How to Elope in Squamish BC: The Complete Adventure Guide (2026)

Is Squamish the best place to Elope in BC?

When you wake up on your wedding day morning, surrounded by the ocean, snow capped peaks stretching to the sky. And some of the most stunning waterfalls in the world. You’ll know you made the right choice in eloping in Squamish.

Honestly, from our experience, it might be the best place in the world for elopements. For a town of its size, it punches well above its weight.

Why should you Elope in Squamish?

Squamish has so much to offer Eloping couples. For how much it has to offer its also relatively quiet. with waterfalls, snow capped peaks and endless sea access, what’s not to love? We will go into detail in the next sections but put simply:

Squamish has year round access from Vancouver, an abundance of activities both on the water and on the land, top restaurants, scenery and even gondola access!

Getting a BC marriage license

In BC a marriage license costs $100, you need to get it in the three months before your wedding. Only one of you needs to show up in person, but must provide ID for both of you.

• Birth certificate
• IMM/immigration form
• Permanent resident card
• Citizenship card

The marriage licence issuer may accept a passport or driver’s licence in some circumstances.

You can read more info on the BC Marriage License website. We’d recommend getting this as soon as you can, if you are flying in from out of province, make this the first thing on your to do list. You can find a list of locations where you can pick one up here.

Do you need a permit to Elope in Squamish?

Short answer, it depends. Always check this before heading to your elopement, do not risk being stopped by local authorities, this can also void your wedding insurance.

You always need a permit in BC Provincial Parks. They are relatively straightforward to get, they will assess how many people you’ll have at your wedding, we’d recommend keeping it under 15 people total. They will also want to know where you plan to get married, and whether you’ll be bringing any decor.

We’d also recommend keeping things like decor and chairs to a minimum. Remember to follow leave no trace rules, and let them know on your application that you intend to do this.

If you’re getting married in a city park or in the town of Squamish that isn’t private land you’ll need to apply for a permit from the town. Remember not to block walkways or obscure the day to day use of the location you plan to get married.

Getting married on private property is usually the easiest way as you only need the owners permission, however to be one hundred percent sure we’d recommend getting this written down. Lot’s of Airbnb’s allow for use of their property for wedding ceremonies.

Can foreigners get married in BC?

Yes, foreigners can get married in BC, this includes any nationality. Whether you are both foreign or one is Canadian. You just must follow provincial rules. You can find a detailed list here.

Getting to Squamish

The main city you’ll be coming to Squamish from would be Vancouver, if you are flying into the province, you’ll most likely fly into Vancouver International Airport, but check flights to Abbotsford International Airport as they’re sometimes cheaper.

Just know if you fly into Abbotsford you’ll need to take transport into Vancouver. Where you’ll connect to Squamish, usually from downtown. From Vancouver International either take an Uber or the Skytrain into the city to catch the bus up to Squamish. You can take trains to Squamish but in our experience service is way less frequent and more expensive than taking the bus.

The only other way is to drive, which we would recommend, its about a 45 minute drive up from Vancouver. The Sea to Sky Highway is one of the most scenic roads not just in Canada, but in the world. With the Salish Sea on the left and the North Shore Mountains on the right. Definitely some amazing stops along the way.

Do you need witnesses to Elope in BC?

Yes to make the wedding ceremony legal, you will need witnesses. You’ll need two of them and they must be aged nineteen and older. They do not need to be residents of BC, they can be friends and family. They will have to be physically present at the wedding ceremony and must sign the register. This is something we do for our couples when photographing and filming their elopement. More information on the BC government website here.

How to find an Officiant in Squamish

Finding an Officiant in Squamish falls into two categories, Marriage Commissioners who are government appointed, or religious / non denominational Officiants. They can travel and perform wedding ceremonies anywhere in BC. There are lots of good local options in Squamish, and from our experience a lot of commissioners will travel up from Vancouver.

You can usually find them on google or on the BC Government website. We’d also recommend taking a look on Officiant Canada. Typically an Officiant in Squamish will cost $200 – $350.

There is always the option of conducting a legal ceremony before you have your elopement, this will give you the option of having a friend conduct the marriage ceremony for the elopement day.

Best time of year to Elope in Squamish

Squamish experiences all four seasons, you can definitely have snow in the winter, especially the peaks. And you’ll have good weather during the summer. Rain is common all year (as we are in the rainforest) but is more common in the winter months.

Spring

This is the best season for a waterfall elopement, and there’s lots to choose from. We will get into those in the locations section. April to June are peak snowmelt in Squamish, so the waterfalls will be at maximum flow.

The snow on the peaks usually sticks around until late May, though if you want a snowy heli elopement, we’d recommend early May at the latest to make sure you get it. The summer of 2023 we notoriously had really hot weather from the start which melted all the snow early.

