Vancouver Elopement Photographer

Vancouver and BC have become a popular spot for elopements for couples from all around over the past few years. Perhaps it has to do with the costs and logistics of putting together a wedding or maybe you just don’t want to have the pressure of having to impress people with a wedding day. With an elopement, the two of you can sneak off somewhere and it’s just about you and the relationship you share together. No catering, no venues, no fuss.

If you want the share the experience with others while still keeping it small, consider a micro wedding! You could invite just the parents, or just the immediate family, or even just the wedding party. Regardless of who you invite, micro weddings functional are basically an elopement with a handful of guests.

Couple holding hands walking in a meadow with the mountains in the background

The Pros and Cons of Eloping

Pro: According to Wedding Wire, the average wedding in Canada is about $30,000. With Vancouver being a major city that number goes up to $35,000 and increases as you get closer to the city centre. It’s not uncommon for weddings within the city of Vancouver to be around $50,000. With that said an elopement would cost considerably less. You’ll still have your outfits and likely some hair and makeup. You may also want to get a bouquet and perhaps even some decor, but beyond that, your costs are considerably lower than a traditional wedding. With an elopement, there really is no “day” that you have to create or a party that you have the host. In fact, there might not even be any guests at all! That’s kinda the whole point of an elopement right?

Pro: Naturally with the smaller day, there’s fewer things happening and therefore fewer things to plan. You're unlikely to run into any logistical nightmares with an elopement! Also, all the stress of who you will invite and who you’ll, unfortunately, have to leave out simply doesn’t exist with an elopement as there is no guest list. On top of that, with no guests, you won’t have to worry about anyone potentially disapproving of your choices and this day is entirely about you and your relationship together.

Pro: With an elopement, your options of where to elope opens up dramatically compared to a traditional wedding. Sure, there are some indoor and outdoor venues that you can go to, but there are many places that are outdoors where you can elope with a simple permit! Without the worries of venue restraints and costs, you can choose a place to elope that’s more unique and even off the beaten path.

Cons: The big downside to an elopement is not being able to share the day with your loved ones like you would with a traditional wedding. Beyond just the time and moments you could share together, many people, families and cultures have important traditions that you may not want to miss out on! Maybe it's a traditional moment where the father of the bride walks his daughter down the aisle that would be very important for him. Or it could be a more cultural event, such as a Chinese tea ceremony. These are significant things so you’ll have to decide how significant they are to you if you’re deciding whether to elope or not.

Con: Many people who elope still might end up hosting a dinner party of sorts for their friends and family. While this dinner party may be smaller and more low key than what a traditional wedding could be it's still an event that you have to plan, host, and pay for.

Con: You may potentially inadvertently hurt some friends or family. Perhaps there was a friend who invited you to be a part of their wedding party and you won’t have a wedding party because you’re eloping. Or maybe there’s a close family member that's always wanted to see you get married and they won’t be able to if you elope. There's nothing wrong with either decision but there are some important things that you will have to take into consideration!

Groom kissing bride standing next to VW beatle

What you’ll need to elope

1. A marriage license. A marriage license needs to be purchased three months before your wedding date from a marriage license issuer, with the cost being $100. You can read more info about obtaining a marriage license or search for a marriage license issuer.

2. Regardless of location and guest number, technically speaking, you will need to apply for a permit. How much that permit costs depends on how many hours you’ll need to be there and how many guests you plan to have. The price ranges between $102-204. The city of Vancouver has a set list of places and parks that you can get married at. If you would like to get married somewhere else you will have to apply for a special events permit.

3. An officiant. If you’re getting married off the beaten path you might want to consider an officiant who’s happy to make the trek with you to your location spot of choice.

4. You’ll need two witnesses to sign your marriage papers, I’m happy to be one of them.

5. Since it’ll most likely be just you two, consider having a videographer capture the day for you so that you can share it with friends and family! My friend Josh would do an amazing job for you.

6. Although not necessary a bouquet is always nice! I’d recommend Garden Party Flowers.

7. Even though an elopement may be simpler than a traditional wedding, if you want to take your elopement to the next level, a planner might be worth considering!

8. Once you’ve found your spot, it’s best to shoot around sunset for the best lighting. Just a little something to keep in mind!

9. Wedding-ish attire. You can go for full wedding attire if you’d like or break out of traditional norms and wear whatever you feel!

