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Thinking of planning a tiny wedding on the Oregon coast? This guide offers everything you need to create an intimate, magical celebration. From the best scenic locations like Cape Kiwanda to planning tips and meaningful details, discover how to make your day truly special with the stunning backdrop of the Oregon coast. Perfect for couples seeking an intimate wedding experience.
If youβre dreaming and planning your elopement or tiny wedding in Joshua Tree National Park, then Iβm SO glad youβre here!! Iβve put together some of the important βneed to knowsβ on getting married in this magical desert location! Youβve probably seen a MILLION pictures on the βgram of the quirky Joshua Trees, the stacking boulder sculptures, and the golden and pink sunsets! Itβs a popular location for a reason β itβs STUNNING and truly one of a kind! So, how do you elope there? I got you. Letβs dive in!
Picking your date is important to think about when choosing Joshua Tree β we want to try and pick the best time to avoid crowds, crazy weather, and try and choose the best time of day! Letβs start with Time of Year: summer in Josiah tree can be wildly hot, so it might be best to avoid those months. The nicest times of year in the park are typically March-May and September-November, however, everyone else is also eyeing those dates. So, if you want to pick a date in there, I recommend choosing a weekend to do your best at avoiding crowds. Another tip: make sure not to pick a holiday week and check what schoolsβ spring / fall breaks are and avoid those too! Certain ceremony locations will also be unavailable during peak season. Iβve spent time in Joshua Tree National Park in February and have always had nice weather with warm days, so if youβre open to an βoff-seasonβ date, you might want to consider that as an option. Now, for Time of Day: I am always drawn to a sunrise or sunset, not only is this stunning lighting in the park, but it tends to be a bit emptier from park goers. However, your timeline can be creatively and uniquely designed to piece together all the moments you want to have!
This is the βnot so funβ part, but equally important. We donβt want your ceremony to get interrupted by a park ranger, so letβs get you a permit! To hold an elopement or wedding ceremony in Joshua Tree National Park, you must acquire a Special Use Permit β this costs $120 and allows for 25 guests or less. A larger wedding has a few more restrictions on locations and has an additional $200 fee.
Two other park related fees β
Photography / Videography Permit: Costs $120 and you can apply HERE
Park Entrance Fee: You can either pay the $30 per vehicle fee for 7 days, for $80 for an annual National Park pass. Each is valid for one car.
Since Joshua Tree is a National Park, there are a handful of selected locations that a ceremony can be held (and this will be connected with the permit you apply for). These spots are slightly different, so you may want to look up some detailed images of each one, but they are full of panoramic views, desert rock formations, and wide open Joshua Tree cacti fields:
CAP ROCK: Under a mile trail // super cool rock formations
HIDDEN VALLEY PICNIC AREA: 1 mile trail // lots of rocks, beautiful at sunset
SPLIT ROCK: 2 mile trail // a little bit higher views
PORCUPINE WASH: 8 mile trail // a bit further out, wildflowers
TURKEY FLATS: 2 mile trail // more wide open desert
LIVE OAK: 1.5 trail loop // more greenery and desert plants
INDIAN COVE AMPHITHEATER: For larger gatherings β 26-100 people
You can also check the NPS for more updated locations and info HERE.
IF you want to do a wedding ceremony elsewhere and then just go into the park for photos, here are a few other ideas (some of these are also locations you can stay) β
// Your Airbnb β make it a weekend with your people // Tumbleweed Sanctuary // Desert Sage House // Sacred Sands House // Rimrock Ranch // Joshua Tree Spanish Estate // Villa Kuro // Mid Century Modern Ranch // White Cactus House //
I highly recommend making a whole trip out of this special event β bring your family and friends or just yourselves and enjoy a weekend or more in the beauty of Joshua Tree! There are plenty of locations to camp within and around the National Park, but I recommend getting a house through Airbnb or something similar β this way youβll have a βhubβ to get ready in before your elopement, host a dinner or small reception in afterwards, and just have a place that you can celebrate for a day or two! Here are a few favorites you can check out:
// The Joshua Tree House - my personal fave // Mojave Desert Cabin // Joshua Tree Tiny House // Desert Air Casita // Nature Loverβs House // Little Jo Cabin // Desert Wild + pool & hot tub // High Desert Paradise //
These book up fast! So, I recommend reaching out to them and getting your date on the calendar sooner than later!
