Hi! Welcome to Bend, Oregon Elopement

About Me

My name is Ely and I am a professional wedding and elopement photographer based out of Bend, Oregon. I moved to Bend in 2015 and since then have photographed hundreds of elopements. I am passionate about exploring Oregon to find new stunning locations to photograph couples. Sometimes it’s a breathtaking mountainscape or a serene, river lush with surrounding forest. Whatever your vibe, the NW offers a bunch of picturesque options as the backdrop to your perfect “I do’s!” 

After years of photographing elopements, I have started serving as an elopement planner as well. I created this website to help you plan out your perfect elopement. If you have decided you want to have an intimate elopement or micro-wedding, then this is the site for you. To help you along, I have assembled a team of other vendors to help make your day more complete. The nature of elopements allows for a beautiful, intimate feel that is distinctively true to each couple in a brilliant way. Elopements also lend themselves to a sort of adventure too. The combination of meaningful moments in unusual locations makes my job as an elopement photographer that much more fun. 

Why Elope? 

Imagine that you just got engaged and are over the moon in love. Your ring sparkles, your face hurts from smiling, and you cannot wait to say, “I do!” You start to dip your toe into the wedding planning waters and Oh.My.Word. It’s a lot. The decisions to make, the details to sort, the guest list to select. You are already overwhelmed and stressed. What happened to those moments of glee you were just recently engulfed in? Something doesn’t feel right. You want a meaningful wedding, but the big production just isn’t for you. That’s ok! You should probably consider eloping. 

Choosing to elope or hold a micro-wedding means choosing intentionality, simplicity, and quite possibly some adventure. Does the thought of you and your love having a genuine, authentic ceremony on a mountain top sound appealing? Maybe it’s the two of you with your closest crew at a sentimental location. Hiking high or strolling by a river low, the location should be truly you. Eloping gives you the opportunity to focus on what matters most to you. Hold a ceremony with the elements that ring true for your love and get onto the best part, being married. It’s ok to go against the flow and do your own thing. Your elopement will be a moment in the story of your love that you truly cherish. Not only that, but as a seasoned elopement photographer in beautiful Bend, Oregon, I’d love to capture it. Let me be a part of bringing everything together. I can help plan and photograph your special day so it’s all that you hope for! 

Why Elope in Oregon?

Oregon is steeped in opportunities to explore and take in the great outdoors. If you find yourself always ready for a new adventure, then Oregon is the place for you. It might mean you get a little wet or dirty, but adding a little spontaneous exploring to your wedding day might be the perfect ingredient you’re missing. Hike up that dress, roll up those suit pants, and experience something very few people do. A wedding day that is authentically and intimately you. If the mountains are calling or waterfalls inspire you, Oregon’s got ‘em. Find yourself nestled in rich, green forests and breathing in the fresh air beside the one you love. Set those meaningful nuptials in the wild and wonder of nature and you’ve got yourself an incredible wedding day. 

Where to Elope in Oregon? 

As an elopement photographer working in Bend, OR, the resources on this site mainly apply to this region. However, our photo and video options do include travel to locations throughout the state. We are up to travel to the gorgeous Oregon coastline or the iconic waterfalls found outside Portland in the Columbia River Gorge. You can feel free to reach out to learn more about these options. 

Central Oregon, and specifically Bend, OR,  really does offer a myriad of options for the perfect, memorable elopement of micro-wedding. Say, “I do!” with the large expanse of Black Butte Ranch or crystal blue water of nearby lakes as your setting. With hiking boots and Patagonia’s paired with your wedding duds, explore South Sister, Dutchman Flats, or even the rugged terrain of Broken Top. Take a short drive to the famous Crater Lake and hold your wedding with surreal landscapes surrounding it. For those looking for a quaint, indoor venue, White Aspen is an incredible hidden gem in Bend, OR. Take a look at my work as an elopement photographer and see what inspires you. Your location really does set a beautiful tone for your wedding day. Luckily Oregon has so much to offer! 

