How to Elope in BC

Introduction

Congratulations, you’ve decided to plan your elopement in British Columbia. Arguably the most beautiful place on earth. We’ve helped lots of couples in BC plan their dream elopements, so you could say we know a thing or two when it comes to planning an adventure wedding in our beautiful province.

Below is our guide on everything we think is essential to planning your elopement here in BC, from our personal experience of eloping ourselves, and from the work we’ve done with our couples. With this resource you have the power to take back your wedding day and make it your own.

Can foreigners elope in BC?

Yes! Absolutely. You do not need to be a Canadian citizen or resident to legally get married in British Columbia. To get married in BC you’ll need a marriage licence. You can get one from a licensed marriage licence issuer anywhere in British Columbia. Click here for one near you.

Make sure you bring with you the $100 licensing fee (as of 2026). This can be paid in cash or by card. Please check the website for the most up to date info on the pricing for the licence. Only one of you needs to be present for this, but you will need identification for both of you.

The licence is valid for 90 days, so we recommend obtaining it as early as possible within that 90 day window before your ceremony. If you’re planning your BC elopement as a destination and you are both flying in from out of province, we’d recommend leaving a few days between landing in BC and your ceremony to make sure everything is in order when you get your licence.

Book a BC Officiant

Anyone who will be officiating your wedding in British Columbia will need to be registered with the Vital Statistics Agency. They have a handy tool you can use to find people who are registered with them so you can double check anyone you book.

Marriage commissioners in BC typically charge $100 to $250, but this does depend on what is included in the ceremony and how far they need to travel.

BC Elopement Officiants we’d recommend

Captivating Moments

Young Hip and Married

Heart and Soul Weddings

Can a friend officiate our wedding in BC?

If your friend just wants to officiate your ceremony, we don’t actually recommend they become registered. The process is long and not worth it if they are just doing one ceremony. We’d actually recommend they perform a symbolic ceremony which can be done with a marriage commissioner, before the elopement day.

In our opinion, the symbolic ceremony where you’re in your favourite place, with the people you love. Declaring love for each other, is the more important one anyway.

Pick two witnesses

Witnesses can be friends, family, or even your photo and video team. We have done this for eloping couples many times and don’t mind signing as witnesses.

You will need two witnesses for the wedding.

The only requirement is that witnesses must be 19 years or older. They don’t even need to know you!

If your ceremony location is very remote, you can do the formal legal ceremony somewhere accessible and then head out for your personal ceremony.

Pick a date

If you can do a weekday, you’ll have a better time finding vendors. Fridays and Saturdays are usually booked up years in advance, but a Tuesday in June is much easier to find availability.

This is also a consideration for people flying into BC from outside the province. Flights tend to be cheaper through the week. We recommend using tools like Google Flights and Skyscanner to find the best deals on flights. If you are flexible on dates, use the whole month filter to see the cheapest months and dates. Tuesdays and Thursdays are generally the best days to fly.

Choosing a weekday is also helpful for avoiding crowds, as a lot of locations will have less people around than a Saturday or Sunday. This is definitely the case for regions such as Whistler, Tofino and Kelowna.

You’ll also want to consider the time of year. BC is relatively far north so we do see dramatic changes from season to season.

For the areas around the Lower Mainland and southern Vancouver Island you’re not going to see huge temperature changes as the sea regulates the temperature. Move north, though and you’re into snow territory from around November through March. As a general rule, the further north you move from Vancouver, the colder it is, and the further east you move, the colder it is.

Our personal recommendation is autumn, from early October through to late November. You’ll get snow on the peaks, golden leaves and moderate temperatures.

You’ll also want to take into consideration that in BC we do get wildfires in the summers. July and August are going to be the biggest risk for fires. Though you may not have a wildfire anywhere near your elopement, the smoke can travel a long way and affect areas that are hundreds of kilometres away. You can find out more information on wildfires on the BC wildfire service website.

Choose your time of year for eloping in BC

British Columbia has four seasons, and each offers very different experiences depending on where you go. Daylight hours also change dramatically throughout the year, with long summer evenings and much shorter winter days.

Spring

Spring is great for cherry blossoms, crisp mornings, and fewer crowds.

Many mountain roads will still be closed during early spring, and snow will remain on the peaks. Alpine locations may not be accessible until mid May or even June.

Summer

Summers vary greatly between the coast and the interior of the province.