Starting the search for the dream team to make the magic of your day in the desert come to life? I know Joshua Tree tends to be a destination for weddings, so you may not know where to begin in looking for vendors. Well, I am MORE than happy to help you connect with creatives who can help with each aspect of your elopement. Scroll down and message me below and we can chat through ALL those details! π Whether youβre looking for a florist, caterer, planner & stylist, hair & makeup artist, or rentals - I gotchu.
Here are just a few other things to consider when prepping for your elopement in Joshua Tree National Park β
Marriage license: Be sure to either set up an appointment in CA locally or plan on having a βlegal ceremonyβ near you before traveling. This also determines IF you want an officiant or not.
Wedding attire: Wear what feels most YOU for your special day β just remember that there will be lots of walking around (and may climbing on rocks). Bring something like a jacket or shawl incase it gets a bit windy or chilly (especially at sunrise and sunset).
Visit the park before: I highly recommend spending a bit of time exploring the park the day before your elopement or wedding, this way you get to see it in a more relaxed state and also get a feeling for where you might want certain photos or backdrops to be.
Bring water and snacks: Itβs a desert, so stay hydrated and keep you energy full with water and snacks! There isnβt much once you get in the park, so be sure to bring what you need!
No cell service: Prepare to have little to NO cell signal, aka download maps and know where youβre going and who youβre meeting up with where/when beforehand.
This is an important point, something we should all care about to take care of beautiful locations like Joshua Tree National Park. Letβs make sure that our celebrations are respectful to the land and keep it around for years and years to come and to enjoy. So, a few things to remember directly from the NPS website:
Items that ARE Permitted For a Wedding:
// Arch, must be free-standing // Small table for guest book // Cooler with water (it gets hot) // Live flowers // Battery-powered candles // Runner // Rug // Cake // Champagne //
Items NOT Permitted For a Wedding:
// Drones // Dried flowers // Non-battery powered candles // Bubbles // Any live animals, including doves, butterflies, etc // Confetti // Rice // Birdseed // Balloons // Smoke Bombs //
WHY I LOVE ELOPEMENTS & TINY WEDDINGS
TIPS FOR PLANNING A MICRO WEDDING DAY
JOSHUA TREE ELOPEMENT PACKAGES β
Hi, Iβm Corrie! Iβm a traveling wedding and elopement photographer, and Iβve spent a good amount of time exploring Joshua Tree National Park! So, Iβm glad youβre here and canβt wait to hear about YOUR special day ideas and help guide you through all the info of eloping in this beautiful location!
A peak at what youβll get β
- Customizable hours based on what you need (Iβve never been a believer in one size fits all), I even have whole weekend package options
- A guide full of tips and ideas to help you through each step of the process
- Unlimited time in planning, dreaming, discussing your ideas together β Iβm here for you through the WHOLE journey!
- A gallery full of high resolution hand edited photos (with printing and sharing rights)
Oh man β this story will go down in the books for adventurous and SPONTANEOUS elopements! These two lovely humans slid into my DMs around 11pm on a Friday night, asking βHey what are you up to Sunday at sunrise?!β A few messages back and forth later, and they had tickets from MISSOURI to OREGON for the next day!! They sent me a selfie of them on the plane, IN THEIR WEDDING CLOTHES (can you say, hello free upgrades) and they were heading my way!
Even though they had a bigger wedding planned for the following weekend, they wanted to elope β their hearts needed this kind of space, to breathe and to recenter on what they were choosing together.
We met on a very chilly morning, just before the sun came over the mountains. It was calm and clear. It was so evident that their hearts were bursting for each other, and the joy on their faces from this decision was beaming! Elopements are so incredibly special, itβs a unique kind of space, and the sacredness is almost tangible in the air. Iβm always grateful and in awe of the people who make the brave (and sometimes spontaneous) choice to speak their promises in this kind of way.
Oregon showed up in its truest way on this elopement day β the hills and coast covered in low clouds, misty air, and rolling stormy waves. It was a beautiful fall day for an adventure elopement at Crook Point!
Dianne and Jeff are true champions at embracing every aspect of their day, even the weather! The drizzly skies didnβt steal their joy one single bit, and the excitement they both had was so contagious. Dianne told me, βhe is the hum to my soul.β Jeff had a smile on his face every second of the day, and laughed with pure happiness the second they were announced as husband and wife. Their kindness and love is something Iβll always remember.
