How Much Does It Cost to Elope in Banff?
Eloping in Banff offers an unforgettable experience, stunning landscapes, intimate moments, and a day truly focused on you. But how much does it actually cost to elope here? The answer depends on a few key factors, including location, vendors, and any additional experiences you want to include. Below, we’ll break down some of the costs so you can plan your elopement in Banff National Park with confidence.
The Cost of a Banff Elopement
While traditional weddings can cost upwards of $30,000+, elopements in Banff can be much more affordable while still offering an incredible experience. Most couples spend anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 on their elopement, depending on what’s most important to them. One of the common misconceptions with eloping is that the main drive is to save money. This isn’t necessarily the case and will completely depend on your vision, time of year and size and type of celebration. Even with that said, we’re going to do our best to give you an honest overview of the range of costs that you should consider when planning your elopement.
Here’s a breakdown of key costs:
Photography
Your photos are one of the few tangible things you’ll take away from your elopement, so investing in a photographer who understands the landscapes, lighting, and emotions of the day is essential. Professional elopement photography in Banff typically ranges from $3,500 to $10,000+, depending on the coverage and experience of the photographer. When you are weighing up your options, don’t forget to consider the inclusions with your package options. For example, some photographers will include print credits, or an album whilst others may offer a free or discounted engagement or post elopement session. Whichever inclusions pique your interest, make sure you are aware of your contract terms so you don’t come up against any hidden surprises. One of the more sought after “extras” is a second photographer so do your due diligence to find out who that may be, particularly if your primary photographer hires an associate for the event. In our case, you’ll always have two photographers at no extra cost as we believe that having double the eyes, energy and focus on your special day will always equate to more moments captured.
Cost - $3,500 - $10,000+
Travel & Accommodation
If you’re coming from out of town, you’ll need to factor in flights, rental cars, and lodging. Banff (and Canmore) offers a range of accommodations, from budget-friendly lodges to luxury stays at hotels like the Fairmont Banff Springs. Expect to spend anywhere from $200 to $1500+ per night on accommodations, depending on the level of comfort you’re looking for. We often find that our couples reach out for hotel recommendations throughout their planning stags. We’re all too happy to help provide some guidance if you feel a little lost, after all there’s a lot to choose from.
Cost - $200 - $1500+ per night
Wedding Attire
Whether it’s a flowing gown that catches the mountain breeze or a tailored suit for your mountaintop vows, wedding attire costs vary widely. Many couples spend between $500 to $5,000, depending on designer preferences and any associated alterations. Don’t forget that you will be spending all day in your attire so make sure it fits you well and is comfortable as well as looking the way you desire! Our couples tend to ask us lots of questions about their attire and whether or not it will look good, or suit the landscapes that we’ll be surrounded by. From experience, we can honestly say that you should be basing your decisions on what you love, before wondering if the photos will look good! You’re going to look incredible on your special day so go with your natural preferences and enjoy choosing your attire.
Cost - $500 - $5000
Marriage License & Officiant
To legally elope in Banff, you’ll need an Alberta marriage license ($40) and an officiant to perform the ceremony. We wrote another blog detailing how to get a marriage license in Banff which you may find useful. Officiant fees generally range from $500 to $1,500, depending on their experience and travel requirements. Alternatively, you can have a legal ceremony elsewhere and exchange vows privately in the mountains if that suited your plans a little more. Even if you are from out of Province or from overseas, the process to get your marriage license is very straight forward and easy to do. Better yet, we can even be your witnesses if you are in need!
Cost - $500 - $1500
Permits
Depending on where you choose to elope, you may need a permit for your ceremony. The good news is that this permit is free for Banff and will allow for up to 20 guests in outdoor spaces and day use areas, you just need to submit the permit ahead of time. If you prefer to hire a more private space, for example, Tunnel Mountain, you can do so at an hourly rate of $310. This essentially doubles as you “venue” or elopement location but requires this fee. Some of these private locations require additional fees for photography or exclusive access, but these costs should be the responsibility of the vendor. Furthermore, you will need to know which permits are your responsiblity vs the responsibility of the vendor(s) you hire. This shouldn’t be a complicated question for your prospective vendors to answer as the information is readily available online. Everyone will do things differently based on their business needs, though from our photography perspective, we cover the costs for our business licenses on location(s). As we’ve alluded to, this is one of those convenient inclusions that our couples can relax knowing that we have our bases covered to legally operate. Finally, if you are planning on spending time in the National Parks, every person will need a visitor pass, which can be bought for a single day at $11 per day. For a simple guideline, if you are paying for 2 adults for 7days then you may as well buy an annual pass which will then cover you in all of Canada’s National Parks for the year. All said and done, permits range from $22 to $800 based on hiring private locations, but most can be enjoyed for free!
Cost - $22 - $800
Hair & Makeup
Professional hair and makeup artists help you feel confident while ensuring your look lasts through the day’s adventures. Prices range from $300 to $800, depending on the stylist and whether they travel to your location.
Cost - $300 - $800
Flowers
Having a bouquet is certainly a personal choice, but one that we personally feel is a lovely addition to your elopement. For our own elopement, we chose matching florals and loved them. You can expect to pay from $100+ for your flowers.
Cost - $100+
Cake (or a Picnic)
This depends on your plans throughout the day and as usual, is a personal decision as to whether or not you would like to enjoy some treats together. These don’t always have to be for the sweet-tooths out there. There are plenty of savoury options out there too with hand crafted sandwiches and charcuterie becoming more and more popular. Living in Canmore has it’s benefits as we know all the best caterers, feel free to reach out for some recommendations! Costs to add something like this to your day will start from $75+ depending on your desires.
Cost - $75+
Adventure Extras
Want to take your elopement to the next level? Consider adding experiences like a helicopter elopement ($1,500–$5,000), a private chef dinner ($500+), or a canoe rental on Lake Louise (~$150). These activities are what can elevate an already special day into the next level and make the day feel even more personalized and true to you. These are the things that may not be necessary but if you do choose to add them, do so with some intentional planning to ensure your day flows smoothly. This is where our expertise comes in with timeline planning to make sure that you can really immerse yourself in your day together.
Cost - $500 to $5000+
Videography
If you do decide that you want your memories documented on video too, depending on the exact end result and feel that you are looking for you can expect to go through a similar process as sourcing your photographer. You’ll find a variety of styles and offerings.
Cost - $1500 to $5000+
Total Cost Estimate
Your Banff elopement can be as simple or as elaborate as you’d like. Whether you’re dreaming of a minimalist “just us” adventure or a luxury elopement with every detail planned, Banff offers endless possibilities. When you start dreaming of your special day, consider how you want your day to feel and the activities you have in your vision.
For a minimalist day with 3 nights accommodation in the area, you can ball park $6000.
For a more adventurous day designed with personal touches and activities along the way, you can ball park $25,000+.
As you can imagine, there is everything in between and for some of the costs, you will have to factor in the time of year for your celebration as that will impact seasonal businesses in a bigger way. This is what we love about designing elopements with our couples is that there really is something for all budgets and we know from personal experience that having a meaningful day together doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Is Eloping in Banff Worth It?
Absolutely. Unlike traditional weddings, eloping in Banff gives you the freedom to focus on what truly matters - each other, the experience, and the stunning scenery that makes your day unforgettable.
Planning your Banff elopement? Get in touch and let’s start crafting an unforgettable day that feels like you in every way.
Kahli & Leo
Wild Alpine Image Co.