Smith Rock Wedding and Elopement Photographer
Updated For 2024
Epic Oregon Desert Destination
Smith Rock State Park is a state park located in central Oregon, about 15 miles northwest of the city of Bend. It is known for its stunning rock formations and its popularity as a rock climbing destination. Smith Rock State Park covers about 650 acres and is located in the high desert, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet. The park is home to a variety of plant and animal life, including ponderosa pines, juniper trees, and mule deer.
The park is known for its towering rock formations, which are made up of tuff (compacted volcanic ash) and basalt. These formations are popular with rock climbers, who come from all over the world to climb the park's many routes. Smith Rock State Park is also a popular destination for hikers, with more than 30 miles of trails that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The park is home to a variety of birds and other wildlife, and is a great place for birdwatching and wildlife viewing.
In your search for a wedding venue in Central Oregon, you might not have considered getting married in a state park! Or maybe you just didn’t know that you even could! In this guide I’ll walk through 3 different ways you could incorporate Smith Rock into your wedding day, along with some important information to know.
How to get married at Smith Rock
01) Pick the time of year
02) Hire your photographer
03) Apply for permits if needed
04) Get your accommodations & marriage license ready
04) Hire any other vendors
Questions to ask yourselves
01) Do we want to get married just us? Or bring some family and friends along?
02) How important is privacy to us? If it’s super important, consider getting married on a weekday or at sunrise.
03) Do we want a traditional/legal wedding ceremony with an officiant? Or do we want to get legally married before or after and just do a symbolic ceremony with or without an officiant?
04) What other activities are we excited about doing in the area?
Smith Rock Wedding Planning Checklist
To get married in Smith Rock State Park, you may need to obtain a special use permit from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Depending on your group size, you could get married at any number of epic overlooks, or at the designated natural amphitheater wedding site. If you plan to have more than 20 guests or use the designate wedding site, you will need a permit. If you have a smaller group and want to use one of the overlooks, you won’t need a permit.
Here is a general overview of the steps you'll need to take to get married in Smith Rock State Park:
Contact the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to check on availability and to request a permit application. You can do this by calling the department or emailing the department's Special Events Coordinator.
Complete the special use permit application and submit it to the department along with a non-refundable processing fee. Be sure to include details about your wedding plans, including the date, time, location, and number of guests.
Wait for the department to review your application and issue a permit. This process can take several weeks, so be sure to apply well in advance of your desired wedding date.
Obtain a marriage license from the county clerk's office in the county where you plan to get married. In Oregon, you will need to present identification, pay a fee, and wait for a waiting period before you can obtain a marriage license.
Have your wedding ceremony in the park according to the terms of your special use permit. Be sure to have a witness present to make it official.
After the wedding, return the signed marriage license to the county clerk's office to have it recorded.
Things To Know:
Everyone who comes into the park will need an Oregon State Parks Pass. It is $10 for a day pass, or $30 for the year.
The summer average temperature is 75-85 degrees so plan accordingly. I recommend planning to get married here between May-October for most ideal temperatures.
Sunrise is usually the coldest time of the day, and the sun will hit right on the face of Smith Rock which creates less of a glowy look compare to sunset. Sunset is most ideal so that you can get the classic view of the park with the sun setting behind the rocks.
This is a very busy park with people enjoying all the recreation it has to offer. Privacy can still be found - the park is big enough that there are several beautiful spots we can walk to to find more seclusion.
How to Get to Smith Rock
I recommend flying into Redmond Municipal Airport, renting a car and driving 20 minutes to Terrebonne (where Smith Rock State Park is located).
Where to Stay
While Terrebonne is the closest town, I recommend staying in Redmond, Bend, or Sisters. These towns are much bigger and have a variety of restaurants, activities, and access to the outdoors.
Hiking in the Park
Crooked River Trail: an easy 4.5 mile out and back trail that takes you down along the river.
Misery Ridge Trail: a more challenging hike up to the top of Misery Ridge, overlooking the park below. 2.6 miles and over 1,100ft of elevation gain.
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An intimate boho sunset elopement at Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon.