How To Elope In BC
If you're looking for a more intimate and stress-free way to tie the knot in British Columbia, eloping might be the perfect option for you.
While there aren’t as many details to plan for an elopement, there are still a few steps needed for how to elope in BC
Pick A Date
Start by choosing a date for your elopement. If there’s no clear date or time of year, some questions you can ask yourself:
Do you have a favourite season?
Do you want to avoid certain weather conditions?
What kind of wedding outfits do you want to wear + what seasons would you feel the most comfortable in them?
Here are a few more tips on the best time of year to get married.
Hire A Photographer
Eloping, especially if you’re planning a just-us experience, means there aren’t going to be any iPhone videos and/or photos of your day. So in my books, that makes hiring a wedding photographer a must!
And since elopements are way smaller in size, elopement photographers, like myself, can help you find a really cool location that fits your vibes and accommodates your guests, if you’re inviting any.
I also help you create a wedding day timeline that is relaxed and stress-free. As a project manager in a past life, I love a good timeline and colour coded spreadsheet!
I’m here to help keep your day fun, light, and everything you could dream of and of course, to document the crap out of it!
Choose A Location
When you choose to elope in BC, you are almost instantly given so many more options of where to say “I Do”. But before it gets overwhelming, take into consideration these 5 tips to help you choose a location that feels right for you.
Key things to consider when choosing your location:
Special meaning. With the added flexibility of where to exchange your vows, choosing a location that has special meaning to you both will only make your day that much more special.
Time of year. Popular spots with that epic view are often busy during the summer months. If you’re looking for an epic shot but with less people around, consider the shoulder seasons or potentially the winter when the location is less busy and you can have a more private/intimate experience.
Ability. Often the epic view locations require some effort to get there. This is key, especially if you’re having an intimate wedding with your ride-or-dies. Fitness levels + mobility issues should be considered and alternate plans can be made (think 4x4 transportation or a heli bump instead of hiking)
Weather. The more exposed a location, the faster the weather changes. This can be true, especially in the mountains, where it can go from sunny and warm to overcast + chilly in a matter of minutes. Ensuring you’re prepared in terms of attire or choosing a specific time of year when the weather is more temperate will help keep your day feeling fun and magical.
Transportation. Your location will determine what type of vehicle you need to get there. Getting to most parks close to the city only requires a regular vehicle. As you head into the mountains, some forest service roads can be accessed with a 2WD vehicle, while others require at minimum 4WD or even a 4x4 vehicle.
Related Post: Best outdoor venues to elope in BC
Check for permits
When you’re planning your outdoor elopement, keep in mind that some city parks require a permit. If you’re having a Vancouver elopement, you can see the full list of parks here as well as apply for your Vancouver wedding permit.
If you’re eloping in a provincial park, like Garibaldi Provincial Park, Golden Ears Provincial Park or Joffre Lakes, you’ll be required to register for a free day pass in advance of your visit. (Note: Day pass website is updated seasonally so check often)
As soon as you pick out your dream BC location, then spend a little time researching to see if you’ll need a permit. Some permits can take a couple of weeks to be approved, others may take a couple of months.
Better to spend a few dollars in advance on a clear umbrella, cute rain boots and a permit than to be denied that perfect, IG-worthy wedding photo, right?!
Pro Tip: If you’re staying at a hotel and want photos on the property, be sure to ask the hotel in advance if that’s allowed and if you need to sign a waiver/policy agreement.
Hire Other Vendors
Although elopements can be simpler, that doesn’t mean you have to skimp on some key vendors:
Florist for a (small) bouquet / bouteniere automatically adds specialness to your outfits. Keep it minimal and jump on the single stem bouquet trend.
HMUA because who doesn’t feel good with a fresh blow out + some profesh makeup?!
Wedding Planner to keep all the little details on track and to help with any special setups such as a nice dinner table for your celebratory meal.
Get A Wedding Licence
To get married in the province of British Columbia, you’ll need to grab a $100 marriage licence from the government of BC.
It doesn’t take long and there are various places you can get a licence. I got mine at my local Londo Drugs.
Hire An Officiant
To make things official, the person marrying you must be a registered officiant. They can be a religious leader, a marriage commissioner or a friend, as long as they are registered with the Vital Statistics Agency.
