I have to say, I think Oregon adventure elopements are my favorite, and waterfall ones are my forte. There’s something so magical to me about waterfalls. The fact that people want to get married there (and trust me in helping them plan and capture these special moments) makes me so giddy!
Oregon Adventure Elopement Location: Pinard Falls
Pinard Falls is located a little over an hour’s drive from Eugene. It’s nestled deep in the woods, with two other beautiful waterfalls nearby. You can make a full day of it by exploring all three! This one, along with Spirit Falls, are two of my favorite waterfalls to photographer adventure elopements at. They are both very photogenic, you’re able to get right up next to the waterfall, and they’re easy hikes!
A few things to remember when planning your Oregon adventure elopement at a waterfall:
Timing is everything: Both the time of year and time of day play big roles in planning a successful waterfall elopement. Some waterfalls may be inaccessible at certain times of the year due to heavy rainfall or snow. Others may dry up or only be a little trickle in the warmer months. Also, the time of day matters as well. Forests can get dark early, but direct light can also have a negative effect on your photos. I always suggest a morning meet-up time when planning an adventure elopement at waterfall. Morning light is always soft and gorgeous, plus there’s always a good chance we’ll have the waterfall to ourselves in the morning! A weekday elopement is always a good idea as well.
Having an experienced person guide you when planning your Oregon adventure elopement (hi, me!) will ensure you pick the right location/date/time combo. Iyesha and Craig opted for a morning elopement, and we didn’t see anyone else the entire time we were there!
Wear (or bring) the right attire: Waterfalls are usually muddy! Wearing the right shoes, like hiking boots, will make the hike easier. If you want to pack a pair of nicer shoes for photos, you can wear boots for the hike and then change into your shoes once you get to the falls. For clothing, you can either change at the trailhead and hike in your elopement attire, or you can pack it in a backpack and change at the falls. Either way is fine, but just know if you wear it on the hike it will most likely get muddy on the hike in!
The Ceremony
We spent the morning exploring the base of the waterfall, climbing on the rocks and getting sprayed by the morning mist. The dogs were having the time of their lives sniffing everything in sight and jumping over logs. Iyesha’s lacey dress looked so good against the misty waterfall, and Craig looked so handsome in his black suit! Iyesha paired her dress perfectly with a brown corduroy jacket. Her bouquet, made by the amazing Olive and Twine Floral, matched the moody winter vibes perfectly.
We decided to read their vows above the falls at a little spot along the trail, and it was the sweetest moment. After, we went back down to the falls and they celebrated with some hot cocoa in Mr and Mrs camp cups. It was the sweetest morning filled with intention and love. There was no crazy schedule, no pressure or expectations from guests and family: it was simply these two promising forever. It was such an honor to help them plan and capture these gorgeous moments!
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