The Fog, the Dunes, and the Bonfire: A Pelican Brewing Wedding in Pacific City, Oregon
There is something about the Oregon Coast in the morning — the way the fog sits low over the water, the way the light is soft and grey and somehow still luminous — that makes everything feel quietly cinematic. Kristin and Eron's wedding day at Pelican Brewing in Pacific City had all of it, and I don't think I stopped smiling once.
The ceremony happened at the water's edge, barefoot, with the Pacific stretching out behind them. No shoes, no stage, no fuss — just the two of them, their four sons standing close, a small circle of the people they love most, and the sound of the ocean doing what it always does. Their dog was there too, wearing a flower crown and taking the whole thing very seriously. It was perfect.
After the ceremony we wandered — across the sand, up into the dunes, through the sea caves carved into the rock face along the shore. The boys were game for everything, and there's something genuinely wonderful about doing portraits with a family that's already comfortable together. The dog was also game for everything, for the record, and arguably the most photogenic member of the group.
The reception moved inside to Pelican Brewing's beautiful dining room, which manages to feel warm and intimate even with the full expanse of the Pacific visible through the windows. The menu was a proper surf and turf — the kind of meal that makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what you're eating. Between courses, guests spilled out onto the patio overlooking the ocean for cornhole and conversation, champagne in hand, the afternoon light going golden over the water.
Then we danced. And when the night had wound down in the way good wedding nights do — gradually, reluctantly — everyone made their way back down to the beach for a bonfire. The kind where you don't really want to leave, where the conversation gets quieter and the fire gets lower and nobody checks their phone.
Kristin and Eron, thank you for sharing your day with me. The Oregon Coast put on a show, your family was a joy, and your dog absolutely carried the portraits. Wishing you all of it — the big moments and the quiet ones too.
Venue & Catering: Pelican Brewing, Pacific City
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