Any outdoor lover knows that Banff National Park is a top spot, so it’ll come as no surprise that this intimate wedding at Lake Louise was a stunning one. Emily and Russ tied the knot with around 30 of their closest loved ones at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and their day was nothing short of magical. If you’re looking for a mountain wedding venue that has it all, you’ll want to stick around for this one!

About Emily and Russ’s Wedding at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

National park weddings have become more and more popular over the years and for good reason. But when you choose to trade a traditional wedding venue for something with a bit more scenery, there are often a few factors of convenience you have to sacrifice. Luckily, there are a few mountain wedding venues that bring the ease of getting married in an all-inclusive venue with the beauty of a national park. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is one of them.

Emily and Russ initially considered eloping in the mountains, but decided to combine what they loved about an elopement day – incredible views and time spent in nature – with a more traditional ceremony and reception with their family and friends. With the help of Megan Sawchuk wedding planning, their intimate wedding at Lake Louise was the perfect fit for them.

It started with getting ready at the resort before sharing a first look overlooking the incredible scenery of Lake Louise. To really incorporate the mountain elopement vibe, they decided to head about 35 minutes down the Icefield Parkway, away from the hustle and bustle of Lake Louise tourism to Peyto Lake. This glacier-fed lake is that quintessential turquoise blue that Banff is famous for, but less busy than its neighbour, Moraine Lake. They shared personal vows to kick off their wedding day festivities before heading back to the resort to be with their family and friends.

Back at the Fairmont, they had a ceremony officiated by their friend, which is absolutely legal in Alberta! This is such a fun way to keep your ceremony comfortable and personal, rather than having a stranger marry you. It’s not an option in many other places, so if you’re planning a wedding at Lake Louise or Banff National Park, take advantage of this!

Following their ceremony, we took family photos and their guests sipped on drinks during cocktail hour. The resort has incredible options for reception spaces and truthfully they are perfect even with just a bit of wedding decor. The view of the mountains is unbeatable from the property and the food is always good! Rounds of toasts brought the room to tears, as Emily and Russ shared personal moments of their relationship that has shaped them into who they are today. Friends toasts brought the just-married pair to tears and it was truly a beautiful, intimate time spent with people who clearly cared dearly for one another.

After the speeches, we snuck out for sunset photos. If you want to feel like a celebrity, walk around Lake Louise in a wedding dress! Tourists love to cheer and congratulate you, you’ll definitely feel the love. One of the few perks of how busy it is in the area (don’t worry, I’ll give you the best pointers for avoiding the crowds – keep reading!) When we were done, they returned to the party to dance the night away with the people they love most.

For Emily and Russ, an intimate wedding at Lake Louise checked all of the boxes. A bit of adventure in the mountains, but still with the convenience of catering and reception space. So if that is what you are looking for, I can’t recommend this enough.

Now for the elephant in the room. How busy is Lake Louise really? I won’t lie to you, if you don’t love crowds, this is not the mountain wedding venue for you. Nearly 4 million people visit Banff every year. While there are tips for limiting the hassle, there is no way to truly get around the fact that there will be tourists, and a lot of them.

But for many, the scenery is well worth the crowds. It is a stunning place to get married and a wedding at Lake Louise shouldn’t be written off just yet. I’ll happily give you my best tips for planning your wedding in Banff National Park, just like Emily and Russ did.

Tips for planning a wedding at Lake Louise:

If you are planning on bringing guests, booking a venue that has space for them is a great idea. Outdoor ceremonies in the park are incredible, but they can be tricky to navigate while juggling either crowds or hike-in-only locations. The Fairmont Chateau is a great option! The views are fantastic for no effort (no hiking required) and it gives you the privacy you’d want with a guest list.
If you do choose to get married at the Fairmont, there is a BIG bonus. PARKING! The resort has private parking for guests of events and trust me, it is a lifesaver. Parking has been so tricky in recent years, that most people these days have to take a shuttle to Lake Louise because the parking lot fills up very quickly.
If you have someone in mind, ask a loved one to marry you! It’s allowed in Alberta and adds such a special touch to your ceremony.
Get married on a weekday. Please please. I’m not kidding about those crowds! I wouldn’t even consider getting married in Banff on a weekend. Especially if it is the summer!
My personal recommendation is to pick the tail end of high season, but preferably shoulder season to get married. September and May is the best time of year for good weather and minimal crowds! But remember, it can snow any day of the year in Alberta, so it does come with a risk.
Choose your photo spots wisely. You might be drawn to popular areas like Moraine Lake, but they can be very tricky (but not impossible – this couple had a sunrise wedding at Moraine Lake) to fit into your day. So just do your research! Moraine Lake in particular has no public parking and is by shuttle only. There are private shuttles, which is worth looking into if it’s on your must-have list!
Check about construction. In the warmer months, it’s not uncommon for construction to be occurring. For Emily and Russ’s wedding, the Fairmont itself was actually under construction. Luckily I was able to edit out some awful fencing, but a videographer wouldn’t be able to do that! It was a bit of a hassle during their day.
For more tips, go read my blog on How to Elope in Banff National Park. While this is more for elopements, it gives plenty of good information for an intimate wedding as well. You’ll want to check it out if you are planning a wedding at Lake Louise or elsewhere in the park!