How to Elope in BC
So you’ve decided to elope in BC, meaning you’re planning to intentionally get married in a way that fits you both best! Congrats! Although it’s very exciting, sometimes the details of how to make it happen can be overwhelming. Since being apart of weddings and elopements is kind of my thing, I am here to help make it as easy as possible! This is your one-stop-shop on how to elope in BC. As a disclaimer, I have not ordered these in the way it should be done chronologically, but more so what is the most essential and then expanding from there. At the end, I will give you a suggested timeline of when you should book/plan for each of these things!
1. A Marriage License
An elopement/wedding can’t be legal without it! It costs $100 for the form, and all you have to do is go to a marriage license issuer (you can find one near you here). Just because it’s the most essential part of a wedding, doesn’t mean it’s the first thing you should check off the list. You should go sometime in the 3 months prior to your wedding, but I would recommend 1-2 months beforehand just in case something comes up. Only one of you needs to show up, but you do need to bring primary identification for both of you which could be a birth certificate, citizenship card, or permanent resident card. You can find the official website here for more info. Please note that you must bring the license that the issuer gives to you to your ceremony for your officiant and witnesses to sign, so don’t lose or forget it!
2. Book an Officiant
This goes hand-in-hand with the marriage license as the most essential to getting married in BC. Your officiant can be a pastor or religious leader or a marriage commissioner if you're non-religious! Regardless, they must be registered with the Vital Statistics Agency, so if you're using someone other than a marriage commissioner, make sure this is the case. You can see the details for marriage commissioners here and search for one here. A lot of people wonder, can I have a friend marry me? This is a common question as often couples want someone who knows them to make such a big event in their lives possible. Unless they are registered, the simple answer is no. However, there is a work-around! I have had couples get a friend to perform the ceremony portion of their wedding, and either get the legal part done at a different time (it may be on that day or another), or have the commissioner be present during the ceremony and sign the papers immediately afterwards. What a win-win! Whatever your preference, there is a way to make it happen! There are also companies that specialize in officiating and personal ceremonies such as Young, Hip, and Married whom I have worked with and they are great! Overall, I recommend choosing an officiant that you gel with because after all, this is going to be a big moment for the two of you!
3. Two Witnesses
This really is as simple as it sounds. All you need is two people that are 19 years old or older! Usually, couples choose close friends or family members to sign the papers, but if you are eloping just the two of you, the people don’t even need to know you personally! I have actually been a witness before, and for that elopement, it was myself and the helicopter pilot that signed the papers to make it legal. I have even heard of couples who have asked some hikers nearby to witness for them! For those choosing to celebrate their wedding in the wilderness, or maybe a hiking elopement, you can also have a personal ceremony where you say your vows in a beautiful or sentimental spot, and make it legal earlier or later in the day at a more accessible spot for an officiant and two witnesses. Again, it’s all about the win-win!
4. Pick a Date
You may not have to send out save the dates, but you’ll definitely have to settle on a day or maybe even several days to celebrate your commitment to each other. This can be decided automatically by some time pressures such as school, careers, kids, or even visas, but if you could do it any time then there are a lot of options (365 a year in fact! Sorry, I had to). I would suggest thinking about what season you like best, or if the location of your choice will be accessible during that time of year. Though it might sound weird at first, I recommend considering eloping on a weekday as locations will be much less busy, and you can have the privacy and undisturbed views you envisioned.
5. Pick a Location
BC has so many people places to get married, from the gorgeous mountains to beaches to forests to urban areas to farms; the sky is the limit! This may sound simple, but in my experience, couples often experience difficulty in finding a location that works best for them. Do you prioritize accessibility, cost, beauty, or sentimental value? We often think that the more choices we have, the better decision we will make, but most of the time it just makes it more overwhelming. I recommend thinking of moments in your relationship that meant the most, or you felt the most at peace, and think about where you were at that time. Where do you feel most at home or comfortable? Is that on top of a mountain or on a beach by your favourite lake, or in your favourite coffee shop? Either way, I love when couples choose places that are sentimental and close to their hearts or bring out a sense of adventure. Sometimes getting married can also be about experiencing something new and exciting together! This is something I help couples with all the time, as sometimes people just need a nudge in the right direction.
Check out my blog post on the Best Places to Elope in BC!
