Eloping in Banff National Park is a dream wedding for many couples. Whether you’re a lover of the great outdoors or are looking to escape the noise of urban environments for your special day, Alberta’s Rocky Mountains offer a serene backdrop that’s full of magic and wonder all year round.
At Elope in Banff, there’s nothing we love more than helping couples plan their perfect special day. With decades of experience behind our team and over 4000 happily wedded couples under our belt, we know that eloping is one of the best ways to ensure that your wedding day is as intimate and stress-free as possible. With packages that make it easy to say “I do!” in some of Canada’s most iconic locations, including Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, we’re here to bring your dream elopement to life!
Below, we’ll provide a brief overview of our elopement process, as well as some of the most important timing points and details leading up to your little big day. Read on to learn more!
6-12 Months Before Your Wedding Day: Initial Planning and Consultation
Congratulations on your engagement! During this exciting time it’s important to soak in the joy of entering a new part of your love story and to think about how you want to begin the next chapter together. For those considering an elopement, now is the time to consider your preferred season (factoring in details like weather, accessibility needs for guests, etc.), what dates work best for you and your guests, and any other factors that may influence your flexibility or availability. One of the best aspects of elopements is their less traditional nature often makes it easier to secure your preferred date. With this being said, as with any wedding, it’s best to have a few different options in mind, especially during the peak summer months.
Once you’ve decided on a prospective time range, take the opportunity to gather inspiration and information about Banff National Park and available elopement packages to help refine your vision and guide the next steps in the planning process.
With these details in mind, it’s time to connect! Contact Elope in Banff to schedule an initial consultation with our team. During our first conversation, we’ll discuss key details like your overall vision, preference, necessary accommodations and concerns, and any special requests you’d like included in your elopement. We’ll also take the opportunity to go through our packages to determine what best fits your needs, and for those who have an exact date ready, we will note this down for future reference.
4-6 Months Before: Booking and Detailed Planning
If you didn’t secure your date during the initial consult, we’ll lock one down with your deposit. As we mentioned above, Banff is a popular destination all year round; you’ll want to choose a date as promptly as possible (doing so will also make it easier for you to book accommodations for you and your guests and avoid higher costs and headaches closer to your wedding date!).
At this point, we’ll also send you important documents that will be necessary for legal weddings, including your marriage license information sheet and witness detail form (for 2 witnesses over the age of 18. Elope in Banff can act as witnesses if necessary). In addition to paperwork, we’ll also begin the process of booking key vendors featured as part of our packages. Elope in Banff weddings include:
- Securing your venue
- wedding officiant
- Booking professional hair styling (with the option to add professional makeup application for an extra fee) to be done from the comfort of your hotel room
- Day of wedding coordination
- Photography
- Posy bouquet and boutonnier
During this period, we’ll make sure you have vendors to fulfill the offerings above, including a hairstylist who will travel to you, determine what your photography options are, etc. For those getting married in less than six months, it is crucial to fill out all forms as quickly as possible, while couples getting married in 6-12 months will have extra time to ponder certain details. Don’t worry, we’ll make sure you know exactly when everything is needed and will follow up to ensure you stay on track!
2-3 Months Before: Finalizing Details
As your wedding approaches, we’ll narrow down core ceremony details like choosing an officiant (religious and non-religious officiants are available), deciding if you want to read your own vows, and highlighting any extra touches you’d like included.
Six Weeks to One Month Before: Final Preparations
Elope in Banff sends couples a detailed itinerary of their wedding day at least six weeks before their ceremony, allowing them to plan ahead and granting you peace of mind that everything is ready to go! At the 30-day mark, your final balance is due, and we will send a pay link with an invoice reminder for any outstanding balance. Please let us know if there are any additional requests or requirements as soon as possible, and ideally, before the 30-day mark to avoid any disappointment.
One Week Before: Countdown to “I Do!”
Most couples choose to arrive in Banff a few days before their wedding to give themselves the chance to relax and settle in before the “big day” arrives. Our team will arrange a dedicated in-person consultation day one to two days prior to your ceremony to go over all details, pick up your marriage license, visit the florist to confirm your wedding bouquet, and tour beautiful locations for your ceremony (if outdoors) and photography. We’ll also take and steam the wedding couple’s attire at their request.
We love getting to ‘officially’ meet our couples, and our consultation days are one of our favourite parts of the job!
The Big Day: Your Elopement
The moment is here! Your wedding coordinator and photographer will arrive at your hotel room one hour before your wedding (your hair stylist will arrive at an earlier, pre-determined time) along with your wedding garment and flowers. Our photographer will take plenty of candid Getting ready” and “detail” shots in the room, and your coordinator is happy to assist you with getting into your dress, suit, or other wedding garment as necessary (we also come equipped with an emergency kit to help with small mishaps throughout the day as needed)! From here, we’ll escort you to your venue, conduct your ceremony as discussed while taking beautiful photos of your special moment, and conclude the day with post-wedding photography leading into your self-arranged reception plans.
Celebrate!
You’re happily married! Now that your ceremony is over, married life is yours to enjoy, one moment at a time. Indulge in a delicious reception meal, relax with a dip in the Banff Hot Springs and dream of the many days that are yet to come in your new lives together!
Post-Elopement
Elope in Banff ensures that our couples receive lasting memories of their ceremony promptly, with a four to six-week turnaround for photos and six to eight weeks for videography.
Discover Your Dream Elopement Today
Eloping in Banff with Elope in Banff ensures a seamless, stress-free experience, allowing you to focus on what truly matters: your love and commitment to each other. Learn more about our available elopement packages in Banff National Park by contacting us today!