Introduction
We have compiled a list of the best places to elope in the Okanagan Valley, from the perspective of a photo and video husband and wife team! The Okanagan valley in central British Columbia is one of the most picturesque and beautiful places in the world. The region offers some of Canada’s warmest temperatures and a wide variety of scenery throughout. One thing it is most famous for, is the abundance of wineries with the most stunning backdrops, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve suddenly been transported to southern France.
Choosing to Elope in the Okanagan is a great decision, we are going to breakdown our top spots for getting married here. From the perspective of a photo and film husband / wife team. We will be taking into account the scenery, time of year, accessibility and activities when compiling this list. But before we get into the locations, we want to go over some things to consider for marrying in the Okanagan, and British Columbia in general.
What’s the best time of year to Elope in the Okanagan Valley?
While the region does have relatively hot, dry summers. The Okanagan does have all four seasons. With winter being relatively mild compared to the rest of Canada. You will see snow, but usually not until the first or second week of December, with most of the snow being gone by March, apart from on the peaks of some mountains. We have listed the seasonal dates below:
Spring: March – June
Summer: June – September
Autumn: September – November
Winter – December – February
The activities and scenery will be drastically different depending on the season you choose to get married. Each one comes with pros and cons. Our favourite time to shoot here would be Autumn, usually early to mid October, when the leaves on the trees just start to fall. You get the most beautiful burnt orange skies, and the temperature has just started to cool a little.
The very first time we visited the Okanagan was in winter, february to be precise. The first view we got of the lake was driving in from Merritt / Vancouver. When the highway bends around and you come through the mountains to reveal the lake, surrounded by snowy peaks and the warm lights of the countless wineries surrounding the valley. This was such a special moment in our lives to witness, and it unlocked the true beauty for us of winter, and especially winter elopements.
Spring is also a great time to elope in the Okanagan Valley, as all of the nature and wildlife is waking up. The temperature isn’t too hot and plenty of the summer activities are just beginning to open, such as boating adventures and paddleboarding.
Summers are very hot out here and prone to wildfires, to just factor in a backup plan incase we have any. But don’t let this put you off. There are so many activities open in and around the valley at this time.
How to get to the Okanagan Valley?
There are two main ways to access the valley. You can fly or drive. If you are coming from within Canada, you may be able to fly directly to the airport in Kelowna, if you can do this, this is the quickest option, you can rent cars either in downtown or at the airport. If you are coming from the USA or any other international destination, you’ll likely have to connect through Vancouver International, Abbotsford International or Calgary International Airport. It may be a little cheaper to rent a car and drive from these locations to the Okanagan, the drive from both Vancouver and Calgary is absolutely stunning and worth doing.
You also have the option of driving. If you’re coming from Vancouver, you’ll take the Trans Canada highway east through Hope and Merrit, the drive is around 4 hours but can be longer depending on traffic. There are a ton of amazing spots on the way, so give yourself plenty of time for stops. Driving from Calgary is a little longer, around 6 hours, there are a few more spots to stop from the Calgary direction, which is the same Trans Canada Highway, but this time heading west.
Kalamalka Lake Elopement
If you’re looking for turquoise blue, crystal clear water. Lots of amenities nearby and amazing views. This lake is for you. This is the main lake accessible from Vernon. Though it’s not too far from downtown Kelowna. You have lots of options to elope here, we’d suggest hitting up OK Lakeside Boat Rentals. Head out on the lake for some photos with lots of different backdrops.
We’d also recommending heading to Juniper Bay Beach for your ceremony. This beach has the mountain views, the water and a huge interior BC forrest right behind it. So you can have varied and amazing photos with lots of backdrops to choose from. This place is absolutely amazing year round. Though we’d lean towards spring, summer and autumn for this one so you can take advantage of the paddle boarding and boating that can be had out here (Yes some of our couples paddle board on their wedding day, yes its amazing!)
Naramata
All the way down near Penticton is Naramata, famous for its amazing wineries. This is somewhere we’d recommend eloping in either the peak of summer, or the beginning of autumn. The colours on the trees around here in the autumn are inspiring. We’d recommend doing some wine tasting on your elopement down here, we’ve listed a couple of wineries we’ve been to and would recommend both for tasting and for breathtaking scenery. This is also a great option for some photos our in the vineyards. Which we are a big fan of.
