How to elope in Alberta Canmore elopement Banff elopement photography

How to elope in Alberta: a 15 step guide

By Kalla Ramberg Photography (Canmore, Calgary, Banff + beyond)

So you’ve decided to elope. Now what?

In this ‘all you need to know’ guide about eloping in Alberta and beyond, I’ll explain the specific steps you should take, address common concerns, and sprinkle in tidbits of knowledge that I’ve learned as an elopement photographer + guide. I start with my biggest word of advice that I pass along to couples before diving into the specific steps that will help you to go through the planning process before tossing out other tips and things to be aware of. Buckle in, baby.

Alright, before we get into the logistics and cover specific steps of planning an elopement, I have a weird word of advice, something I always say to my couples. It sounds odd but…

View your elopement as a date night.

Seriously, for a minute just forget that it’s a wedding. Weddings have old school expectations, traditions and rituals that might not be right for you. Ask yourself what you truly want. If those traditions don’t feel like they fit with what you imagine the perfect day being then cast them aside. Seriously, just yeet ‘em into oblivion if they aren’t what you want! That’s the beauty of elopements, a lot more freedom and flexibility to curate your experience.

For a moment, pretend you’re planning the perfect date. What would you want to do if you and your partner were given the opportunity to shape the most fun day possible? I’ve had couples opt to go to an arcade, schedule a nap during the day, or go for drink at a pub because that’s what they would do for their perfect date.  

  With elopements, you can absolutely do whatever you’d like, however wild or mild it may be! (Take a nap or scale a mountain wall, totally up to you!) On that same note, don’t feel obligated to base your elopement off of what you’ve seen paraded online as the ‘perfect’ elopement. No pressure to go on a 84 mile hike to get married at the top of Everest, part of my job as your elopement guide and photographer is to work with you to find the perfect location whatever your needs are. An elopement in a forest that’s a 2 minute walk from a parking lot is just as valid as the hardcore alternative of going on a massive expedition. 

  If you’re choosing to elope there’s a good chance that you’re the kind of people who might not always choose to fit in the confines of tradition. Which leads me to this point: Fuck tradition. Fricken’ heck it. Most rules that govern tradition are arbitrary. Try to remove the sense of obligation that’s been ingrained in you to go with the flow of societal expectations. For me, the idea of getting married in a formal church just wouldn’t work, it’s not a match. I’d feel like a dog trying to ride a bike- uncomfortable, awkward, and not in their true nature. And hilariously out-of-place. Yes, that’s the best comparison I could think up and YES I’m sticking with it. 

How to elope in Canmore Banff Alberta Wedding elopement photography

1. CELEBRATE: First order of business. Celebrate! The stress of planning can override the excitement of just getting engaged so the first step is to step back. Pop some champagne, make sure that you soak in the excitement, and then (I’m biased on this) read this step-by-step guide for your first steps. 

2. BRAINSTORM: Next, talk with your partner about what your dream elopement looks like for both of you. Do you want it to be as minimal as possible or do you want a small group of your closest people with you?  Do you want to go on hardcore hike or somewhere accessible and keep it simple?  

3. SEASON/SETTING: Okay, now the REAL planning begins. First, talk with your partner to see if you have a preferred season for the wedding. The most popular season is, of course, summer since it’s generally warm and free of snow so there’s less need for a backup plan in case of inclement weather. Fall is the runner up because of the gorgeous foliage (the golden larches in the mountains are magical in September and early October! Fall is my favourite from a photography standpoint so I’m biased, but PLZ ELOPE DURING LARCH SEASON OMG.) Winter is great for those dreamy winter wonderland shots and most areas are MUCH less busy but for obvious reasons some people steer clear from it because, brrrr. Only consider a winter wedding if you’re willing to put up with winter weather. I’ve seen too many rushed ceremonies because the weather is –30, which is just a tad sucky for the couple to stand in. Spring can be a toss up since unpredictable rain (and general muddiness) can happen.  But if you have a rain-or-shine mentality, Spring can be beautiful!

If you’re planning on a fully outdoor elopement the first thing that you should consider is the weather and what to expect. If you’re wanting to hike or helicopter to the top of a mountain, keep in mind that the elevation change and exposure to wind can make it much colder at the peak. 

