How Much Does It Cost to Elope in BC?
It’s no secret that elopements can save you cash compared to the traditional wedding route, but if you’re choosing between the two, you might be asking yourself, “how much does it cost to elope actually?”
According to my research, in British Columbia, it costs on average about $16,000 CAD to elope but depends on a lot of factors.
(Keep reading this blog for a full breakdown of how much it costs to elope! PLUS a custom ELOPEMENT COST CALCULATOR to help you start estimating a budget for your own elopement.)
How Much Does it Cost to Elope Versus a Traditional Wedding?
If you ask Google, a traditional wedding in Canada amounted to an average of $30K CAD three to four years ago. With inflation and high cost of living in general, I’d guess that number is around $40K today in 2023. And while this is the average, this isn’t going to be your Pinterest board wedding (which will probably run you more like $80-100K CAD). Yikes!
It’s safe to say that an elopement will come out to half or even a quarter of the cost of a traditional wedding. The estimated average of $16K for an elopement depends on a variety of factors including vendors, excursions, locations, time of year, how many guests you bring along, and more.
And the best part about eloping? You can pick and choose the parts of a wedding day experience that mean the most to you and forget the rest.
When you aren’t worried about feeding hundreds of people or filling an empty room with fanciful decorations, there is wiggle room in your budget for the experiences that matter to YOU rather than your guests.
Ready to start planning your elopement right now?
Things to keep in mind…
Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning an elopement and estimating your budget. Elopements can range from simple just the two of you on a mountain-top plans to full-blown elopement weekend getaways. There are many factors that influence the overall cost totals for your elopement. Before we get into the cost breakdown, let’s talk about the variables that will greatly influence how much you spend!
The number of guests.
While many elopements are just the couple, it’s not uncommon to bring along a few close loved ones to enjoy your day. But the more people you bring, the more money it will cost. When planning within your budget, ask yourself these questions:
How many people are coming along with us?
Are they also coming along on any adventures or excursions? (Example: Helicopters, gondolas, transportation to the ceremony site, etc).
Will they be getting hair and make-up?
Will they get their own floral bouquets or boutonnieres?
Are you feeding them or providing them drinks?
Will they need accommodation?
The number of guests will drastically swing pricing one way or another, so just keep that in mind!
Vendors sometimes provide “all-inclusive” options.
Venues are the main culprit of this and will frequently include things like food, accommodations, photographers, florals, officiants, or decor. If you aren’t a planner and get easily overwhelmed, this option might be perfect for you (and could save you some cash)! But it’s important to keep in mind that these vendors might not have always been the ones you’d choose to be a part of your day. If you go this route, ask yourself, “do I really like their work?” If not, it’s worth it to ditch the all-inclusive and book vendors you love in my opinion.
Where you get married, the time of year, and the day of the week.
Where you get married: Resort towns and popular tourist destinations are go-to elopement spots because of their beauty and variety of options for adventure. BUT they come at a cost. Accommodations, venues, and vendors in elopement destinations like Whistler and Tofino know their worth and charge accordingly. Whereas their off-the-beaten path alternatives like Revelstoke, Golden, Nelson, and Manning Park offer more privacy for less without sacrificing beauty and adventure.
The time of year: You might be tempted to opt for shoulder or off season prices, especially if you’re considering pricey destinations like Whistler or Tofino. But keep in mind that weather in British Columbia is a different beast and while months like November might save you some money, it probably won’t be dreamy views and blissful temperatures. Excursions and attractions are also limited this time of year. Summer is by far the most popular and by far the most expensive, followed by winter for snow lovers – but the weather is much more picturesque. The off-season can save you a bundle, but it’s only worth it if you’re up for anything as backup plans are often needed.
The day of the week: Get married on a weekday. I’ll shout this one from the rooftops. Outdoor areas and destination spots are crowded on the weekends almost year-round in British Columbia. (I mean, for good reason, this place is stunning!) But not only is it better for privacy, but it’ll also save you money on accommodations and venues compared to weekend prices. So take a vacation from work and go get married in the middle of the week!
You get what you pay for (most of the time):
It can be tempting to go the cheap route when booking vendors to save money, but I can’t stress enough how much impact these people have on your experience and the memories you make. You can find any officiant on the government website for $100, but will they give you a meaningful, personalized ceremony? There are so many photographers out there and for every budget, but it’s true that price is often a reflection of experience and skill level. Make sure to ask your photographer about their approach for planning, various lighting situations, scouting, weather preparations, and experience in the location you’re getting married.
Be careful what you DIY.