They rented an airbnb on a clifftop for the weekend (talk about a DREAMY getaway spot), and scouted out a bluff overlooking a private cove for their intimate ceremony.
It was just the two of them. Small, intimate, and so meaningful.
We hiked the trail in the rain out to a grove of trees where they said their vows to each other. Then, the rain stopped for 10 minutes for us to walk out to the point for photos and to soak up the view before returning to their airbnb for some bubbly and cake. They even hired a private chef to prepare them a romantic dinner to celebrate!
Every little piece of this day was beautiful.
DETAILS
DRESS // WILLOWBY WATTERS
SUIT // MACYS & NORDSTROM
LOCATION // AIRBNB & OREGON COAST
FOOD // BLACK MARKET GOURMET
FLORALS // ABUNDANT BLOOMS
CAKE // COASTAL MIST
These two travelled across many states to have their intimate wedding elopement day on the Oregon coast! Surrounded by just family (with the Pacific Ocean as their witness), they said their vows and spent the rest of the day frolicking along the beach, exploring lush coastal forests, eating fish tacos, and having cake and donuts as the sun set! My. Kind. Of. Day.
The Oregon Coast β especially Cannon Beach β can get pretty crowded in the summer months! But, these two scouted out the perfect little cove for their wedding ceremony, and had the whole corner just to themselves! I love when ceremonies have a unique aspect to them β in the middle of the ceremony, these two had everyone (including themselves) go and find a rock or pebble to bring to the βalterβ and surround them with. A family roundedness for their promises. Then, they kept the rock they had chosen β a pretty special souvenir if you ask me!!
I adore these two β and being a part of their day was so incredibly special. They have such warm hearts, and I immediately felt like I was a part of the family! They truly embraced their day and went with the flow of whatever happened next. Every single second of it was soaked up to the fullest! If youβve read my blog post on βWhy Eloping or Having a Small Wedding is so Specialβ then you know my thoughts behind these special kinds of days β and Kaci & Dallin REALLY REALLY lived into all of it. It was beautiful.
Iβm grateful I got to savor this piece of their story.
xx
GETTING READY SPACE // AIRBNB
CEREMONY LOCATION // CANNON BEACH, OR
FLORALS // SOLABEE, FLOWERS & BOTANICALS
DINNER // TOMβS FISH & CHIPS
I know, this is a BIG decision for some people β even a tricky one at times! Maybe, itβs not even a choice, maybe COVID-19 has made the decision to downsize for you. And, while I still LOVE big wedding days and totally support anyone who does and can choose that, I just wanted to share a few things that I love about small, intimate days and why they are so incredibly special.
There is something so sacred about a small group witnessing your special day β or even JUST YOU TWO having saying your vows and celebrating together! With an intimate setting, there is more room to fully be present. With fewer distractions, youβre able to be more intentional during the day and soak up each moment to the fullest!
I believe NO wedding day has to be stressful β regardless of the size β but, on some bigger days with more moving pieces, it can be hard to avoid the little moments here and there that carry stress. Smaller days have much more of a βgo with the flowβ mentality β thereβs room for adaptability if a βplannedβ piece of the day needs to change a bit.
I always say that eloping is more of an experience than just a wedding day β and the same goes for intimate weddings. You have SO many options to structure your day, and NOTHING is off limits. This kind of day is more about the journey than a strict timeline. If you want to stop on the way to your ceremony spot and get tattoos β you do it! If you want to go bungee jumping after you say your vows β you do it! If you want to hike up to a secret look out point and camp there the night before your elopement β you do it! You call all the shots on this day! You can make it whatever you want β make it an experience to remember.
With bigger wedding days, there are some limitations on locations. BUT, with elopements and small weddings, the world is your oyster! There are some AMAZING spaces for elopements where a larger wedding wouldnβt work! You could say your vows in the middle of the desert, on the peak of a mountain, on the mossy floor of a forest, on a cliff overlooking the ocean, on a rooftop in the middle of the city, in a tropical paradise or in front of snow covered mountains β you could travel across the globe or explore somewhere new in your own State. Smaller days allow for some amazing locations!
This is a big one. ESPECIALLY with COVID-19 being a part of our current season of life β last minute planning seems like a new way of living at this point. With smaller weddings and elopements, last minute planning is just fine! Iβve had so many elopements and βmicro-weddingsβ book just a month or two out due to the ever changing wedding plans of 2020. And, you know what? THATβS OK. With a smaller day, itβs easier to do it on a less busy day (aka a weekday). This means, less crowds, more space to yourself, and more chances that your photographer will be available last minute as well. There are less details and moving pieces to these intimate days, making it so much easier to plan!