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Winter elopements are beautiful, but the frostbite isn’t. Only consider an outdoor elopement in winter if you know you can handle it.

4. LOCATION: Once you have a season or seasons in mind, the next order of business is the location or general area if you don’t have one in mind already. Most elopement photographers will have lots of hidden gems for locations, so it’s not necessarily needed to know the exact spot you’ll be eloping in. If you have an exact spot in mind, that’s great! And if you don’t... That’s also great! Most of us elopement/adventure wedding photographers are happy to help out with it. 

Pssssst- huge tip! Check this link to see some of my favourite locations near Canmore/Banff to elope at!

5. TOP PRIORITY VENDORS: If you’ll be using a venue or rented space for the ceremony, reception, or dinner, check with them for their availability first before booking other vendors. But if you have a certain vendor that you absolutely NEED because you adore them so much, reach out to them before securing a date so that you can work together to find an availability with them. 

6. DATE: Time to select a date. If a weekday is a viable option for you, I almost always recommend it (less traffic, less people, more private in general.) Some rented spaces/venues will often offer cheaper rates for weekdays since they’re not peak demand days (lookin’ at you, Saturdays!) 

7. VENDORS/SERVICE PROVIDERS: Awesome. Boom. Your date is locked in if you’re using any rented space/venue. You now begin your search for vendors! I know- it can be overwhelming as hell. I recommend making a list of which vendors starting with the most important to you then work your way down. Lets start with the service providers and then break down the rest. Here are some vendor options that you might want for your elopement although if you don’t want ‘em you don’t need ‘em (aside from the officiant): 

Officiant/commissioner, photographer, videographer, hair/makeup artist, florist, caterer/cake baker, bartenders (if you’re using a venue/rental space), wedding planner/coordinator

8. OTHER THINGS TO BOOK: As you start locking down the service providers, you can start looking into less date-exclusive services/goods. Here’s a list: 

Dress/Suit/Attire, hotel/accomodations (air bnbs are great), activities you’d like to book during or after your elopement (heli rides, car rentals, event tickets etc.), decorators/decor rental companies, stationary/invites 

Vendors get snatched up quickly. If there’s one you adore, reach out ASAP. (Like me, shameless self promo)

9. DRAFT A TIMELINE: Things are coming together now! This is a great time to work out a loose timeline. I recommend starting with what time you’d like the ceremony to be then work around it. My personal recommendation is at least 1-2 hours before sunset so we can have time to run off for sunset photos before it’s dark. In the summer the sun sets incredibly late, but in the fall/winter the earlier sunset time is good to keep in mind. Speak with your photographer about the best time for the ceremony based on the location (pro tip- sunset can seem earlier in the mountains than google tells you since certain areas will be surrounded by mountains so the sun dips below them slightly earlier). I like to create this timeline 2-6 months before the elopement. I personally build a timeline/itinerary by working with the couple and guiding them through it. Photographer’s have a good idea of how long things take and how to plan the flow of a wedding day. 

Another thing to consider with the timeline are any activities/bucket list things you want to do during the elopement. If you badly want to take a gondola up a mountain for funsies, think of where it fits in the day and make sure you budget time. 

10. TEQUILA: Have a damn drink. After all this planning, you deserve it. Take a breather and just know that everything will come together beautifully 

Elopement timeline canmore calgary wedding photographer

Pssst- Check out the real-life timeline below from a Kananaskis elopement below along with photos from their day.

11. FINE TUNE THE TIMELINE: Lets circle back to that timeline. There are a few common stages during an elopement that we'll plan the timeline around, including but not limited to: Getting ready, 1st look, ceremony, 1st dance, family/friend photos, private couples session, reception, dinner/cake cutting, speeches, sunset photos, as well as any other activities during your day. 

It’s best to consult with your photographer or videographer to figure out how to budget time, they’ll know how much time you need for each part of the day.