If you’re wanting all the amazing wildflowers that BC is known for, Spring is definitely the best time, they usually appear from early April.

Summer

This is peak season in Squamish, this is when you can expect the bigger crowds, but have the most activities and best temperatures. All the locations and trails are going to be open, there are still plenty of spots you can elope where crowds can be avoided.

Three locations in particular which are going to be the hardest (from a tourism point of view) would be: Sea to Sky Gondola, Shannon Falls and the Chief. If you’re wanting to do any water activities, this is the month to do it. From our experience every other season is too cold to get in or on the water.

The summer days in Squamish are also really long, sunrise can be 5:15am with sunset at 9:00pm. So for longer elopement days this is definitely the best time. Make sure you book Airbnb’s well in advance. Weekdays are usually less busy with less tourists coming up from Vancouver.

Autumn / Fall

Aesthetically, this is the best month to elope in Squamish, you get all the golden leaves and the moody skies. You’re also way more likely to get valley fog in Autumn, sunrise is usually the best time to catch the fog and get some really dramatic photos.

The colours of the leaves really start to change toward the end of September, with mid to late October being the peak season if you want the best colours. Temperatures are also reasonable this time of year and many of the trails are still open. You’ll see less tourists at this time of year, especially for locations like the Sea to Sky Gondola. Which looks amazing at this time.

Winter

Winter is also a great time for eloping up in Squamish. The Sea to Sky Highway is well maintained and open year round, though you’ll need winter tires if you’re driving. The valley floor usually stays above freezing throughout the winter, but check weather conditions as this can change, but isn’t common.

The Sea to Sky Gondola operates year round, but can be subject to weather closures during the winter, though uncommon, do happen. This is also when you’ll see the lowest amount of foot traffic on trails, so if you’re looking to elope right in front of some of the more iconic spots, this is the time to do it. Shannon Falls does partly freeze during the winter but the water is usually flowing.

Squamish Elopement Locations

We’ve included some more difficult and very easy spots to get to. This will also depend on the season you choose to elope in, please always wear appropriate footwear. And keep leave no trace principles in mind.

Best Places to Elope in Squamish

1. Stawamus Chief Provincial Park

One of the biggest Granite Monoliths in the world. Its iconic to the Squamish landscape, we’d recommend having the monolith in the background of your ceremony, though there are great views of the Squamish Valley from the top or throughout the trail.

You don’t need a permit for this location for ceremonies with under 15 people.

2. Shannon Falls Provincial Park

Another great spot that you don’t need a permit for, Shannon falls is only a 10 minute walk from the parking lot, be warned though that the falls themselves are absolutely massive. So you will only get the bottom of the waterfall in your shots, as the angle is too high to take good photographs with the top of the waterfall in there.

There are lots of really nice spots on the walk up to the waterfall that are great for ceremonies, if you want to get great photos of the sun coming through the trees, you’ll want to be out for sunrise later than you usually would, as the falls hug the North Shore Mountains, the sunrise here is later. Normal sunset hours are fine for getting the light through the trees.

3. Sea to Sky Gondola

If you want an amazing view and location, but with no hiking required, the Sea to Sky Gondola is definitely the best choice, its actually our favourite Gondola in BC. There are endless spots to choose from, with the iconic spot being on the suspension bridge. There are quite a few short hikes with lots of great spots, we’d recommend walking to the lookout on the Panorama trail for a great view of the Salish Sea and Squamish.

It will cost between $1500 – $2000 for a private event, this is only an estimation, you need to reach out to them to get full information, as they will need guest count and activities you plan to do up there. We’d recommend booking at least 8 months in advance for peak season.

Some trails are closed during the winter and are weather dependant, from our experience, the Panorama trail is always open.

4. Squamish Estuary

If you want an easily accessible, beautiful spot with lots of mountains views and water. This is definitely the one. If you want to see eagles, plan to be here between October to January as this is when the salmon run begins and the eagles gather.

The trail is well maintained, has lot’s of really nice spots and does not require a permit for elopements. We’ve found the Estuary to be big enough to find plenty of spots with mountains and water and be undisturbed for your ceremony. There are also lots of spots with Shannon Falls in the background.

5. Alice Lake Provincial Park

A little bit further up the valley in the mountains, this spot has four lakes to choose from: Alice, Stump, Edith and Fawn. The reflection of the water on the lake with the snow capped mountains is our favourite feature of this location.

During the summer this spot can be very busy, for that reason we wouldn’t recommend it for having an uninterrupted ceremony. It can still be a great spot though for your portrait session. Or if you want to have a ceremony not on the lake but in the woods.

You will need a permit for a ceremony in this location, the park is open year round and is very accessible for non hiking elopements.

6. Tantalus Viewpoint

So with this one, you pull in off the highway and the location is right there. This spot can be busy, especially around sunset. So what we’d recommend is having your ceremony here at sunrise, on a weekday, as Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you’ll still see traffic either coming or going to Vancouver from Whistler.

