Julie & Ryan

DETAILS
When — October 1, 2022
Where — Pelican Brewing Company in Cannon Beach, Oregon

Beach wedding done right!

When an Oregon Coast beach wedding in October had highs of 82 degrees and a sunny and perfectly dry evening, you have to believe the stars were aligned for this couple. Julie and Ryan exchanged vows in the sand courtyard at Pelican Brewing Company in Cannon Beach, Oregon in front of friends and family, including Julie’s two sons.

One of the most fun parts of this day was seeing the bride and groom getting ready in their separate locations. The groom’s hands were shaking with excitement as he put on his watch as his groomsmen razzed him. His smile says everything about his anticipation for the ceremony.

Once guests were seated and the groom was ready to walk his parents out to their seats, there was a moment of solace for the groomsmen waiting behind the Pelican Brewing Company door. With the sun setting directly into the glass-windowed venue, one of my favorite shots of the day presented itself, as the groom peeked his head out. The smile never left his face the entire evening.

The beach ceremony space was absolutely beautiful with the sun setting directly behind the couple as they exchanged vows. Tears flowed when the bride’s eldest son read a short speech about how the groom has become an important figure in his life.

I still can’t get over how great the weather ended up and how the sun set so perfectly for the ceremony, and the bride and groom’s clear love with each other made photographing this day seamless.

The ceremony transitioned into a family photo session and a short couples portrait time, where we strolled along the beach as the sun passed over the horizon. Speeches and dancing followed a lovely dinner, and the dance floor was rocking. The bride’s eldest son taking his shirt off and breaking it down in the middle of the room was certainly a highlight.

The couple chose to space out the first dance, father-daughter and mother-son dances, so there were plenty of intimate moments throughout the evening. My favorite is this hug shared between the bride and her father.

The night ended with a beach bonfire put on by the local Kiwanis club. The weather remained perfect and the stars shone brightly as the couple reminisced with the remaining guests until early the next morning.