WEDDING BLOG

Yanina and Nikita were already married, but they’d never had a wedding celebration or wedding photos. After moving from Texas to the Pacific Northwest, they grew particularly fond of Cannon Beach and its dramatic coastline. When the opportunity came to celebrate their marriage, they decided to keep things simple. Yanina finally got to wear the vintage wedding dress she’d been saving, and the couple wrote personal vows to exchange by the ocean.

With its misty shoreline, grassy dunes, and views of Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach provided a beautiful backdrop for their celebration. They kept the styling minimal, letting the natural surroundings do most of the work. There were no guests or traditional reception, just a quiet day spent exchanging vows, exploring the beach, and taking the wedding photos they’d never had. Thankfully, Junebug vendor Tina Kukina was there to document it all.

What We Love About This Cannon Beach Wedding

• Finally exchanging personal vows after years of marriage
• Yanina’s vintage gown and lace veil
• Two photographers helped capture each other’s special milestones

How Their Love Story Led Them to Cannon Beach

Yanina and Nikita met through a mutual friend, although their first encounter wasn’t quite what Yanina had imagined. She was wearing an oversized shirt and two mismatched socks when Nikita came over. They started talking about art, discovered they both loved drawing, and ended up sketching together on Nikita’s iPad. “It felt so natural and easy, like we had known each other much longer than we actually had. From that day on, we were pretty much inseparable,” Yanina shares.

Years later, after getting married without a wedding celebration, they found themselves living in the Pacific Northwest. They’d grown especially fond of Cannon Beach and its dramatic coastline, making it an easy choice when they decided to finally have the wedding experience they’d missed. They didn’t want anything elaborate, just a beautiful location where they could spend time together, exchange vows, and have their marriage meaningfully photographed.

A Vintage Wedding Dress and Relaxed Coastal Style

Yanina found her wedding dress in a vintage shop long before their celebration and kept it in her closet until she had the chance to wear it. “I loved how romantic and timeless it felt, and I knew I wanted the entire look to have that same dreamy, coastal feeling,” she shares.

The gown featured a simple bodice, delicate straps, and a flowing skirt with a long train. She paired it with a lace veil featuring intricate floral details, while Nikita opted for a white band-collar shirt and dark trousers. With Haystack Rock in the distance, grassy dunes, and the misty shoreline, their outfits worked beautifully with the coastal setting.

Finally Exchanging Their Vows on the Oregon Coast

Although Yanina and Nikita were already legally married, they’d never exchanged personal vows. That was something they especially wanted to do during their time at Cannon Beach.

“The most meaningful part was finally exchanging our personal vows. We hadn’t done that when we were legally married, so standing together on Cannon Beach and saying those words to each other felt like the wedding moment we had been missing,” Yanina recalls.

After exchanging vows, they spent their time exploring the shoreline and taking photos together. There was no reception or formal schedule to follow, giving them the freedom to enjoy the experience without rushing from one activity to another.

The Unexpected Story Behind Their Cannon Beach Wedding Photos

Yanina, who is also a photographer, had posted a model call for a shoot in the Pacific Northwest. Tina Kukina, who had been following Yanina’s work on Instagram, reached out after realizing she’d be traveling through Oregon and Washington around the same time. Their schedules lined up, and they decided to photograph each other during the trip.

“I photographed Tina and her partner during their trip—a session that unexpectedly ended with her getting engaged—and Tina photographed the wedding experience that my husband and I had never had,” Yanina shares.

What started as an Instagram connection turned into a memorable collaboration for both photographers. Yanina captured Tina’s engagement, while Tina documented the wedding celebration Yanina and Nikita had been waiting to have.

For couples planning their own weddings, Yanina offers this advice: “Don’t feel pressured to follow traditions or create a wedding that looks like everyone else’s. Focus on what feels meaningful to the two of you. Even something simple and intimate can become one of your most special memories.”