How to Elope in Oregon: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re dreaming of saying “I do” surrounded by towering evergreens, misty coastlines, or dramatic mountain peaks, Oregon is the place to plan your elopement. Whether you’re envisioning a waterfall ceremony in the Columbia River Gorge or a cozy coastal vow exchange on Cannon Beach, this diverse state makes it easy to create a day that feels adventurous, romantic and totally you. The question is — how to elope in Oregon?

The steps to make your marriage legal, whether an elopement, a micro wedding or a traditional wedding, can feel complicated and tedious. With some planning and a little bit of help, it can be done quickly and stress free! Here, we’ll review:

• How to obtain a marriage license 
• How many witnesses are required
• All inclusive Oregon elopement packages
• Top booked venues in Oregon on Simply Eloped
• Post elopement: getting a marriage certificate
• Post elopement: changing your last name

How to Get your Marriage License

Your marriage license is the most important part of your marriage process. This is because to get married in Oregon, or really anywhere in the US, you need a marriage license. To obtain that, you need to fill out the application online, and then, once your application is approved, you and your partner will need to go in person with valid photo identification to the county clerk’s office to get the actual marriage license and pay the associated fee. 

The marriage license application fee varies by county but ranges from $50.00-$75.00. Once you receive your marriage license it expires after 60 days, and there is a three day waiting period required between getting your marriage license and being able to get married in Oregon, so make sure to plan ahead. 

If you’re planning to change your name after your wedding, make sure to note that on your marriage license application.

Obtaining a Wedding Officiant and Witnesses

To elope in Oregon, you’ll need an officiant, and two witnesses over the age of 18. You cannot self-officiate your marriage in the state of Oregon, so you’ll need to find one of the following people to officiate your ceremony:

• Anyone authorized by an active religious congregation or secular organization. 
• An active judge of a federal court.
• An active United States Magistrate judge.
• A State of Oregon judicial officer.

All Inclusive OregonElopement Packages

Simply Eloped offers a number of customizable elopement packages for your OregonElopement! Our Seed, Simply Photographed, Sprout, Bloom, and Oasis packages are available in Oregon. This provides each couple the unique opportunity to build their perfect, customizable elopement package from top to bottom. Here are a few details on each package. To see more information on each of these Oregon elopement packages, click here.

• Seed Package Details: Includes professional officiant, personalized ceremony, advice on obtaining your marriage license and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Simply Photographed Details: Covers one hour of professional photography and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Sprout Package Details: Offers a professional officiant, personalized ceremony, one hour of photography, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Bloom Package Details: Includes a professional officiant, personalized ceremony, one hour of photography, a Nosegay bouquet and boutonniere, and dedicated Elopement Specialist.
• Oasis Package Details: Covers professional officiant, two hours of photography, one hour of videography, hair and make up for one person, a Nosegay bouquet and boutonniere and dedicated Elopement Specialist.

Places to Elope in Oregon

Silver Falls State Park

If you envision the calming sounds of a waterfall in the background of your ceremony, Silver Falls State Park, and in particular, Upper North Falls, could be the perfect setting to exchange vows. This venue is available year round, though we recommend the months of March – May for ideal weather. There is no permit required, just pay the $3.00 per car entry fee as you arrive at the park. The walk to Upper North Falls is only about a quarter of a mile, and there are other waterfalls to choose from. 

This venue is wheelchair accessible and allows for streaming for those family and friends who can’t celebrate with you in person—though service can be spotty. This venue can accommodate up to 20 guests (including the couple and vendors), and your pups are welcome to join as long as they remain on a leash. Chairs and decor are not allowed including candles and sparklers. Alcohol is allowed, so feel free to pop a bottle of champagne after your ceremony, however music is not allowed. There is a parking lot available on site.

Hoyt Arboretum

If a forest elopement is calling your name, Hoyt Arboretum is the perfect spot to exchange vows beneath towering evergreen trees. You can choose between The Wedding Meadow and Redwood Deck for your ceremony. This venue does require a permit and you and your partner will need to apply for it yourselves. This venue is closed on Mondays, and can be booked up to six months in advance. 

Hoyt Arboretum can accommodate up to 25 guests (including the couple and vendors), and pets are not allowed. This location is wheelchair accessible and allows for streaming so those friends and family who can’t be there in person can tune in from afar. Chairs and decor, including candles and sparklers, are not allowed, however there are benches available at Redwood Deck for your guests. Alcohol and music are permitted at this venue, and there is a parking lot on site.

