Elopement at Hoyt Arboretum

WeddingElopement
Written By Eric DePangher

Hoyt Arboretum | Maria + Steven

Looking for the perfect place for an intimate elopement in Portland? Let Maria and Steven’s magical, rain-kissed wedding at Hoyt Arboretum inspire you. They said “I do” in May, surrounded by towering redwoods, forest mist, and just enough sunshine to keep the umbrellas away (for a little while, at least). They picked the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum for their ceremony—a quiet, tucked-away spot in Portland’s Washington Park that feels like your own secret forest. Their officiant, Dee Richardson of Diva Matters Ministry, led a warm and heartfelt ceremony that felt personal and relaxed—just the way elopements should be.

Bride and groom holding hands during their ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with the officiant speaking and towering trees rising in the background.
Groom beaming with a big smile as he listens to the bride during their wedding ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by tall trees and lush forest.
Bride and groom exchanging vows on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with their officiant reading beside them and surrounded by towering trees and lush forest greenery.
Bride holding hands with groom and smiling emotionally during their forest wedding ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum.
Black and white photo of bride laughing during vows as she holds hands with the groom, while the officiant smiles and reads during their forest wedding at Hoyt Arboretum.
Bride and groom laughing during their forest ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, holding hands while the officiant smiles behind them and a bouquet rests on the rain-soaked deck.
Bride smiling while reading her vows during a forest ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with trees and greenery softly blurred in the background.
Black and white photo of groom smiling warmly as the bride reads her vows during their wedding ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum.
Bride reading her vows with emotion during a forest ceremony at Hoyt Arboretum, facing the groom in a blue suit surrounded by lush green trees.
Groom smiling as the bride reads her vows during their ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with the officiant watching warmly in the background among tall trees.
Bride smiling emotionally as groom reads his vows during their wedding ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery.
Groom smiling while reading his vows to the bride during their ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with tall trees and forest backdrop behind him.
Wide shot of a couple exchanging vows on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by towering redwood trees and dense, lush forest greenery.

The weather kept things interesting. We got one of those classic Portland spring days that couldn’t decide what mood it was in. Just enough drizzle to make everything glow, and then—boom—clear skies for the walk to the deck and the vows. Right after portraits? Yep, back to rain. It was like the forest was running on a schedule.

Groom placing wedding ring on bride’s finger during ceremony on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with officiant holding script in the background.
Bride and groom laughing while exchanging vows on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with their officiant reading behind them in a lush forest setting.
Bride and groom exchanging vows on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with the officiant smiling nearby and a bouquet resting on the rain-kissed wooden floor.
Groom smiling during wedding vows with bride at Hoyt Arboretum, as officiant looks on warmly among tall trees on the Redwood Deck.
Bride placing ring on groom’s finger during their forest ceremony at Hoyt Arboretum, with officiant reading beside them on the Redwood Deck surrounded by lush greenery.
Bride and groom sharing a kiss on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by lush forest trees and soft natural light.
Black and white photo of bride and groom laughing while signing their marriage license on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by tall trees and forest.

After the ceremony, we wandered nearby trails for couple photos, and it was pure PNW magic. Maria’s flowing white gown popped beautifully against the green, and Steven’s laid-back look (blue suit + tan boots = 10/10) fit the vibe perfectly.

Bride and groom standing together on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, smiling and holding a colorful bouquet with a lush forest backdrop behind them.
Bride and groom sharing a kiss on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with the bride holding a pastel floral bouquet and lush forest greenery in the background.
Bride and groom smiling and holding each other on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by lush green trees in a peaceful forest setting.
Bride smiling and holding a pastel bouquet on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by lush forest greenery and tall trees.
Groom smiling and posing on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, wearing a blue suit and orange tie, with a forest backdrop of soft greenery and tall trees.
Groom dipping and kissing bride on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, with wet wooden planks beneath them and tall trees surrounding the romantic forest scene.

Thinking of a Hoyt Arboretum elopement? Here are 3 pro tips:

1. Book the Redwood Deck early. You’ll need a permit for any ceremony, and this spot is popular—especially in spring and summer. Weekday weddings are quieter and easier to snag.

2. Bring shoes that can handle trails. The wooden deck and nearby paths can be slippery. Cute boots or grippy soles are your best friend—and they photograph beautifully.

3. Plan extra time for forest portraits. The trails near the Redwood Deck are full of hidden photo spots—mossy trees, bamboo groves, open clearings. You’ll want time to explore.

Bride and groom kissing on the Redwood Deck at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by tall trees and lush forest greenery in soft, natural light.
Bride and groom walking hand-in-hand down a forest path at Hoyt Arboretum, with the bride lifting her dress and both smiling among tall trees and greenery.
Bride and groom holding hands and walking down a forest path at Hoyt Arboretum, with the bride lifting her muddy dress hem and surrounded by towering trees and lush greenery.
Bride and groom embracing on a winding trail beneath towering redwoods at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by lush ferns and forest greenery.

Whether you’re eloping with just your partner or inviting a small group of loved ones, Hoyt Arboretum is one of the best forest wedding locations in Portland. And if it rains? Even better.

Bride and groom holding hands and smiling on a forest trail at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees.
Creative low-angle shot of a bride and groom kissing under tall trees at Hoyt Arboretum, with forest canopy and sky visible above them.
Bride and groom walking away on a rainy path at Hoyt Arboretum, sharing a clear umbrella and surrounded by lush greenery and forest trees.
Bride and groom smiling and laughing under a clear umbrella on a rainy day at Hoyt Arboretum, surrounded by lush green trees and stonework.
Bride and groom sharing a kiss under a clear umbrella on a rainy day at Hoyt Arboretum, with lush greenery in the background.
Portland wedding photographers Eric and Amber taking a fun selfie during a wedding reception, smiling with cameras under tent lighting.

We’re Eric and Amber — a husband and wife photography team based in Portland, Oregon. We document weddings with a photojournalistic approach, capturing the real, in-between moments that tell the full story of your day. We’ll also guide you through a few timeless, fine art portraits to round it out.

Our style is true-to-life, intentional, and focused on what matters most: you, your people, and the energy of the day. We believe your photos should feel like you — not a version of you that was overly posed or filtered.

We celebrate all couples, bodies, styles, and traditions, and we’re here to help tell your story exactly as it unfolds.

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Eric DePangher
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