6. Find Out if You Need a Permit for Your Location
If you’re booking an actual venue, the booking fee most likely has you covered. However, elopements often happen in nontraditional locations, so this can be more complicated.
There are several awesome national parks that can provide a stunning backdrop and experience for your elopement. It may depend on the park, but for parks such as Kootenay National Park and Yoho National Park, getting permission to get married in the park is as simple as signing a registration form (it’s free!) and mailed, faxed, or dropped off at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre. There are some restrictions but they are minimal such as a max of 20 people, only quiet music, and keep vehicle traffic to a minimum.
In some of BC’s more secluded areas, such as Tofino, if you’re hoping to get married on the beach, no permit is needed and is completely free! This is also the case for select locations in Squamish, Whistler, & Pemberton.
Provincial parks are often popular spots to say your vows or tie the knot. It may depend on the park, and likely an individual email would be needed to find the exact information, but for a wedding, it will probably cost you around $200 to get a permit. However, for small weddings, it is recommended that you contact the Park Area Supervisor as they can allow the activity without a permit, as long as it does not cause disruption to the public’s use and enjoyment of the park. It never hurts to ask!
If you’re getting married in a park in the city of Vancouver, they have lots of information about what places are available for wedding ceremonies and a clear guide on how to get a permit. You will need a permit to use any wedding location, regardless of the number of people at the wedding. It will cost between $102-426 plus tax. It’s easier and cheaper if you choose one of their designated ceremony areas which include spots in Stanley Park, along the beaches, and in Queen Elizabeth Park. If you want a location that is not part of their designated ceremony locations, a special events permit is needed, and requires a different application and fees. You can find more information about weddings in the city of Vancouver here!
Another popular place to elope is on Vancouver Island, specifically Victoria! If you decide to get married in a park in the city of Victoria, there is a permit required but it’s only $129.91 and gives you a 4-hour reservation to the chosen site. Did you know that you can also get married at the city hall in Victoria? They only open it up for 4 days of the year, each with 3 time slots, which means only 12 couples can take advantage of this opportunity every year! Find out the next dates available here!
7. Get Wedding Insurance
This may be different for each couple, but honestly, wedding liability insurance is never a bad idea, especially if it involves more than just the two of you, and there are other vendors involved. The city of Vancouver actually requires liability insurance in order to get a permit. It will cost around $100-200 for insurance in BC, although it depends partly on how many guests and whether alcohol will be served at your wedding. Wedding Insurance covers things like any damage that happens to the property from the wedding, medical expenses if someone gets injured, and probably the most useful part; financial reimbursement if the wedding can’t go as planned because of extreme weather, unpredictable circumstances, or if something goes wrong with a particular vendor hired for the wedding. It’s super easy to get a quote online, and companies like Front Row Insurance and InsureBC can do this really quickly!
8. Book a Photographer
While I am a little biased, I believe that a photographer is probably the most important vendor that you hire. Not only do photographers catch those moments so you can remember this awesome experience (because let’s face it, it goes by in a blur), but they also provide invaluable advice and experience into all things elopement such as location advice, dealing with logistics, vendor recommendations, emotional support through it all, and they even help carry things on your elopement day. When choosing your photographer, it’s crucial that you feel comfortable with them as a person as they might be the only person with you for the whole day. If you’re eloping in BC, you’re in luck because there are TONS of amazing and talented photographers in this area of the world. If you’ve been on my website and think “hey we might be a great fit!” then feel free to contact me for any questions you may have about eloping in BC.
9. Book a Florist
Most couples incorporate at least a bouquet into their elopement, but florals can also be incorporated as a flower crown, boutonnière, hairpiece, archway, on desserts, kids accessories, or even pet or car accessories! The sky is the limit! When choosing how you incorporate florals, I again advise reflecting on what would make you the happiest, and go from there. I have personally found that there are never too many flowers or greenery on an elopement/wedding day. They provide texture (which is super important), bring out your personality, and accentuate a colour palette. While it is possible to throw flowers together from a grocery store or along the side of the road, there is nothing like the skill and eye of a florist who can take that task, handle it with ease, and provide you with something beautiful to compliment the two of you.
