How to Elope in Banff: Our all inclusive guide

Introduction

Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. Truly is one of the most stunning places in the world. In this guide, we are going to show you how to plan a stunning, stress-free wedding. You’ve literally got some of the most amazing lakes and mountains in the entire world. With world famous Moraine Lake and Lake Louise being within the park. We’ve been shooting and helping eloping couples plan the most amazing wedding day in the mountains of Alberta for years. In this guide we will cover the legalities and formalities of eloping in the park, some of the best spots, both popular and some hidden spots with less folks around. The seasons in the park, their pro’s and con’s. And some ideas of what to do on your wedding day that you may not have thought of. This is your ultimate resource on how to elope in Banff National Park.

Can you Elope in Banff National Park?

Yes! Absolutely, and it’s actually one of the most popular spots in all of Canada to Elope. One question we get a lot is: Can we get married in Banff as foreigners / Americans. Yes, you can. It’s really not that difficult and largely the same as Canadians. You may have to take a few extra steps when you get home to show that the marriage is legal, this depends on the country you are returning to.

Alberta Marriage Licence

Banff National Park is in the province of Alberta, in Western Canada. Which means to legally marry you’ll need an Alberta Marriage licence, you can find out more about the licence by clicking here. You’ll need to apply within three months of your wedding, apply as soon as you can within that window, then you’ll need to visit the Banff Registry Agent when you arrive. Try to do this with a couple of days spare incase there’s anything additional you need, the fee is only $40 (at the time of this writing) and easy to obtain. Alternatively you don’t have to do the legal part of your wedding in Alberta, you could always do this section at home either before or after the ceremonial part of your elopement in the park, then you don’t have to bother with the marriage licence at all!

Submitting your registration form to Banff National Park

This only applies if you are getting married outside of a private venue. If you are getting married in a private venue, you don’t need to do this. Visit the Parks Canada website and submit your form via email or post.

Get your Officiant and Witnesses

In Alberta, it is a legal requirement for you to have an officiant, here you’ve got two options. A civil officiant, also known as a marriage commissioner who is appointed by the province. You can also have a religious officiant who is registered with the Alberta Government to perform marriages, click here for a list of religious and civil marriage commissioners.

You’ll also need two witnesses, who are at least 18 years old, they don’t have to be friends and family. They simply need to be present and sign the marriage licence. If you are eloping just the two of you. You can always ask your photographer or videographer. We’ve done this for many couples and don’t mind signing your documents.

Again though, there is a way around this, by having a symbolic ceremony you don’t need to go through any of the legalities or paperwork, you’d just have to do the legal section of the ceremony in a different location outside of Alberta.

Why should you Elope in Banff?

There are many reasons to elope in Banff. The breathtaking scenery, the varied and wonderful weather. There’s something about the Canadian Rockies that isn’t something commonly found in the rest of the world. Accessibility and untamed beauty, sure the alps are amazing, the Andes are stunning and the Himalayas are beautiful. But we’ve found the Canadian Rockies have both accessibility and that feeling of being in the wilderness. Which means less crowds and more natural beauty to behold. All whilst being an hour away from a major international airport and city.

There are a ton of things to do when you elope in Banff, which we have a section on below. Some of our favourites would be: Helicopter elopements up the mountains, dog sledding and Canoe elopements. You’ve also got the stunning european (Swiss) architecture of the town of Banff itself. The town actually hired Swiss architects and engineers to help build the town in the 19th century when the park was first settled.

The park has some of the worlds most stunning natural beauty, how can a national park have so many spots that are out of this world?! You’ve got Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, Vermillion Lakes, Peyto Lake, Johnston Canyon and Sulphur mountain. All of which would be worth considering for an elopement, but the fact that they’re all together is amazing.

What’s the best season to Elope in Banff?

Banff National Park experiences all four seasons, at each end (summer and winter) you will feel huge extremes. From -40C summers to -40C winters. A really accurate quote I’ve heard for Alberta is: “If you don’t like the weather, wait 30 minutes”. From our experience, this is accurate. The weather out here can change rapidly, this can be a pro or a con depending on what you like.

Where are the best places to Elope in Banff National Park?

So there are a couple of places that you think of as iconically Banff, you’ve got the town itself, Peyto Lake, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow lake etc. I will include my favourites out of these spots, just know though, all of these spots will have lots of tourists year round. My general advice for getting married at Banff most popular spots is, get married in the in between seasons, this is when you’ll see the least tourists in the area, these are late October – mid November, and mid May – late June. You’re chancing the weather a little more in these seasons but its worth it to avoid the crowds, Lake Louise for example either in the peak of summer or winter, can be so full its hard to see the views. So bare that in mind.

A lot of the spots we are recommending here are a little more unknown, places we’ve found on our exploration of the park over the years. They may be a little more difficult to get to, but they’re worth it. If you are really worried about crowds on your wedding day, check out this blog post about the best near by alternatives to Banff, all the spots in the guide are right next to Banff, but without the crowds!

Boom Lake

If you’re looking for somewhere with those amazing Moraine Lake views, but without the crowds. Boom Lake is one of our favourites. The hike up is moderate, at about 3 and a half hours, with an elevation gain of 600m. This spot is awesome both at sunrise and sunset. You’ll want to pick up a torch if you’re planning on being out there for either sunrise or sunset, as the hike can be dangerous without the right lighting equipment. The path up is a moderate incline, making it wedding dress / attire friendly! This is an awesome spot for an early morning ceremony. The lake is not usually busy year round, making it a top pick for couples looking to get married in the peak seasons, when other spots are likely to be super busy.