The interior tends to be much hotter and drier, while the coast remains milder.

Summer gives you access to the widest range of activities, including hiking, sailing and wine tours. However, July and August can sometimes bring wildfire smoke to parts of the province.

Autumn / Fall

Autumn is our favourite time of year for elopements.

Early to mid October offers incredible colours, moderate temperatures and fewer crowds.

The Sea to Sky Highway and the Kootenay region offer some of the best fall scenery in the province.

Winter

Winters can be very harsh, especially in the interior. But we do have a lot of winter focused activities such as dog sledding, skiing and campfires.

Winter also offers some of the most dramatic scenery in the province. It’s also the only time you’ll see snow on the North Shore mountains if you’re wanting to stay in and around Vancouver.

The best places to Elope in British Columbia

British Columbia is big, very big.

In fact, BC is actually four times the size of the UK and larger than France and Germany combined. You can drive for 16 hours and still be in the province.

We have an enormous diversity of landscapes and a massive abundance of locations for elopements. From the coastal rainforests of Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland, through the deserts of the interior, to the jagged peaks of the Rockies bordering Alberta. Below are a few ideas to help you start refining what kind of location might suit you best.

Kelowna

Kelowna is the main city in the Okanagan Valley region of British Columbia.

Okanagan Lake runs for 135 km through the valley and is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

One of the biggest attractions of this region is the wineries. Our favourite for elopements is Mission Hill Winery, which offers incredible views over the lake and vineyards.

Another idea is renting a boat from downtown Kelowna or Peachland and getting married right on the lake.

For nature-focused elopements, head out to Naramata, where there are amazing mountain and lake locations with very few tourists.

We’ve written a full guide on eloping in Kelowna and the Okanagan Valley.

Whistler

Whistler is fairly well known, and for good reason.

The town was inspired by Swiss architecture, so if you’re looking for a slice of Europe in Canada, this is your place.

You can get married in Whistler Village, on Whistler or Blackcomb Mountain, or at one of the many lakes nearby. The area is surrounded by Alpine lakes, glaciers and dramatic mountains, which makes it one of our favourite places to elope in BC.

We’d also recommend checking out the nearby town of Pemberton. It’s only 20–30 minutes away and offers a much smaller and quieter mountain town feel.

You can read more about eloping in Whistler with our guide here!

Vancouver / Lower Mainland

Vancouver is a very unique city where the mountains, ocean, and skyline combine to create incredible backdrops for weddings. The weather is also much milder here than in the rest of BC, though you’ll have a higher risk of rainfall in both summer and winter.

For dramatic scenery we’d recommend the waterfront area, Granville Island, and Wreck Beach.

Other beautiful locations in the city include:

• Iona Beach Park

• Cleveland Dam

• Deep Cove

• Burnaby Mountain Park

• Stanley Park

Just outside Metro Vancouver there are even more stunning locations, including Pitt Lake, Horseshoe Bay, White Rock, Harrison Hot Springs and the Sea to Sky corridor.

We’ve written a full guide on how to elope in Vancouver, including the best locations and planning tips.

Tofino

No list of BC elopement locations would be complete without Vancouver Island.

With mild weather and a rugged coastline, it is one of the best year round locations for eloping couples.

Victoria offers a beautiful European style city atmosphere, while the west coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino offers dramatic ocean views and incredible beaches.

Check out our guide on eloping on Vancouver island for more info!

Permits & Park Rules 

Many popular elopement spots in BC fall within either Provincial Parks or National Parks. It’s important to follow park rules and maintain Leave No Trace principles.

It’s also important to know whether you’ll be eloping in a national park, provincial park or municipal park, as they are managed by different organizations.

Parks Canada (national parks) – Yoho, Pacific Rim, Gulf Islands

BC Parks (provincial parks) – Joffre Lakes, Golden Ears, Garibaldi

Municipal parks (city parks) – Stanley Park, Lighthouse Park, Deer Lake

Once you know which level you are dealing with, you can then work out which permits you may need. In some situations you may need to contact multiple offices to clarify which jurisdiction requires what permit.

For example, in Canmore if you are eloping within town limits but inside a national park boundary, you may need permits from both the town and Parks Canada.

Parks Canada requires a wedding permit for ceremonies and also requires permits for commercial photography and videography. These typically need to be applied for at least 30 days in advance based on our experience working with Parks Canada staff.