When should you plan your Oregon Elopement for?

One of the amazing things about Oregon is that it holds several pretty distinct seasons. Bend, OR is the high desert so we lack the rainfall that the Portland area receives. However, Bend gets a good amount of snow in the winter. It’s perfect for that winter wonderland wedding vibe. On this website, I have broken down locations that are best for both summer and winter. If you dream of sunshine and stunning lake reflections, then plan your wedding for June-September. If a snowy ridge with a snow-clad forest is your style, then shoot for December to April. October and November are particularly beautiful for the moody weather paired with outrageously gorgeous fall colors. Think first about what sort of seasonal backdrop you dream of and mark your calendar accordingly. Choose a season and location where you met or got engaged or maybe will just look epic in photos. No matter what, eloping in Oregon is sure to be a memorable start to your wedded journey.

What do we offer for Elopements? 

I am a professional wedding photographer (you can see my work at elyroberts.com) so I offer photography for your intimate vows. If you decide you would like to elope in Oregon and you would like me to photograph your day, then I can also work as your planner too. I have learned some helpful things over the years as an elopement photographer based in Bend, Oregon. My goal is to work with couples to fine-tune the details for their perfect elopement. Let me help you pick a time, and location, and guide you on any permits needed to hike your wedding-ready selves out into the wilderness. Rules and regulations can be ever-changing. I try to keep up-to-day on what is needed for each locale to help couples along. I am also an adventurer at heart and love the hunt for new, epic locations for couples to elope. 

Living in a smaller town like Bend, Oregon has given me a passion to support other incredible vendors that service the wedding industry. On my website, I have provided a list of trusted, talented vendors to help you easily plan the elements that will make your elopement just right. You’ll find everything from bridal attire to hair and makeup, officiants, florists, and videographers too. Through our Vendors page, you can easily connect with an amazing team for your special day. In addition, you can check out our various Vendor packages to see how the various elements can come together and meet your specific needs. 

How to get started

If the traditional wedding route just doesn’t feel right to you, that’s ok. I’m here to help plan and photograph the perfect elopement that suits you and yours. Think about what sort of location resonates with you. Are you a rugged hiking sort of couple or more of a book by a lake on a sunny day sort of couple? Let your interests or even a location that holds sentimentality inform your choices. Explore what season seems like the right fit too. Picture you and the one you love in the ideal locale, wearing just the right wedding attire, vowing your lives together. Where do you picture yourself? Let’s start there. Is it in vibrant, green woods or atop a snowy mountain? A picturesque ranch or a beautiful reflecting lake? If so, then Oregon’s probably the place for you.

As a wedding and elopement photographer based out of Bend, Oregon, I love capturing couples getting married in the breathtaking views of the Pacific NW. I have experience shooting images in every season and in diverse locations too. I am up to explore with you to find the perfect spot to say, “I do!” If elopement sounds like the perfect fit, you can start by filling out my contact form for photography. This will open up the conversation as to what you are looking for. Let me help you plan and photograph your vows. I’d love to be a part of this incredibly special moment in your life.

Embrace the Simplicity 

Beyond the practical, I know that being a witness to an elopement is a real privilege. Elopements and micro-weddings that I have photographed here in Bend, OR have been some of the most sacred and meaningful moments ever. Traditional weddings are beautiful and special, of course. But there is something so inspiring when you witness two people in love vowing their lives to one another without a large audience. Locations are wilder, details more personal, and the whole experience a pure reflection of who the couple is. The crowds and clamor cease as love is on display. Emotions are authentic and true. Vows are more vulnerable and couples can easily lean into the intimacy and deep celebration of their love. If that sounds appealing to you, then I would love to help plan and photograph your perfect elopement. Feel free to reach out to me to start planning your simple, yet deeply special day. 

Bend Oregon Elopement and Small Wedding Photographer and Locations