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groom holding brides hand as she walks down a rock with wahclella falls behind them and text over that says "wahclella falls wedding"

Wahclella Falls Wedding Elopement Jaw Dropping Adventure

A Wahclella falls wedding or Wahclella waterfall wedding: a beautiful alliteration but also a heart-stopping location. We first scouted out Wahclella falls in one of our many explorations of this beautiful state of Oregon and were immediately enamored. Fast forward a few months and finalizing a waterfall elopement location for a couple, I shared some photos with them from our escapades and they said yes to letting Wahclella waterfall be their elopement wedding ceremony location.

How to have Wahclella falls wedding?

Play Video about groom holding brides hand as she walks down a rock with wahclella falls behind them and text over that says "wahclella falls wedding"

Imagine standing before the whisking water dropping from 350 feet into a pool of turquoise blue so rich your eyes feel like they are devouring a feast. The rushing sound filling your ears and trees swaying to the breeze created by such forces of movement through the air. With climbing rocks fallen logs to scale, this area is a natural obstacle course for those who dare to head off-trail into the playgrounds of Wahclella Falls. This, my dear new friends, could be the setting for your Wahclella falls wedding or elopement. So, how to have your wedding here?

group of people sitting on a rock watching bride and groom exchange their vows in front of the wahclella falls in Oregon

Simply, you’ll say yes to skipping the church or courthouse and hire a guide (wink wink: find out more about what we do in our Oregon Wahclella falls elopement packages) who can help navigate all the details, making sure to check on the current permit statutes with Oregon forest service parks. As of 2021, no permits are needed for groups under 20. It’s a small number, but this lovely waterfall cannot host more than 10 cars anyway. There is a $5 parking pass fee which you can purchase ahead of time at recreation.gov. You can find more details about all the rules and regulations on this US forest service website.

What do you need to have a Wahclella Waterfall Wedding or Elopement?

  • Make sure you have an officiant (or send a close friend to get ordained with the universal church in just a few minutes).
  • Plan a few weeks or days ahead to go to a local county and clerk’s office to grab a marriage license.
  • You’ll also want your attire picked out, maybe an elopement wedding dress, flowers if you’d like.
  • An Oregon elopement photographer who may also be your guide 😉 (Check out our Oregon elopement packages and learn more how we can help you!)
  • Two witnesses, maybe a few close friends.
  • Consider any other adventures or ways to make your elopement special
  • A elopement wedding timeline so you and your guests know when to be where.

 

Want more info to plan your Wahclella waterfall elopement? Check out our guide on How to elope in Oregon

wahclella falls wedding couple standing on rocks off in the distance and wahclella falls to the left

Hand in hand, come to say I do. Remember, it’s your wedding day, so feel free to add in anything else, but make sure it won’t disturb the beautiful sacred place you’re already in and especially make sure it’ll Leave No Trace so others can enjoy this marvelous scene.

How To Get to Wahclella Falls?

You may also be wondering how you get to a Wahclella Falls wedding? You’ll find it nestled in the Columbia River Gorge just east of Portland only about 40 minutes from PDX. Hop on I-84 and head east until exit 40 toward Bonneville Dam, turn right onto Yeon State Park, and there you’ll find a very small parking lot. Make sure to bring your Oregon State Park parking pass or your phone to buy a $5 day pass.

When to have a Wahclella falls wedding

couple cutting with wahclella falls behind them
Summer is the most popular time to visit Oregon as it is less rainy in the summer than other times of the year. However, Fall and late spring are also super wonderful because sometimes it can still be warm but could also include some moody dramatic fog. Winter is very chilly with the wet cold but if you love moody weather then it will be a perfect fit for you.

Pro tip: Did you know cloud cover actually makes Oregon prettier. Over the years I’ve discovered cloudy days actually help the color green pop more in photographs which is part of the enchantment of the Pacific Northwest.

Keep in mind summer doesn’t really hit Oregon until late June into August and Spring lasts until early June.

Check out our Oregon Wahclella Wedding packages to learn how we can help you navigate all the details!

