I was in Seaside, Oregon filling up the tank of my rental car (and watching this weirdly brave rooster strutting around the gas pump) when I got the first email from Kat and Jasper. I remember the exact moment because I'm rarely in Seaside, and Kat mentioned that was where they wanted to elope. Rad!
I also loved their intro. Being a mom and having a blended family just gave me a little extra sense of connection with Kat. I loved her immediately. Here's what she said:
"Last summer we got engaged and set a wedding date for 8/3/24. It was going to be a big big wedding...deposits paid and everything. Then, at the age of 43 (and with 4 teens/preteens between us already) I got pregnant! And you'll never guess baby girl's due date.....8/3/24!!! We couldn't have done that if we tried! We've had a few other curveballs as well in the last year... and wedding re-planning fell right off the end of the priority list."
So Kat and Jasper did what a lot of couples do when they start to feel the overwhelm of planning a big wedding - they looked into their options and decided to elope.
They were joined by their immediately family, so we planned out a day that gave them time to spend with everyone who traveled with them, as well as some time alone for just the two of them. Kat and Jasper stayed flexible (because you don't have a family of 6+ without learning that hardly anything goes exactly as planned) and things went beautifully.
Here are some highlights from their Oregon coast elopement.
Part 1: Getting ready
Shout out to Alyssa Underwood who did a stunning job with Kat's hair and makeup! She was also just such a sweetheart. (She travels along the northern Oregon coast so if you're looking for a makeup artist in the area, I highly recommend her!)
Part 2: The ceremony
The couple needed a beach location in the area that was easily accessible for family members who had mobility issues. So we used a location that was flat and had a clear path to the beach.
Part 3 - Time alone
Setting aside time for just the two of you is extremely important when you have guests at your elopement. No matter who those guests are. It's important to be able to focus on your partner and have some time to yourselves so that you don't end up feeling like you're taking care of your guests all day. It's one of the biggest reasons to elope after all!
Part 4 - Reception
Kat and Jasper had about 16 total family members with them for their elopement weekend, so they planned a dinner at a local restaurant on the coast to serve as a sort of reception after their ceremony. Family members put together a simple cake, and the restaurant deck served as a perfect first dance spot.