Best Places to Elope in British Columbia
If youโve landed on this page, you might be wondering, what are the where should I get married in BC? Well, look no further because I am so excited to share the top locations to elope in British Columbia with you! After years of traveling the area and capturing so many love stories, I thought it was finally time to share my favourite locations with you. From adorable little ski towns to wine country to epic mountain views, British Columbia is an incredible place to elope.
So what are the best locations to get married?
If youโre like me and you like getting straight to the point, here is an overview:
Tofino
EC Manning Provincial Park
Gulf Islands, Bowen Island, & Sunshine Coast
Goldstream Provincial Park
Pemberton
Whistler
Squamish
Strathcona Provincial Park
Sooke & Jordan River
Okanagan
Golden
Revelstoke
Vancouver
As you scroll through this list, youโll probably realize that the locations are biased to mostly southwestern British Columbia. I know that there are plenty of gorgeous places all over BC, but Iโm a Vancouver based photographer, so youโll have to forgive me.
While there may be some exceptions, I tried to keep these locations as accessible as possible, meaning little to no hiking will be needed for great views. Many destinations have great options for hiking and backpacking though, if that is more your thing. Keep your eye out for a blog covering the best locations for a hiking elopement, too!
Lastly, as an elopement photographer often venturing to beautiful places in nature, I abide by the Leave No Trace principles. To me, they are incredibly important tools to keep these places safe and prosperous. The locations Iโve given are often vague, no GPS coordinates or specific spots. This is intentional. If you have more questions about a specific location, shoot me an email! Iโd be happy to help you plan your adventure.
Okay enough of my endless chatter, letโs get to the good stuff! British Columbia is known for its moody coastline, lush green forests, impressive mountain peaks and all-around good time if youโre searching for adventure. Feast your eyes on my take on the best places to elope in British Columbia!
Tofino
Tofino is a top elopement destination for BC for a reason. Itโs known as the surfing capital of Canada and if youโre from the USA, picture a version of the famous Cannon Beach, OR! Known for its moody beaches, old-growth rainforests, perfect waves for a little surfing and epic whale watching. Take a trip to the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve while youโre there! I truly have nothing bad to say about Tofino, except if you hate rain, maybe stay away during the fall and winter months. Itโs a gorgeous place for an elopement!
Quick tips for eloping in Tofino:
You donโt need a permit to get married on the beach!
Stay on the ocean! I canโt recommend the Middle Beach Lodge enough.
Want a hotel wedding? Check out the Wickaninnish Innโs elopement packages!
Very high rainfall is common in this area. July, August, and September are the best times of year for a Tofino elopement!
It can get a bit busy as itโs a top destination! Plan ahead, make reservations early and expect crowds during peak season.
The road to Tofino can be a bit unpredictable. Do your research and make sure there are no closures!
Want to know more about eloping in Tofino? Iโve got the blog for you! Check out Tara + Stephenโs elopement!
2. E.C Manning Provincial Park
Are you searching for a quiet elopement location, out in the mountains, but still close to a city hub? Manning Provincial Park is for you! In the heart of the Cascade Mountains, this park is perfect for summer weddings with beautiful views of endless wildflowers in the alpine meadows, serene forests, and a lake perfect for recreation. Thereโs not much around Manning Park, but the Manning Park Resort has a general store and accommodation for guests if you have them! Would you rather camp? Thereโs plenty of space for that, too!
Head over to my Manning Park Wedding blog to get more insight on eloping in this area! Iโve got so many useful tips for you over there.
3. Gulf Islands, Bowen Island, and the Sunshine Coast
Wanting a little bit more sunshine for your elopement than the rest of moody British Columbia has to offer? Check out the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast! This is a rather large map area, but you canโt go wrong with any of the tiny, beautiful coastal towns. With a charming and boutique feel, these locations are perfect if you want somewhere to avoid the crowds! If you and your partner imagine a no-frills cabin right on the water with lots of sunshine - this area is for you!
This adorable Bowen Island elopement is an excellent example of what the southern coast of BC has to offer!
4. Goldstream Provincial Park
Quietly tucked away just 16 km northwest of Victoria on southern Vancouver Island, Goldstream Provincial Park is a unique, stunning place for a private ceremony. Its lush forest and plentiful waterfalls are the main attraction of this small park. Niagara Falls (yep, the other, less famous Niagara Falls) is located within the park and is a quaint little spot for an elopement ceremony.