If you’re looking or a place to stay, check out our Oregon Airbnb Wedding Venues  as we have some great gems for crews of all sizes and this can be a great back up plan for your Wahclella falls wedding!

This story of this Wahclella Falls Wedding

couple cuddling in front of Wahclella falls on their wedding day

Katie & Jason’s wedding day began at sunrise along the Columbia river gorge among one of the gorgeous cliff sides that were peppered with wildflowers leftover from the springs like fireworks that left kisses of purple and pink for them to dance in. They brought a morning picnic to enjoy some time of peace and exchanged private vows with a moment to dance under the rising sky. They explored around the cliffs and then headed to meet friends for their Wahclella Falls wedding ceremony.

With it being a Saturday at mid-day, the Wahclella waterfall parking lot was full, but thankfully everyone found their spot, and Katie and Jason along with their eclectic crew of friends who had just mostly met for the first time that day joined us on a short hike to the base of the gorgeous Wahclella falls. We found a spot just for them where the crowds weren’t bad and the sound of the rushing water drowned out the number of people scattered around the base and river of this beautiful spot. They exchanged their vows and some beautiful words with all their guests present and then meandered in the river to splash around before heading back down to the cars.

Their evening ended at a park with their two dogs and enjoying sunset by the city riverfront park. To say their day was magical was an understatement. Thank you again Katie & Jason for allowing us to help guide you through an amazing day in planning it all together and documenting it.

If you’d like to see more waterfall wedding ideas check out this waterfall wedding venues blog post!

Want more Oregon Elopement Locations? Check out our guide on the Best Places to Elope in Oregon or this Samuel H. Boardman State Park elopement for more inspo!

Let's Hang Out, Seriously!

Schedule a call with us to get this party started! We’re here to be your elopement day BFF’s and share our expertise through the entire planning process.

Two Oregon elopement photographers snuggled up in the door of their RV

We believe in intention over tradition and that your wedding day should feel like you! 

Let’s craft a wedding day experience that lets you run wild. 

Learn more about hiring us as your Oregon elopement photographers.

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NEED HELP PLANNING YOUR ELOPEMENT?

Free Elopement Wedding Checklist PDF Download

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We respect your privacy. If you don’t see your download immediately after signing please check your spam/prompotionals folders or email us 

Want to see more of the best places to elope in Oregon check out these other Oregon elopement weddings and resources:

Don’t miss out on How to Elope in Oregon, you’re insider’s guide!

And check out this guide on planning your Oregon Coast Elopement from our sister company.

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"wahclella falls elopement" written on red bar in the middle top photo Wahclella Falls wedding venue spot with guest sit-in non rock and bride and groom holding hands, bottom photo bride and groom kissing as some sunlight frames them among the dark rocks of wahclella falls

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  1. Pingback: 25+ Fun Ideas for How To Make Your Elopement Special & Magical
  2. Pingback: Waterfall Wedding Venues + Epic Elopement Locations - Celebrate Again
  3. Pingback: 20 Best Places to Elope in Oregon | Your Ultimate Oregon Locations Guide
  4. Pingback: How to Elope in Oregon in 10 easy steps | The Ultimate Guide
  5. Pingback: Cannon Beach Elopement Guide: For A Calm Epic Elopement - Celebrate Again
  6. Pingback: Samuel H. Boardman State Park Elopement Photos - Celebrate Again

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About the Authors

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Hey, we’re Lumalia (Emmy) and Sam, the leading voices behind Celebrate Again (Lumalia) and our sister elopement company The Dropped Pin (Sam and her husband Kyle). Here you’ll find ways to live the Celebrate Again lifestyle.

We want to help you embody life’s joy by learning to Celebrate Again in everything from practicing intentional breathing to taking on major life events. I believe your life should be full and be what you make it.

Whether you’re joining me to plan your wedding, dive deeper into your couples connection, celebrate an anniversary, adventure around the USA, stay connected to your beloved, practice yoga or whip up a plant-based recipe, I’ve got you covered, friend.

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