For couples dreaming of a scenic, non-traditional wedding in California or the Pacific Northwest, an elopement or micro-wedding offers the perfect way to celebrate. Intimate by nature, these small weddings let you trade the stress of a big event for the freedom to focus on what truly matters—each other. Without the pressure of a traditional crowd, you’re free to be fully present and create beautiful, meaningful memories together.
Imagine exchanging vows on a secluded beach beneath rugged Oregon Coast cliffs, or sharing a first dance under the ancient redwoods of Northern California. Perhaps you dream of saying “I do” beside a crystal-clear alpine lake, or amid the otherworldly beauty of desert rock formations glowing at sunset. When it comes to elopement photography on the West Coast, your ceremony backdrop can be as breathtaking and unique as your love story.
In a micro-wedding, there are no rules to constrain you—only endless possibilities to personalize every detail. You might hike to a mountaintop at dawn for a private vow exchange, or set up a cozy sunset picnic for two on the beach. Choose a ceremony location that speaks to your hearts, incorporate meaningful traditions (or invent your own), and savor a day that feels authentically you. This non-traditional approach turns your wedding into an adventure – one that’s relaxed, deeply personal, and utterly unforgettable.
As a real example, Jessie & Kole’s Oregon Coast elopement was a windswept seaside dream. They exchanged vows with only the sound of the waves and a handful of loved ones as witnesses, and their first kiss as husband and wife was met with a golden sunset and gentle ocean breeze that made the moment feel truly magical.
You can even watch their day unfold on film and see why the Oregon Coast is such an enchanting backdrop for an intimate wedding. This is just one of many love stories we’ve had the honor to capture. Explore our portfolio to see more elopement photography from West Coast micro-weddings and adventurous elopements—each one inspiring ideas for your own big love on a small scale celebration.
Jessie & Kole’s elopement was an intimate celebration of love that unfolded like a dream along the breathtaking Oregon Coast. In a heartfelt ceremony by the sea, they exchanged personal vows filled with laughter, happy tears, and promises of forever. Jessie described Kole as the calm water that soothes her crashing waves, while Kole said Jessie is the exciting surge that brings joy to his life—together they found a harmonious balance as natural as the ocean’s tides.
With only the sound of the waves and a handful of loved ones as witnesses, they pledged to be each other’s best friend and partner in every adventure to come. When they were pronounced husband and wife and shared their first kiss, the gentle ocean breeze and golden sunlight made the moment feel truly magical.The wild beauty of the Oregon Coast made for a breathtaking and deeply personal backdrop to their day. Towering cliffs, windswept dunes, and the endless Pacific Ocean stretched out around them, creating a sense of serene seclusion as if they were the only two people in the world.
They wandered along the shoreline hand in hand, Jessie’s lace gown flowing in the salty breeze as the sky turned soft hues of pink and gold in the late afternoon light. In this quiet, sacred space by the sea, every glance and gentle laugh they shared felt meaningful and timeless. It was a scene straight out of a fairytale—one where nature’s grandeur and the intimacy of their love story came together in perfect harmony, as deep and enduring as the ocean itself.