Dreaming of windswept cliffs, salt air, and ocean views as your wedding day backdrop? Whether you’re planning a full weekend celebration or an intimate elopement, these coastal wedding destinations in the US offer unforgettable scenery, natural beauty, and the kind of quiet magic that can only happen by the sea.
As a wedding photographer and Super 8 filmmaker, I’ve explored many of these spots with my couples, and they never disappoint. Below, I’m sharing six particularly dreamy coastal wedding destinations in the US for couples looking for romance, adventure, and timeless, heart-led storytelling. Also, don’t skip the venue recommendations!
If you’re already envisioning yourself barefoot in the sand or saying your vows on a cliff at golden hour, then reach out here and let’s start planning something beautiful.
1. Oregon Coast | Moody Magic + Cliffside Views
The Oregon Coast will always feel like a cinematic dream come true. Equally, think misty mornings, dramatic bluffs, and that unmistakable Pacific Ocean breeze. Additionally, this stretch of shoreline offers some of the most breathtaking coastal wedding venues in the US, perfect for a beach wedding with an edge of wild romance.
Sea Winds Estate – Cliffside Luxury Wedding Venue
Sea Winds Estate is perched on a cliffside in Bandon and offers sweeping oceanfront views. With room for up to 16 guests and limited event bookings, this exclusive option provides couples both privacy and natural drama.
Crook Point – Oceanfront Elopement Estate
Crook Point is a versatile wedding venue with multiple ceremony sites, from bluffside lawns to secluded beach coves. Its Mervue Estate combines historic charm with modern comfort, making it especially perfect for larger celebrations or multi-day wedding destination events.
2. Sea Ranch, CA | Elevated Design Meets Earthy Romance
Sea Ranch is tucked along the Sonoma coast and known for its iconic architecture, organic textures, and windswept serenity. This is a place where nature leads and your celebration follows, always with intention and grace.
Sea Ranch Lodge – Design-Forward Coastal Wedding Venue
Sea Ranch Lodge blends design-forward spaces with natural elements. Therefore, It’s perfect for couples who want a calm, elevated space with both oceanfront views and earthy, editorial vibes.
Bluff Trail Overlooks – Windswept Pacific Ceremony Spot
Bluff Trail Overlooks offer quiet, secluded ceremony spots with rugged cliffs, golden grasses, and a front-row seat to the crashing waves. All in all, particularly ideal for elopements or minimalist weddings rooted in place and purpose.
3. Maui | Lush Jungles + Lava Rock Cliffsides
Whether you’re eloping on a quiet beach or planning a multi-day celebration with family, Hawaii offers some of the most enchanting coastal wedding destinations in the US. Its blend of rich culture, tropical beauty, and dramatic scenery makes it endlessly inspiring. Our family lives in Maui so if you’re looking there specifically, we offer no travel fees.
Pineapple Chapel – Quaint Maui Cliffside Wedding Venue
Pineapple Chapel is a quiant building with clifftop views overlooking the ocean and a short walk away from dramatic lava rock beds. So, imagine a sprawling dinner on the grassy lawn and sunset portraits on the black lava rock giving you the best of both worlds.
Waipio Valley Lookout – Sacred Cliffside Elopement Spot
Waipio Valley Lookout, on the Big Island, offers sweeping views of cliffs, waterfalls, and the Pacific Ocean. Basically, a soulful spot for adventurous elopements and vintage-inspired film footage.
4. San Juan Islands, WA | PNW Coastal Romance
A ferry ride away from the Washington mainland, the San Juan Islands are a string of coastal jewels in the Pacific Northwest. Also, evergreen forests, pebble beaches, and that soft, misty light create the perfect setting for couples drawn to intimacy and storytelling.
Pebble Cove Farm – a floral farm and beachside venue all in one
Pebble Cove Farm not only has spacious getting ready spaces, but a cottage core dreamy floral farm, animal farm and large sprawling grass to host your beautiful wedding event.
Doe Bay Resort & Retreat – Soulful Coastal Ceremony Site
Doe Bay is ideal for elopements or destination weddings with a laid-back, artsy vibe. Perched above the Salish Sea, it offers soaking tubs, cabins, and ceremony spots surrounded by natural beauty.
5. Portland, Maine | Lighthouses, Cliffs, and Coastal Charm
On the East Coast, Portland combines seaside charm with New England elegance. As a result, its coastal cliffs, historic homes, and windswept beaches seem made for wedding photography with a particularly nostalgic, painterly vibe.
Fort Williams Park – Rugged Lighthouse Elopement Location
Fort Williams Park is home to Maine’s most photographed lighthouse. As an illustration, its cliffs and wildflower fields offer a dreamy setting for intimate ceremonies and candid moments with fabulous backdrops.
The Inn by the Sea – Boutique Oceanfront Resort Wedding Venue
The Inn by the Sea is a boutique beach wedding venue with elegant indoor/outdoor options, pristine sands, and garden paths. Altogether, it’s a place where timeless luxury meets laid-back romance.
6. Rhode Island | Gilded Age Elegance Meets Coastal Views
Small but mighty, Rhode Island packs in some of the best coastal wedding destinations in the US. With its sailing towns, historic estates, and rocky coastlines, it’s a perfect fit for East Coast weddings that feel both intimate and cinematic.
Castle Hill Inn – Elegant Atlantic Cliffside Venue
Castle Hill Inn sits atop a seaside bluff in Newport, offering panoramic ocean views and classic New England elegance. Sailboats drift by as vows are exchanged, all in all, a true storybook moment. Our favorite, the sail cloth tent reception space!
Beavertail State Park – Windswept Coastal Elopement Location
Beavertail State Park features lighthouse views, coastal trails, and a moody, outdoorsy vibe perfect for unplugged beach weddings. Therefore, this spot is especially ideal for couples drawn to the wild and wonderful.
Which of these Coastal Wedding Destinations in the US Feels Like You?
Finally, when it comes to choosing between coastal wedding destinations in the US, the best fit is one that speaks to your relationship. Whether you’re drawn to the mossy cliffs of the PNW, the breezy elegance of New England, or the volcanic coastline of Hawaii, these destinations are made for real, beautiful, cinematic celebrations.
Photographer and Videographer for Coastal Wedding Destinations in the US: Alesia Films
If you’ve made it this far, hello!
I’m Alesia Films, a destination luxury wedding photographer and videographer specializing in nostalgic film formats.
If one of these places caught your eye (or sparked a new idea) then, please get in touch. I’d love to help you tell your story in a way that feels altogether grounded, artful, and totally you.
Want to learn more about what I offer? See my pricing and packages here.
Let’s make it beautiful together. <3
