The Ultimate Kananaskis Wedding & Elopement Planning Guide
Getting married in Kananaskis Country, or K-Country, simply put, is incredible! With over 4000 square kilometres of rugged and wild landscapes to explore, there’s a reason that it’s one of our favourite areas in the Rockies. In general, it’s much quieter than the tourist traps in Banff National Park and when you know where to go, scenery to rival anywhere on the planet! With Kananaskis being lesser known, it’s definitely helpful to get some local knowledge and where better to start than with our thoughts (having lived in Kananaskis for many years!). Regardless of where you are traveling from, questions like this will feel all too familiar:
“How do I elope in Kananaskis?”
“Do I need a permit to get married or elope in Kananaskis?”
“Where is the best location for an outdoor ceremony?”
“What are the best hikes for a sunrise elopement?”
Of course there’s no right or wrong way to go about designing your dream day and we’re simply here to lay out some useful information to get the ball rolling and spark some ideas for you on what’s possible. Hopefully the info here can help answer some of these questions for you. This is by no means all of the information you could find but we’ve kept things very specific to Kananaskis Country. There’s lots of other popular options if you’d like to explore our complete wedding guides for the mountains of Yoho, Jasper, Banff and Waterton National Parks.
How to legally get married in Kananaskis
If you are planning to legally marry in Kananaskis, you will need to apply for a marriage license within 3 months of your actual wedding date. You can pick up your marriage license from an Alberta Registry office upon your arrival in Alberta. You and your partner will be required to provide your personal info, your parents info and if either of the couple have previously divorced, you will need a copy of the divorce certificate. You can find all the details from the government website. On the day of your wedding, just don’t forget to bring it along with you for your wedding commissioner! You will of course need 2 witnesses (we can act as those for you!) and any necessary ceremony permit.
Regulations for Outdoor Weddings in Kananaskis
We deliberately talk about outdoor spaces in this section and it’s important to recognize that this means you will be on provincial land. The reason this is key, is because there are some select venues in Kananaskis that are on private property and do not require a ceremony permit to be submitted through the provincial system.
Now we’ve cleared that up, let’s assume you’re exploring an outdoor ceremony and you need to get a permit, you can find all the information here. The permit is essentially in place to help ensure the longevity of the park and there are two main areas to apply for a permit in Kananaskis Country. Applications are accepted up to one year in advance and it’s key to note that submitting a permit doesn’t mean it will be accepted. This is, for example if you need to provide any additional permits, such as Alberta Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis or even proof of general liability insurance (for a minimum of $2,000,000 per occurrence). The main thing is to make sure you have the up-to-date info as these requirements tend to change with no rhyme or reason, without much public notice.
The final piece of the puzzle for each of your guests (including you) is to make sure you have a Kananaskis Conservation Pass, for your vehicle. This is the provincial equivalent to the National Parks Pass you would purchase to visit Banff. You can purchase these easily online and it’s all done based on license plates so if you have a rental vehicle you can process it here once you pick your vehicle up.
Bonus Tip - you can even check whether or not your photographer has their license to operate legally there or not. Check out the business registry to find out which vendors are, or aren’t licensed.
The Best Time of Year to Get Married in Kananaskis
This will depend on and should reflect your relationship, your travel and holiday plans, the type and size of celebration you are having and ultimately what you want to do! Whilst it’s easy for us to say there’s no bad time of year, there’s definitely some pros and cons to each season. You’ll notice we’ve “adjusted” the dates a little to suit what is more likely to happen here in the Rockies. At the end of the day, if you can’t decide when to get married or elope, if you can talk us through what you picture your celebration feeling and looking like then we can give you a good idea of a date range to aim for!
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!
Popular Outdoor Wedding Venues & Locations in Kananaskis
Don’t forget, you’ll need your ceremony permit for these! Now, we can’t go listing every single location in Kananaskis, there’s simply too many to choose from. What we can do is suggest a few of the more well known areas for inspiration and if you really want somewhere unique and off the beaten trail then let’s get planning! For the sake of keeping things simple and not repeating ourselves, just assume that in the height of Summer, all of these places will be very busy, likely to have lots of young families around with picnics, water inflatables and SUPs. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go, it simply means that if you want privacy as a priority then we need to explore the backcountry a little more and potentially leave time to do this on another day, if you have a full day wedding ahead of you.
