I'm getting married on the beach in March.

[Kilroy003]

So far, I'm looking at Resorts in Lincoln City and Yachats. Does anyone know of any other nice spots? Moderately priced lodging nearby for 50 - 100 preferred.

[flamingyouth]

1. First off, congrats

Let me ask my friend who's from Oregon. I'm going to see her tomorrow and she spends her summers near Lincoln City. It could still be pretty chilly in March (but I assume you know that already). I got married at the end of March, and it was a perfect NW sunny day. :hi:

[Kilroy003]

2. I'd appreciate that, thanks.

[Kilroy003]

14. It's starting to sound like you got lucky.

Is March really as bad as people are saying? Do I have a 50/50 chance or worse?

[Ready4Change]

3. Depoe Bay, maybe?

Check the hours on tides. If the tides out there's lots of beach south of the bay inlet. Lots of restaurants in town. Expensive/fancy lodging on the north end, more affordable lodging on the south end.

Personally I like the Trollers Lodge ( http://www.trollerslodge.com/ ) They are pet friendly, have a few cute motel-style rooms, and several rental beach homes. The black labrador on their website is Samantha, and she really does sit in the office and great everyone who comes in. They may not have lodging for 50-100, but they can cover SOME of you, at least.

Love the Oregon coast.

[Kilroy003]

9. I'll look into it.

Thanks for the suggestion.

[sandnsea]

4. We did a beach house

It was the most expensive part of the wedding, but it was wonderful. The kids stayed there the first night of their honeymoon too.

What kind of atmosphere are you looking for, because I just went through all of this less than a year ago!

[Kilroy003]

10. We're from the Midwest, so

any atmosphere that isn't cold and snowing would be fine by us.

Do you think 3 months is long enough to pull something like this off?

Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

[grasswire]

5. be prepared for rain!!

And horrible wind.

It's a high possibility. I spent a miserable March week in LC two years ago with rain and 60 mph wind.

There's a real nice place to stay in LC -- Pelican Shores. Nice because there's a lovely indoor pool. Right on the beach. It's just a few blocks away from an older resort called Surftides, which also has an indoor pool and a restaurant over the waves. And at the south end of LC is an area called Taft, where the scenery is beautiful and there's a little dock for crabbing. Depoe Bay is quite scenic, but I don't know bout finding that much lodging as it's a tiny hamlet.

You should plan for a place that has some indoor wedding location as an alternative to bad weather, probably.

[grasswire]

6. feel free to ask questions....

...my mother lived in LC so I know it pretty well.

[Kilroy003]

11. That was the idea, originally.

The ceremony itself shouldn't take to long and we're trying to keep it pretty laid back.

A little rain will be unwelcome but not the end of the world.

60mph wind, on the other hand, would be terrible.

I honestly hadn't thought about the wind. Thank you so much for the warning.

Is the coast generally windy in March? Or were you just there on a bad week.

The last time I visited Lincoln City was in January, the wind was mild then.

[Modem Butterfly]

24. You got lucky in January

It can get pretty wild all the time- I can remember many summer days with small craft advisories due to high winds. Try to stay off the cliffs- the wind is worse there because it runs up the wall as well as coming straight at you. There are many cut-outs and small-inlets that are protected from the wind. You'll find that if you have the ceremony after high-tide, the sand will still be wet and won't blow around too much if there are wind gusts (dry sand that's blown into your face can hurt like hell)

[grasswire]

7. have you considered Cannon Beach?

It's also quite beautiful, and a fun little town. It isn't real cheap, but there are a lot of little motels as well as the higher priced spots.

A gorgeous state park with a secluded beach is at the north end of Cannon Beach, and I know there are a lot of weddings performed there. Ecola State Park.

[Kilroy003]

12. No I hadn't but I like what I have seen so far

My atlas is at home right now. How far is CB from Portland?

[0rganism]

8. Being that it's in March, you might want to move it further south

Think Brookings or Port Orford, maybe. March on the north coast is a volatile situation.

[Kilroy003]

13. Oh. I knew it was the slow season.

I figured there was a reason for that.

What should I expect? Rain; can be dealt with, I hope. Wind; hoping it's not as bad as it sounds.

So the consensus is this...

Make sure to have a solid, indoor, backup plan. March on the coast can be pretty hairy.

Thanks everyone! I've always wanted a wedding on the coast. Oregon has some of the prettiest shoreline in the world. Keep the suggestions and warnings coming. I am taking notes.

[sandnsea]

15. ALWAYS a backup plan

Any time of year in Oregon. My daughter's was in September, which is usually NOT windy and rarely rainy. Well guess what, biggest thunderstorms we'd had in a couple of years. Morning after her wedding, bright beautiful blue skies. That's the Oregon Coast for ya!

They had a sand ceremony, instead of candle ceremony. They actually got sand from both of their home locations and mixed it into one slender glass vase. She's got the words for that, if you want to use them. It was really pretty.

She used little brandy sifters, filled with beach sand, and tealights and voties. Made her own illuminaries which were on the stairs. She used a large white picture matting for the guest book. Her bridesmaids wore white capris and purple tops. But it was actually really nice. Alot to wade through, but here it is if you want to look:

http://www.florenceoregon.net/sneed_wedding/Default.htm

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

16. my favorite is Bandon by the sea

We spent August there with the whole family to celebrate a birthday & had a great time.

here's a link.

http://www.bandon.com/

also, here's a link for average temps by the month

http://www.w3.weather.com/outlook/travel/vacationplanner/climatology/monthly/97411

[Modem Butterfly]

21. I'm from that area, and Bandon is beautiful

There are a couple of look-outs near Face Rock- gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. A few miles down the road is Cape Arago which is a state park with gorgeous botanical gardens- weddings are performed there all the time (the rose garden is a very popular spot, but I doubt there'd be roses in March).

