http://www.gabriellarankinphotography.com/

Gabriella Rankin Photography, Brookings, OR (2026)

09/04/2026

Here are five things I would prioritize when planning an Oregon Coast elopement as a Brookings local.

1. Tides. The most important thing when planning a day on the coast is making sure you’re working with the tide. Many of our most popular locations are cove beaches that can become completely inaccessible and potentially unsafe at high tide. Choosing the right day and timing so you can actually access these places can make or break your experience.

2. Time of year. Different seasons bring completely different vibes to the coast. Some months bring spring rain, others bring sunshine, and we can even pinpoint certain times of year for things like jaw dropping sunsets. Think about the experience and scenery you’re looking for, because that can help determine which month is best for you to elope.

3. Crowds. In the past few years, Brookings has absolutely skyrocketed in popularity thanks to social media. Places like Secret Beach and Natural Bridges were once relatively hidden gems, but they’re now popular enough that it can be difficult to even find parking during peak times. Planning for the right time of day or time of year can help you avoid crowds. Or better yet, skip the touristy locations altogether. There are SO many beautiful places along this coast.

4. Your activity level. Shockingly, we have a heck of a lot more elevation than people expect on the Oregon Coast, and some of the most beautiful places require a little physical effort to access.

Your “easy coastal hike” might include some ups and downs, rocks, roots, trees, and other obstacles. Be honest with yourself and your photographer about how much hiking you want to do, so they can recommend the best locations for you.

5. Choose your Airbnb location carefully. Where you stay can make a huge difference in your elopement experience. Booking an Airbnb along the coast instead of farther inland will put you closer to town and cut down on a lot of driving at the end of a very long day.

How people approach planning their Oregon Coast elopement will vary from person to person, but if it were my day, these are the five things I would prioritize!

Oregon coast elopement | secret beach elopement |

09/02/2026

A question I get asked a lot by eloping couples is:
“How do we avoid the crowds on our day?”

And while the short answer is that you can’t completely avoid them—since it’s a public park open to other guests—there are ways to avoid the vast majority of the crowds.

Here are a few tips:
- Elope in the morning or later in the evening. Peak traffic in national and state parks usually happens between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
- Choose a weekday instead of a weekend. Not only will you beat the crowds, but you’ll also have more flexibility and vendor availability.
- Consider eloping in the off season. Summer is one of the most popular times of year for both elopements and general park visitors. If privacy is important to you, talk to your photographer about planning your elopement in the spring or fall to avoid the crowds (and the family vacationers).
- Opt for lesser known trails. While iconic spots are worth visiting during your trip, consider saving them for a personal adventure day. On your elopement day, explore a quieter, less visited trail for a more intimate experience.

The biggest piece of advice I can give any couple hoping to avoid the crowds is to think about how important privacy is to you on your elopement day.
Is it just for your ceremony, or do you want a completely private experience?

Working with a photographer who knows the area and can guide you through the park is one of your biggest assets during the planning process.

And no matter what, embrace the of the day, and be ready to hear plenty of strangers tell you how beautiful you look.

Redwoods | redwoods elopement photographer | redwoods wedding | redwoods wedding inspiration | redwood national park | redwood national park elopement

08/20/2026

To bouquet or not to bouquet?

One of the questions I often hear from a lot of brides is, “Should I have a bouquet on my elopement day?”

And while the obvious answer is that it’s entirely up to you, there are a few things you should know when planning an elopement in the Redwoods or along the Oregon Coast.

If you’re eloping in the Redwoods: live florals and greenery are not allowed. Your bouquet will need to be synthetic, artificial, paper, wood, or another non living material. This helps prevent the introduction of invasive species into an incredibly fragile ecosystem.

So if you’ve been envisioning a giant, living floral bouquet… unfortunately the Redwoods probably aren’t the place for it.

If you’re eloping on the coast: you have a lot more freedom. There aren’t the same restrictions on live florals, so you can absolutely have the biggest, most beautiful bouquet of flowers and greenery your heart desires.

BUT.

Our coastline is rocky. Especially if you’re exploring places like Secret Beach, it’s not uncommon to find yourself scrambling over rocks, navigating uneven trails, or using your hands to help stabilize yourself.

Add a bouquet to one hand and a wedding dress in the other, and suddenly you’ve got a lot to keep track of.

If you do bring one, I highly recommend having a backpack or another way to secure it when you need both hands free. Your safety (and your ability to actually explore) comes first.

Now, if you want my personal opinion?

I’m team no bouquet purely for logistical reasons. One less thing to carry, hold, remember, or accidentally leave somewhere sounds pretty great to me.

But am I also a complete sucker for bouquet detail photos?

Absolutely.

So tell me, are you team bouquet or team no bouquet?

