STORYTELLING FOCUS PHOTOGRAPHER

ADVENTURE HIKING ELOPEMENT

Have you ever wanted to have an epic hiking mountain elopement, but wanted to also include your family and friends and didn’t know how to have both? This elopement is the perfect example to follow if that’s your situation!
Britt & Travis had a day that as compltely catered to them, and was built around what was important to them. They were one of the many couples affected by Covid-19, and had originally planned a much bigger, more traditional style wedding back home in Ontario.

After waiting, switching plans, and more waiting, they decided to take the jump and elope in the Alberta Rocky Mountains! And just because they decided to elope, doesn’t mean they wanted to run away and not tell anyone. They brought 18 of their closest family and friends from out east (yes- they all flew out!) and they were able to spend the day with their loved ones on one of the best days of their adventure yet.

We spent months planning and deciding what important parts they knew they needed in their elopement, and how to make it happen. I’m not only your photographer when it comes to your elopement, I’m your helper/planner/friend/beer holder/hype girl ready to help you in whatever ways you need. If you already have everything planned out- let’s make it happen! If you don’t know where to start- I can be there for you right from the beginning to help you plan the best adventure yet. If you want to learn more and plan your elopement, contact me here!

Vendors are listed at the bottom!

Base camp resort located in Canmore AB- perfect location for you stay and get read for your elopement in the mountains!

The home base for their elopement was in the centre of everything they needed. Basecamp resorts in Canmore, Alberta is the perfect location to host your guests for your elopement, as they are apartment style complexes with tons of room, and extremely convenient location. Not to mention they have a rooftop hot top with mountain views all around!

Bride getting ready in her mountain airbnb describing the personal touches they have included into their ceremony

Britt & Travis have had a wild journey together, including periods where they were long distance. They shared a journal together, where they would write notes, letters, thoughts, and dreams together. It was the perfect sentiment to write their vows in for their elopement.
They also had a special deck of cards that they shared was an important aspect of their relationship together. Going through tough times can be hard, especially while long distance. So when Travis travelled to Britt and gave her this deck of cards claiming ‘sometimes we get dealt a shitty hand’ Britt knew she had to keep those cards for when they were ready for the best hand of their life. They saved the cards to be opened at their elopement ceremony.

Personal details for a mountain elopement. The couple includes flowers rings a deck of cards and an old diary they used to share.

Details and accessories included for a mountain elopement in Alberta Canada

Mother helping the bride get ready in their mountain airbnb in Canmore Alberta

The bride and her maid of honour at their mountain airbnb in Canmore Alberta

Views from the couples accommodations at Base Camp Resorts in Canmore Alberta

Right across the way, Travis was winding down after a morning round of golf with the boys, getting ready for the best day ever.

The groom relaxing and getting ready for his elopement at their mountain airbnb in Canmore AB

The groom going over his vows for his elopement at their mountain airbnb in Canmore AB

Taking the time to go over your vows and/or private letters to each other before your ceremony is one of my favourite parts of the day. You can see the excitement set in, and see the truth behind the words set in before your eyes, and before the actual moment.

Driving down a dirt mountain road to the location of their elopement ceremony in Kananaskis Alberta

In true Rocky Mountain fashion, we travelled up through the mountains on a dirt highway, where we stopped quite literally on the side of the road to do Britt & Travis’ first look. The spot overlooked where they had set up their elopement ceremony, right on the shore of Spray Lakes in Kananaskis, Alberta.
Doing a first look is a personal preference, and not required for elopements. BUT- they do add a special moment to your day that only you two get to experience, which makes your elopement/wedding that much more personal! Britt & Travis wanted to ability to have a moment together to calm their nerves before their ceremony, and share letters, which a first look was perfect for!

The bride and groom doing their first look overlooking their ceremony location in Kananaskis Alberta

The bride and groom read private letters they wrote to each other before their elopement ceremony with family and friends in Kananaskis Alberta

They had chosen to read private letters to each other before they joined their loved ones down along the shore. This is such a great idea if the thought of saying your vows in front of people is a little nerve wracking (which is totally normal!) It gives you both a chance to soak everything happening around you together, before going in front of your family and friends. And you can write whatever you want in your letters- they don’t even have to be from you! They could be love letters from other loved ones you read together too! But if you choose to write letters to eachother- don’t hold back. It can create such a beautiful moment for the two of you that you will never regret.