Drones are not allowed in Canadian national parks without special permits. Group sizes for ceremonies are also often limited, commonly to around 15 people depending on the location.

BC Parks policies can vary depending on the specific park. In our experience it’s best to email the park office with a detailed plan explaining what you intend to do, how many people will attend and how long you plan to be there. This usually helps you receive a clear response from park staff.

In general, both organizations often restrict things such as:

• Chairs or arches

• Large groups

• Amplified music

How to get around British Columbia

Driving is the best way to explore BC.

You can rent a car through traditional rental companies or platforms like Turo.

BC is a very large province, and many of the best elopement locations are several hours apart. Having your own vehicle gives you the flexibility to explore and reach more remote locations.

Check flight deals using Skyscanner and consider upgrading rental cars if available. Always check for the snow and mud symbol if you are going to be driving out of Vancouver from mid October to April, as winter tires are required by law on many highways during this time.

Public transport options outside Metro Vancouver are limited, so driving is strongly recommended.

If you’re flying into the province, Vancouver International Airport and Kelowna International Airport are two of the main gateways depending on where you plan to elope.

Accommodation

Choosing your accommodation for your elopement can be much more than just finding a place to stay.

If you already know where you’d like to elope, we recommend searching for unique accommodation options nearby that can enhance the experience of your day. Many couples build parts of their elopement around where they stay.

Airbnb offers a huge range of options across British Columbia. We often recommend using the “Unique stays” filter to find interesting places such as cabins, lodges and unusual properties in scenic locations.

Booking.com can also be a good option, and their mobile app sometimes shows slightly better prices than the desktop version.

From a photography point of view, we usually advise avoiding very plain hotel rooms with little natural light. Choosing accommodation with large windows, good natural light and an outdoor space can make a big difference for your getting ready photos.

Having an outdoor area such as a balcony, deck or garden is also helpful if you’d like to include small activities at your accommodation, which we’ll talk about more in the activities section.

Hire a Photographer / Videographer

Booking a photographer early can actually help you plan your entire elopement.

Photographers often provide planning help including location scouting, timelines and vendor recommendations.

We’ve helped couples avoid locations that look great online but are extremely crowded in real life. There is also planning around when the best light will be during the day. For example, somewhere like the Sea to Sky route almost always looks better at sunset rather than sunrise, when the light is hitting the peaks correctly for the best photos.

Having someone with experience guiding your day can make a huge difference.

Wedding Insurance

From our experience, getting wedding insurance is very important — not only for your own peace of mind if anything goes wrong, but also because many elopement locations in BC require you to have at least event liability insurance.

This is very common if you are using public parks, a rented venue, or serving alcohol. You can check with these vendors to see if their insurance already covers you.

You may also be asked to provide proof of liability insurance when submitting applications for your elopement location.

The cost of wedding insurance is typically between $100–$200 for a single-day event. The price usually depends on things such as:

• Guest count

• Whether alcohol is served

• Event location

• Coverage limits

Basic wedding insurance usually covers things like property damage, injury to guests, and legal liability. Some policies also offer additional coverage that can refund certain wedding costs if the event cannot go ahead due to things like:

• Extreme weather

• Vendor failure

• Illness

• Venue issues

This type of coverage usually adds a bit more to the cost depending on the level of protection you choose.

Here are a few insurance providers we’d recommend:

Front Row Insurance

InsureBC

PAL Insurance Brokers

Hair and Makeup

Most hair and makeup artists in BC will travel to where you’re getting ready on your wedding morning. From our experience they will usually travel up to two hours, but if you find an artist you really like it’s worth asking how far they are willing to travel.

Many artists charge additional fees for longer commutes, remote locations, or if they need to stay overnight.

On the morning of the wedding it typically takes 1.5–2 hours per person for hair and makeup to be completed.

Depending on the type of elopement you are planning, it’s worth asking about wind resistant and waterproof makeup, especially for outdoor locations.

For summer elopements near the coast, humidity resistant makeup can also be helpful. This tends to be less of an issue the further east into the province you go where the climate is generally drier.

Typical costs in BC are usually per person:

Hair – $100–$200

Makeup – $100–$200

Florist

Florals are again going to depend on where you are having your elopement and how many locations you plan to visit. For example, if you are hiking halfway up a mountain for your ceremony, it may not be practical to bring a lot of florals with you.