Naramata Winery Elopement Recommendations:
Places to stay in Naramata
We always love staying at Naramata Inn for our trips to the area. We’d say it’s a little far from Kelowna or Vernon (The other bigger towns in the region). So we’d recommend staying in Naramata itself, or down in Penticton, which has a couple more options. Where you pick for your stay on your elopement is another opportunity for more activities on your wedding day. One thing we absolutely love, is couples making eachother breakfast in the morning, which can be a little tough in a hotel. Which is why we’d recommend this home in the town for a more personal touch.
If you are looking for more adventurous elopement ideas, we also have a resource on that you can check out here.
Vaseux Lake
Vaseux Lake is a little further south than Naramata, below Penticton and just before Osoyoos. Down here you’ll get the lakes and rock formations of central British Columbia that makes this region so unique. But without the crowds. We would actually recommend visiting the lake during winter. The lake is absolutely stunning frozen over, with the snowy peaks in the background. It’s so magical!
Osoyoos Desert Centre Elopement
This is definitely one of our top picks. At the extreme southern end of the Okanagan Valley is the town of Osoyoos, known for its record breaking summertime temperatures and the warmest lake in Canada. The desert centre lies just off to the west of Osoyoos Lake. The town and the desert area are accessible from the north via the Okanagan Highway, and to the south through Highway 97 in the United States.
Like a lot of the other locations on this list, you could opt for a lakeside wedding with some of the amazing Okanagan rock formations. What we’d recommend here though is heading up onto the wooden path and picking a spot out here, if you time it right and have your elopement around an hour before sunset. You’ll see the full majesty of the Okanagan warm summer evenings on display. The area is also amazing in the autumn as the trees all change into their orange formations. Winter, especially when there is snow on the ground is also very impressive.
Best places to stay in Osoyoos
This private wine country log cabin is one of our most favourite places to stay in the whole of the Okanagan valley. It also looks amazing for your photos and film. If you want that frontier feel, then this is the place for you. Imagine having the fire on outside, toasting smores on the evening of your wedding day.
If you’re looking for something a little more modern, then this lakeview cottage has a little more space and some amazing views. These two options are close to the amazing spots we’ve recommended both in Osoyoos and Penticton.
We’re Tom and Emily. Your photo & Video elopement team! We encourage, help, explain and guide you through this whole process. We absolutely love travel and unique experiences!
Big White Ski Resort Elopement
This is somewhere winter lovers are going to want to elope. The Big White Ski resort offers phenomenal slopes for all ski enthusiasts and winter lovers. Rhonda lake trail offers some amazing views of the nearby lake and mountains, and looks especially good in the winter when the lake is frozen.
We’d recommend a wedding in amongst the trees with all the snow on the ground. This is what you think of when you imagine a winter wonderland wedding!
Where to stay at Big White Ski Resort
You’re mainly going to find a lot of condos. We’d recommend finding one with an awesome view, a traditional log cabin interior and if possible a hot tub. There’s nothing better than a hot dip on the balcony when its snowing! We’d recommend the Cozy Ski in and the Beaverdel Apartment
Kelowna
So Kelowna is the main city in the Okanagan, and one of the best places to elope in the Okanagan Valley. You also have smaller towns such as Vernon, Peachland, Penticton and West Kelowna. But there are some truly amazing spots in the city of Kelowna for your elopement. We love Kinsmen park. It offers some really nice views of the city and the nearby mountains across the lake. Oh yeah did we mention? The lake itself, looks absolutely stunning. This location is particularly great for sunsets, as the sun will set on the other side of the lake, giving you those amazing golden hour shots.
We’d also recommend checking out the Kelowna Marina, walk along the pier and get some amazing shots down by the boats. Maybe head to Amore Mio for some gelato before you head out there on your romantic walk.
There are also many great urban spots in the city for some urban photography and video shots, most streets have mountains views as well for some awesome shots.
We’d recommend staying in this Jungle themed tiny home in the city, your photos and film in here are going to look unreal. And its very accessible being in the city. If you want more of a hotel experience, we’d recommend Kelowfornia Lakeview Retreat for some amazing views of the mountains and lake from your window!
Conclusion
The Okanagan has so many options to choose from. This list should give you a good guide on where to look, so that you can fill out your day with the most meaningful, loving moments. If you are looking for an film and photo coverage of your element, we are a husband and wife team that cover the Okanagan. We also help our couples plan their day. Let us know what you’re thinking!