Wedge Pond - Barrier Lake - Upper Lake - Lower Lake
Wedding Venues in Kananaskis
Kananaskis Mountain Lodge
The beautiful and impressive, Kananaskis Mountain Lodge is your luxury option for a wedding venue in Kananaskis. The Lodge has over 16 unique event spaces on site that can accommodate anywhere from 4 to 400 guests. There’s plenty of rooms for everyone, a choice of dining options and the luxurious Knordic Spa to kick back and relax at. You can have an outdoor ceremony in the hotel grounds. This is considered to be in the Provincial Parks so you’ll need that ceremony permit we mentioned above. You can book a two-hour time frame between the hours of 8:00am and 8:00pm. For information regarding permits, permissible chairs, viewpoints, and to make a booking, please contact the Alberta Parks Kananaskis special events at: kananaskis.approvals@gov.ab.ca
Mt. Engadine Lodge
Mount Engadine Lodge’s cozy, rustic cabins and expansive, pristine meadows and mountain views are the perfect backdrop for your dream wedding. Just 40 kms south of Canmore, Mount Engadine Lodge feels like a remote destination without the endless travel. It’s a beautiful place to celebrate your love for one another and with sleeping arrangements for up to 36 adults, this is perfect for more intimate celebrations. Just don’t forget that outdoor ceremony permit for the meadows!
Located in the heart of Kananskis Country, this beautiful ranch can host wedding receptions of various sizes in the Kiska Lodge (max capacity 300 guests). Outdoor ceremonies take place on the grounds with a spectacular mountain back-drop and an indoor option can also be arranged. There’s ways to create a unique feel with a horse drawn carriage ride for the bride and groom, or a wagon ride for your guests as an activity between the ceremony and the reception.
Located in the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains, take advantage of the incredible backdrop this property has to offer. This location is better suited for those looking to keep the intimate feel and stay away from the crowds that can be drawn to Kananaskis, especially through the Summer.
Ideally suited for smaller and more intimate outdoor wedding ceremonies of up to 75 guests. With mountain views and easy access to the site and ample parking nearby, this is a beautiful location for your intimate country wedding ceremony.
Nestled in the heart of Kananaskis, Easter Seals Alberta’s Camp Horizon is the perfect mountain venue to host your wedding from September to May. The Main Hall can comfortably accommodate 130 people for your reception and your guests have the option to stay overnight in the dorms too. Set up the lawn games, have a camp fire and celebrate the way you want!
Adventurous & Unique Wedding Venues in Kananaskis
Sundance Lodges
A unique and rustic camping experience in Kananaskis Country! Located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, Sundance Lodges offers adventure accommodation in beautiful canvas tipis, comfortable trapper's tents and unserviced campsites. You’ll be off the grid, disconnected and close to many hiking trails…perfect for you adventure elopement!
Backcountry Locations to Elope in Kananaskis
Where do we start? K-Country has long been considered the hidden gem of the Canadian Rockies. Slipping under the radar compared to Lake Louise it has been growing in popularity and no longer considered “a secret of the Rockies”. That said, as with all of the backcountry offerings in the Rockies, if you are prepared to walk a little further than most, you’ll end up with some privacy and some of the best views around. One of our areas of real expertise lies in our knowledge of the trails, the way the valleys connect and how the light interacts with the landscapes out here. If you are looking for a camping or hiking elopement then we’d love to hear from you to help you plan your day(s) to make the best of it. We can help you with sunrise hiking elopements, multi day camping weddings and everything in between. Want to know if your favourite hike is better at sunrise vs sunset? How about if there’s wildflowers in the landscape? Or if you’ll get glacier views from your chosen summit? These are details we’re interested in and we can help you hand pick your perfect location.
Best Photo Spots in Kananaskis
Probably one of the questions we get asked the most! Where should we go for photos? Well, as usual, this all begins with you. We need to know a little more about you and help you understand what to expect with each location. Imagine asking us to order something from a restaurant menu for you without even knowing what you like to eat! Sounds crazy but this is the way we feel and approach these questions. There’s so many places that you might love, but what if you don’t? How does that make your day feel special? So, the best thing to do is get in touch and find out if we’re a good fit for your plans. That way we can get to know your likes and dislikes and hand pick some amazing places for you.
Local Vendor Listings
Whilst most vendors aren’t actually based in Kananaskis itself, these are the teams that work in the mountains and come highly recommended for their craft.
Wedding Cakes & Desserts
Commissioners
Decor & Rentals
Wedding Florists
Hair & Make up Artists
Canmore & Banff Makeup Artistry
Music & DJ Services
Planning & Coordination Services
Registry
Limo & Transportation
Videography
Whilst this feels like an overwhelming amount of info to digest in one go, it’s all here for you and we’re always looking to update and refresh our resources as new vendors open up in town, venues change hands and new photography considerations pop up. As we mentioned, this is by no means all of the available information but hopefully you find the answer to your questions and are able to move forward with your planning.
As you move through your planning stages, you may find you have more questions that you need help with so feel free to get in touch with us if you want to pick our brains.
Kahli & Leo
Wild Alpine Image Co.