How These College Sweethearts Decided to Celebrate 15 Years of Marriage and Renewed Their Commitment to Each Other.

Sometimes the best love stories aren’t just about the beginning. They’re about celebrating how far you’ve come and choosing each other all over again.

Meet Jeff and Amber. A couple whose love story reads like the perfect rom-com. They met in college when she was visiting his sister. After one look at this adorable guy, she boldly asked him to play pool. Classic move. What followed was the kind of long-distance courtship that proves real love can survive anything. Even moving to Alaska and years of letters back and forth.

Their proposal story? Pure magic. At a baseball game in San Diego, surrounded by family but feeling like they were the only two people in the stadium. Jeff had already gotten the blessing from her mom (smooth operator). When the right moment came, it was just them overlooking the city, saying yes to forever.

Why Cannon Beach Hit Different

Fast forward to their vow renewal at Cannon Beach this June, celebrating 15 beautiful years of marriage with the iconic Haystack Rock as their backdrop. Jeff and Amber had a wonderful traditional wedding. After 15 years together, they wanted to celebrate their enduring love in a completely different way—fun, stress-free, and totally them. Picture this: dramatic sea stacks, endless ocean views, and waves that provide the perfect soundtrack for “I choose you again.”

But here’s what made their day absolutely perfect: they threw the rulebook out the window.

Elopements Don’t Have to Be Stuffy (Thank Goodness)

The event started with dinner and drinks at Pelican Brewery. An award-winning craft beer and pub fare in Cannon Beach. While here, they enjoyed salt encrusted pretzels dipped in ooey gooey cheese sauce and insanely good fish tacos. All washed down with some fabulous old fashioneds for a romantic, moody moment at the bar. 

After dinner, the couple walked through town. They stopped in front of an iconic candy shop that had sentimental meaning to them as a couple for a few fun photos before they headed to the beach at Haystack rock. 

After their ceremony, Jeff and Amber did what any couple deeply in love and completely comfortable with each other would do—they played tag on the beach! Yes, in wedding attire! Because your vows, your rules.

They followed up their playful beach session with a picnic. Right on the beach next to Haystack Rock as the sun painted the sky in those perfect Pacific Northwest colors. This is where Jeff and Amber cut their cake together. They watched the waves crash against the shore while enjoying each other’s company.

There’s something magical about those quiet moments—no crowd watching, no pressure to perform, just two people savoring their cake with one of Oregon’s most famous landmarks as their backdrop and the Pacific Ocean providing nature’s perfect soundtrack.

This is what elopements should feel like—authentic moments that actually reflect who you are as a couple.

Why Cannon Beach Should Be on Your Elopement Radar

The Backdrop: Haystack Rock isn’t just Instagram-famous for no reason. This 235-foot sea stack creates natural drama that makes every photo look like fine art.

The Vibe: Cannon Beach strikes the perfect balance between stunning natural beauty and laid-back Oregon coast vibe. You can have your ceremony on the beach and grab amazing local beer afterward.

The Activities: Beyond the obvious (gorgeous photos), you can:

• Play in the tide pools during low tide
• Explore the charming downtown area
• Enjoy incredible local dining (Pelican Brewery is just the start)
• Take romantic walks along miles of pristine coastline
• Have impromptu picnics with ocean views
• Play games at a local arcade

Why Pelican Brewery Should Be on Every Elopement Itinerary

Here’s why adding Pelican Brewery https://pelicanbrewing.com/ to your Cannon Beach elopement is a no-brainer. This iconic destination has been perfecting the art of craft beer and pub fare for over 20 years. Their 10-barrel brewing facility means serious variety—we’re talking 20 taps at the bar and a 12-tap growler filler station. So you’ll find the perfect brew whether you’re celebrating or calming those pre-ceremony nerves. Or, you can opt for cocktails as this couple did.

Jeff and Amber kicked off their celebration with old fashioneds. We captured some incredible photos of them sharing salt-crusted pretzels with cheese dipping sauce. There’s something beautifully authentic about documenting couples in these relaxed, real moments. They clinked glasses, shared appetizers, and had some laughs together before the big moment.

The moody, intimate atmosphere at Pelican creates perfect photo opportunities that feel natural and unposed. It’s casual enough to feel comfortable, but special enough to mark the occasion.

The Flexibility: Whether you want a sunrise ceremony with just the two of you or a sunset celebration with your closest people, Cannon Beach accommodates every vision.

Love Stories That Inspire

What I loved most about photographing Jeff and Amber’s renewal was watching two people who clearly know how to have fun together. They love cooking, traveling, and going to Timbers and Thorns games. As Amber put it, “doing anything with Jeff because it’s a lot more fun when he is there.”

That’s the energy every couple should bring to their wedding day—pure joy in being together.

The Real Magic

Here’s what Jeff and Amber understood that so many couples miss. Your wedding day should feel like the best version of your regular life together. They incorporated things that they love— travel, good food, and each other’s company. The celebration that was 100% them.

No stress about seating charts or family drama. No pressure to perform for a crowd. Just two people celebrating 15 years of choosing each other, this time with Haystack Rock as their witness and the freedom to make their day exactly what they wanted.

The Magic of Planned Activities

Here’s something Jeff and Amber’s day taught me: having activities planned throughout your elopement isn’t just fun—it’s genius. Each moment they shared, from the playful tag on the beach to the quiet cake cutting next to Haystack Rock, created natural opportunities for authentic connection and incredible photos.

When couples have activities woven into their day, they’re not just standing around wondering “what’s next?” Instead, they’re laughing, playing, eating, and simply enjoying each other. These planned moments take the pressure off and let your personality shine through naturally.

This is why every vow renewal (and every elopement) should include activities that reflect who you are as a couple. Whether it’s sharing appetizers at a local brewery, playing games on the beach, or having an intimate picnic with ocean views—these experiences become the memories you’ll treasure long after the photos are edited.

Your vows, your rules. And sometimes those rules include celebrating with beach games, walking through town in full wedding attire like you own the place, stops at candy shops, and ditching the champagne glasses to toast many more years together with Old Fashioneds. 

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Ready to create your own authentic celebration at Cannon Beach or anywhere else that speaks to your soul? Let’s chat about making your elopement as unique as your love story. www.meganheidiphotography.com

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