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08/17/2026

One of the most meaningful parts of every day is how you spend it, so here are five activities my couples absolutely love adding to their elopement day in the Redwoods or along the Southern Oregon Coast!

- A picnic: This one’s a classic, but everybody’s gotta eat. Sharing a meal together is a great way to stay fueled, slow the day down, spend some quality time together, and take in the scenery.

- Kayaking: With some of the cleanest, clearest rivers in the country, lots of my couples opt to explore this beautiful area from the water. There are mellow, flat water sections with stunning scenery, so you don’t have to be an experienced kayaker to enjoy it.

- Hiking: This one’s kind of classic, but sometimes the best views feel a little bit better when they’re earned. Hiking is a fun way to get out, move your body, explore, and get some incredible photos.

- Having a fire: One of my favorite ways to wind down the day. It’s quiet, you have time to look back and reminisce, all while watching the sun dip into the Pacific. This one isn’t necessarily doable year round because of fire restrictions.

- Berry picking: You’re not a true Pacific Northwesterner until you’ve eaten a juicy blueberry or huckleberry straight off the plant. Foraging your trail snacks is not only tasty, but one of the most quintessential PNW things you can do, especially in late summer.

- Last, but certainly not least, tidepooling :Whether it’s hundreds of massive starfish or searching for that one nudibranch hiding in the tide pool, there’s always something to see. It’s one of the best ways to slow your day down, be present, and see some really incredible little creatures.

When it comes to how you fill your elopement day, the options are truly endless. These are just a few of my couples’ favorite ways to celebrate saying “I do.”

So, which activity would you choose?

07/29/2026

When it comes to privacy in the Redwoods one of the questions I’m asked most is, “How private is it really?”

And honestly? Even on peak summer days you can find pockets of complete quiet among the trees. You just have to know where to look.

The reality is that most visitors spend their time at a handful of iconic trails while the rest of the park stays surprisingly peaceful.

That’s one of the biggest advantages of working with a photographer who knows the area well. It’s not about having some top secret location that no one else knows about, it’s about knowing when to go, where to go, and how to build a timeline that naturally avoids the crowds.

I’ve had couples exchange vows without seeing another person, then walk ten minutes down the trail and suddenly be surrounded by visitors. The difference wasn’t luck, it was timing and location knowledge.

The Redwoods are so much bigger than the handful of places you see all over Instagram, and some of the most magical spots are the ones that never go viral.

Redwoods | redwoods elopement | redwoods wedding | redwoods national park | redwoods elopement photographer | redwoods elopement inspo | redwood national and state park

07/27/2026

10 Mistakes Couples Make When Planning an Oregon Coast Elopement

From an Oregon Coast elopement photographer who’s planned hundreds of them…

Mistake #1

Planning around sunset instead of the tides.

The best light in the world doesn’t matter if your dream beach is underwater.

Tide charts can completely change what locations are possible, so this is always one of the first things I look at when building a timeline.

Mistake #2

Thinking you have to book a year in advance.

The Oregon Coast is one of the easiest places to plan a last-minute elopement.

Many areas have minimal permit requirements, which means you don’t always need months of paperwork before saying “let’s do this.”

Mistake #3

Assuming you have to hike miles for epic views.

You don’t need to be an experienced hiker to have an incredible Oregon Coast elopement.

There are beautiful locations just steps from the car, and there are also bigger adventures if that’s what you’re looking for.

The best location is the one that fits your dream day.

Mistake #4

Only planning for one type of scenery.

One of the best things about the Oregon Coast is the variety.

You can explore beaches, sea stacks, cliffs, old growth forests, rivers, waterfalls, and hidden coves. all in the same day.

Mistake #5

Panicking over the forecast.

The Oregon Coast is unpredictable.

Fog, wind, clouds, and even a little rain are part of what makes it so beautiful.

Some of my favorite galleries have come from days that didn’t look “perfect” on the weather app.

Mistake #6

Choosing a location because it went viral.

The most popular location isn’t always the best location.

The right spot depends on what matters to you: privacy, accessibility, adventure level, scenery, and the kind of experience you want to have.

Mistake #7

Underestimating drive times.

The Oregon Coast is full of winding roads, scenic overlooks, wildlife, and places you’ll want to stop.

Google Maps might say 30 minutes…but the Oregon Coast has a way of turning that into 45 minutes (and honestly, that’s part of the fun).

Mistake #8

Planning on a summer weekend if you don’t have to.

The difference between a Saturday in July and a Tuesday evening can be

07/22/2026

While I specialize in big trees, a special piece of my heart resides in the desert.

I fell in love with our public lands on my first visit to Moab almost 10 years ago. If we’re being honest, our public lands will always be my greatest love. I was enamored by their expansiveness, resilience, remoteness, and beauty.

