If you’re recently engaged and are considering the idea of eloping, you may be a little confused about the difference between a “shotgun” wedding and an “elopement.” While the concept of a “shotgun” wedding is often associated with kneejerk marriage proposals, shortly followed by a ceremony (that may or may not be volunteering), in more modern times, the term is used more as a “tongue-in-cheek” way of referring to small, laidback, ceremonies that often feature just the wedding couple, or include a few of their closest friends and family members. “Shotgun” weddings are often planned much quicker than traditional weddings, and the term can even evoke a sense of fun and excitement for couples who are ready to be wed without the fuss and formality of a big ceremony.
Modern elopements embrace much of this mentality, though the term now includes more “micro-wedding” style ceremonies instead of the more traditional “true” elopement, which typically only involved the wedding couple.
Despite the slightly confusing terminology, shotgun and elopement weddings often refer to the same type of wedding: a smaller ceremony that centers on intimacy, authenticity, and everyone’s enjoyment.
At Elope in Banff, we love helping couples from all walks of life celebrate their love story and begin a new chapter in their journey together. With decades of experience behind our team and over 4000 happily wedded couples under our belt, we’re here to help you make your dream Banff elopement a reality. Below, we’ll cover just a few of the many reasons to consider eloping, as well as the benefit of partnering with us for your wedding in the Alberta Rockies. Read on to learn more!
Leading With Intimacy
While there’s certainly nothing wrong with large weddings, there’s no denying that the bigger the guest list, the harder it is for couples to connect with each other, much less their many attendees. Many modern couples are choosing to move away from large scale events and invest in a smaller ceremony that allows them to truly focus on each other, as well as enjoy their experience and create lasting memories with those they invite to attend. Eloping makes it easy to let your love story shine, puts intimacy at the heart of every moment, and allows you to choose the perfect location to say “I do!” without worrying about large headcounts.
Less Stress
Even the most outgoing couples tend to encounter moments of stress and frustration when planning a large ceremony. Lots of guests mean lots of details, the need for a bigger venue (which means even more details), and so on. Eloping removes complicated logistics and seating charts and lets you focus on what matters most: you. Elopements are typically more flexible with timelines (especially for those considering a mid-week ceremony), and many elopement providers, including the team at Elope in Banff, remove the need to liaise with outside vendors by featuring multiple services in-house. At Elope in Banff, we’re passionate about making your little big day as stress-free as possible, and we build the following key details into each of our packages for your convenience:
- Securing your venue
- Transportation for the wedding couple
- 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
- Flowers for the wedding couple
- For those wishing to be legally wed, all the important paperwork and filing!
Your Dream Backdrop
Call us biased, but we think having the opportunity to feature breathtaking backdrops like the Rocky Mountains on your special day is an incredible perk! Elopements make it easy to have a ceremony in your dream location while having minimal worries about finding enough accommodation or dealing with the costs associated with a sizeable wedding party. For those who love the great outdoors, there’s nothing like having the magic of iconic destinations like the Three Sisters (Canmore), Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and even the famous Banff Springs Hotel serve as the setting for your wedding day!
View our available wedding locations in Banff National Park here!
Discover Your Dream Elopement Package with Elope in Banff Today!
If you’re looking to elope in Banff, our team is here to help you plan the wedding of your dreams. With decades of experience and thousands of weddings under our belt, Elope in Banff has everything you need to plan the perfect Rocky Mountain elopement. Contact us today to learn more!