Erika & Scott’s Myra Falls elopement mirrored their personalities perfectly. Both so laid-back and adventurous, we spent most of their day exploring all of the beauty Strathcona Provincial Park has to offer. We started with a first-look with their pup, followed by a waterfall ceremony, some home-brewed beer toasts and a cozy ride in a canoe. If you think just reading that sounds dreamy, wait until you see their elopement gallery!

A couple embraces on the rocks in front of the mist coming from myra falls in strathcona provincial park

Before we dive into all of the details of this Myra Falls elopement, first can we talk about how absolutely stunning it is in Strathcona Park?! It was my first time there and WOW! It’s an outdoor enthusiast's playground. Situated in the heart of Vancouver Island, it is a bit off the beaten path. The closest town is Campbell River, which is a quaint little town where you can find comfortable accommodation and any other amenities you might need. From there, you’ll travel inland west for about just shy of two hours along a winding road where at some point you’ll lose cell reception. Important to note for the sake of logistics, but nothing to fret over! You’ll be too soaking in the scenery to care about your phone. The road kisses a lake, winding in and out of trees, with insane mountain views.

Now that I’ve set the scene, let’s introduce the couple. Truly two of the most kind, interesting and laid-back individuals I have met. You know those people who are complete strangers, but make you feel comfortable and connected in just moments? That’s Erika & Scott!

They met in high school, but never connected romantically until many years later. After going their own ways, their paths crossed once again. This time with a spark and that brings us to their Myra Falls elopement. Their compatibility is tangible and they are really so fun to be around. Which explains why this is one of my favourite elopement days yet!

I might be slightly biased because my husband, Mitch, got to come along as well. We spent the days before camping and hiking Bedwell Lake to Cream Lake! To make it even more special, it was in celebration of our anniversary! So was I on cloud nine from our own adventure or was this elopement actually the most magical thing ever?! I think it’s a little bit of both.

While elopements are often a non-traditional way to celebrate your day, so many couples choose to incorporate some traditional wedding aspects. For Erika + Scott, that was spending the night before separately, a white dress and a first look! Erika spent the night in Campbell River, where she also got her hair and make-up done. I stopped by to pick her up and we headed to the falls!

Their first look did have one little twist. This twist might be my favourite part of the day. Enter River, Erika + Scott’s adorable husky. They wanted River to be a part of their day, but Erika wanted her there specifically for the first look as well. And River had the most epic reaction to seeing Erika as a bride for the first time! Make sure you take time to really absorb all of the sweetness of those photos. It was a running joke throughout their elopement about how much I adored River. Seriously, if she ever goes missing, don’t check my house. She’s definitely not there. I absolutely didn’t steal her and take her home to cuddle with me.

After the first look, we headed to Lower Myra Falls for the elopement ceremony. I can’t reiterate enough, these falls are spectacular. So spectacular that the rest the island decided to enjoy them that day. We scouted the spot the day before and it was quite calm, but that wasn’t the case for their elopement day. So Mitch was so kind to ask one or two people to move out of the shot and the rest I left to the power of editing! Despite the crowds, it was the perfect summer day. The sun shined down illuminating the mist and creating rainbows as Erika & Scott pledged their love for one another, forever. It was something out of storybooks.

We spent the rest of their day just soaking it all in. With no fear of getting dirty, Scott cleared a path for us to explore the upper portion of the falls. We walked along trails, picking blueberries as Erika spoke about making jams and vegan honey. Afterwards, we headed to their campsite at Ralph River and did quick canoe on the lake, River in tow of course. They lounged in a hammock, toasted with home-brewed beer in glasses with custom designs. To end the night, they camped in their cozy camper van. A day that truly reflected them as a couple!

And this is normally where I leave my couples. We go our separate ways, I send over their photos and they go off into the world. But not Erika & Scott. Erika forgot her sunglasses in my car and before I knew it a few days later, their van was parked in our driveway and I was making them pancakes while they used our shower. My couples are more than just clients, they are friends. Thanks to Erika & Scott for such a special day! And thanks to all of my couples for being the coolest.

Make sure to check out my tips for a Myra Falls elopement below and scroll through the images from this incredible day! If you are looking for more Vancouver Island elopement inspiration, check out this To fi no elopement on the blog!

Tips for a Myra Falls elopement:

While absolutely beautiful, this area is remote! Make sure to have maps downloaded and a solid plan if meeting others! Additionally, if you want music for your day, download it too! No service is a great feeling, but only if you are prepared.
Create a backup plan for weather! Luckily we did not have to worry about it for this day, but it’s definitely something to plan for!
Prepare for people! It’s not as busy as other places in Vancouver and British Columbia, but it can get crowded. This area has a short visiting season so it’s very busy. Don’t be fooled by these edited images, this swimming hole was packed with visitors!
There are no accommodations within Strathcona park or close to Myra Falls. There is a campground, but other than more rustic options, Campbell River is where you’ll stay. It’s an hour and a half from the falls, so factor that into your timing!
If you do choose to camp, check campground regulations! Because Erika + Scott are from Ontario, I made the reservations because they give preference to residents of British Columbia. Generally these campgrounds are first come, first serve!
Take time to explore the area! Here are some other hik es in Strathcona Park! There are options for all difficulties and it’s worth taking an adventure while you’re there. I promise!