Permits & Passes: What You Need to Know for Your Oregon Elopement
If tying the knot amongst beautiful scenery with your partner and a handful of loved ones (at most) sounds idyllic, eloping in Oregon might be the perfect option for you. Whether you’re a local of the Pacific Northwest or you’ve landed on our evergreen paradise while scouring the internet for the best elopement locations, there’s no shortage of beautiful landscapes for you to choose from.
Oregon’s mountains, deserts, beaches, and forests all have their own unique rules and regulations, and may or may not require certain permits or passes to conduct a marriage ceremony on the grounds. Being clued in on these things is super important not only to take care of the land but also to ensure that you have a legal elopement.
Psst! Getting married in a state or national park without the proper permit when one is required is, indeed, illegal!
The kind of elopements that need to be aware of permits and regulations tend to be outdoors and somewhat in the wild. Think mountain-top hikes, being tucked away in a forest, or exposed to the elements on a rocky coastal hillside. If you’re not paying for a venue, you’re outside, and there’s a gorgeous view involved, you’ll likely need this information.
By the way, if you like the sound of all of this but you’re not really sure what all an elopement entails, we got you! Elopements are an ever-changing landscape ‒ they’re definitely not how grandma and grandpa would define it (think, running away to tie the knot in Las Vegas so you don’t have to be shamed by your parents). Elopements have transformed into a style of wedding that is exceptionally beautiful and thought out. Keen to learn more? Check out our blog on Elopements and Micro-Weddings: How They Differ From Traditional Weddings.
Where in Oregon Requires a Permit for a Wedding?
As an elopement photographer, it’s helpful to have a basic understanding of certain types of locations and their requirements. Here are some basics that I’ve come to learn:
✿ Special Use Permits are required for National Parks. Crater Lake is Oregon’s only National Park, and an application is required, which you can see here.
✿ State Parks and National Forests usually require a Special Use Permit if you plan to have 50+ people in attendance. Find that application here.
✿ Scenic areas, such as what you’ll find all along the Oregon Coast, are usually free to use outside of the occasional fee to park.
✿ In most natural areas, a day pass or annual pass will need to be purchased to park your vehicle day-of. Here’s an example of a day pass that can be purchased online.
As you can see, obtaining a permit for a wedding in Oregon isn’t as simple as yes, you need one or no, you don’t. The kind of process that will be involved for your PNW elopement or micro-wedding depends mainly on where you want to have your ceremony and how many people you want there. For a list of Oregon State Parks and their individual requirements, check out this website and get to reading!
And if all of this sounds like a lot and has you overwhelmed, it always helps to have an elopement photographer on your side to guide you through the process. Here at Ash and Rain, we have wedding photography and videography packages built for adventure-seekers just like you!
Plus, when you have two native Oregonians to turn to (who’ve likely experienced most of these locations as rowdy, barefoot teenagers), the decision-making process will feel like a piece of cake.
At the end of the day, getting permits and passes and learning about the rules and regulations is no big deal, but it definitely has to be done. Most importantly, it’s 100% worth it to spend the most romantic day of your life in the lush wilderness of Oregon.
Are you ready to start planning the PNW elopement of your dreams? Let’s do this thing! Contact us to talk about everything location and permit-related, or to find a photography and videography package that works for you. ❤