Vermillion Lakes

The really good thing about Eloping at the Vermillion Lakes is that they are huge. So there’s lots of spots to choose from. The whole route is drivable as well. So if you don’t want to hike in your wedding dress, that’s fine! You’ve got all the major Banff peaks in the background of every viewpoint as well, the Bow River is also not far and can make for a really nice backdrop to any ceremony. The lakes are also really close to the town of Banff, so you have access to all the amenities of the town for wedding day activities, such as heading up the gondola, eating in the town or grabbing a coffee. We particularly love shooting at Vermillion lakes either in the Spring or Autumn.

Larch Valley

Another awesome spot for avoiding crowds. This hike has so many amazing spots. The trail leads to a lake that’s just as amazing as Moraine Lake, but without the crowds. It takes about 9km to reach the lake. The elevation gain is around 600m, this trail isn’t a great idea for the winter, think more summer, spring and autumn. You can also brings dogs and cats on this trail, though they must be on a leash.

Banff Elopement Activities

One thing that’s really useful to do when planning your elopement, for Banff and in general. Is to think, what do we and my partner enjoy doing together the most. Do you like going for walks with the dogs, or cooking eachother breakfast in bed. These are the activities that you should prioritise when choosing what to do on your wedding day. Of course, you can always ask us, we help couples find what they love doing all the time. Here’s a couple of suggestions:

• Dog sledding
• Helicopter ride
• Plane ride
• Canoeing
• Axe throwing
• Private Chef
• Cook each other breakfast
• Sailing
• Jet Ski / Sea Doo
• Hot air balloon
• Hiking
• Getting coffee together
• Skating
• Dancing
• Watching the sunrise / sunset
• Riding on a carousel

If you’re into more adventurous elopement planning, then check out our adventure elopement guide here for some more detail on activities.

How much does it cost to Elope in Banff?

So we can give you a general guide on pricing for vendors, locations etc. But this is going to ultimately come down to your priorities as a couple, do you want to spend more on an established venue? If so this can easily become the biggest ticket item, if not and you’re going to find a free spot, then photography and videography become the biggest item. What my mother in law told me when we planned our wedding was, try not to think about what you want, think about what you don’t want. Then work backwards. This was a massive help to us, as with so many other couples, we didn’t know what we wanted, we felt guilty having a really small wedding, but this comment was a revelation and really helped. So here are some rough pricing guides on how much vendors cost in Banff.

1. Marriage License:

• Cost: Approximately $100 to $150.

• Details: Required for all legal marriages in Alberta.

2. Officiant:

• Cost: Between $300 and $800.

• Details: Professional officiants charge varying rates based on experience and ceremony customization.

3. Photography & Videography

• Cost: Ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 for elopement packages.

• Details: Packages typically include several hours of coverage and a set number of edited photos.

4. Hair and Makeup:

• Cost: Approximately $200 to $500.

• Details: Prices depend on the artist’s experience and the complexity of the desired look.

5. Flowers and Decor:

• Cost: Between $200 and $1,000.

• Details: Simple bouquets and boutonnieres are on the lower end, while elaborate arrangements increase the cost.

6. Venue:

• Cost: Outdoor locations in Banff National Park are often free with a permit, while reservable spots like Tunnel Mountain Reservoir can be around $500.

• Details: Private venues or luxury resorts may range from $1,000 to $5,000+.

7. Accommodation:

• Cost: Standard hotels range from $150 to $300 per night; luxury options can be $300 to $500+ per night.

• Details: Prices vary based on the season and location within Banff.

8. All-Inclusive Elopement Packages:

• Cost: Starting at $10,400 CAD.

• Details: Packages typically include planning services, officiant, photography, and sometimes additional perks. 

Total Estimated Cost:

• Basic Elopement: Approximately $5,000 to $12,000.

• Enhanced Experience: With added services or luxury options, costs can range from $10,000 to $40,000.

Book the vendors who align with your vision

We can’t stress enough how important this one is, finding people who love what they do and fit what you’re looking for is so important. Always have a chat with your vendors over the phone, this is so much more useful than email, this helps you really understand what they’re about. And what you want, with that being said. Here are a couple of recommendations, people we think are awesome and dedicated to what they do, who are going to help you to elope in Banff.

Photography

Videography

Officiant

Florals

Hair and Makeup

Activities

Book your accommodation

Where should you stay in Banff? Again this depends on your priorities and what you enjoy doing, we’d always encourage our couples to book private accomodations over hotels, this gives a much more unique look than a hotel for your morning photos and film. We’ve listed a couple below. Another question to ask is how far do you want to drive to your spot on your wedding morning? Just note that winter conditions can impede travel, so if you’re travelling during these months you might want to consider staying closer to your ceremony location. Generally you’ll find more options around the town of Banff and Canmore area, with some options near Lake Louise, but not nearly as many. Many people don’t know that Lake Louise is over an hour from the town of Banff, and often much colder!

Airbnb’s

Forest View Suite – Bighorn

Elkhorn Lodge – Town of Banff

Nature’s Paradise – Brisco

Dogwood Cabin – Sundre

Majestic Views Condo – Canmore

Hot tub Condo – Canmore

Hotels

Fairmont Springs Banff – Town of Banff

Juniper Hotel and Bistro – Town of Banff

Buffalo Mountain Lodge – Town of Banff

Mountaineer Lodge – Lake Louise

Platinum Suites – Canmore

Banff Elopement Packages

You’ve heard what we’ve had to say about eloping in Banff, it’s one of the most amazing places in the world to get married and our favourite place to shoot. We help couples plan their dream elopement, then we are there with them documenting every moment.