You can find a marriage commissioner based on the city/location you’re getting married in, or opt for a more personalized + custom experience with someone like Young, Hip + Married.
CAN MY FRIEND MARRY US?
While they can absolutely marry you, you will still need a registered officiant to make it legal with the province. But there are so many easy solutions to this!
You can sign papers in the morning, the day before or the day after.
You can have a marriage officiant attend your wedding for just the signing portion. (They may need to be the one to ask the specific legal questions to make your marriage official)
You can sign papers at a totally different time. (This is what I did! We celebrate our wedding anniversary in January but we signed papers in July)
Bring 2 Witnesses
Another requirement for getting legally married in BC is that you must have 2 witnesses present and sign your legal documents.
If you’re having a just-us experience, my hubby and I would be honoured to be your witnesses!
Elopement Ideas To Include As Part Of Your Day
When the ceremony itself is only going to take a few minutes, this gives you the opportunity to plan a super personalized wedding day that includes all the things you love!
This includes any aspects of traditional weddings that you want to include, like a first dance or a celebratory meal with your closest family + friends.
Here are 15 elopement ideas to include as part of your wedding day!
Add Some Adventure To Your Elopement Day
If the idea of an “adventure elopement” sounds scary and intense, this section is for you!
Adventure weddings don’t need to require an epic 10 km hike. It doesn’t require a huge adventure that pushes you outside your comfort zone.
Adventure elopements are simply weddings that include activities that you both truly love and that are a true reflection of yourselves, like these 5 non-hiking elopement ideas.
Related: What is an adventure elopement
Plan Out Your Day
As a former project manager, the best piece of advice I can give you when it comes to creating your day-of timeline, is to make “buffer time” your best friend. Always.
Giving yourself time to really soak in the moment will help you remember exactly how your day felt.
Below are 2 timeline examples with different types of adventures. For the purposes of these example timelines, let’s say sunset is at 7 pm and you’re having a just-us experience.
Hiking Adventure Elopement Timeline Example
Morning: Start your wedding day together however you like. Sleep in, go out for breakfast, or sip coffee on the deck.
Noon: We’ll meet at the trailhead.
12:30 pm: Meet the officiant to make it legal!
1:00 pm: Begin your hike early, giving yourselves tons of time to stop along the way to take photos, sip and snack, and enjoy the view. This will make up the largest “chunk” of your wedding day, so there’s no need to rush.
4:00 pm: Arrive at the peak
5:00 pm: Oggle at the views. Take it all in together.
5:30 pm: Exchange private vows + rings.
6:00 pm: Pop some bubbly, have a few snacky snacks and soak in the moment.
7:00 pm: Take stunna sunset pics.
7:30 pm: Hike back down!
Looking for more timeline examples? Here are 3 full-day elopement timeline examples for you to steal, or use as a base then make your own!
Adventure elopement timeline example
11:30 am: We meet at your super cute AirBnB.
Noon: You make breakfast together and enjoy it on the deck.
1:30 pm: You get ready, separately to keep it a surprise!
2:30 pm: You head to a spot close by for your first look + some photos.
3:00 pm: Head to a park for some portraits.
4:30 pm: Head to the beach for your ceremony.
5:30 pm: Exchange private vows + rings.
6:00 pm: Pop some bubbly, have a few snacky snacks and soak in the moment.
7:00 pm: Take amazing sunset photos.
7:30 pm: Head back to your AirBnB for a privately catered dinner.
Click here for additional tips on how to create your PERFECT timeline.
BC Elopement Photography Packages
The way I see it, you made the brave decision to say “no” to the non-essentials and stay true to yourselves. You’re eloping because it just suits you guys—it’s part of your story, which deserves to be told. So 2 measly hours of awkward, posed photography coverage? And photos that don’t feel true to the two of you? Well, that’s just not gonna cut it, my friends!
Here’s What You Get:
Photography by me and Dennis (my hubby!)
A custom elopement photography BFF kit, which includes:
“Getting to know you” questionnaire(s);
Personalized elopement location idea list;
Tips, trips, logistics, and planning tools; and
A custom elopement photography timeline for your best day ever!
Edited digital images
Online gallery to share your epic day with your family and friends
Online Print Shop for easy ordering of prints, canvases + albums
Travel fees are included anywhere in BC