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Finding a location to confess your love and celebrate a new chapter in your life is a big decision. If you have been looking into Canada as a place to elope, I'm sure by now you've realized Canada is HUGE! Thus, maybe making it a bit more overwhelming than easy to find a location. Well, my friend, you are in good hands - today I want to take you through a list of our top places to elope in Canada in hopes of helping you narrow down where to say your "I Do's" and whether you are having a "Just Us" elopement or an intimate wedding these locations can cater to a range of sizes.
Best places to elope in BC
BC or British Columbia has some stunning locations to get married in, you will find a few of our favorites along with many more below. (and yes, before you ask - we travel) If you have considered BC as your elopement destination you honestly can not go wrong. With thick forests, mild winters (depending on where you are) and all the greenery and waterfalls one could want, you honestly cannot pick a "bad location" in BC.
1. Crowsnest Pass (near Fernie, British Columbia!)
This location is almost like a secret, I swear! Less than 3 hours from Calgary is Crowsnest Pass - easily one of the best places to elope. It is a little more private than some of the more popular places in The Rocky Mountains and the views are incredible. Crowsnest Pass is made up of a collective of 5 small towns (Coleman, Bellevue, Hillcrest, Frank and Blairmore) and accurately refers to itself as "naturally rewarding". Each town has its own unique history if you want to do some exploring, and there are also some epic landscapes and backdrops for you to exchange your vows. Check out Chels and Tylers's 10-year anniversary shoot we did there. Friend, it's so dreamy and we only scratched the surface of the possibilities in the area.
2. Fernie, BC
This adorable little town is famously known as a powder town with over 30 feet of snow annually during the winter season (Nov-Apr). So if you love winter activities and were hoping for a winter wedding, this would be your place! In the summer months though, it is also outstanding and has a very large mountain biking community, which is ideal for anyone looking for an "off the beaten path" elopement idea. If you are on the hunt for an actual venue, don't worry, they also have that! Here are a few in town:
3. Vancouver, BC
Now don't get me wrong, Vancouver is a huge area and there are tons of different places you couple elope, both on the island and the mainland but the main reason I wanted to toss Vancouver in the hat for you is due to their Cherry Blossom season! I know this is Canada, but sometimes I feel like I'm in Japan if I'm out there in the Spring. (Also, bucket list item - Japan wedding in the spring, yes please) However, most of us cannot afford to head to Japan for our wedding, and thankfully we have places in Vancouver that can give the same sort of feel.
4. The Okanagan, BC
Where are my vineyard wedding lovers? The Okanagan covers a large majority of BC and it is known for its wine. So, if you are on the hunt for an Italy inspired wedding then this region of BC is for you! The main cities in the Okanagan are Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, and Merritt. They all offer something slightly different depending on the vibe you are looking for.
5. Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park elopements are becoming more popular as just a short drive past Lake Louise you’ll reach beautiful Golden and Emerald Lake, British Columbia.
Golden, British Columbia
A cute little mountain town with Heli elopement options as well as tons of lodging and day trip adventures, if you plan to have guests come to your wedding. We absolutely love meeting couples in Golden because there are so many incredible elopement locations nearby.
Emerald Lake
The iconic Emerald Lake is nestled right between Banff and Golden. This timeless venue is known for its stunning turquoise waters, vast mountain peaks, and honestly the most dreamy wedding photos - no matter the season. Greg and Laura decided to have their wedding portraits done at Emerald Lake, even though they didn't have a ceremony we still captured stunning images. Emerald Lake is one of my top places to shoot due to the diversity of the location. Not only do we have the beautiful lake that you can canoe in, as this couple did for their anniversary shoot. There is also a natural bridge and a beautiful waterfall only a short hike in. (I've yet to have a couple want to make the hike in but trust me, it would be so worth it)
Places to Elope in Alberta
Alright, now on to my backyard! I'm so excited to share with you some of the stunning places you can get married in this beautiful province! There are SO many locations that all have a unique twist to them, no matter the season you want to get married in you can find something that works. Keep in mind though, that some of our roads through the mountains are closed from Oct or Dec. 15 through till May due to the large amounts of snow our mountains get.
1. Canmore, AB
Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Canmore offers a breathtaking backdrop for couples seeking a romantic and picturesque wedding. Only an hour and 20 minutes from Calgary's International Airport ( YYC ) with its stunning mountain views, charming alpine town atmosphere, and a plethora of unique venues, Canmore is a dream destination for couples looking to tie the knot. If you have considered Canmore, here is a list of some of our favorite venues.
2. Banff National Park
I'm sure no matter where in the world you are from, you have heard of Banff National Park. It truly is Alberta's tourist hot spot, stunning - yes but with its breathtaking views also comes loads of people. There are tons of other locations outside of the town of Banff where one can get married, especially if you don't want to be surrounded by strangers, other places on this list are some plus we have a list of more hidden, off the beaten path ones that we go through with our couples when planning. One of the other popular destinations in the park is Moraine Lake, and for good reason.
3. Kananaskis, Ab
If you want to stay in Alberta, you can hardly find more beautiful places to elope than in Kanasakis! Depending on where you want to go, it's only a short 1-1.5 hour drive from Calgary! The same mountain range you find in Banff, but 1/4 the people. Yes, there are less accommodations but hot dang is it beautiful and there are way more options depending on how you want your wedding to look. If you want to get married beside a lake at sunrise, I got you. Or maybe you want to climb a mountain to say your "I Do's" friend, that is an option too!
4. Calgary, Ab
Calgary is the place most people fly into when coming to Alberta, it is a pretty big city that offers tons of different wedding venues. However, if you are on the hunt for something just outside the city and maybe closer then the mountains, then there are tons of options for you as well! There is a mixture of rustic and elegant depending on what you want your day to look like.
5. Drumheller, Ab
In my opinion, this is the most underrated location in Alberta, and if done right - with a multi-day photo package, you could have both the mountains and this unique landscape!
Places to Elope in Saskatchewan: Saskatoon and Regina
British Columbia and the Rocky Mountain areas in Alberta are known for their beauty, but my friends, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE SASKATCHEWAN. There are so many incredible outdoor wedding locations near Regina and Saskatoon. Two people in love and an open field is ALL YOU NEED for us to make some magic. If your timeline is flexible, we can work your timeline around sunset for the most incredible glow. Honestly though, the prairies look good at just about any time of day (although that might be the Alberta in us talking)!
Looking for the best places to elope in Canada?
These are honestly just a few of the best places to elope in Canada! Fly Free Photography travels all over Western Canada (and beyond!) on the regular. If you are looking for an elopement photographer and/or wedding videographer, you can learn more about our packages and pricing here. Truthfully though, we walk our couples through every step of the process, so don't feel like you need to have everything figured out before you reach out! If you are ready to get started, reach out here and we will save your date!! It's time to get married :)
We are unapologetically huge fans of all the incredible places all over Western Canada that make for idyllic places to exchange your vows and start your next chapter. Hey, I'm Krystal - Boss babe and lead photographer at Fly Free. Your fun-loving, overly passionate, list making, sticky note addict Alberta Wedding Photographer. I am here to work alongside you to help co create the wedding of your dreams.If you're ready for a new wedding bestie, I'd love to chat with you more and see if we'd be a great fit or feel free to check out our exclusive elopement packages here!