how this itinerary sounds? Check out the video of the couple who did this below!

Central Oregon Elopement Locations

Are you two into the desert vibes? Then head to Central Oregon for a whole new experience of dry lake beds, mountain ranges, sage brush ranches and ponderosa pine forests. We have our favorite locations right here:

The Columbia River Gorge Elopement Locations

The Columbia River Gorge, or what we like to call it: Oregon’s jewel. With it’s quick access to Portland and Hood River, wildflowers in the spring, mountain range sightings on blue bird days, wineries and scenic highways, this is the perfect spot to gather with your closest family and friends for your intimate elopement.

The Griffin House

We had to start with the Griffin House, of course! It’s our favorite venue in Hood River that has the most iconic 180 degree view of the Gorge and is the most perfect spot to say your I Do’s. Although the wedding we filmed here was a larger more traditional celebration, The Griffin House can still host your intimate elopement nuptials here and even offers accommodation in some packages. Definitely consider this venue, and then contact us to film your day!

The Orchard Hood River

Ready to sip on wine and have your ceremony with wine grapes and Mt. Hood as your backdrop? Then look no further than The Orchard Hood River! We love this venue for their excellent service and connections with local vendors to get you the ultimate experience of food, wine, rentals and anything else you need for it to be the best possible experience for you!

Rowena Crest

This popular spot has meadows of wild flowers that we love to shoot in! Drop-off cliffs overlook the massive willamette river and is a perfect spot to do a sunrise elopement between April and June.

Government Cove

An easy park and walk area for ceremonies to happen right on the river. The cliffs overlooking the water is great for couples to enjoy some quiet scenery. This would be a great spot to elope if you’re looking for a view of everything!

Or do what our most recent couple did! They drove across the bridge and added Beacon Rock State Park for a quick fishing experience before making their way to Government Cove.

Multnomah Falls

Oregon’s most famous waterfall. This would make a great pit stop to your elopement day. It’s a very busy tourist spot and has become overcrowded from almost all other waterfalls being closed off from the fires. It’s still a picturesque spot and even has a fun ice cream stand to enjoy! Consider this a quick stop for photos on your elopement day!

Plan your Oregon elopement accommodations!

If you’re not an Oregon local, or you live way too far from your ideal location, you’ll most likely need a place to stay overnight. If you book with us, we’d help you find a super rad airbnb/hotel with a ton of natural light to help us film the getting ready portion of your day! Reach out to us here!

Check your Oregon Elopement Permit Requirements

Every state park in Oregon has their own unique regulations, especially when it comes to ceremonies. Some parks even require you purchase a parking permit for the day. Make sure you check which specific permits you’ll need to purchase for your big day! Or, you can book us for your Oregon Elopement and we can help you plan your location and assist you with the permit process. Contact us here!

How to Pack for your Adventure Elopement in Oregon

You can definitely expect some rain any time of year in Oregon. So, if you don’t mind a muddy adventure, our friend Lexi wrote this awesome article on what to pack for your adventure elopement day that might help. Read it here!

Looking for a wedding videographer?

Well hello! I’m Alesia with Alesia Films and i’m a destination wedding and elopement videographer based in Portland, OR. If you like my work above, please poke around my pricing page, triple check that I’m in your budget and fill out a contact form here! I can’t wait to hear from you!