Perhaps one of the most fun elopement days of this year was S & C’s iconic California Redwoods and Oregon Coast elopement where they spent their day in their coziest sweatshirts and had their bartender sign their marriage license as their witness.
A Cozy and Cheerful Morning
They started their day off pretty normally—getting ready up in the hills of Brookings at a little Airbnb overlooking the valley. Their original plan had been to drive out with their camper and embark on a two-week-long camping “elope-moon,” but pretty quickly into the trip, they ran into issues with the camper and had to completely pivot. They switched gears to tent camping and staying in Airbnbs. Despite the rough start, they remained in good spirits and rolled with the punches.
They got ready together slowly that morning, surrounded by laughter, inside jokes, and excitement for the day ahead. C helped S do her hair, delicately placing flowers in it, and then it was time to hit the road in search of some big trees.
A Ceremony in The Redwoods
The redwoods welcomed them with open arms and an entirely empty grove, where they got the chance to happy-dance through their vows. After officially tying the knot, they spent time soaking it all in. From there, we headed to one of my favorite trails, where they stopped to read every informational sign and count every single banana slug they came across. Their hike was joyous, unrushed, and full of laughter.
Cozy Sweatshirts and Costal Sunset Views
After we finished up in the Redwoods, it was time to head north to the Oregon coast, where we stopped by a river for some kayaking. This is where things took a turn—in the most perfectly S & C way. They decided they’d worn their wedding attire long enough and quickly changed into their favorite cozy sweats. When I asked them about it, they told me sweatpants and sweatshirts have always been their favorite thing to wear—so of course, this felt right.
We inflated the kayaks and hit the water. In a truly unique twist, S & C decided to skip the traditional champagne pop and instead celebrated on the river, popping their champagne mid-kayak for a few “boat drinks.” After they finished kayaking, we made our way to a scenic overlook where they watched the sun set over the ocean and admired all the wildflowers in full bloom. It was just the two of them, the sea, their laughter—and their sweatpants.
Beers, Dinner, and The End of The Evening
In keeping with their tradition of non-tradition, they ended the day at a local bar named Wicked Pig, where they had dinner, shared a beer, and had the sweetest bartender sign their marriage license as their witness. After it was signed, the whole bar cheered and congratulated them on tying the knot. They were even gifted a coupon for two free pizzas from a Domino’s worker.
All in all, S & C’s day was perfectly them—full of laughter, totally nontraditional, and chaotic good in the best way possible. They truly understood what it meant to elope: to choose each other (and fun) on one of the biggest days of their lives.
Think A Non-Traditional Day Is For You?
As an Oregon Coast adventure elopement photographer, I do more than just document your day—I’m here to help you navigate every step of the journey. From building a timeline that flows naturally with your unique plans, to finding the perfect hidden-gem locations, to guiding you through all the legal details (like what to do if you don’t have any witnesses), I’m with you every step of the way. Whether you’re dreaming of a quiet ceremony beneath the towering redwoods or exchanging vows with the Pacific Ocean as your backdrop, I’ll help you bring it all to life with ease and intention.
Let’s create an experience that reflects who you are and what matters most—one that’s completely stress-free and entirely yours from beginning to end.
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