(Scroll down to check out my Elopement Planning Guide)
This day can really be whatever YOU want and need. There is something so special about these intimate experiences β each one is fully unique and sacred. And, if you have any questions, I am always here to help guide you along with the small bits of planning to piece together a day that feels fully YOU β whatever that may look like!
β YOU CAN ALSO CHECK OUT MY BUCKET LIST FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IDEAS
pin it for later!
We arrived at the desert butte and grasslands just as the sun was starting to make the canyon glow! Kyra & Michael got ready in the parking lot (with the final touches being lint rolling puppy hair off his suit jacket haha)! They put on their old wedding clothes β almost two years later β and we captured some magic in the desert!
It was such a beautiful evening, running from one amazing view point to the next! Summer exploring is one of my favorite things, and good company makes it even better!
Excited for many more summer evenings to come!
DRESS // A&BΓ BRIDAL SHOP
FLORALS // UFLORA
EARRINGS // AMANDA MICHELLE HANDMADE
Joshua Tree National Park had my jaw dropping within the first few minutes! I was captivated by the large, unique rock formations, the one-of-a-kind Joshua Trees themselves, and the overall golden desert vibe!
This adventure elopement was styled for our Makers & Movers Workshop, and was so fun to capture! Itβs full of boho modern pops to fuel your elopement ideas and planning!
Check out these amazing vendors who played a part in making this creation come to life:
WORKSHOP // Makers & Movers Workshop
COUPLE // Danielle & Rodney
DRESS // A&bΓ© Sacramento
JEWELRY // Serpentine & Fair
FLORALS // With Flourish
HAT // Equal Uprise
TUX // Zara
Enjoy all the pics, and dreaming about your own desert elopement!
The desert vibes of Joshua Tree California paired with some fun 70s styling created this magic for our Makers & Movers Workshop styled shoot!
This amazing shoot could not have been done without the collaboration of these incredible team members! We couldnβt have imagined everything coming together any better!
Excited to share these photos to power your imagination and inspire you with ideas for your own special day! If youβre thinking of eloping in Joshua Tree, check out these vendors to build your vision:
WORKSHOP // Makers & Movers
COORDINATION & DESIGN // Wilder Events Co.
COUPLE // Katie & Joe
DRESS // Lovely Bride LA
JEWELRY // Serpentine & Fair
WEDDING BANDS // Sharon Z Jewelry
CALLIGRAPHER // Summit & Sage
FLORALS // Bluebell Florals
CAKE // Fantasy Frostings
H&MU // Chelsea Nicole
RENTALS // Otis & Pearl
TUX // ASOS
We began with a bit of cozy in home time in our desert airbnb! Joe and Katie spent time getting ready together before we headed out on gorgeous property to hang out with the Joshua Trees.
ohhhhh california, your golden clifftops and earthy tones steal my heart every time!!! after spending the afternoon wine tasting in Sonoma, i couldn't have pictured ending the day in a more magical way! running up and down these ocean cliffs was a DREAM. We sprinted down the warm sand beach and they kissed till the sun went down. Now, that's a day well spent!
california coast elopement // Half Moon Bay
Worth every second of a 10 hour driving day to hang out with these two at this AMAZING location!
Central oregon has so many little gems for eloping! there are just so many spaces with epic locations that it makes me giddy! andddd, blue sheep rock was just one of so many!
Oregon, ya keep blowing me away!!
dress: Lulus
hair + MUA: Sarah Rose
florals: Foraged Blooms
cupcakes: Love+Flour
suit: Men's Wearhouse
Burgers, milkshakes, and a WHOLE lotta' love! i've always been in love with all things urban - the textures, the window light, old hardwood floors, harsh shadows. there's so much room for creativity. so, heck yes, an urban wedding is a road straight to my heart! not to mention, the most beautiful portland studio! if you're looking for a good industrial space for an intimate wedding in the pdx area, you have to check it out! this day was just a whole lotta goofy, cuddling love!
VENDORS:
venue: The Portland Studio
florals: Edelweiss Floral
designer + coordinator: Ashley Spence
banner: Seek Paper Co.
make-up + hair: Alyssa Fitchie
dress: BHLD Weddings
