How to Get Married in Banff as a US Citizen: The Complete Guide for US Couples Planning their Destination Elopement in Banff
If you're dreaming of a wedding surrounded by towering peaks, turquoise lakes, and untouched wilderness, Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada is a truly special place to exchange your vows. While planning a destination wedding or elopement abroad might seem daunting, we’ve put together this guide to make it easy for US couples to tie the knot in Banff. Leaning on local knowledge is always best and this is just a peak into how we can help take any stress away during your planning stages.
Why Choose Banff for Your Wedding or Elopement?
Banff is a world-renowned destination, known for its dramatic mountain landscapes and pristine lakes. Whether you’re dreaming of an intimate lakeside elopement or a small wedding at one of Banff's many scenic venues, you’ll find an inspiring backdrop around every corner. Whilst Banff can become busy at times, it really benefits you to find local vendors who can help you understand what to expect and the best places to celebrate. Travelling from the US also has its benefits with a healthy exchange rate so you can stretcj your investment a little further for your special day. Plus, Banff is relatively easy to access from the US, especially from major cities like Denver, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Houston or Los Angeles.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Banff
Getting married in Banff as a US citizen is straightforward. The Canadian legal system makes it easy for foreign couples to marry in Alberta and British Columbia, as long as you have the necessary documentation. For the purpose of this blog, we’ll focus on the process for the province of Alberta, but the process is more of less the same for British Columbia, though in a different province. Here’s what you need to know:
Marriage License
You and your partner must obtain an Alberta marriage license. This can be done in person at any Alberta registry office, and there’s no waiting period once it’s issued. You’ll need valid passports and ID, plus any documentation relating to previous marriages (such as a divorce certificate). Both partners must be at least 18 years old. If either of you is 16 or 17, written consent from a parent or guardian is required. You can find the exact and most up-to-date information here and the license is something that we cannot do for you.
You can the information for the Banff registry here. As a small town, please check ahead of time for the hours of their office. It’s not uncommon for them to close over lunch and on holiday weekends. If you are staying in Banff then this is undoubtedly the place to process your license and many of our couples do so a day or two in advance. When you process your license it will be valid for up to 90 days.
What else will I need?
In addition to your license you will need the following:
Witnesses - You’ll need two witnesses over the age of 18 to sign your marriage license. With our couples travelling from overseas we are typically your witnesses and are more than happy to be so! It makes things a little extra special for us to be a part of the plans in this way and we’re happy to do so, if you need.
Officiant - You must be married by an authorized marriage commissioner, clergy, or justice of the peace. Banff has plenty of licensed officiants who specialize in destination weddings. For any reason, you cannot find one that you love, we can always help with some recommendations for you to make sure you can make things legally binding.
Planning Your Travel and Accommodations
Banff is located about 90 minutes from Calgary International Airport (YYC), which offers direct flights from many US cities. Renting a car is the best way to explore the area, especially if you’re planning an elopement or intimate ceremony in more remote locations. With that said, there are ways to create plans without needing a personal rental vehicle and there are plenty of reputable chauffeur services in the Bow Valley area (Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise).
For accommodations, Banff offers a range of options from luxury hotels like the Fairmont Banff Springs to cozy cabins and mountain lodges. In our eyes there really is something for every couple, every style and every budget. If you want a blend of adventure and comfort, consider booking a room at The Rimrock, The Fairmont Banff Springs or The Juniper Hotel Cabins or alternatively you could explore the Airbnb route further afield to find a secluded, more private and romantic space. This is where spending more time getting to know each other and your plans is key as we can really tailor your experience by providing some more specific recommendations for you throughout the planning stages.
Seasonal Considerations
Banff is stunning year-round, but each season brings a different kind of magic. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect.
Spring (Mid April - Mid June)
✓ Generally considered a quieter time to visit Banff National Park
✓ Sunrise and sunset times are more manageable (until June!)
✓ Potential for snowy peaks above greenery as we move into June
✓ The best time to view the galactic core of the Milky Way in our skies
✗ Most popular hiking trails are still closed, waiting for snow to melt
✗ If winter was long and cold with lots of snow then expect most popular locations to look like Winter still
✗ If you want to visit Moraine Lake, it doesn’t usually open until late May, early June and the lake is still usually partially frozen.
Summer (Mid June - Early September)
✓ Hiking trails and popular areas are generally open
✓ Backcountry locations are accessible
✓ Wildflowers (generally best in July and early August)
✗ Sunrise and sunset times are very early and late respectively
✗ Wildfires, smoke and wildlife can cause unexpected closures to hiking trails, roads and places you want to be
✗ It is busy…very busy. As in, parking fills up and you have to go elsewhere.
✗ Short night time hours so stargazers have to lose a lot of sleep…a lot!
Autumn/Fall (Mid September - Early October)
✓ Deciduous trees turn hues of yellow and orange
✓ Sunrise and sunset times are starting to feel more normal again
✓ We might get snow!
✗ Wildflowers are past their best and usually fried by the sun
✗ We might get snow!