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

22. we went to that state park. It was fabulous!

I'd never seen it, but the kids had. Absolutley gorgeous. Very close to that there was an RV Park right on the beach in a cove. I would practically kill to buy that, or if it was a state park, be the camp host.

[Modem Butterfly]

23. Cape Arago

When I go, which hopefully will be a long time from now, I want to be cremated and scattered off Cape Arago. I just hope it's not TOO windy that day- I'm not interesed in re-enacting that scene from The Big Lebowski.

If Will and I ever take the big plunge, I've told him we'll get married there in the Japanese Gardens.

[Kilroy003]

17. We've narrowed it down.

Newport, Lincoln City or Yachats. My soon to be mother-in-law is taking a trip out that way next week to scope-out a few possible sites.

If anyone has ever had a wedding on the beach, I have a question about permits. Is indemnity insurance required in order to obtain a permit?

Thanks everyone, you have all been extremely helpful.

[grasswire]

18. uh....

...I never have heard anything about a permit required to host a gathering on the beach. Unless, of course, you're bringing alcohol for sale, generators, sound system, whatever. The beach itself is public land in Oregon. Best to check with the local city office, I guess.

I did wonder about your minister or officiant. Will you be bringing one with you? From Oregon? I noticed that in Cannon Beach the officiants available there require pre-marital counseling.

Here's a wonderful B&B in Newport. It's an old sternwheeler, tied up at the dock. http://www.newportbelle.com/

[stevedeshazer]

19. Beaches are public lands in Oregon

As far as liability, that's another matter, I have no idea.

Yachats is my favorite, but the beach there is rocky and rugged. Older folks and less able-bodied types might have a harder time getting to the actual beach, if that's what you have in mind.

The other Oregonians here are all right about the March weather on the coast. It's potentially one of the worst months, but i've been there on incredibly beautiful days in March, too. Fifty degrees fahrenheit and sporadic sideways rain is common at that time of year. The best Oregon beach weather is in September.

Weather graphs for averages for March 17th at Newport (central Oregon coast) here:

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/histGraphAll?day=17&year=2004&month=3&ID=KONP&type=3

Whatever you do, best wishes to you!

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

20. i'm not an expert on Yachats or LC

Newport has quite a few hotel/motels right on the beach. I know shilo does since we've stayed there. Owned by a real repug, but they're pet friendly so whatsa girl gonna do? Agate beach, which is further north, has a Best Western that had a terrific view (at least from the 6th floor, which is where all pet people were). I think it had access to the beach. As an earlier poster mentioned sometimes beach access can be rugged.

Sorry I forgot to mention it earlier: BEST WISHES!

[kostya]

25. We "natives" don't call it the beach. It's the coast.

[sandnsea]

26. Unless you're getting married ON the beach

Then it's the beach. I realize people inland say, "we're going to the coast", but here on the coast, we actually tend to say "we're going to the beach" or name a specific location, because we're actually already "on the coast".

Just my 2.

[bluntchef]

27. The Inn at Otter Crest

A nice place, good facilities good food and meeting areas. Last time I stayed there they were having a wedding. They have a web site:

http://www.innatottercrest.com/

good luck!

[Kilroy003]

29. We looked into that place.

It was very nice and wedding costs were reasonable. We decided, however, that Yachats was a little too far from the city for folks to travel.

We decided on doing it at the Spanish Head Inn in Lincoln City. I'm trying to rent a beach house to lodge 30 or so of our friends. They'll be coming from all over the world; China, France Kyrgyzstan and India so we figured we might as well make the trip worth it.

Her family will stay at the Inn and mine is trying to find a nice place to rent as well.

If anyone knows anyone who rents out their second home in Lincoln City, please let us know. I'm afraid I might rent a place from some nosy freeper type who'll check in to see if were all in bed by 10pm.

We'd like to say "Thank You" to all of you for your suggestions, warnings and well wishes. We very much look forward to visiting your beautiful state.

[Left Brain]

28. Agate Beach Best Western Inn & Resort

It's between Lincoln City and Newport, and you might find the prices you're looking for.

Good choice of location! Lots to see and do in that area, from lighthouses to the Oregon Coast Aquarium to seals/whales/wildlife and -- IMHO -- the most beautiful stretch of Oregon Coast on the Coast! Got to watch the spouts at Depoe Bay if you haven't done that before. Go when the tide is coming in for max splash.

Hubby and I always go to the coast in January. Used to have a little place in Seaside, and January was surprisingly temperate and dry.

Congrats and best of luck to you!

[Ken Burch]

30. Astoria and Seaside can be picturesque, as can Newport, but you might

want to consider moving it to June or July, as the Oregon Coast is quite cold and rainy(with treacherous tides on some beaches)in March.

[iLoveKPOJ]

31. Yes indeed

Though it's in Washington... I highly recco the North Head Lighthouse. That's where I got married... the most spacial and special ever!

[Blue Belle]

32. Pacific City...

My Nephew just got married 2 weeks ago in Pacific City. It's about 20 minutes north of Lincoln City and the venue where he had the wedding held close to 150 people. He got married at "the Pelican Pub" - which is the local brew pub, but they just remodeled and have a beautiful banquet facility. They had the wedding indoors, but since the Pub is right on the beach, it still had a magnificent view. It was pretty reasonably priced too. Plus they have fabulous beer there.

:toast:

[Godai Kyoko]

33. Congratulations

I wish the both of you all the joy and good times and fun of married life.

Married at the beach. That is a great way to do it.

But in Oregon, in March? It isn't the same as Pt Barrow in January, but it is kind of close..