Banff Elopement Photographer

Elopements, weddings, and engagements in the Canadian Rockies

Hey There!

I’m Katie Dawn, your Banff elopement photographer

And I can’t wait to show you around when you decide to elope in Banff. My first time visiting Banff was such a trip. Having grown up in Colorado, I’m used to being in the mountains, but the landscape of the Canadian Rockies is just so vast and expansive, it took my breath away. There are so many glaciers, murky blue water, moraines, and valleys that are so picture perfect, you think it has to be a painting.

I’ve spent a lot of time hiking, exploring, and dealing with the reservation systems in Banff, so I can help you figure out where you want to say your vows, where you want to stay, and how to beat the crowds- because let’s be honest, Banff is SO beautiful, but it’s also just SO crowded these days, you gotta make a plan to find some solace with just the two of you.

How to plan an elopement in Banff

Pick a location:

There are so many beautiful alpine lakes, rivers, and mountains vistas in and around Banff, you can’t go wrong with a location. The main thing to consider is the crowds, the time of day, and acessibility. The time of day your choose to say your vows will drastically impact how many people are around- for example, Lake Louise and Moriane Lake are both very beautiful at sunrise but also extremely crowded, so sunset might be a better option when there’s no one else there. If you want to see the changing larches, you might need to incorporate a hike. If you want accessibility for guests, you might need a spot that has a paved trail to the destination.

Register to marry:

Canadian marriage laws are not very strict, and if you aren’t from Canada, you can still get married there. Apply for a license within 3 months of getting married there, see a Banff registry agent, pay the $40 fee, and register with the park. You will also need an officiant to marry you. If you’d rather skip these steps, you can have the legalities sorted before the wedding wherever you’re from and just have a symbolic ceremony, then it can just be the two of you.

Do something fun:

You can just say your vows and be done with the day, but I only photograph couples that want to make the most out of their elopement day and spend the whole day focusing on themselves and doing what they love. So take a canoe out into a lake, go on a hike, soak in some hot springs, have a picnic, just do whatever feels like you and would make the day memorable.

Best time to elope in Banff

Summer: Late June-August

A summer elopement in Banff is a real dream. Crowds are at their worst for most elopement locations, but there are ways to avoid that and find a moment of peace with just the two of you among the rockies. Summer is the best time if you want to go high in the alpine above the treeline and if you want to see all those murky blue lakes and rivers in all their glory. The weather can be rainy, so be sure to prepare with umbrellas and a good attitude if it turns out to be a moody mountain day.

Fall: September-early October

Fall is a great time to elope in Banff. The crowds from summer have gone, and the crowds for winter haven’t come yet. The weather gets more chilly, but it doesn’t rain quite as often as in the spring. If you want to catch the period when the larches are turning yellow, I’d recommend mid September- the third week of September is typically the sweet spot.

Winter: November-March

Winter in Banff is very beautiful and the best time for snow bunnies to get out to ski and snowboard. However, it is COLD. If you plan a winter elopement in Banff, you need to bundle up! Don’t be miserable taking photos in the -30C conditions, be sure to prepare for below freezing temps. Accessibility to a lot of locations is pretty limited during this time, but the resorts are in full swing and snowshoes can help get you where you need to go.

Spring: April-early June

I really do not recommend a spring elopement in Banff, honestly. It stays very snowy up until May, the lakes are very low since the snow runoff hasn’t melted, and there’s lots of mud. Accessibility is limited, and depending on the time of the year, resorts might not even be open for skiing. I’d highly recommend scheduling in another season with better weather for your elopement. If you want to avoid the crowds, fall is an excellent time that’s drop dead gorgeous and not as busy as summer or winter.