Brookings Oregon is an ethereal place to plan an elopement. The sea stacks jutting from the ocean, the forested cliffs, the black beaches, and the cool coastal air is everything I could dream of. For those loving the moodiness and the landscapes the PNW has to offer, you should consider planning your own elopement in Brookings Oregon. I would love to help make that planning process as easy as possible for you (and document your time here as well).
Getting a Permit for an Elopement in Brookings Oregon
As you plan your elopement here, there are a few things to be aware of, and a few resources I have linked for you to peep through.
Permit Process
The most important part of planning an elopement in Brookings is to be aware of the permit required to get married here. Most of the coastal areas are a part of the Oregon State Parks system. As such, you will need to go through them to secure your permit. This allows them to keep an account of how many people are wanting to elope here and the timing couples are requesting so that there isn’t any overlap. These permits are typically between $75 and $150, depending on the location.
To get ahold of the OPRD (Oregon Parks and Recreation Department), you can email them with the specifics of the day you are planning. You can do this as early as nine months in advance, but needs to be done at least thirty days before you are wanting to elope. I recommend including the following for a speedy and concise answer to your permit request:
- Group Size (especially if the place you are dreaming of is Secret Beach, a smaller group size is important and the ORPD will want to know this information)
- Planned Structures (if you are including chairs, arches, audio equipment, etc – though the landscapes themselves are so beautiful that I recommend ditching any plans for these aspects)
- Ideal Time of Day (this would change for you based on the tides and the lighting, but I will go into this more below)
THE EMAIL: OceanShores.Permits@oprd.oregon.gov
The individuals with the ORPD are so kind and helpful, so this should not be a hard part of the process!
When to Elope in Brookings Oregon
There are a few things that you should consider in planning your elopement.
- Elope on a weekday. I highly recommend eloping on a weekday. Especially during peak tourist season (May-September), there can oftentimes be a larger amount of guests on the beaches or at the known iconic overlooks of the Oregon Coast. This is made worse on weekends, so if you want the best chance for privacy, a weekday it is.
- Sunrise versus sunset. Going along with eloping on a weekday, your choice of a sunrise or sunset elopement will also change your experience. Typically, you will find that sunrise is less crowded inmost areas. However, you should ask your photographer (hi, please hire me haha) for example galleries of a sunrise versus sunset to see the difference in lighting between the two. Additionally, in Oregon you will find that evenings tend to be foggy. This means rare sunset colors, but it is still so so lovely.
- The tides. All of these concepts build on each other. With the tides, this could change what areas of the beaches you are able to access based on the time of day and time of year. If there is a specific beach you want to make sure you can access for your elopement, then make sure your timeline lines up with lower tide so that you can have access and be safe.
- Weather throughout the year. Brookings Oregon doesn’t snow because it is so far south and so coastal. The summer will be warmer and you will have more clear days, but also many more tourists and crowds. The winter will bring you more fog, cool days, and rain, but also privacy. My personal favorite season is early spring and early winter. With access year-round, you ultimately just need to base your elopement on these conditions that you would have a preference for.
Other Notes
- Be considerate of other guests. Because nature is not quite a private venue, make sure to share the scenery with the other guests. Even for your wedding day, be considerate when bringing in arches, florals, or setting up for a ceremony so that others can also enjoy this space earth has blessed us to experience!
Brookings Oregon Elopement Packages
If you want to see elopement packages for the Oregon coast, you can reach out here for more specifics. Typically, my prices start at $5400 for photo or video, or $7000 for photo and video together. After years of working out here in my favorite place on earth, I would love to help you make this a reality. You are my people if you want your love for each other, and the earth, documented in an artistic and emotional way. If that sounds like you, let’s get talking!! I would love nothing more than to hear about your dream for this and make it a reality.
