Have you heard of the little coastal city of Cannon Beach, Oregon? I hadn’t until Michelle and Andrew shared their picturesque wedding photos captured on the Cannon Beach shoreline – and boy, is it awe-inspiring!

The beauty of this location brought Michelle and her family back for vacation frequently throughout her childhood, making memories to last a lifetime. 

“Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of getting married on Cannon Beach, OR,” the bride says. “Andrew and I visited early on in our relationship and he agreed that it was a special place.”

So when it came time to begin planning their ideal wedding day, the couple could think of nowhere they’d rather begin forever together than the lovely Cannon Beach. The couple’s family and friends were so thrilled for them that what originally was planned to be an elopement became an intimate seaside celebration with 30 people in attendance. 

“Our family and friends were so excited for us to get married and begged us to tag along,” Michelle says.

The couple took to VRBO and found the perfect accommodations for their group in the nearby town of Seaside, OR. Three spacious cabins fit all 30 guests and were just 15 minutes from the couple’s ceremony site, Haystack Rock, a 235 ft intertidal sea stack.

“We chose Haystack Rock because that is my favorite spot in Cannon Beach,” the bride says. “Since it is a public beach, only 25ish of us were able to gather for the event, but at no cost and no reservations needed.” 

This made coordinating the event easier for Michelle and Andrew to handle on their own, which is exactly what they did! Unfortunately, there were a few bumps on the road along the way like having to change caterers due to COVID, but nothing the couple couldn’t handle with a little problem-solving. Plus, Michelle had her two lovely sisters and two besties to help with everything from the reception decor and day-of coordination to the bride’s hair and makeup!

“We decorated our reception all by ourselves,” the bride says. “My sister brought eucalyptus, candles and small round wooden pieces for our ceremony tables. I bought our napkins, table cloths and rented our tables, chairs, and plate ware. We ordered a beautiful wooden sign, a cake topper and a few other small decor pieces from Etsy.”

When we asked the couple how they think their wedding would have been different had they chosen to wed at home, they told us it would not have been as magical and carefree as their special day by the sea turned out to be. 

Vendors: Photographer: Loren Gifford; Ceremony Site: Haystack Rock; Reception Site: Privately Owned Cabin; Florist: True Vine Floral; Stationery: LineAveCalligraphy; Cake: Costco; Gown Designer: David’s Bridal; Groom’s Clothing Designer: Men’s Wearhouse; Catering: Hoda’s Lebanese Restaurant and Catering; Rentals: Pedersen’s Rentals