The bride and groom taking in each other moments before their ceremony on a dirt mountain road in Kananaskis Alberta

When you have your ceremony in the middle of a provincial park, you have to embrace nature, and realize that you won’t have all the bells and whistles like a more traditional wedding in a venue. Bells and whistles…. Aka… a bathroom. So you do what you gotta do! Regardless of what you’re wearing. Luckily this bride was lucky enough to have her groom hold her bouquet for her.

The groom waiting for his badass bride to make their way together to the ceremony in Kananaskis Alberta

Family and friends gather on the shore of Spray Lakes in Kananaskis Alberta for the bride and grooms elopement

Eloping doesn’t always mean you two and no witnesses. A close, small group of family and friends can really make your elopement feel that much more special. This group of people were down with whatever Britt & Travis wanted- the way getting married should be! It’s about you, and your guests, family, and friends will be there to support you no matter what way you choose to do it!

The mother walks the bride down the make shift aisle for their ceremony on the shore of Spray Lakes Alberta

Elopement ceremony on the shore of Spray Lakes in Kananaskis Alberta

The bride and groom reading their vows at their Elopement ceremony on the shore of Spray Lakes in Kananaskis Alberta

Just a personal opinion here- personal and thoughtful vows hit DIFFERENT. The time you take to write down what you vow to your partner, how you feel about them, what you’re excited for, what you’re scared for- you never want to regret NOT saying those things. It just makes your elopement that much more personal, special, and valuable. I don’t think there was a dry eye on the beach!

One of the most amazing parts of getting to meet the small group of Britt & Travis’ family and loved ones, was hearing constantly throughout the day ‘honestly, this is so them’ ‘I don’t think you could’ve created a more perfect day for them, this suits them so much’ ‘I’m honestly happy they didn’t go with their original plan. This fits their personalities and their relationship so much more!!!’ Hearing that, you know that these moments were meant to be. So don’t be afraid of what others will think when you tell them you’re crazy idea to have an adventure elopement.

Britt & Travis also personalized their elopement by including a whiskey ceremony. They had brought a bottle of whiskey from their hometown in Ontario, to be opened and shared while making their love official.

Some people like to wait until the ‘reception’ to do speeches, but realistically there are no rules! Britt and Travis chose to have their maid of honour, best man, and both their mothers make speeches directly after the ceremony. It just added to the amazing setting these two were able to have for their elopement!

Now came the REALLY fun part. Britt and Travis changed and strapped their clothes/accesories to their packs, getting ready to hike West Wind Pass in Kananaskis, Alberta. Their friends and family left and would be waiting for them with food and drinks after we returned. Again, just shows that you can still have your adventure elopement with family and friends, without having to sacrifice any experiences.

There’s something about a bride and groom getting ready together that really just hits the feels. These two embraced the mountain life, and got ready at the top of the mountain pass, with 360 degree views all around them. Not another soul to be found.

As we took portraits, and took in the views that were quite literally surrounding us from every angle possible, we made sure to follow the guidelines of Leave No Trace. These rules are extremely important to follow when experiencing nature in general, but especially important when you’re incorporating a wedding, elopement, or even just a photo session in general. Sometimes things can be forgotten and that’s why I strive (and have been educated) to be a Leave No Trace Photographer.

Who doesn’t love a Dirty Dancing moment on top of a mountain???

And I won’t lie- probably one of the most epic first dances I’ve ever had the privilege of witnessing
“Hey Siri, play Pushing Up Daisies, by the Brothers Osbourne.’’

As we started to pack up with the sun disappearing behind the peaks, Britt and Travis came out of the trees and we were absolutely BLESSED with one of the greatest sunsets I’ve ever seen. The Rocky Mountains put on a show, and I don’t know a more deserving couple to have that for their elopement.
Everyone deserves to have a beautiful day like this one for their elopement. No fuss, no stress, just happy memories, new experiences, and kick ass people. Reach out if you want to learn more about planning your personalized elopement !