Most elopement florals include:

• Bridal bouquet

• Boutonnière

• Flower crown (optional)

Some couples also choose:

• Ceremony arches

• Table arrangements

• Floral installations

• Hair pieces

• Pet accessories

Make sure you let your florist know the details of your elopement plans and how durable the flowers need to be, especially if you’ll be travelling between locations or hiking.

We’d also advise following Leave No Trace principles if you’re planning on throwing petals outdoors where they won’t be picked up.

Typical floral costs in BC:

Bridal bouquet – $150–$350

Boutonnière – $20–$40

Decor

When deciding what decor to include, you’ll need to take park and location restrictions into consideration. In national parks you’ll usually want to avoid things like hanging items from trees, large decorations, blocking trails, or leaving decor behind.

Some specific parks also do not permit open flames, candles or confetti.

It’s worth looking for decor rental companies near your elopement location, as some offer rental services and delivery. Always check their website to see what they offer and whether they travel to your location.

Here are a few companies we recommend:

Bespoke Decor

Pedersen’s Event Rentals

Planning your elopement timeline

This is the fun part. This is where you have complete flexibility.

We encourage you to make your elopement day your own and look within for inspiration on what you’d like to do. These are some of the common parts of an elopement day you may want to consider:

• getting ready

• first look

• travel to the ceremony location

• ceremony

• portraits

• activities or experiences

• dinner or celebration

• sunset photos

• evening activities

You’ll want to allow around 8–10 hours for the full day.

Make sure you check typical travel times between locations and consider traffic, especially around popular areas. It’s also worth factoring in weather conditions and having a simple backup plan in case something doesn’t go exactly as expected.

Picking your wedding outfits

When choosing your wedding attire, consider the location and terrain. Many elopement locations involve short walks, uneven trails or rocky viewpoints, so comfortable footwear is important. You can bring a pair of heels in a bag if you’d like to change for photos (we don’t mind carrying a few things!).

Some couples choose to wear hiking boots or comfortable shoes for walking between locations, then change into their wedding shoes for the ceremony and photos.

If you’re eloping in the mountains, it’s also a good idea to bring warm layers even in the summer. Temperatures can drop quickly once the sun goes down, especially at higher elevations and in the east of the province, where the air is usually drier than the coast.

Shawls, jackets or blankets can also make great additions for evening photos while keeping you warm.

Adventure Elopement activity ideas

We’ve decided to share four of our favourite ideas, one for each season of the year. We have many more activity ideas in our dedicated guide, which you can find here.

Spring — Waterfall elopements

Spring is one of the best times of year for waterfall elopements, as snowmelt creates peak water flow across the province. Many hiking trails begin to open during spring, while snow often remains on the surrounding mountain peaks, creating a dramatic backdrop for your wedding.

Summer — Canoeing or paddle boarding

Canoeing and paddle boarding are some of our favourite summer activities to photograph. British Columbia has an incredible number of lakes, rivers and ocean locations to choose from.

If your location is outside of park boundaries, these activities can also look amazing from a drone perspective. We usually recommend doing this either if you’re confident balancing, or later in the day if you don’t mind the possibility of your wedding outfits getting a little wet.

Autumn — Helicopter elopements

Autumn is one of the best seasons for helicopter elopements. The fall colours across the forests create incredible views from the air, and many mountain peaks offer spectacular scenery once you reach the summit. Areas around Whistler and the Sea to Sky corridor are especially popular for this.

Winter — Sleigh rides and snowshoeing

Winter elopements offer some of the most magical scenery in British Columbia. Snowshoeing through quiet forests or taking a sleigh ride through a snow-covered landscape can create a very unique experience for your wedding day.

If you’re looking for a more in depth guide on adventure elopement ideas, check out our full guide to adventure elopement ideas in British Columbia.

How much does it cost to elope in BC?

All elopements are different, these costs are just averages. You need to prioritize what is important to you two as a couple.

Marriage licence

$100

Officiant

$100 – $250

Photography / Videography

$3,000 – $10,000+

Hair and makeup

$100 – $200 per service, per person

Florals

$150 – $350 for a bouquet

$20 – $40 for a boutonnière

Wedding insurance

$100 – $200

Accommodation

$200 – $800+ per night depending on the location and type of property

Helicopter tours

$1,500 – $5,000+ depending on the location and duration

Travel and transport

Rental cars typically range from $50 – $150 per day depending on the vehicle and season.

The total cost can range from $5000 – $20,000.