On that first trip I looked out over a canyon stretching miles into BLM land and promised myself that one day I’d stand on its edge. It took four years, but I eventually figured out how to get there. I returned to that canyon year after year, thinking I’d always admire it from above. Last week I had the privilege of experiencing it from the river, something I never imagined I was capable of.

This little patch of land has grown with me over the past decade. It’s shaped me, taught me courage, and reminded me of my own strength. I scattered Piper and Chaco’s ashes here. It’s comforted me when I wasn’t sure what life would hold and reminded me that in the grand scheme of things I’m just a speck in the lifetime of this landscape.

After months of planning, researching, and preparing, it was finally time to experience this place in a new way. We packed up the boats, and I had the privilege of showing my brother (& Marge) what it feels like to truly know this land.

The heat was relentless, ranging from 87–103 degrees with almost no shade. The bugs were hellacious. The mud was EVERYWHERE making side hikes messy and difficult. We weathered two monsoons that made for sleepless nights and the most incredible lightning storms illuminating the canyon walls long after dark. We spent our days not seeing a single other person and drifting downstream, humbled by the scale of it all.

It’s difficult to put into words, or photos, just how incredible time on the river is. It has a way of reminding you that no amount of preparation makes you in charge. The river shapes all, and every time you take out you’re a different person than the one who put in.

To the river and this land, thank you for every way you’ve shaped me, healed me, and taught me. I can’t wait to see you again.

07/13/2026

I’m going to be so honest with you… I love 4 hour elopement days.

They’re the smallest package I offer and although they may be tiny, they’re incredibly mighty.

Four hours is just enough time to really explore two locations or fully immerse yourselves in one. They’re not built for huge hiking adventures or squeezing as much as possible into the day, but honestly that’s kind of the beauty of them.

These days are for couples who want the focus to be on nothing other than each other.

You still get to exchange your vows somewhere breathtaking. You still get time to wander, laugh until your faces hurt, soak in the scenery, share a meal together, and create a day that actually feels like you. Nothing feels rushed because every part of the day is intentional.

K & C’s elopement is one of my favorite examples of this.

We met for their first look before heading into a Redwoods location where they spent the next couple of hours exploring beneath the trees. They found a quiet spot to exchange vows, wandered the trails together, and had plenty of time to slow down and actually take it all in instead of rushing to the next thing.

After the forest, we headed to a coast location just in time for golden hour. They shared a picnic of pizza overlooking the ocean, watched the sun dip below the horizon, explored the cliffs, and wrapped up the evening with some of my favorite images from their entire gallery.

And that was their entire wedding day.

It wasn’t packed from sunrise to sunset. There wasn’t a huge hike or a mile long to do list. It was simply four hours of being fully present with each other in two incredible and easy to access places.

I think there’s this misconception that an unforgettable elopement has to be an all day adventure. And while I absolutely love those days too, they’re definitely not the only way to have an incredible experience.

Sometimes, four intentional hours are all you need.

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07/10/2026

D & R’s wedding day wasn’t the beginning of their story. It was a celebration of the ten years that came before it.

They spent the morning exactly how they wanted to: slowly. They made breakfast together, drank coffee overlooking the ocean, and sat side by side writing their vows into the vow books they’d picked out together back home. There was no rush. Just two people soaking in the fact that after ten years together, this was finally the day they’d be married.

When permit plans changed before the day, they embraced a beautiful grove just outside Redwood National Park. They hiked in with their moms, signed their marriage license at the trailhead, and found a quiet spot beneath the Redwoods to exchange vows.

Before the ceremony began, they did something I’d never seen before. They each took a photo of the other standing exactly where they were so they could always remember that moment. They honored both of their moms with roses and hugs before reading vows that had everyone smiling, laughing, and tearing up all at once. They sealed everything with a kiss and celebrated with a Redwood sorrel toast.

The afternoon was spent wandering beneath giant Redwoods before ending the day on the coast. A rainy, foggy morning gave way to one of the most colorful sunsets I’ve seen all year. They ran through the sand, watched seals playing offshore, and had the beach almost entirely to themselves.

We wrapped up the day with pizza, champagne, and a picnic overlooking the Pacific with their moms. They laughed, reminisced about the last ten years, and toasted to everything that brought them here.

The whole day felt like an extension of who they already are, calm, thoughtful, and completely present. It wasn’t about creating the most elaborate wedding day. It was about celebrating the life they’d already built together.

Redwoods elopement | redwoods elopement photographer | redwood national park elopement | redwood national park elopement inspo | redwood forest wedding | redwoods elopement inspo | redwood national park

Gabriella Rankin Photography

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