It’s also a great spot for portraits, and Autumn through to Spring is a great spot to see the milky way, depending on cloud coverage. If you want this view and want more privacy, we’d recommend checking out the Tantalus View Retreat Chalet which is just up the road.

7. Elfin Lakes (Garibaldi Provincial Park)

Elfin Lakes is definitely the hardest location to get to on this list. But trust us its worth it. This spot has the best views and wildflowers, you’ll need a car to drive up the mountain road. Then the trail is 22km round trip, so this is definitely a hiking elopement, you’ll also need a permit for this location.

There is a shelter that you can sleep in on the hike. The trail is open from July through to October, due to avalanche risks in the winter. You do need a permit for this location.

8. Garibaldi Lake

Garibaldi Lake is definitely our favourite spot on this list. You do also have Barrier Lake and Lesser Garibaldi Lake if you don’t want to go all the way up. Like the last location, this is quite a long and intensive hike, taking around 3 and a half hours each way.

You will need a reservation if you want to stay overnight. Its well worth it being here for either sunrise or sunset, you will either need to camp before or after, we do recommend only heading down or up in the dark if you have experience in hiking in low light levels and have the correct equipment for it.

Squamish Adventure Elopement Activities

Kayaking / Paddleboarding at Howe Sound & Squamish Estuary

This is one of our favourite activities in Squamish, the wildlife that you will see: Harbour Seals, Sea Lions, Bald Eagles and more. And the spectacular dramatic backdrops are amazing. And the best part, especially for being in a wedding dress, the water is really calm since Howe Sound is a fjord.

This is the same for the Estuary, which follows the Squamish River channel, the best times to do this activity are during the morning, as in the afternoon the winds tend to pick up.

Check out our recommended vendor here.

Kite Surfing / Windsurfing at Squamish Spit

So this one is a little more out there for your wedding day, but who wants to do things the way everyone else does them, right? You can do this down at Howe Sound Thermal winds funnel. Peak winds are in the afternoon, so perfect for just after your paddle or kayaking adventure!

You can get lessons or find more information here.

Helicopter Elopement

This is one of our most popular elopement activities, and for good reason. Because its amazing and let’s you experience our beautiful mountains in a unique and thrilling way. We’d recommend Black Tusk Helicopters, they usually charge from $2964 for three seats depending on how long you’re up there, how many guests you have and the type of tour you’d like.

Reach out to them, or have your photographer do so for current elopement location spots on the peaks. This is a regulated industry so you will have to pick from specific landing sites they give you. They’ve been doing this for over 25 years so they have lots of amazing locations for you to choose from.

If you’re looking for a summer date, even during the week. Book well in advance.

Dog Friendly Elopements

We are all about including furry friends on our wedding days. This includes cats. We bring our kitten Camilla with us everywhere. We’ve included a few spots below that are animal friendly, they do all require animals to be leashed. And this is something we’d also recommend on your wedding day.

As much as you know your dog, we wouldn’t want to risk anything happening that can risk your elopement plans.

• Squamish Estuary
• Alice Lakes Provincial Park
• Smoke Bluffs
• Sea to Sky Gondola (dogs allowed in the gondola and at the summit)
• Most provincial park trails allow leashed dogs

Private Chef at Your Airbnb

This is something we love! You can also pair this option with the accommodation recommendations in this guide. We’d recommend having a good outdoor space, a firepit and some great mountain views for the best experience (and photos!).

EVOKE Private Chef Service

• Squamish-based — this is the most local option
• Chef arrives early to set up, executes full menu service, does complete kitchen cleanup
• evoke-privatechefservice.com

Harvest Chef Society

• Based in Whistler, serves Squamish and Pemberton
• Personal chef and catering, focus on fresh local ingredients
• harvestchefsociety.com

MiumMium

• Platform for private chefs, largest directory, chefs available in Squamish
• Formal private dinners with professional table service, chef handles dishes and cleanup
• Good fallback option if the above are booked
• miummium.com/en-ca/personal-chef-squamish

Elopement Catering options in Squamish

For catering options, we’d recommend reaching out to specific venues and telling them your exact guest count, including vendors like photographer and videographer, if you’re having them document your after wedding meal. A lot of spots do have bespoke rates for elopements.

A lot of venues will also give you deals if you book your accommodation with them, from our experience. So its always worth asking about, you are more likely to get these deals in the off season (not summer) and during the week. Below is a list of some spots in and around Squamish we’d recommend checking out.

Sunwolf Riverside Resort

Cheekye Ranch

Sitka Farms

How much does a Squamish Elopement cost?

These are some ballpark numbers, all of these are going to depend on the specifics of your elopement, these are our averages for couples we’ve helped plan their elopement. But this is the beauty of eloping, you can prioritise what matters to you.