Eloping in Canada

Victoria Island, Canadian Rockies, Cape Breton

Couples eloping in Canada have an entire country of wonderful outdoor locations as well as historic lodges and quaint B&Bs to choose from. Our focus will be three areas of Canada which are popular tourist areas, as well as popular areas for couples wishing to elope: Vancouver Island, Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia, and the Canadian Rockies. For elopement choices in Niagara Falls, check out our page on Eloping to Niagara Falls.

Vancouver Island

Situated off Canada's west coast, Vancouver is often referred to as "Canada's Paradise on the Pacific," and is frequently included on yearly "best of" lists of both Travel + Leisure and Conde' Nast. Vancouver Island's accolades are certainly well deserved, as it offer couples a wide variety of scenery and experiences, from lush rainforests, to rocky shorelines to the city of Victoria with its high teas, double-decker buses and horse-drawn carriages.

A few standout venues offering elopement packages on Vancouver Island include the Sooke Harbour House on Whiffen Spit Beach, which offers an elopement package in their gardens with 180-degree Pacific Ocean views. Sooke Harbour House has the distinction of winning the 2010 Award for "Most Excellent Eco Resort" from Conde' Nast Johansens as well as the 2008 "Grand Award" from Wine Spectator.  Their "Secret Hearts Elopement Package" includes a wildflower bouquet and boutonniere, as well as a wedding cake, one night's lodging and multi-course dinner for two in your room or their dining room. Their website is www.sookeharbourhouse.com. 

Another outstanding place to elope on Vancouver Island is the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino, along the west coast of Vancouver Island, which was voted by Conde Nast Johansens readers as the "Most Excellent Romantic Hideaway in North America for 2010."  The Wickaninnish Inn offers direct access to Chesterman Beach, along with panoramic ocean or beach views from every guest room. Their "I Do" elopement package features two nights lodging, as well as a bouquet and boutonniere, professional photography, a single-tiered wedding cake, and a side-by-side hot stone massage for two. You can get more info at their website at www.wickinn.com.

Cape Breton Island - Nova Scotia

Couples living outside Canada or the Northeastern United States might not know about Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia. But, if you're looking for some outstanding scenery, then you should definitely learn more about it. In fact, in years past Cape Breton Island has been voted as one of the "Top North American Islands" by reader's of Conde' Nast traveler Magazine. Couples into outdoor activities will have a fabulous honeymoon of hiking the Cabot Trail, which is thought of by many as one of the most scenic destinations in the world. Cape Breton also boasts the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, featuring hiking trails, golfing, mountain biking, and fresh and salt water beaches for relaxing.

For couples seeking an elopement package on Cape Breton Island, look no further than Castle Moffett overlooking the Bras d'Or Lakes, which has earned both Canada select's Five Star and AAA Four Diamond ratings. The Castle is located near the village of Baddeck, just minutes from the Cabot Trail, Highland Village and four championship golf courses. The offer a wonderful "3-Night Castle Elopement Wedding" featuring 3 nights in either a 4-poster Queen or canopied King room with lake views, as well as a ceremony in the Great Hall or outside by their fountained pond, and sailboat cruise tour of the Bras d'Or Lakes on a 67' schooner. For more information, refer to their website at www.castlemoffett.com.

Just FYI, we've included a video of Cape Breton from YouTube which really showcases the beauty you'll encounter:

Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rockies is the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range, and includes such vacation spots as Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and Canmore, a town approximately 1.5 hours from Calgary. The Canadian Rockies is the perfect elopement destination for couples wanting some outdoor adventure on their honeymoon. And, of course, the scenery makes for spectacular wedding photos.

One way to have a spectacular outdoor elopement ceremony amidst the beauty of the Canadian Rockies is to hire a wedding commissioner who will travel to wonderful locations in which to officiate your ceremony. In the Banff/Lake Louise area, for example, are wedding commissioners Karyn Faryna and Robin White, who officiate at numerous indoor and outdoor locations, including Banff's Bow Falls, Sulphur Mountain (which requires a gondola ride), and the shores of Moraine Lake. You can learn more about their services by going to their website at www.banfflakelouiseweddings.com.

As for inns and lodges in the Canadian Rockies which provide elopement packages, several stand out: Cathedral Mountain, Bear & Bison and Emerald lake Lodge.

Cathedral Mountain is situated beside the Kicking Horse River and surrounded by glacier peaked mountains. A stay at Cathedral Mountain brings you close to the attractions of Jasper, Banff and Kootenay National Park, as well as access to many guided actives such as horseback riding at Lake Louise, icefield helicopter tours and rafting the Kicking Horse River.
Cathedral Mountain offers their "In the Heart of the Rockies" elopement package which includes 2-nights’ accommodation, champagne and flowers, as well as a 3-course dinner for two. Their website is www.cathedralmountain.com

The Bear & Bison - A Canadian Country Inn located in the Canmore/Banff area is close to all the places you want to visit in the Canadian Rockies - Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Columbian Icefields, golfing and ski trails, Bear & Bison also pampers you with in-room spa services and a hot spring therapeutic spa hot tub in their garden. Their 2-person elopement package includes 2 nights in a honeymoon room, a ceremony in a scenic outdoor location in Canmore or Banff, flowers, bride's hair design, a wedding cake for two, and a dinner for two at a romantic restaurant in Canmore. For more information, go to their website at www.bearandbisoninn.com.

To make your decision even harder, a third spectacular wedding venue in the Canadian Rockies is Emerald Lake Lodge, which has been voted one of the top 2 resorts in Canada in the 2009 Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards. Located on the shores of Emerald lake, and just 25 miles west of Lake Louise, Emerald Lake Lodge offers an elopement package which features 2-nights’ accommodations, a 3-course dinner for two, flowers, wedding cake, and 2 breakfasts for two. You can check them out at www.crmr.com/emerald-lake-lodge.php.

Synonyms: elpoing, elopment and elpoe are typos for eloping, elopement and elope.