5. Pemberton
Not every mountain elopement requires extensive hiking! Pemberton is a great example of that. The most northern and smallest spot in my Sea to Sky area recommendations, it is a picturesque area with farm fields, mountainous views and lovely greenery in the summer. Accommodation is a bit limited due to it being a rural area, but North Arm Farm and Big Sky Golf are amazing options if you are looking for a venue!
Otherwise, Iโve got some special locations up my sleeve for my couples who want to elope out in nature! Looking for an adventure? Blackcomb Helicopters can whisk us off to Mt Currie, Marriage Lake or Ipsoot Glacier. And if you love Pemberton, but still want to hike, Joffre Lakes Provincial Park is stunning! It does require a pass and fills up rather quickly though, so this option requires some planning. All in all, Pemberton is a lovely place to elope! Check out this beautiful Pemberton elopement HERE.
6. Whistler
Whistler is famous for its charming village of shops, restaurants and great hotels surrounded by incredible mountain views. Itโs a great place for an elopement at any time of year! Donโt sleep on Whistler in the winter. Itโs not as cold as other parts of Canada during the winter months. Imagining a winter wonderland elopement? Whistler is for you!
Quick tips for eloping in Whistler:
Plan ahead for winter! If youโre going between October and April, youโll need winter tires.
Thereโs a gondola that runs in the peak seasons of summer and winter! Check it out here!
Blackcomb Helicopters provide an epic experience exploring the Sea to Sky from above! Check out this gorgeous heli-session HERE.
Options are endless in Whistler! Some of my favourites are Green Lake, Brandywine Falls Provincial Park, Nita Lake Lodge and the Chateau Fairmont Whistler!
You can also adventure with Canadian Wildness Adventures. Did you know they offer sunset 4x4 Jeep tours in the summer? Imagine watching the sunset on top of a mountain with nobody else around! Be inspired by this Adventure-Packed 4x4 Jeep Elopement in Whistler, this Whistler Gondola Elopement, and this Winter Whistler Intimate Wedding.
7. Squamish
The ultimate adventure town! Squamish used to be more of a stop along the way to other areas in the Sea to Sky, but itโs becoming increasingly more popular for couples looking for something epic!
Itโs not too far from Vancouver, but has plenty of accommodation right in Squamish, too. Are you into mountain biking, hiking, kite surfing and unique breweries and other local spots? Squamish is your answer! Itโs a dreamland of impressive forests, stunning coastlines and mountain views all wrapped into one place. The Sea to Sky Gondola is a great way to explore the area, as well as many different helicopter options, from Blackcomb Helicopters, Black Tusk Helicopters, and No Limits Helicopters.
Want to check out views of Squamish yourself? This intimate wedding at the Cheakamus Centre was incredible! Take a look here. If youโre into hiking, check out this beautiful adventure session on the Squamish Chief, or if you like the idea of a helicopter adventure, check out Ella & Coleโs day featured on Junebug Weddings.
8. Strathcona Provincial Park
The oldest provincial park in BC, Strathcona is located almost in the centre of Vancouver Island. If you are wanting a unique elopement, but still something quintessentially BC, this is it! Camping, small towns, lakes, waterfalls and trails โ an outdoor loverโs paradise. It does take a little more effort to get to, but that often means fewer people! Still, Iโd expect crowds on the weekends, especially in the summer. Luckily, the forests offer a bit of reprieve and there is no permit requirement to elope there!
Check out this blog post from a Myra Falls elopement in Strathcona! It was a dream!
9. Sooke and Jordan River
If you drive west from Victora, youโll go through Sooke and then eventually hit Jordan River. While Sooke is almost a suburb of Victoria, Jordan River on the other hand is definitely more remote. With one cafe, no gas station and no cell service, itโs definitely not for everyone. But if you love a secluded cabin in the woods with a beach nearby, itโs worth checking out!
East Sooke Regional Park is a stunning area with rocky cliffs and sandy beaches, almost fairytale vibes and feels like Iceland or Scotland. The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is a magical hike that leads you to places like Mystic Beach, where waterfalls pour straight off the cliffs into the ocean.
