Elope to Banff and Lake Louise

Elope to Banff and Lake Louise

Have you thought about a low-key wedding day where it’s all about you and your partner? Want to ditch the big old-school wedding with 200 of your acquaintances, and celebrate with just your closest family? You need to consider this – elope to Banff and Lake Louise.

I love the idea of having a secret that only a few people know. There is something so magical about running away and marrying your true love. I have to admit, I love being in on that secret and playing the role of your photographer.

I have some tips for you on how to elope to Banff and Lake Louise.

1. Hire a planner: This is so important, especially if you are out of the country. I highly recommend Julie from Rocky Mountain Weddings. She specializes in mountain weddings, and elopements are her forte. She can guide you through the labyrinth of permits for ceremony spots, finding a marriage commissioner, suggesting photographers that are within your budget and fit your style and hair and makeup artists that you can trust.
2. Choose a Date: The beauty of Banff and Lake Louise are that they are stunning year-round. There are pros and cons to all the seasons. July and August are busiest. If you are looking at a summer wedding, consider the traffic and that it will take a little longer to get to locations, especially on the July and August Long Weekends. Winter is slower for tourists, but there are some areas (like Moraine Lake) that are closed during those months. I’m personally a fan of the autumn for elopements. Also, consider a weekday, instead of a weekend for your wedding. It will be a little quieter.
3. Choose a location: This is where it gets hard. Every location in the Canadian Rocky Mountains is stunning! If you are looking for a hotel wedding, the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and the Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise are always the frontrunners for old-school charm and beauty. Again, some areas in the mountains require permits, so make sure you are aware of this.
4. Your Photographer: Loree Photography is fully licensed and insured to work within the Banff National Parks. Your photographer NEEDS to have this permit in order to work there. If they don’t, you could be stopped by officials and your photographer could be asked to leave. Not a good situation. Make sure they can prove to you they are licensed and physically show you their permit via email. Don’t hire anyone who can’t do this.
5. Reception: If you have only a couple of people attending your elopement, I suggest heading to one of Banff’s incredible restaurants to continue your celebration. If it’s a larger group, then many hotels in the towns have smaller banquet rooms that would be perfect for your needs.
6. Honeymoon: The bonus of eloping to Banff or eloping to Lake Louise is that you are already at your honeymoon destination. Take a week after your ceremony to explore the areas. There are so many incredible hiking areas, tours, experiences, shopping, dining and exploring to take in.

If you’d like to see some of our Banff and Lake Louise Weddings, check out our mountain gallery. Here are some blog posts we made on elopements we’ve photographed Lake Louise Elopement , Castle Mountain Wedding, Fabulous weddings

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