A+J’s Cannon Beach, Oregon wedding gave us approximately every version of coastal weather except sunshine, and honestly, it worked. Overcast, drizzle, back to overcast, more drizzle, repeat. At one point, we took turns hiding out in the changing tent, waiting for the rain to ease up. But instead of fighting the weather, we all leaned into it. The result was a wedding that felt intimate, moody, and very epic.
We started the day at their Airbnb, where A got ready (shoutout to Lash and Lox) with the girlies and their moms. It was relaxed and easy, with everyone together before we headed toward the coast. From there, we headed to Cannon Beach for A+J’s first look. And somehow, between rounds of drizzle, we made it happen.
Their first look gave them a minute to actually see each other and take everything in before joining everyone for group portraits. With a smaller wedding like this, I love that family photos don’t have to become a massive production. We could get the photos that mattered, work around the weather, and then move on to the reason everyone was actually there.
Did we occasionally have to retreat to the changing tent? Yes. Did the Oregon Coast care about our timeline? Absolutely not. And that’s exactly why I always build a little breathing room into wedding days here.
An Arcadia Beach Ceremony That Moved With the Tide
After Cannon Beach, we headed to Arcadia Beach for the ceremony. A’s dad walked her down the beach toward J, with their closest people gathered around them and those massive rock formations behind them. It was simple, intimate, and incredibly sweet. And then the ocean decided we were standing a little too close.
The waves slowly started washing farther up the beach, so we had to scoot back toward shore. Honestly, very on-brand for this day. I love a ceremony where everyone just rolls with what’s happening instead of worrying about whether everything looks exactly as planned. Once A+J were officially married, they stayed right there on the sand for two of the sweetest parts of the day. A danced with her dad first, followed by A+J’s first dance as a married couple, with the ocean behind them and no ballroom dance floor required.
Afterward, we released everyone to simply enjoy the beach while I stole A+J away for portraits. This is something I’m pretty protective of on wedding days. Your family and friends are excited for you, and naturally, everyone wants to be involved. But you also deserve moments where nobody is watching, waiting, or asking what happens next. Sometimes my job is directing the photo. Other times, it’s politely telling everyone else, “Okay, you guys can go now.”
That space gave A+J time to be together. They walked barefoot along the beach, and tucked themselves underneath a blanket when it got cold. And eventually they pulled out lanterns as the light disappeared. The fog settled over the coastline, the beach got darker, and everything became even moodier. It wasn’t perfect beach weather. It was their beach weather. And I wouldn’t trade it.
“Worth Flying Back From Texas For”
A+J planned their Oregon wedding while living in Dallas, which meant communication and trust mattered long before we ever stepped onto the beach. Afterward, A shared:
“From the very beginning, Mattie was absolutely incredible. Planning a wedding in Oregon while living in Dallas, Texas could have been stressful, but she made the entire process feel so easy. She was always incredibly communicative, quick to respond, and never hesitated to hop on a phone call whenever I had questions or just needed to talk through the timeline.
On our wedding day, she went above and beyond in every possible way. She brought so many thoughtful little things that made our day even more special, and she truly helped keep everything organized and running smoothly. She was patient, kind, calming, and somehow managed to make us feel completely comfortable in front of the camera.
One thing I especially appreciated was that she wasn’t afraid to politely tell our friends and family to step away so my husband and I could have those intimate, private moments together. Those are some of my favorite memories from the day, and I know we have her to thank for making them happen.
And then there are the photos…they are absolutely breathtaking. Every single image brings us right back to that day, and I truly don’t think words can express how happy I am with her work. She captured every emotion, every detail, and every moment more beautifully than I ever imagined.
I would recommend Mattie 10 out of 10 times without hesitation. My only hope now is that I can convince my husband to fly all the way back to the Seattle area someday so Mattie can photograph our maternity photos (or honestly any excuse we can come up with!). She is that good.
Thank you, Mattie, for giving us memories we’ll treasure forever. We are beyond grateful.”
Brb, putting “worth flying back from Texas for” on my résumé. But truly, this is why the experience matters just as much to me as the finished photographs. I want you to look at your gallery and love what you see, obviously. But I also want those images to remind you of what was happening when I took them.
Cannon Beach, Oregon Wedding Photographer | Before Our Eyes Photography
The Oregon Coast is going to do whatever it wants. You can check the forecast 47 times beforehand (we all do it), but ultimately, you have to be willing to work with what the coast gives you. That doesn’t mean throwing the plan out the window. It means making a good enough plan that there’s room for real life inside of it.
I’m Mattie—a Cannon Beach wedding photographer, professional third wheel, and someone who takes protecting your experience pretty seriously. I’ll help you create a timeline with breathing room. We’ll talk through the logistics when you’re planning from hundreds or thousands of miles away. I’ll guide you when you need direction, and know when it’s time for everyone else—including me—to give you some space.
Because I don’t want your wedding to feel like one long photoshoot with a ceremony squeezed into the middle. The photographs matter deeply to me, but the experience happening inside of them matters more.
If you’re planning an intimate Cannon Beach or Oregon Coast wedding and want something relaxed, intentional, and flexible enough to handle whatever the coast throws at us, let’s start planning!
And if you want to see what Cannon Beach looks like when we trade moody afternoon fog for a golden sunset, check out this surprise proposal on the beach by Haystack Rock!
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