If youโre in the area from late July into August, you have to visit Bilston Creek Farm to see the lavender fields in bloom. They offer catering, too! The perfect place for an elopement dinner.
Check out this beautiful elopement that combined several of these awesome places!
10. Okanagan
Ah wine country! Okay, to be honest, I donโt really drink wine, but Okanagan has some of the most stunning vineyards surrounded by lakes and rolling hills. Itโs a bit of a drive from Vancouver, almost four hours, but Kelowna has an airport for easier access!
If the rainy weather of Vancouver is unappealing, Okanagan offers a much drier climate. It does get busy in the summer as itโs full of lake houses and boaters, but a winter wedding in this area would also be great! Additionally, they sometimes struggle with wildfires in the summer months, so plan accordingly!
Godโs Mountain Estate is an incredible venue in the area with an intimate, Mediterranean feel. Very romantic, intimate and perfect for a relaxing elopement!
11. Golden
Love a good ski town? Golden is the elopement location for you.
Everywhere you look here is beautiful. You have access to several national parks including Glacier National Park, Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park!
Looking for a location close to town? Kicking Horse Resort offers ceremonies on the top of the mountain; easily accessible via the gondola. Check out their elopement information here!
The real gem is Lake OโHara, tucked away in the backcountry of Yoho National Park. It may be more ideal for the hiking fanatics, but I couldnโt leave it off the list. Itโs just that beautiful. Eloping at Lake OโHara does require a bit of planning though. Only two buses go in a day and they only run from mid-June to early October. For the foreseeable future, the road from Golden to Lake OโHara (Highway 1 just east of Golden), a winding road along the mountainside, will be closed for construction at select times. Check this website for updates or DriveBC for current conditions. This adds about two hours to your trip to the area. But Iโm telling you, itโs worth it! I hiked there in early October, just as the larch trees were glowing golden and dropping their needles. We got extra lucky as snow fell on the mountain peaks just before we arrived, giving the view that extra majestic feeling.
If you are trying to avoid the masses of Banff National Park, but still want to elope in the Rocky Mountains, check out Golden!
Planning for winter? No problem! Check out this gorgeous Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Winter Elopement!
12. Revelstoke
Just about an hour and a half west from Golden sits the town of Revelstoke. A sweet little ski town on a river with panoramic views of the mountains. It also is near Mount Revelstoke National Park and Glacier National Park!
While the hiking here is great, I know a hiking elopement isnโt for everyone. Imagine getting married in the middle of meadows full of wild flowers with incredible mountain views. You can do that in Revelstoke! Meadows in the Sky is a real-life fairytale land and would be an awesome place for an intimate elopement. If you decide to follow my recommendation, make sure to stick to the trails and follow the Leave No Trace principles to protect this fragile alpine meadow ecosystem.
As for accommodation, I canโt recommend Basecamp Resorts enough. Itโs an apartment-style room, very clean and new, with stunning river views.
Revelstoke would be an amazing place for a summer wedding full of sunshine and mountains or a winter wedding ski getaway - whichever is more your speed! Check out this featured Revelstoke Elopement on my blog to know more!
13. Vancouver
I couldnโt forget the city/area of Vancouver. While Iโm up for all kinds of adventure all over British Columbia, you canโt deny the magic of the city. Want an urban elopement? Thereโs no place better. Endless amazing venues, restaurants, and a waterfront area, a Vancouver elopement would be incredible for those who love the city.
Check out this downtown Vancouver elopement! We started at Rosewood Hotel Georgia then headed to explore Gastown. Exchanged vows at St. Augustineโs Parish and ended in Pacific Spirit Park to escape the cityscape a bit.
If youโre still searching for a mountainous or natural area close to the city, then Golden Ears Provincial Park, Pitt Lake, Grouse Mountain, Mount Seymour, or Buntzen Lake might work perfectly for you! For example, check out this Sky Helicopters & Pitt Lake elopement on the blog!
There you have it, folks! My take on the best places to elope in British Columbia. From the sea to the forests to the mountaintops, eloping in BC is nothing short of an adventure. There is truly a place for everyone. Did you see a location that has you dreaming of eloping? Or maybe you know of a good spot that didnโt make the list. Let me know in the comments!