How to Plan a Cannon Beach Wedding on the Oregon Coast
if you have ever stood on cannon beach with haystack rock in front of you and the pacific stretching out in every direction, you probably understand why people decide to get married here. there’s huge stretches of sand, grassy dunes, dramatic sea stacks, the bluffs and forested coastline in the distance, and one of the most recognizable views on the oregon coast.
you can have your guests stay in town, walk to the beach for the ceremony, move into cocktail hour and dinner nearby, and make an entire weekend out of it quite easily. if you plan your cannon beach wedding right, it is one of the best places on the Oregon coast to get married. here's everything you need to know.
why get married in cannon beach?
cannon beach sits on the northern oregon coast, about 90 minutes from portland, and the beach is probably best known for haystack rock rising out of the water just offshore. for weddings, that setting gives you a lot visually without having to travel between portrait locations. you have the open beach and pacific ocean, dunes and beach grass, rocky formations, views toward the coastal headlands, and of course haystack rock itself. depending on where you are standing and how I photograph it, the landscape can feel huge and dramatic or very simple and relaxed.
and because Cannon Beach is a walkable little coastal town with hotels, restaurants, shops, and event spaces near the ocean, it also works particularly well for destination weddings where you want everyone staying in roughly the same place.
do you need a permit for a cannon beach wedding?
you don’t need a permit for a small, simple elopement or micro wedding with fewer than 50 people, unless you are planning to set up chairs, tables, an arch and other decor. so depending on how you are planning your cannon beach wedding, you may need to acquire a special use permit.
even if you do get a permit, the beach is public, so you also need to be comfortable with the fact that other people may still be enjoying it nearby. if you are working with a cannon beach wedding venue or experienced planner, permits and beach access are also something they may help coordinate. surfsand resort, for example, specifically lists beach wedding permits among the services its event team can assist with.
tips for getting married at cannon beach
check the tide chart when choosing your ceremony time and exact beach location.
think about elderly relatives or guests with mobility needs, because walking across loose sand can be difficult.
have a weather backup plan in mind, because coastal weather can change quickly.
if you are planning your wedding during a busier summer weekend, also remember that cannon beach is a popular destination, so i’d encourage you to book your accommodations early.
the cannon beach wedding venue: surfsand resort
if you're planning a cannon beach wedding, surfsand resort is the venue many couples choose to work with. it sits right on the beach with views of Haystack Rock and has guest rooms, event spaces, catering, and easy beach access all in one place.
surfsand handles the logistics for the beach setup (chairs, arch, etc.) as part of their wedding packages, which makes the coordination considerably simpler. their renovated tidepool event space is nearly 3,000 square feet and can accommodate events of up to 200 people, with views toward the beautiful coast.
surfsand also works with the wayfarer restaurant team for catering and can accommodate events surrounding the wedding itself, including rehearsal dinners, brunches, cocktails, and bonfires.
cassie + andrew | cannon beach wedding at surfsand resort
cassie and andrew chose cannon beach because it was already a special place to them, but they also loved the practicality of having everyone together. they both got ready at surfsand resort before heading down to the beach for the ceremony. the surfsand team handled the ceremony setup with chairs and their driftwood-style arch overlooking the pacific. with haystack rock in the background, they really did not need much decoration.
after the ceremony, they made one of my favorite exits ever and climbed onto a little surrey bike with a ‘just married’ sign attached to the back, while their guests walked straight over to surfsand for cocktail hour.
cassie and andrew were very clear that they wanted to spend their weddingat their wedding. they wanted portraits, obviously, but they did not want me repeatedly pulling them away for them. and this is very much how I like to work. we took the portraits around cannon beach, including the dunes and those big Haystack Rock views, and then I switched into a much more documentary approach as the celebration continued.
and when I am directing portraits, my goal is to give you enough guidance that you never feel awkward without making every image feel staged. cassie and andrew wanted relaxed and natural, so that is what we made.
planning your own cannon beach wedding?
if you’re still looking for your cannon beach wedding photographer, i specialize in documenting intimate weddings and elopements across seattle and the pnw, with a focus on real connection, timeless edits, and making you feel like yourself in front of the camera.
you can check out my wedding packages right here. i can’t wait to hear what you’re planning. click here to get in touch.
