I’m not trying to be funny when I say this Columbia River Gorge Elopement was beyond picture perfect. S&A reached out hoping for a day full of adventure, beautiful backdrops, lush green, wild flowers, wind in their hair and more. Luckily this is exactly what I dream of designing & capturing all the time!

The Columbia River Gorge is a deep canyon forged by the Columbia River just 30 miles east of Portland, Oregon. It is home to incredible hikes and over 90 waterfalls. Making it a perfect spot for epic backgrounds and romantic hideaways.

It all started with a sunrise ceremony. I am honored to not only have captured the photos but also officiated their ceremony. We chose this wide open field for its beautiful mountainous background. And then we were able to capture that sunrise hitting over the mountains. Talk about the most perfect and private place for a ceremony!

A few fun facts about this Columbia River Gorge Elopement:

1. We had to pivot days at the last minute due to weather. The originally planned day was forecasted super rainy so we decided to move it up a day. I’M SO GLAD WE DID!
2. They made a whole Oregon trip out of it and explored the coast, saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time, and even ran in a marathon while visiting… what?!
3. Because I am ordained, I was able to sign their legal paperwork and we were able to truly have a “just us two” day!

Although S&A chose not to have family or friends with them, they did incorporate them from afar into their special day. Celebrating after the ceremony with a simple picnic and reading letters and well wishes from their loved ones.

Next up we took a small hike to the bottom of a waterfall, providing for some very romantic and gorgeous photos & backdrops. We had the place to ourselves!

After a short nap and some relaxation time, we went back out for evening photos in the wild flowers. These only bloom for a couple of weeks in the spring and it varies in time every year based on what kind of winter/spring we’ve had! We took a gamble when we picked their elopement date and the timing couldn’t have been better.

Sunset Sailboat Cruise

The day finished up with a sunset cruise, pizza, and rosé on a sailboat! It was so fun to see the same scenery we’d explored all day from a whole new angle.

Below you’ll find more photos from our perfect elopement at the Columbia River Gorge! When they first reached out, she said her vision of things was to look like a fairytale. I think we accomplished exactly that.

If you’re ready to design and capture your perfect adventurous and romantic elopement then please don’t hesitate to inquire! My specialty is all encompassing, designing your day, assisting with travel booking, capturing it and more! More info here: https://broganmariephotography.com/elopements