Columbia River Gorge Waterfall Elopement
Sharon & K's elopement was one of the most incredible days I've ever had the honor of documenting. They are two of the most perfectly matched people - there's no question they are meant to be. Adventure is such an important element to their relationship, so Sharon & K decided to elope in the Columbia River Gorge and do a full day experience by hiking to a waterfall, ziplining through a lush green forest, and ending the night by watching the sunset on the water. They chose to elope with their parents and sisters, who are some of the kindest people I've met. The love they had for Sharon & K was so evident and radiated throughout the entire day.
They started their day getting ready with their families at the cutest B&B on the gorge- complete with its very own turret. They had so many incredible details, including invitations, traditional desserts, wooden boards handmade by K, a handmade floral bouquet, henna, and lots of beautiful red accents. Sharon looked so incredibly beautiful and wanted to do a first look with both her dad and K's family- who were all so sweet! The amount of love and support from both families was overflowing the entire day- exactly what you want and need on your wedding day. Then Sharon & K shared the sweetest, incredibly emotional first look before finishing writing their vows together.
We then drove over to one of my very favorite trails in the Gorge where we hiked through the forest, which was lush & green after all of the spring rain. Shortly after, we arrived at an absolutely breath-taking waterfall (which we were lucky enough to have almost to ourselves as it was still early in the morning).
For their ceremony, Sharon & K had their sisters officiate, which made it so much more personal and special. Sharon & K surprised their families with mini games to decide who said their vows first. Game one was trying to get an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth without using your hands, which K's dad won. Game two was trying to eat a Fruit by the Foot as fast as you can without using your hands, which Sharon's sister won. For the tie-breaker Sharon & K faced off to try and stack dice on popsicle sticks and see who could stack the most in a minute without them falling. Since K won- he got to say his vows first!
After some of the most heartfelt and emotional vows, each family member blessed the rings- wishing well for the couple and pouring their love out for them. They were officially married!
We then explored around the area, soaked in the views, and Sharon & K reveled in the fact that they were now married. Then it was time to hike out and head over to Skamania Lodge to go ziplining!
Sharon & K had made matching shirts for their family members to wear, but with the help of the crew at the Lodge, they actually ziplined in their wedding attire (so cool!). They got to zipline on seven different lines through some really gorgeous forest and had an absolute blast!
Finally we headed over to the waterfront at a different area of the Gorge to watch the sunset, have a picnic with the most delicious food ever, and have a toast to the newly-weds! We stayed out until dark as they hung out with one another, enjoying each other's company. It was such an incredible, fun elopement and a day I will never forget.
Oregon Waterfall Elopement in the Columbia River Gorge
Zipline Wedding Adventure
Kind Words From the Couple:
"Kathleen is amazing! She made us feel so comfortable during the day and helped us stay calm. She helped us plan the timeline and choose a location, struck the perfect balance between fitting in with our group and stepping away to give us space, and took beautiful and candid photos of all of us. She even put together my bouquet morning of and had spare batteries for our lanterns during blue hour! We felt so taken care of, and that let us focus on our ceremony and time with our families instead of worrying about logistics. We highly recommend working with her!"
Are you considering eloping in the Columbia River Gorge?
Check out my elopement packages or contact me to get started planning your dream Columbia River Gorge elopement!
Want More Resources?
Get a budget breakdown and learn how much an elopement costs in comparison to a traditional wedding.
Wondering why people choose to elope? Learn the top 6 reasons couples choose to elope over having have a traditional wedding!
Maybe you want to elope in Alaska instead? Check out this Alaskan elopement in the mountains!
Hire an Elopement Photographer for Your Columbia River Gorge Elopement
Hi! My name is Kathleen and I'm an adventure wedding and elopement photographer (and your new friend!). I'm here to help guide you to having the ultimate Columbia River Gorge wedding day experience, and to document every single moment of it. I would love to help you plan your elopement and answer any questions you may have! Learn more about me or my Elopement Packages.
Get in touch with me and let's start planning your dream adventure.