Pacific City Elopement ~ Jessica and Steve
Jessica and Steve chose a July afternoon for their Pacific City elopement. It most definitely wasn’t a warm summer day at the Oregon Coast, so I would have never guessed that the bride and groom would have ended the day in the ocean, but it was just perfect. The only attendees at their wedding were Steve’s three children and their friend who was their officiant. It was just the kind of intimate wedding that I love.
When we first arrived on the beach, it was cold and foggy, so foggy that we couldn’t even see the haystack rock in the background. People often only associate Cannon Beach with haystack rock, but there is an equally impressive one in Pacific City, when it isn’t covered by fog. The ceremony was simple, heartfelt, full of laughter and tears. Jessica and Steve said their vows, exchanged rings and a first kiss, then we took a little while after the ceremony for beautiful Jessica to warm up.
While Jessica and Steve snuggled together after the ceremony to warm up, I took photos of the kids on the beach. How gorgeous are these blue dresses?! We moved closer to the dune at Cape Kiwanda which was shielded from the wind for more photos and everyone was feeling nice and warm again.
One of my favorite parts of their wedding was the crowd of kids playing on the beach who gathered to watch their ceremony and the photos of Jessica and Steve afterwards. When Jessica and the girls were finished taking photos with their bouquets, they gave them to the kids on the beach who ran back to their families with the biggest smiles.
I had the best time taking photos with Jessica and Steve. They were truly up for anything…climbing, jumping, exploring caves that were accessible in the low tide, and eventually running into the waves.
Jessica and Steve’s daughter were the first ones to run into the frigid water, yelling “YOLO” as they went! The Steve joined his bride as they danced and ran into the waves. The best part is that the fog lifted after they were back on the beach, but they ran back in the water because they had wanted a view of haystack rock all day. I truly would never have imagined this would be how the day would have played out, and I absolutely loved it.
When the wedding party was sufficiently soaked, they gave one final hurrah together and then walked back to the Pelican Pub for a celebratory dinner. What a fantastic day I had with all of them. I wish Jessica and Steve a lifetime of love and happiness together!
(Side note: Pacific City holds a special place in my heart also. This was the beach where my husband proposed many years ago and the Pelican Pub is where we celebrated our engagement.)
Heidi Heaphy Photography is currently booking 2025 elopements and intimate weddings at the Oregon Coast and elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest. I am also booking senior sessions for the class of 2026, as well as family and other portrait sessions.