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area

Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area is a wide open beach on the Tillamook Coast, part of the Three Capes Scenic Route—and it’s a stunning location to exchange vows while soaking in the sea air. This venue is available year round, but only one permit is given out per day. That permit can be applied for up to nine months in advance, but it will not be accepted less than one month before the date of your ceremony. You and your partner will need to apply for the permit yourselves and there is a permit fee of $150.00.

This venue can accommodate larger parties of up to 45 guests (including the couple and vendors). Chairs and decor are not allowed, including candles and sparklers. Streaming is allowed for those friends and family who can’t be there with you in person to tune in from afar, but service can be spotty. This venue is also wheelchair accessible. Alcohol is not permitted, however you can feel free to play music to celebrate the occasion. Pets are welcome as long as they remain on a leash. A parking lot is available on site. 

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

For an intimate elopement on a patio by a peaceful waterfall, Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is the perfect spot on Crystal Springs lake in Portland, OR. This location was even voted one of the top five gardens in the U.S. for its tranquil beauty. This venue is available year round, and it can be booked anytime, but the latest ceremony start time is 3:00 PM. This location does require a permit, but Simply Eloped’s got you covered.

This venue can accommodate up to ten guests (including the couple and vendors), but does allow for streaming so that friends and family can tune in from afar, and it is wheelchair accessible. Chairs and decor, including candles and sparklers are not allowed. Alcohol and music are also not allowed, so make sure to plan for a post-ceremony celebration elsewhere. Pets are welcome as long as they remain on a leash, and there is a parking lot available on site. 

Leach Botanical Garden

Just outside of Portland’s downtown core, you’ll find Leach Botanical Garden—a venue with a variety of idyllic spots to choose from for your elopement ceremony. You can exchange vows in a garden, forest, or by the creek—Northwest landscapes are at their best here! This location is available year round, except on Mondays. This venue does require a permit, and you and your partner will need to apply for that yourselves—and there is a $600.00 fee associated with it. 

This venue can accommodate up to ten guests (including the couple and vendors), but it does allow for streaming so that friends and family can tune in from afar, and it is wheelchair accessible. Chairs and decor are allowed, and the venue can provide chairs, however candles and sparklers are not allowed. Alcohol and pets are also not allowed, but you can absolutely include music in your ceremony. A parking lot is available on site. 

Get Your Marriage Certificate

The person who officiates your marriage will need to send the original marriage license to the County Clerk or County Recorder within five days of the date of your ceremony. 

You will not automatically receive a copy of your marriage license, so if you need a copy of that license you will need to request and pay for a certified copy. You can order that certified copy by going to the Digital Research Room. The first copy you order costs $7.75 and any extra copies are $4.00. It takes one to two business days for their office to get the copies in the mail. 

It is recommended to get two. This is because as you’re changing your name, you’ll be using this document a lot. While in transition, it’s always good to have a backup in the event of an emergency. 

How to Change your Last Name in Oregon

If you know you want to change your name after your ceremony, make sure to include that decision in your marriage license application to simplify the process—this gives you the option to change your name after receiving your marriage certificate, as you can use your marriage certificate as proof of your name change.

If you did not note that you’d like to change your name on your marriage license application, you’ll need to get a Court-Ordered Name Change by filing for a name change in the circuit court of the county in which you live.

Then you’ll need to change your name with the Social Security Administration. You can do this by bringing the following documents to your local SSA office:

• Form SS-5, the Application for a Social Security Card. 
• Your legal name change document (your marriage certificate or court order)
• Proof of identity (your current driver’s license, state ID or passport, for example)
• Proof of citizenship if you haven’t established it already (your birth certificate or passport)

Make sure you get original or certified copies of your documents from the Social Security Office—and don’t worry, your Social Security Number will not change, and this whole process is free!

Next, you’ll need to update your passport and your driver’s license. Updating your passport is a federal transition, so it’s consistent state to state. For your driver’s license – it’ll be more state dependent, so look to your local resources for what you’ll need to bring to your appointment for both identification and fees. Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ve done the tallest task of completing your legal name change. You’ll then want to go through your accounts, credit cards, bank accounts, employers and insurance to make sure your name is up to date. It seems like a lot because it is! Take this process step by step, and it should all go smoothly. There’s also many businesses that help with the name changing process.

Eloping is an exciting moment in you and your partner’s life! Though there’s a few steps to get you down the aisle, Simply Eloped is here to support you in the full process. To learn more about our packages and services, chat with one of our Personal Elopement Designers.

This article has been fact checked and reviewed for accuracy by a Simply Eloped Personal Elopement Specialist in January 2026.