Here’s a simplified timeline from a real elopement as an example:

5:30am Getting ready at Lodge

6:30am Bride & groom depart separately from Lodge 

6:45am Arrive at ceremony site  

6:50am 1st look, hilltop 

7am Ceremony by the pond

7:30am Celebrations/first dance  

8am Family photos at ceremony site and then bride & groom photos 

9:30am (apx): Group returns to lodge for brunch  

10am Brunch  

-Designated nap time/relaxation- 

3pm : Photos of bride/groom in and around the Lodge 

-Dinner/Break time- 

6:00pm Bride + groom leave Lodge to meet photographer at 2nd location Apx 40-45 minute drive from Lodge to address  

7:30pm Bride + groom arrive to 2nd location 

Walk down to shoot location (15 minute walk)  

7:45pm-8:45pm: Sunset session

Check out some of the photos from this elopement below: 

12. HONEYMOONIN’: After you have everything organized for the actual elopement, think about what else you’d like to do after your elopement day. Are you wanting a chill weekend, want to dream up a great big adventure, or maybe head to a different area? Tip- Ask your vendors what to do or see in the area.  

13. BACKUP PLAN: Especially with unpredictable weather in the mountains, you should always have a backup plan. Road closures, sudden inclement weather, or full parking lots in popular areas can throw a wrench in your plans. For example, if you’re planning to elope at the popular Moraine Lake on a Saturday in June, you’re gonna have to get there basically before dawn for a chance to snag a parking spot due to the high traffic and demand. Communicate with your vendors to see if they have a backup plan. 

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For this elopement, we decided on a quiet lake tucked in Kananaskis before setting up for a picnic for sunset.

14. PACK + PREP: As the day gets closer and starts to feel more real, you can start considering the packing/planning. In my itineraries I send a list of things that are good ideas to bring along. This is heavily based on the season/day plan. A winter pack-list may include extra layers, good waterproof boots, hand warmers, umbrellas, hot chocolate (or a litre of Fireball in a thermos, I ain’t gonna tell you how to live your life) and make up/mirror to touch-up with. I also send notes about things to do right beforehand (download an offline map, pins plus directions for any locations, reminders about the packing list.) Think about if there are any must-see or must-do activities, sights, or restaurants you want to stop in at and make sure you pack what you’ll need for those.

15. LEGAL SHIZ: Alright with the fun stuff out of the way, lets make sure we’re being legal beagles about this. 

To elope legally in Alberta you need these 4 things: 

-Marriage license

-Marriage commissioner

-Two witnesses

-Ceremony permit (depending on elopement location) 

Here’s a link from the Alberta government that goes more in depth regarding location permits in Alberta

(Tip: Select the park/area you’re interested in from the dropdown menu and it will lead you right to the application form):

Wedding Location Permits (Alberta parks)


Here’s the link about how to get your license: 

Wedding Licences (Alberta)

Here’s a partial list of commissioners/officiants where you can search the region. I also recommend cruising through local Facebook wedding groups as services are often posted there (or post looking for one!) or ask around with your vendors. Make sure that they are comfortable with hiking if that’s the route that you’re going: 

http://www.servicealberta.ca/find-a-marriage-officiant.aspx

There’s also the option to have a friend/family member become a temporary commissioner to legally perform the ceremony (apply a minimum of 6 weeks beforehand). Read more about that here: 

https://www.alberta.ca/temporary-marriage-commissioner.aspx 

Click any question/concern in the drop down menu below to expand the answers.

How do I help you plan the perfect elopement?

-Assistance and as much guidance as you need for planning. I don’t just show up and take photos. I wanna be with you every step of the way to guide you through the process and offer help wherever needed

-Creating a full timeline/itinerary including making backup plans (*shakes fist angrily at unpredictable mountain weather and unannounced road closures*) Free rescheduling due to inclement weather offered

-With 50 summits under my belt last year, I’m ready for ANY hiking elopement (short of Everest)

-Areas of expertise: Canmore/Kananaskis, Bragg Creek, Banff, Crowsnest Pass and Pincher Creek

-I’m always happy to go explore to scout a new location for you- especially if mountains are involved!

-If we’re doing a hiking elopement, I curate a list of trails with the app AllTrails and send it to you. This includes hike stats, photos, and maps of the area.

-Open door policy. Reach out whenever you have questions

-I have a background in landscape photography (around 14yrs) which ties in nicely with weddings in adventurous places

-Providing activity ideas and must-see things in the area

-Sometimes I say funny shit because I don’t have a filter, which helps boost morale. It’s, like, comedic relief. I also let you eat some of my go-to hiking snack (Sourpatch Kids)

Let’s talk about your elopement!