The Oregon Coast is a magical place to plan your dream elopement!

As a long-time resident of the beautiful state of Oregon and a prior resident of the sweet little coastal town of Lincoln City, I can tell you first-hand that the Oregon coast is one of the most INCREDIBLE, diverse, and magical places to plan your elopement. With just over 360 miles of epic coastline to choose from, the Oregon Coast makes for a dreamy elopement destination.

Couples looking for a location that features wild nature, open ocean, and gorgeous green forests need not look further than the Oregon coastline. From Brookings to Astoria, there are countless marvelous places to enjoy the magic of the PNW and have the perfect opportunities to capture epic photos and videos of your wedding day!

On the Oregon coast your elopement day can include things like epic forest-to-coastal-cliff hikes, beach picnics, sunset strolls by the ocean, craft beer, fresh crab, and a whole lotta FERNS.(Oh, and if you’re into the Twilight vibes, we’ve got you covered here in the PNW!)

Sounds amazing, right? “But how can we choose from 360+ miles of epic coastline?” you may be wondering!

Not to worry, I’ve got you covered with an overview of the top spots on the OR Coast!

For the purposes of elopement planning, I like to separate the area into three main chunks: the southern coast, central coast, and northern coast. Each of these delightful sections of pacific wonderland have their own magic to offer and different pros/cons. Let’s dive in!

The Southern Oregon Coast: Brookings to Coos Bay

Personally, I would consider the Southern Oregon Coast to be the most naturally beautiful, diverse, and magical portion of the coastline. More specifically, the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor near Brookings, Oregon. This southernmost tip of Oregon has so much natural beauty to offer and is THE place to go if you want rocky, remote, cliff-side bliss!

Here are the main areas of interest to check out along the Southern Oregon Coast:

1. In Port Orford, Oregon you’ll find ocean overlooks, whale-watching, and a lighthouse at Cape Blanco State Park.
2. At the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor (Brookings, Oregon) you’ll find epic cliffside overlooks, amazing tidepooling, golden sunset beaches, and a slightly warmer and sunnier climate than the rest of the OR coast.
3. The city of Coos Bay, Oregon is probably the most developed (and, not coincidentally, the northernmost) portion of the southern coastline. There are lots of shops and restaurants and amenities. Coos Bay is also home to the beautiful Sunset Bay State Park.

The biggest down-side (though this is subjective) to choosing the Southern Oregon Coast as your elopement location is its remote nature. The Brookings area especially isn’t very developed. There aren’t many hotels or restaurants or amazing amenities to choose from. You’ll definitely find some amazing vendors, airbnbs, and natural beauty, but this isn’t the place to go if you’re looking for a boutique experience with lots of modern amenities.

PS: BONUS POINTS to Brookings, Oregon to being less than an hour from a Redwood Forest! That means you can include BOTH the Oregon Coast and the California Redwoods into one epic elopement day!

The Central Coast: Reedsport and Florence to Newport

The central coast is THE place to go for sand dunes! From Reedsport up to Florence through Newport you’ll find lots of sand dunes, long sandy beaches, and forest trails. This portion of the coast is relatively flat (okay, I lie, there’s this incredible lookout called Cape Perpetua you HAVE to check out: here’s the location on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/UsFgcVGTGw94ZTwA6)

There’s lots of variety in natural landscapes in this chunk of the coast, but here are some of my favorites:

1. Oregon Dunes near Jessie M. Honeyman Memorial State Park in Florence, Oregon is an amazing place to learn how to sand-board or even rent ATVs to rip around the sandy hills!
2. Heceta Head Lighthouse is between Florence, Oregon and Yachats, Oregon and is one of my favorite spots! You can enjoy the small beach below or hike up to see the lighthouse and have a picnic. You can even rent out the lighthouse keeper’s house itself for an intimate wedding or elopement! Here’s the events page for Heceta Head Lighthouse: https://www.hecetalighthouse.com/events
3. In Newport, Oregon you’ll find a gorgeous, long sandy beach, a very cute historic downtown and the home of the Oregon Coast Aquarium. If you’re like my big sister and LOVE aquatic life, you’ll definitely have to add this to your list!
4. Juuuuuust north of Newport in Otter Rock, Oregon there’s a beautiful beach and area called Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area. This rocky, warm-hued beach gives you a taste of the wild Oregon coast without having to venture too far from the amenities Newport.

Overall, the central coast has so much to offer and is very much a middle-ground for both scenery and amenities. You’ll be able to find everything you need as far as shops, restaurants, and things to do.

Plus, the dunes are a big draw for an active couple looking for an adventurous activity and the various forest trails will keep you entertained for your whole visit.

The Northern Oregon Coast: Depoe Bay to Astoria

The Northern Oregon Coast is what I like to call the most “boutique” area of the OR coastline. Of course, no part of the Oregon coast is very manicured (we aren’t in California after all!) but this area is closer to Portland, Oregon and therefore has more infrastructure to cater to the city crowds!

The Northern Oregon Coast is a great option for the couple looking to enjoy beautiful boutique accommodations and restaurants. You’ll get to see some classic rocky picturesque coastline and never be too far from a great latte or lunch.

Here are some of my fav spots on the Northern coast:

1. I used to live in Lincoln City, Oregon and I found it to be such an amazing spot to vacation! It’s also home to God’s Thumb/The Knoll which is a magical hike and overlook of the coast.
2. If you’re looking for a warm-toned, sandy, and unique beach with a brewery/restaurant and ample parking look no further than Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, Oregon. I love it there.
3. If you’re looking for a “forest-meets-the-sea” vibe, I highly recommend Oswald West State Park in Arch Cape, Oregon – it’s about 10 minutes south of Cannon Beach.
4. Speaking of, Cannon Beach and Seaside, Oregon are next on my list! These gorgeous coastal towns feature lots of lodging options, yummy restaurants, and great beaches to walk and enjoy the sunset at.
5. Finally, I love to mention Astoria, Oregon, the northernmost tip of the Oregon Coast. This vibrant, artsy city feels very eclectic and down-to-earth. It’s also not too far from Fort Stevens State Park where you can see a beached shipwreck! I 100% recommend climbing to the top of the Astoria Column and launching one of the paper airplanes they sell at the gift shop!

And there you have it! Some of my favorite places in each of the area of the Oregon Coast – all excellent options to choose from when planning your Oregon Coast elopement.

Need more help deciding? I GOTCHU. Hit me up by filling out my inquiry form at www.lilliproductions.com/contact and we can start planning your dream Oregon Coast Elopement.