10. Book Hair & Makeup
This might be optional for some as the location accessibility will vary (if you’re doing a camping elopement, a pro might not be available). However, there is a reason why they do this for a living; they are experts! Unlike going to the salon, hair and makeup artists will travel to you! It’s really relaxing having someone else take care of this for you, and the results are always amazing. Most of the time you can get a trial done beforehand so that you feel confident with the process and results. I always provide my clients with recommendations if needed, for artists that are skilled and professional for weddings and elopements. This section doesn’t just apply to women! Men can also get treated with a haircut or shave to make sure they look their best.
11. Wedding Attire
This may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s true! Everyone dresses up in some way special for their wedding day. It might not be what everyone else does, and that’s ok! Like I have said before, do what feels best for you! If that means a big dress and a tux; cool! If that means wearing hiking boots or converse; awesome! If that means wearing a cultural or sentimental piece, amazing! You do YOU! Regardless of what you decide, I always recommend thinking about comfort. While heals can be awesome to close that height difference, they hurt when walking around. I have had couples wear converse, hiking boots, Blundstones; you name it! Bottom line you don’t want to be thinking about how much your feet hurt on your elopement day.
Optional add-ons for an even more awesome experience!
Book a Videographer
This has grown in popularity a ton in the last 5-10 years, and with good reason! While I understand hiring a videographer isn’t always possible because of either budget or location, I highly recommend hiring a professional to document your vows and adventure together. I remember just before I got engaged I didn’t think a videographer was worth it. But then I watched this one elopement video from Iceland that changed it all for me. The photos from that same elopement were gorgeous, but the video made you feel like you were there with the couple, experiencing it with them. Having that video of our wedding where we can watch it over and over again, and relive the vows we said to each other, has been invaluable. An added benefit of having a videographer with an elopement is that if you’re getting married just the two of you, those moments can later be shared with your family and friends. You can find highly recommended videographers here!
Hire A Helicopter!
Do you want to elope with absolutely nobody around and an unbelievable view? A helicopter is perfect for exactly those reasons, but that’s not where the awesomeness ends! Often on elopement days, it’s a couple’s first time in a helicopter and adds that extra amazing experience to an already incredible and memorable day. While you can get these things with a hiking elopement, a helicopter gets you to those backcountry places with no effort, and very quickly. If you’re wanting a mountaintop experience on your elopement day, but also want to have dinner with some friends and family that evening, a helicopter is the perfect solution for that scenario. There are several awesome companies that can make this happen including Blackcomb Helicopters & SKY Helicopters. Contact me to learn more about my helicopter adventure packages!
Decor!
Just because you’re eloping, doesn’t mean you might not want some extra decorations for your ceremony or intimate reception. Rugs, arches, candles, stringed lights; you name it! It doesn’t have to be a lot, but a little bit of decor can make a place feel romantic and beautiful. This might be in a field or in your backyard! There are lots of decor companies all over BC that can help make any vision you have, a reality. Check out Bespoke Decor for rentals in Vancouver, BC
Anything or Any Experience You Want!
Just because something hasn’t been listed as something you need for your elopement, doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate it. Do you want go surfing on your elopement day? Maybe make your own wine at a winery? Or even go skiing or snowboarding? Whatever feels the most “you” and guarantees that you’ll have fun; do it! This is supposed to be the best day of your lives, so make it even better!
Check out my blog post for 20 Unique Elopement Ideas!
Now, as promised, here is a suggested order and potential timeline of when you should check these off the list and get them done! This is my personal suggestion, but it doesn’t mean you have to do it the same way.
Contact/book photographer (4-18 months out)
Pick date & location (4-18 months out)
Contact officiant (4-12 months out)
Organize/order big wedding attire items (3-12 months out)
Book a hair & makeup artist (3-12 months out)
Book your florist (3-12 months out)
Get insurance (2-5 months out)
Get location permits (2-5 months out)
Obtain a marriage license (1-6 weeks out)
Organize witnesses (1-2 months out)
This is my personal suggestion, but it doesn’t mean you have to do it the same way. You may wonder, why would I book our photographer first? A photographer is also a guide and can help you figure out a lot of the other things! You may not know where is the best place for you to get married, and photographers have endless location knowledge to find the best place for you. They also have lots of other vendor recommendations and know which places require permits. Coincidentally, photographers also book up quite far in advance, and inquiring before settling on a date is the best way to ensure that they will be available. Obviously I am biased with this, and as I have stressed throughout this post, I am all about couples doing it their own way.
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