Best Places to Elope in Portland
For many couples, it can be difficult to narrow down the best places to elope in Portland given the sheer number of beautiful locations to choose from. Whether you want to return to a place with special personal meaning, pick a spot with the best light and vista, or even stay put in the comfort of your own backyard, Elope in Portland can make your dream ceremony happen.
If you’re from out of town, let Elope in Portland show you what we love most about our beautiful city. We know every secret, private little hideaway that won’t just make your ceremony special, but make memories that will last a lifetime.

Here are some of the best places to elope in Portland…
Cathedral Park
Cathedral Park is truly one of Portland’s greatest treasures. It is the best place to elope in Portland and our favorite park in town.

Cathedral Park is situated beneath the St. Johns Bridge, Portland’s northernmost and most beautiful span across the Willamette River. It’s the site of the oldest free jazz festival in the western US. It is a filming location for multiple television shows. It’s also the occasional starting point for the World Naked Bike Ride. For Elope in Portland couples, the sweeping Gothic arches beneath the bridge has become the most popular ceremony location out of all we offer.

Washington Park – Hoyt Arboretum
Located in the West Hill of Portland, Hoyt Arboretum has become a favorite elopement location due to its spectacular landscape. The arboretum is home to an internationally-recognized collection of more than 2,300 tree and shrub species. They include 63 vulnerable and endangered specimens and the largest bamboo collection in the Pacific Northwest.

Hoyt Arboretum is far from the only special spot within Washington Park. Nearby attractions include the Oregon Zoo, a children’s museum, Japanese gardens, memories, an archery range as well as picnic spots, playgrounds and public art installations. It’s not just a photographer’s dream, it’s a dream elopement spot too!
Forest Park
Bigger than New York’s Central Park, Portland’s Forest Park draws more than 12 million visitors annually. You wouldn’t know it, as the 80 miles of trails across 5,100 acres of urban forest reserve provides as much seclusion as natural beauty. Both locals and visitors agree that Forest Park is far more than just a scenic backdrop to the city.

Whether you prefer a ceremony surrounded by rain forest ferns or with a panoramic backdrop of one of Portland’s five volcanic peaks (Mount Rainier, Mount Adams, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood or Mt. Jefferson), let us find a quiet spot for a ceremony of a lifetime.

Lewis & Clark College
Elope in Portland is excited to offer elopement ceremonies on Lewis & Clark’s beautiful college campus. Share vows on a leafy vista overlooking the Willamette River and Mount Hood, architect Paul Thiry’s 1968 “Rain Hat” pavilion, or the campus secret gardens.

Founded in 1867 and relocated to Portland in 1938, Lewis & Clark College is a private institution renowned for its environmental law, education and counseling programs. The 137-acre forest campus is in the southern Collins View neighborhood and was recently named one of America’s “Most Beautiful Campuses” by the Princeton Review.

If you’re looking for one of Portland’s most scenic, exclusive, and welcoming elopement locations, Lewis & Clark may be at the top of your list.
Mt Tabor Park
Have you ever thought about getting married atop an extinct volcano? Mt. Tabor Park rises six hundred feet around it’s namesake neighborhood. It is a one-of-a-kind spot for elopements. The sloping hillsides, historic reservoirs and expansive views are perfect for wedding vows. Pick any sunny day other than the third Saturday of August, when the Portland Adult Soapbox Derby takes over the entire area.

Your Own Backyard!
The best place to elope in all of Portland might be closer than you think! Your own backyard or the property of a loved one! What better way to get married than the home you built together. Elopements on personal property are among our favorites. They’re intimate, lively, and oh-so-personal.