It can be tempting to do your own make-up, desserts, floral arrangements, or food to save money. And for some, it works out fine! Before you opt to DIY something ask yourself, “is this going to make the days leading up and the day of my elopement more stressful for me?” If the answer is yes, then ditch the DIY and hire a professional.
Decide what means the most to you…
And spend money on that. Do you care more about your experience than food or drinks during the day? Or are you a foodie who loves a good picnic or catered meal? Do photos mean the most to you? Or is video just as important? Take time to think with your partner about what means the most to you and feels most important in your relationship, then opt more of your budget toward that.
Don’t forget about tax & tips!
This is just a little warning – none of my estimations include tax. So just to be safe, allot 5-12% of your spending to be paid in tax. It’s not expected, but it’s also common to tip vendors, so leave a bit of wiggle room in your mind for that as well. Warning: these estimated costs are also in Canadian dollars. If you’re coming from out of the country, keep that in mind. Americans, you’ll be happy to know your dollar goes further north of the border.
These are just estimations.
The truth is, you could spend as little or as much as you want on an elopement. You could find a government official for $100, invite him to your home, where clothes you already own, and get married. And on the contrary, you could book a mansion for a weekend full of excursions with 10-20 people and spend significantly more. That’s the beauty of elopements! They are entirely customizable for you.
Now for the cost breakdown you’ve been waiting for – How Much Does It Cost to Elope in BC?
From reaching out to other vendors and chatting with my past elopement clients, I’ve been able to break down a range of average costs associated with each vendor or detail you might include in your elopement. You might book every single one of the following or you might choose the few that mean the most to you, it’s really a choose your own adventure planning process!
Make sure to read through to the end to download your elopement budget calculator! It’s a great way to start planning your elopement with a realistic idea of what expenses will pop up in the process!
Officiants:
There are two ways you can get married in BC. By a government official or by someone ordained in a religious organization. Some officiants have also found a loophole and are part of a religious organization, but perform non-religious ceremonies as well! (This is my most common recommendation for you!)
Government officiant: $100
Personalized ceremonies: $350-$1,500
Marriage License:
Sometimes vendors take care of this for you, but it’s rather easy and doesn’t have to be done too far in advance. Sometimes you can get it the day before! You can find all of the information for that here.
Cost for marriage license: $100
Rings:
While this isn’t entirely a cost for your elopement day, your rings deserve a spot in your planning budget. Again, these widely range in how much they cost and how fancy you want to get! For example, we got my husband’s ring on Amazon for $25 because we didn’t care too much about his ring. Good thing too because he did end up losing it last year!
Average spent on rings: $100-$10,000
Wedding attire:
99% of people will buy something new to wear on their wedding day. The dress can be pricey and suits are no different, so you’ll definitely want to consider your wedding attire when making your budget. Don’t forget to leave room for alterations! There is nothing worse than constantly pulling on your clothes your entire wedding day.
Average cost of a suit: $300-$2,000
Average cost of a dress: $60-$4,000
Average cost of alterations: $300
Permits:
Luckily, when you’re eloping in BC permits aren’t a huge deal! There are plenty of public lands where you can get married without a permit or reservation. Some exceptions to this might be the national parks like Yoho National Park or Mount Revelstoke! Just make sure to do your research before choosing a location (your photographer might know too).
Average cost of permits: $0-$500
Transportation - flights/car rental/ferries:
Planning in advance and scouring for deals will save you a hefty sum of these costs compared to booking things last minute. Overall, these vary greatly depending on where you are travelling from, but here’s some averages to give you an idea depending on your situation.
Overall: $300-$3,000 for two people, with an average of $800 for two
Flying from out of province + rental car when you get here: $1200 for two people
Average ferry: $190 round trip for a small car
Accommodations:
Unfortunately British Columbia, especially in the summer, is not cheap. If you’re choosing a destination location, which most do, you’ll likely spend a good bit on accommodation. Most couples I chatted with spent 3-4 nights for their elopement. Though some venues include a night or two when you book with them!
For places like Vancouver Island, Tofino, Whistler: minimum of $300/night with an average of $400/night
Add guests: Average $1,200 to $1,500/night
Venue:
The cost associated with the venue can range quite a bit. But the good news? It’s easy to get married in a stunning natural place in BC for free! There are plenty of options on public land that offers forest vibes, mountain views, lakeside and even beachfront ceremony locations (in Tofino, you can get married right on the beach with no fee)! With these options, you just have to worry about the weather, but a backup plan is always possible.
If you want more privacy and a space for yourself, maybe even a reception area if you bring along guests, a venue is great.
