How to Elope in Jasper National Park
If you have ever been to Jasper National Park, it would be of no surprise that you may want to elope there. The beautiful forests, crystal blue lakes, towering mountains… nothing speaks more to an outdoor adventurer, or someone who enjoys reveling in the beauty of nature.
Also a great allure of Jasper is the variety of places that you can say your vows, whether you want a mountaintop elopement, a riverside marriage, or a small intimate ceremony by a chalet. Just make sure that you have an adventurous officiant and photographer to go with you.
If you’ve thought of all the places you might want to elope, and settled on eloping in Jasper National Park, the process is fairly straightforward, but there are definitely a few things to keep in mind!
How to Legally Elope in Jasper National Park
Just as with anywhere in Alberta, there are 3 things that you need to get legally married:
- Two witnesses, over the age of 18
- A marriage officiant, or someone appointed as a temporary marriage commissioner (find out more about that here https://www.alberta.ca/temporary-marriage-commissioner.aspx)
- A marriage licence, procured prior to the day of the wedding. More info about those here (https://www.alberta.ca/get-marriage-licence.aspx)
So while you cannot elope with “just” the two of you in Alberta, you are definitely not obligated to bring anyone else along, as your photographer and videographer, and I would love to sign as your witness!
What else you need to elope in Jasper:
You will need a park pass to enter Jasper National Park. Whether you are just coming in for the day, or a week, you can purchase a day pass, multiple days, or an annual pass for a discount. You can purchase these at the gate, or save yourself by purchasing in advance at participating locations. Find out where here (https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/admission)
A location: the beauty of eloping in Jasper National Park means that you can practically get married wherever in the park that you want, without a permit or reservation, as long as you are following National Park Guidelines. If you are choosing to have your wedding with guests, it is advisable to choose one of the two reservable locations, or a venue.
These are the two reservable locations:
- Pyramid Lake
- Athabasca Day Use Area
If you choose not to have your elopement at one of these locations, you can find the full list of park regulations here (https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/lieuxlouer-rentalvenues/mari-wed). Essentially, follow Leave No Trace Principles, respect other visitors to the parks, and keep guests to below 25, and choose practically anywhere in the park to get married!
Pyramid Lake Day Use Area Ceremony Site
Athabasca Day Use Area
Where to Elope in Jasper National Park
Hiking Elopement
Jasper has some beautiful hikes for all skill levels. So if you want a hiking elopement, check out a couple of these options:
- Skyline Trail: This is a beautiful multi day hike, that, if you want to camp, you should plan in advance to reserve a campsite.
- Edith Cavell: This hike is absolutely stunning, and offers many opportunities for gorgeous hiking elopement photos, but is only accessible during the summer months.
- Pyramid Mountain
- Old Fort Point
Canoe Elopement
Jasper is home to absolutely magical lakes, that range in color from blue/green glacier waters to a calm dark blue. They provide a perfect opportunity if you wanted to take out your watercraft for your elopement, whether it was a paddleboard, canoe or kayak. It might be chilly for a swim, even in the summer, but if it floats your boat, go for it!
Looking for a multi day adventure? Paddle out to Spirit Island on Maligne Lake and have a sunrise elopement location, practically all to yourself.
Want just an accesible lake to take your boat out on? Lac Beauvert, Lake Annette, Pyramid Lake, Patricia Lake, Valley of Five Lakes… the options are practically endless.
While not in Jasper, check out this canoe elopement on Abraham Lake for some inspiration!
Beautiful Locations to Get Married in Jasper
If you aren’t up for a multi hour hike and are looking for some quieter and simpler options, there are a lot of those as well!
- Maligne Lake: This iconic lake is the Jasper National Park counterpart to Lake Louise, and there is a good reason for it! You can get married on the shore, on one of the short, quiet hikes, or on a boat out to Spirit Island. If you are into kayaking or canoeing, paddle out to the island yourself for unlimited time in this beautiful location.
- Pyramid Lake: While there is a reservable location on Pyramid Island, if you aren’t having many guests, you can pick any other location in this amazing location in Jasper to elope.
- Valley of Five Lakes: These glacial blue lakes are a dream to elope at, and with five of them to choose from, even on a busy summer day, you can find somewhere quiet and secluded to get married.
- Athabasca River: The winding Athabasca River provides many opportunities for a scenic backdrop to get married in Jasper National Park.
- The top of the Sky Tram: if you’re not scared of heights, take the Sky Tram up to the top of Whistler’s Mountain, and do the 1.4km hike up to the summit. You get the beautiful summit elopement without the massive grind to hike!
Or…
If you want something truly epic, why not have a helicopter elopement in Jasper National Park? Hop in the helicopter with your photographer and officiant, and get married somewhere truly breathtaking.
If this is something that sounds up your alley, check out Jasper-Hinton Air at Jasper Heli Tours. Their amazing team will provide you an experience you won’t forget, and everyone will be jealous of your helicopter elopement in Jasper National Park. Choose to have your wedding at a remote lake, and mountaintop photos, or just enjoy the time at the lake. I highly recommend taking a helicopter to get married!
What Should I Wear to Get Married in Jasper National Park?
Jasper National Park is mountainous, and therefore, the temperature can shift drastically throughout the day. Even in the middle of summer, the mornings and evenings can be quite chilly, and snow is not uncommon throughout the year, especially at higher elevations.
Bring layers to cover up if it gets cool, such as a shawl or jacket, gloves, and even a headwrap if your ears are prone to the cold. Disposable handwarmers can also be a lifesaver!
Don’t forget, that unless you are getting married in a venue, you will be out in the wilderness, which means that mud, sticks and twigs, and just nature in general may make your dress dirty. So if that is a concern, perhaps choose a location that has a well beaten trail or venue!
And don’t forget the bug and bear repellent, especially if you are in nature. And respect the wildlife.
Questions about eloping in Jasper National Park? I would love to assist you with your planning, and help you choose the perfect location to elope in Jasper!