✗ It is still crazy busy and hiking trails explode with popularity to see “Golden Larches” - the trees that turn orange.
Early Winter (Early October - Mid December)
✓ Your best chance for open water/thawed lakes surrounded by snow
✓ Longer night time hours to help with stargazing and the Aurora (if it shows up!)
✓ Generally a quieter time to visit
✗ Lots of hiking options and trailheads now closing or inaccessible
✗ Not guaranteed to look like a “winter wonderland” in the event that we get a slow start to the winter snowfall
Winter (Mid-December - Mid April)
✓ Your window for fully frozen, snow covered, winter wonderland feels!
✓ Long night time hours to help with stargazing and the Aurora (if it shows up!)
✓ Enjoy skiing and snowboarding at the local resorts
✗ Lots of hiking options and trailheads now closing or inaccessible
✗ It is cold. We can’t guarantee how cold, but don’t say we didn’t warn you that it can reach -40 below and that’s in degrees Celsius!
Elopement and Intimate Wedding Locations in Banff
Banff is home to some of the most jaw-dropping elopement and wedding locations in the world. You can freely find quite a wide selection of locations scattered over social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest and many of those will likely be one of these:
Lake Minnewanka
Surrounded by towering peaks and a brilliant blue lake, this is a perfect spot for intimate vows or elopements.
Tunnel Mountain Reservoir
Offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, this is a stunning location for small ceremonies.
Two Jack Lake
A quieter alternative to the more famous lakes, with equally breathtaking views and serene vibes.
Bow Lake
A beautiful location that provides a little more space and lakeshore than some of the others. Plus it’s a little further afield which may keep it a tiny bit quieter than locations closer to the town of Banff.
Peyto Lake
With low effort elevated views over this iconic lake, it is a popular choice for good reason. Be aware that space and photographic variety can be limited at this location.
Want a unique elopement location that no one knows about?
Now you’re talking our language. Whilst many of our iconic locations are popular for good reason, there’s a much longer list of incredible places that are equally spectacular and often places no-one else knows about. This is our area of expertise and where we come into our own. This is a huge part of our location planning assistance and something we go into great detail with you on. Once we know more about the types of scenery you love we can start honing in on some more suggestions.
Do You Need a Wedding or Elopement Planner?
This largely depends on what you have planned and what your vision looks like. For most of our couples, it hasn’t been necessary as our planning assistance has been everything they needed. From our experience, the times we’ve had couples hire a planner is when they have a more involved outdoor ceremony space to set up. For example, they need someone on hand to set up chairs and florals etc. With that said, when it comes to local knowledge and planning assistance, we’ve often found there really isn’t much we can’t help with so feel free to lean on us as much as possible before feeling like you need to hire more vendors to help shape your celebration.
Other Important Considerations
Marriage Certificate
After your wedding, you’ll need to apply for a marriage certificate from the Alberta Vital Statistics office. This document will be required if you need to legally register your marriage back in the US. You can find all the information you need here.
Currency Exchange
Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD), so be sure to factor in exchange rates when budgeting for your wedding which will be in your favour. You also need to factor in Alberta’s provincial goods and sales tax, which is 5% on your services.
Wildfire, Wildlife and Weather
There needs to be some expectations set with regard to being in the outdoors. It can be cold, wet, windy and overcast which may stifle your dream of “sunny” or “golden light” conditions so please don’t put that pressure on your day. No matter the weather, it is always pretty special out here. In addition, there could be area or location closures set in place by the Federal or Provincial government for a variety of reasons such as wildfires or wildlife. This isn’t something within your control, nor ours. All of this can be applied to heli celebrations too and could cause your flight to be cancelled.
Just be realistic that anything could happen and this is why it is important for us to have a plan B and C in place for an easy pivot, if needed. Again, this is where our expertise will take all of the stress away and allow you to relax and enjoy your day. It really is priceless to have a team like us on your side to take care of logistics like this so you don’t have to.
Privacy & Busy Areas
Let’s set the record straight. Banff is busy. Whilst you may say “yes, we know'“ and “we’ve heard about how busy it is”, we’ve had many of our couples say just how surprised they were, even shocked, to see how busy it can be in the tourist hotspots. There’s no sense hiding this from you and the most important reason to bring it up is because most of our couples do not want to be on display for their intimate moments. You need to be realistic that “easily accessible” and “private” do not go hand in hand in this part of the world. With that said, yes, you can go to a popular location and find some privacy - you just need to be prepared to walk further than the rest of the crowds! Yes, we know all the best spots but even for us, there are certain places we just simply would not go at certain times!
Banff is a dream destination for adventurous couples from the US looking to elope or have a small, intimate wedding in one of the most stunning landscapes on earth. With a bit of planning and this guide in hand, you’ll be well on your way to saying “I do” in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
If you’re ready to start planning your Banff wedding or elopement, we’d love to help you create a completely unique and unforgettable experience. Get in touch with us to learn more about our packages and how we can make your dream day a reality!
Kahli & Leo
Wild Alpine Image Co.