Secret Oregon Coast and Redwoods Elopement

Some couples you just click with instantly. I mean, if they like animals and dark stouts, that’s a great start in my book—and it only got better from there. That was Jane and Matt with their super secret elopement in the Redwoods and Oregon Coast.

Jane and Matt came all the way from Oklahoma to an event that was over two years in the making. June 24 is a special date for them, so they scheduled their 2020 elopement. Enter Covid, and their event was moved to 2021. That may not seem like a big deal, but for them, it was challenging as they kept their elopement plans secret.

When I met them in the California Redwoods, they both looked like absolute visions. They told me their goal was to feel tiny amongst the tall trees, so we hiked and played around in the redwoods for over two hours. Finally, we found a quiet spot off a lesser-traveled trail in the woods, where they said their “I dos,” and I officiated their short wedding. Did they feel tiny? I’m damn sure that we accomplished that with the images I got—it was amazing. 

After the redwoods, we went to a brewery—to get stout, of course—and then ventured off to the Oregon coast. We made a last-minute decision to avoid our first location because it was too busy. So we traded crowds for a more secluded area without crowds. I even got the drone out and captured amazing photos. 

We had a lovely dinner together and talked about our crazy animal names, our love for local ice cream and cheese—Tillamook, Umpqua, and Braum’s, anyone?—along with our fascination with tornado watching and storm chasing. It was a special time for us all, partly because it was their wedding day and partly because the three of us shared their secret elopement. They shared the news with their family the following day.

I’m constantly in awe of the incredible people I get to work with and the cool people whose elopement days I get to capture because they are pretty rad. But, no two days are the same. No two people are the same. Even though different couples may choose identical locations, it is in no way cookie cutter.

Not only did I help Jane and Matt accomplish feeling tiny, but Oregon itself pulled out all the stops to impress them. We concluded our session at the end of the blue hour. As we were walking back to our cars, Matt ended their elopement night by looking out into the pink sunset and saying, “Not bad, Oregon, not bad.” So come for yourself and experience all of the good, beautiful times you can make together during your elopement in Oregon and California.

Coming from out of state, Sam’s resources were invaluable and she walked us through the entire process for our Redwoods/Oregon Coast elopement. And she was SO personable! It felt like we were with a friend going out on a hike, experiencing and learning about our surroundings. She got us into the moment and allowed us to be ourselves and open up/get in the right mind frame to say those meaningful things you always think about the other person but never say. Someone else said working with Sam is like relationship therapy, and they’re right! We didn’t know we were getting a therapy session included LOL. It was everything we expected and more, working with Sam. Get a hold of her and plan an epic adventure with your partner!

Jane & Matt

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Blush colored flower bouquet for a Redwoods elopement
Redwoods elopement
Redwoods elopement
Redwoods elopement
Redwoods elopement
Redwoods elopement
Redwoods elopement
Redwoods elopement
Newly eloped couple has a beer at SeaQuake Brewing in Crescent City California
Oregon Coast Elopement at sunset
Oregon Coast Elopement at sunset
Oregon Coast Elopement at sunset
Oregon Coast Elopement at sunset
Oregon Coast Elopement at sunset