Canmore Elopement Photographers
Lauren and Chris
Why a Mountaintop Elopement in Canmore is a Dream Wedding Adventure
Canmore is truly a place you have to see to believe. Located just a short drive from Calgary airport, with Banff National Park to the West, it is the ultimate destination for a mountaintop elopement adventure. We are so lucky to call this place home base for all of our mountain adventures and love helping couples choose the perfect backdrop for their wedding day.
Lauren and Chris are adventurers at heart. They wanted a wedding day that reflected their love for the outdoors and their connection to nature. They backpack, do lots of hiking, have a big red canoe, and rock climb during the summer. Having never been to the Rockies, they wanted to plan their elopement adventure as a road trip from their home in BC. It was a dream to help these two plan a day that felt like them – raw, wild and free.
An Incredible Morning Above the Clouds
Choosing to elope in the mountains is choosing to embrace the unpredictable nature of the landscape. You never know what is going to come your way in terms of weather, but we can guarantee that it’s going to be magical. On this particular day, we were hiking up through the clouds, not knowing what we were going to see at the top. As the sun rose over the peaks the clouds lifted, lighting up everything around us. It was one of the most magical experiences watching the mist rise and dance around us. These two could not have asked for a more picturesque ever-changing background to their mountaintop ceremony.
Legally Married on A Mountaintop
It was important to Lauren and Chris to have their official ceremony on top of the mountain so they asked our favourite and most adventurous officiant Cole Hofstra to hike up with us. Near the edge of an amazing viewpoint, he led them through a beautiful ceremony, the wind carrying their words.
After they were declared husband and wife we warmed up with coffee and Baileys, a tradition they keep up with all of their morning adventures. A quiet moment taking in the view as newlyweds and soaking up the beauty of the surroundings. A place that will forever be etched into their hearts.
A Change of Scenery by the Lake
We can often do all of our portraits up on the mountain but on this particular morning, the clouds rolled in heavier after their ceremony. Because of this, we decided to take a few more portraits by a lake close to where we started the hike. This allowed us to get some more intimate portraits in a calmer and warmer environment. We also loved that we were able to drive together to another location, capturing the start of their road trip together as their first adventure as a married couple.
Lauren and Chris really let go and allowed the day to unfold just how it was supposed to, letting the weather and elements guide them. To us, this is the beauty of an adventure elopement and it allows couples to start their marriage with an unforgettable experience that is unique to them and their story.
Words from the Couple
“Bec and Andrew were an absolute dream to work with! We came to them with the hopes of doing a hiking elopement in Canmore after seeing their work on Instagram. We had minimal knowledge of the Canmore area but they provided a veryhelpful location/info guide to help us decide on our hiking location and included vendor suggestions. They were also very happy to answer all of our questions and address any concerns that we had.”
“Not only are these two extremely talented photographers, they come with so much more than amazing photos. From the moment we met at the trailhead at 2:00AM, they were making sure we felt at ease and comfortable. It was quite chilly once we reached the top of our hike but Bec & Andrew had carried up mittens (with hand warmers) and extra jackets/gear for us to use. They thought of things that didn’t even occur to us and that was wonderful. Bec was also there to help me get dressed and was quick to bundle me up in a blanket in between our photos. They were both very caring towards us and our comfort.”
“We had those typical concerns about the weather forecast leading up to our day as there was the possibility of rain but Bec & Andrew kept an eye on this the whole time up until the very last moment. Their preparedness did not go unnoticed. They had packed umbrellas for us (just in case) and had paddle-boards ready to use so we could embrace any weather that was thrown our way. I’ve never had professional photos taken before and was worried about being awkward. They guided us in a way that created natural photos. From sharing snacks and chatting our way up and down the mountain, working with these two felt like we were spending the day with a couple hiking pals that just happen to be taking our photos.”
“We are still amazed with what was captured on this day. We would recommend Willow & Wolf to anyone looking to do an elopement! Bec and Andrew are up for anything and are clearly very passionate for capturing those special days in people’s lives. Thank you both again for making our day seamless and amazing!”
Vendors:
Photographers: Willow and Wolf
Commissioner: Married By Cole