10. Transportation. If you’re flying into Vancouver, consider renting a car as most common elopement spots are away from the city.

11. Technically speaking, an elopement is just the bride and groom, however, if you want to turn it into more of a micro wedding you could consider inviting just the parents, the immediate family, or the friends who would have been in your wedding party!

Bride and Groom walking down nature path

Where to elope in Vancouver

Whether you choose to elope in your own backyard or venture off to the island, there are a whole host of locations to choose from depending on your elopement needs!

UBC

Bride and groom holding hands walking through a rose garden

UBC offers a variety of different backdrops to meet your elopement needs. There’s the rose garden, the area behind the Museum of Anthropology, the Asiatic Garden, and you can even use the sculpture outside the Buchanan building if it’s raining. UBC also has its own botanical gardens as well as a farm that would be suitable for both an elopement and a micro wedding.

Pacific Spirit Park

A bride and groom getting married in the woods with their parents in the foreground.

Right next to UBC and still on the University Endowment Lands, Pacific Spirit Park is full of trails that are just lined thick with trees. Having shot all around Vancouver and beyond, there is nowhere else in the city that’s got quite the same look. Also, due to its size, Pacific Spirit Park is usually pretty quiet. In all the times I’ve shot there I’ve never seen a crowd of people. There’s usually only the odd person walking by or a small group.

VanDusen Botanical Garden

Bride and groom strutting through a row of trees

VanDusen offers the largest variety of botanical diversity of any location within Vancouver. While there is an entry fee, the park can get fairly busy in the summer months. With that said, due to its size, you should have no problem finding a quiet little spot for your elopement or wedding.

Stanley Park

Bride and groom holding hands, walking through the woods laughing

Stanley Park is probably the most well known and popular park in Vancouver. There are some spots that I’d avoid during the warmer months because of the hoards of locals and tourists that flock there, but I do know some spots that are quiet even when it’s summer. The park is also home to some nice wedding venues such as the Teahouse if you’re interested in having a micro wedding.

Second Beach

Man stands at the beach holding his fiancee from behind with an ocean view

Located right at the end of Stanley Park, Second Beach is a great spot for a beach elopement during the cooler months as it can get quite busy once it becomes warmer. Second Beach is also right next to the forest so it’s a versatile location for portraits. Personally, among the downtown beaches, I’d favour Second Beach over English Bay as English bay seems to be the busier beach year-round.

QE Park

Groom leading bride through walkway of flowering plants

QE Park is basically like the free version of VanDusen. With that said, between May and September, it can get very busy as it’s a popular wedding spot. You can, however, elope at the Bloedel Conservatory within QE Park, and that spot is a little quieter.

Granville Island

Couple having a picnic and the champagne is bursting out of the bottle.

Granville Island is surrounded by False Creek however it’s also great for all the couples who want more of a bit of an industrial look. It’s got the cement factory, old Emily Carr, as well as the Granville Island Market. After your elopement, you can hop on over to many of the establishments for a bite to eat!

Tower Beach

Man leading his fiancee off some beach logs

Tower Beach is located right next to Wreck Beach. While you can get there by going to wreck beach and just walking east, you can get there quicker by taking the stairs on the corner of NW Marine Drive and Chancellor Boulevard. The stairs themselves are actually a great spot for photos when it’s sunny!

Kits Beach

Man leading his fiancee off the beach rocks

Kits Beach might just be the most popular beach in the summer, so with the said I wouldn’t recommend it between May and September. Short of those months Kits actually offers a variety of spots to shoot. My favourite spot is the beach rocks right next to Vanier Park!

Spanish Banks

Man piggybacking his fiancee on the beach

Like Kits Beach, Spanish Banks is also quite busy during the warmer months and since it’s one long stretch of sand, there isn’t really a quiet spot to hide away so to speak. With that said, it’s great during the cooler months as it offers both a view of the North Shore mountains as well as Downtown Vancouver.

Jericho Beach

Couple holding hands walking on rocks with the mountains in the background and a lot of sky

The great thing about Jericho Beach is that it’s both a beach and a park! While like the other previously mentioned beaches, Jericho Beach can get quite busy during the warmer months, however, thanks to its park portion you can actually get away from the crowds for a more intimate experience. There’s also lots of wild rabbits there!