Ceremony site average: $1,500
Venue with other inclusions: $1,500 - $12,000+
Food, Drink, & Dessert:
From finger foods to high-end catering, food and drink depends entirely on how many guests you have on your elopement. You might be more of a casual couple who wants to head to an outdoor pizzeria or have a takeaway picnic on the beach or you might be foodies who want to hire a private chef. Just don’t forget to include the vendors who are present on your day (we’re hungry too!)
Average cost of food & drink: $30-$200 per person
Average spent on deserts: $20-$400
Average spent picnic set ups - $250 - $2,000
Photography:
I’ll try my best not to be biased about this one. Just kidding! I’ve reached out to photographer friends to give input on this as well. As I mentioned earlier, photographer pricing can range greatly. Consider these three things when it comes to budgeting for photography:
What is their level and experience, in your location and in general?
Are they local or are you also paying travel fees?
How long are they going to be there for?
Most photographers charge by hourly coverage, but you aren’t just paying for that. For example, I also play a big role in planning when it comes to timelines, consultations, and location scouting. Plus consultations, editing, and more. Your photographer can impact how smoothly your day flows and how your memories are preserved.
Cost for elopement coverage: $1,000 - $10,000
Average photography costs: $3,500-4000
Videography:
Most of what was said about photographers also applies to videographers. If you choose to opt out of a videographer, I do recommend filming in some capacity, even if that means an iPhone on a tripod. But investing in someone who knows what they are doing can beautifully preserve your day in a way that sometimes even photos cannot.
Cost for elopement coverage: $1,000 - $10,000
Florists:
The cost of flowers will depend on how many you need or want. In my opinion, you can never have too many flowers, but there are truly options for all budgets. Get just the basics or go all out with flower crowns, floral collars for your dog, ceremony arch, and more.
Just a bouquet + boutonniere - an average of $200
Average costs for elopements: $95 - $2,500
Hair & Makeup:
While it’s tempting to do hair and make-up on your own, I really do recommend hiring a professional to take the stress out of your day. You’ll be sweating, kissing, spending all day celebrating – it’s worth it. Though keep in mind if you’re also offering these services to moms, friends, or others.
Estimated costs for hair and makeup - $150 - $1,200
Accessories and beauty:
You could gather accessories you already own or go all out on buying new just for your elopement! Veil, shoes, jewelry! Nails, spray tans, lash extensions! While they are small in theory, these services definitely add up.
Average spent one veil - $20 - $500
Average spent shoes- $0 - $400
Adventures/excursions:
This is where elopements can go from money savers to super pricey quite quickly. There are excursion options for every budget and range but will increase in price greatly when you start to add in guests. Here’s a breakdown of the most common adventures on elopements in BC and what they cost.
Average helicopter tour - $2000-$2500
Multi-helicopter flight (bringing guests) - $5,000
Average 4x4 jeep adventure - $750-$5,000
Gondola tickets: $100-$1,200
Average cost total for an elopement in BC:
Based on my clients, the average elopement day includes travel to BC, half to a full day of coverage, some adventure mixed in, only the two of them or just a few close friends and family, and a sprinkle of other details to make it complete.
Total average cost: $16,000
The BC Elopement Cost Calculator
Now that you’ve seen a breakdown of which vendors and service you might want to consider for your elopement day, it’s time to pick and choose the one’s for you! Based on your priorities, you can use this calculator to estimate an expected budget for the elopement you are envisioning. Finally, you’ll answer the burning question, “how much does it cost to elope in BC?”
The Big Conclusion about Money Spent on Your Elopement
This post isn’t here to claim planning an elopement is cheap. But it IS here to claim it’s worth it! In fact, there are two big ideas that I want to leave you with as you wrap up your reading.
The first is that the money spent during your elopement is for YOU and no one else. Traditional weddings are focused on catering to guests, while elopements allow you to pour money into what really matters to you and brings you the most joy. The satisfaction you feel from the money spent is far great when you get to relish in every second of your customized day.
And the second is that elopements can also double as your honeymoon. So many of my clients have said they saved money by already being in a stunning destination for their elopement and spending the following days exploring the area more. Which is such a great idea!
Lastly, I want to leave you with this: Whatever you decide, do what makes you and your partner the happiest. It’s far more fun to look back and say, “what an unforgettable day!” than “Man, that was stressful!” – don’t you think?
The whole point of an elopement is to be intentional and have fun. So don’t forget to enjoy yourself in the planning process and on your wedding day! If you need help with planning, choosing locations, or fine-tuning the details of your elopement in BC, I’m here to help! Say hi over on my contact form and let’s talk it out!
And in the meantime, if you’re having trouble choosing where to elope, check out my blog on the best places to elope in BC!