Melanie & Austin’s Elopement Exploring Hoyt Arboretum and Latourell Falls

Melanie and Austin planned an adventure around Portland from their ceremony at Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum. Then they explored Latourell Falls before sharing a family candlelit dinner at the night’s end. Get all the details below.

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About This Elopement

Photography by Silk & Thorn

“Melanie and Austin traveled to Portland from Arizona with a small group of their closest friends and family for an intimate elopement. This elopement was full of emotional moments and carefully thought out details.

The day began with everyone getting ready at an Airbnb, where Melanie and Austin shared gifts and letters with their parents and loved ones.

The ceremony took place at the Redwood Deck in the Hoyt Arboretum. Following their ceremony, they hosted a picnic with pizza, giving people time to slow down and enjoy the scenery of the location.

After the Hoyt Arboretum, we all went to Latourell Falls where Melanie and Austin shared their first dance at the base of the waterfall.

To conclude the night, Melanie and Austin hosted an outdoor candlelit dinner at the same Airbnb where they got ready.

Melanie and Austin were very adventurous, and were not afraid to play around in the waterfall or get dirty. They focused on enjoying their experience in an adventurous way, and it made the creative process incredibly fun and easy.” [David, the photographer]

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Permit and LNT

“For Melanie and Austin’s Elopement, we visited two locations outside of their Airbnb, the Hoyt Arboretum, and Latourell Falls along the Columbia River Gorge.

For couples wanting to plan a wedding at the Redwood Deck, it’s important to know that they will need to obtain a ceremony permit from the Hoyt Arboretum. The Redwood Deck is available to reserve for a 6 hour window, either in the morning or evening, at a fee of $300 as of 2024. Besides the Redwood Deck, the Hoyt Arboretum also includes a Wedding Meadow for picnics, that can be reserved in combination with or separate from the Redwood Deck.

For Melanie and Austin’s elopement, we had access to both the Redwood Deck where they hosted their ceremony, and the Wedding Meadow where they enjoyed a picnic with pizza after their ceremony.

Couples wanting to elope within the Hoyt Arboretum should plan with plenty of time, as reservations for weddings open the first working day of each year for that calendar year. There is also an option to enter a wedding lottery in mid-November for a greater chance of securing their preferred date and location within the park.

Latourell Falls does not have a permit we were required to obtain, but it was important for us to be mindful and respectful of other visitors wanting to enjoy the waterfall. Latourell Falls has high foot traffic, so we also planned for a shorter length of time at this location (both for the experience of the couple, as well as everyone else around).

When planning an elopement in nature, It’s very important to respect nature and follow Leave No Trace guidelines. Some ways couples can do this is by staying within official trails or picnic areas, and by not leaving anything behind. Many couples bring flowers or decorations for their ceremonies, so they should plan to pack and take everything they brought with them when they leave, as well as properly dispose of trash. Attaching anything to trees or driving stakes into the ground is also prohibited within the Hoyt Arboretum, but should be avoided at other locations regardless. Rice and birdseed are also prohibited for showering the couple, so bubbles would be a good alternative.” [David, the photographer]

Learn more about leaving no trace during your elopement.

Top Tips When Eloping at These Locations

“For couples wanting to elope at the Redwood Deck, my top tip would be to begin planning early, as well as being flexible with their date. Since there is high demand and limited availability for this location, couples should submit an application for their preferred date as early as possible, and be willing to move their date if their first choice is no longer available.

The Hoyt Arboretum has many beautiful trails and areas for sightseeing and enjoying the redwoods, so we also recommend planning to spend several hours within the park to truly be present and enjoy the breathtaking nature and beauty of the park. If a couple is planning an elopement with multiple guests, reserving the Wedding Meadow along with the Redwood Deck would be a good idea to take some time to slow down and enjoy some time together after their ceremony.

For couples wanting to plan parts of their elopement at Latourell Falls, they should expect to have to work around other visitors. If a couple knows they will be uncomfortable being the center of attention around a crowd of strangers, this waterfall would not be a good choice to prioritize their experience.” [David, the photographer]

Memorable Moments From This Elopement

From the photographer:

“Early in the day when Melanie and Austin shared heartfelt letters and gifts with their loved ones prior to their ceremony. The early moments of an elopement day are full of emotion and anticipation, so beginning their day by sharing their love and gratitude with their loved ones made for some very beautiful and emotional moments. It was also a great way to slow down, and set the tone for the rest of the day.

Another moment I especially loved was when Melanie and Austin shared their first dance at Latourell Falls. This was the first time that they ever saw the waterfall in person, so seeing their excitement and awe was very inspiring. After their first dance, we took some time to do fun portraits where they were barefoot in the rocks and playing in the mist. Getting to create during this time and seeing them have fun was nothing short of euphoric.”

Details We Love

“The setup for their candlelit dinner they shared at the end of the day. Melanie and Austin set up a beautiful tablescape outdoors at their Airbnb, and it made for a very intimate and romantic mood. When we lost daylight and were only left with the candlelit, we were able to create some very moody and romantic photos.” [David, the photographer]

Final Words of Advice From the Photographer

“As a final piece of advice for couples planning a micro-wedding or elopement with family, It’s important to pay attention to the accessibility of the locations for their loved ones. Melanie and Austin had a few older family members, and the Redwood Deck worked great for them because the location was easily accessible via a short trail from a parking area. There are many other locations throughout the Pacific Northwest that are not as easily accessible, so it’s important to research accessibility and seclusion before deciding on a location.

Additionally, prioritizing your experience is incredibly important. Your wedding day will fly by, so it’s important to slow down and create space for connection with your loved ones and simply observing. One good way to do this is by not packing every minute of the day with activities, or trying to fit too much into a short amount of time. Instead, couples should consider spreading their plans over a larger part of the day, leaving plenty of breathing space in their timeline for spontaneity. We believe this is precisely what allowed Melanie and Austin to enjoy their experience to the fullest, and allowed us to document their day in a fun and creative way.” [David, the photographer]

Photos From This Elopement