Any Park

Could holding hands, walking on beach rocks seen from far away

You can actually elope at most parks within Vancouver, all you need is a permit. Maybe you’ve got a park that’s special to you guys? Or maybe the park is a nice little hidden gem. Regardless of why you choose it, know that most parks are available for elopements!

Backyard

Kid laying on oversized jenga blocks as bride and groom looks on

A backyard wedding has the potential to be one of the most intimate wedding or elopement spots since it’s in your own back yard! If you don’t have a backyard, maybe you could consider borrowing a backyard of a family member. With a backyard wedding, you are guaranteed your own privacy.

Whytecliff Park

Couple holding each other standing on grass with the ocean rocks and ocean in the background

Whtyecliff Park is one of the most popular rocky beach parks in West Vancouver. Between May and September it’s not unusual to see multiple shoots happening here at the same time. For that reason, I’d stick to Whytecliff Park only during the cooler months.

Lighthouse Park

Bride and groom holding each other standing on a rocky beach

Lighthouse Park is very similar to Whytecliff Park, which shouldn’t be a surprise as they’re about a 5-10min drive from each other. Like Whytecliff, Lighthouse Park can get very busy during the warmer months, however one advantage that it has is that it’s much much bigger, so theres usually a quiet spot that you can find where you can elope in at least somewhat privacy.

Deer Lake

Couple holding hands walking down a gravel path with tall grass on both sides and a lake in the background

Deer Lake Park in Burnaby is actually massive. Most people stick to the north side of the park, however, the south side of the park actually has a lot to offer! There are open gravel paths with lots of tall grass, but there’s also wooded areas as well as some lakefront spots too. Being further away from the parking lot also means the south side of the park is quieter.

Pitt Lake

Man leading his fiancee through tall grass with the mountains in the background

Pitt Lake is probably the most popular secret but not so secret spot. If you asked me a few years ago, I probably would have kept this place a secret but these days the cat is largely out of the bag. Surrounded by mountains, tall grass and water its easy to see how this spot has become so popular over the years.

Redwoods Park

Couple saying their vows while holding hands, standing outside

Redwoods Park is the only park in the lower mainland to have an abundance of redwood trees. They were actually a gift from California! This nice and large wooded park is a great choice for those who live in Surrey and the surrounding area.

Porteau Cove

Man carrying fiancee across small stream with ocean and mountains in the background

About an hours drive from Vancouver is Porteau Cove which is found along the Sea to Sky Highway. Despite its mountainous views, this location is usually fairly quiet due to its distance from the city. Porteau Cove is also the closest place to the city where you can star gaze!

Sea to Sky Gondola

Bride and groom kissing on a suspension bridge with trees and mountains in the background

Heading a little further north and just before Squamish is the Sea to Sky Gondola. Offering breathtaking mountain views along with some forested areas as well, this is a popular spot for everyone during the warmer months. If you are looking to elope or have a micro wedding in the off season, however, this is definitely one location to consider!

Whistler

Bride and groom holding each other standing in a forest

Whistler is a bit of a trip, but if you’re looking for a bit of a getaway, it’s a great option for you! It has lots to offer from thick forests to mountain views to lakes too. Whistler is also close enough that you could head there in the morning or even the afternoon, elope, get some photos done, then come back home and sleep in your own bed!

Bowen Island

Bridesmaid helping another bridesmaid with her makeup as they sit outside with the ocean and trees in the background

Just a short half-hour ferry ride from Horseshoe Bay is your own little island getaway in Bowen Island. Surrounded by water and trees, it’s a great option for your elopement or micro wedding. Due to its distance from the mainland, it’s also more likely to be quieter and more intimate compared to other options.

Tofino

A tented wedding reception at night in a botanical garden with the moon in the background.

If you truly want to make a trip out of it, I would suggested checking out Tofino. Located around 5hrs outside of Vancouver, on the western side of Vancouver Island, Tofino is a little surf town where life seems to slow down just a little. There are various spots around town to elope, whether you want something in the woods, or next the the pacific ocean waves.

Vancouver Elopement Packages

Elopement pricing:

$1700 for 3hrs
$1200 for 2hrs
$650 for 1hr

Expect to receive at least 40+ edited images with each package. Images will be delivered to you via an online gallery. Thinking of eloping outside of Vancouver? I’m happy to travel! Let’s chat.