Not Your Average Wedding Day: A Helicopter Elopement with Sunset Vows & Snowball Fights.

A Date With Meaning

Some couples book their elopement just a few months in advance. Others have a date etched into their hearts long before the planning begins. That was the case with A and A, who reached out over a year in advance with a very special day in mind: May 5, 2025.

Yes, the date looks super cool (05/05/25), but the real reason was even sweeter. It’s the birthday of their oldest dog, who was turning 8 and has been a little unwell. This was their way of honouring the dog who made them a family. If you’re a dog person, you get it. And if you’re not… well, this couple just might convert you.

These two are serious dog people. We’re talking competitions, coordinated gear, three beloved whippets, and a house full of love. It was so touching to see that same kind of devotion in their wedding plans; not just in the date, but in all the little ways they made their day theirs.

Glam, Florals & All the Thoughtful Touches

We kicked things off in the bridal suite at the Sky Hangar, where I met the bride at 2:30 PM for hair and makeup. I got to hang out and take some behind-the-scenes shots before dashing to Langley to grab the florals, and wow. When I saw the bouquet Alice from Floralista created, I literally gasped. The match to the bride’s inspo photo was uncanny, and I knew immediately she was going to be blown away (spoiler: she was).

The bride's dress was one-of-a-kind. Custom-made from a shop on Etsy, it featured dreamy lace sleeves and an overlay of embroidered constellations, which was a perfect nod to her love of the stars. Fun fact: All three of their dogs are named after stars or constellations. Meanwhile, the groom wore a tailored suit from a small, family-run shop in Mission, BC. He’s someone who cares deeply about where his money goes, and that thoughtfulness even extended to his ring, which was adorned with beautiful, local Indigenous art (though he’s not Indigenous himself). The entire look felt intentional, unique, and full of meaning.

A Dream Years in the Making

A and A had talked for years about taking a helicopter ride on their anniversary. Once they got engaged, they decided to stop waiting and just do it… for their wedding day! I was so honoured to be the one to bring that vision to life!

Since it was their first time in a helicopter, they rode in one helicopter together, while my team and I followed in a second chopper. It was sunset when we lifted off, and though in Vancouver, spring is well and truly established by May, the backcountry was still covered in snow. Gorgeous, bright, snow (though it was WET).

We landed at a favourite mountain spot (the same location we used for W + M’s elopement! You can read about that here), but this time the golden hour light added an entirely different type of magic. A and A exchanged vows, slipped on their rings, and kissed with the mountains as their witnesses.

There’s something joyful and unexpected about snow in May, and these two made the most of it. After the ceremony, they ended up in an impromptu snowball fight that had the whole team laughing. What was even more fun was the contrast in their heights, made even more stark by the snow. Every time the bride sank into the snow (which happened often), the groom would jump and stomp his way lower to try to level the playing field for photos. It was so sweet, so funny, and so them.

A Little Family Surprise

Announcing you’re eloping can be met with all sorts of responses from friends and family. The groom's family were fully supportive of the elopement. However, they may not have totally understood what eloping means. When they showed up (several hours early) to watch the helicopters take off and land, it was a bit of a surprise! A and A handled it with grace, though I think they would’ve preferred to keep that part private. They had a celebration dinner with the whole family scheduled for the next day.

PSA to future couples: here’s our guide on how to talk to your family about eloping. 

“This Is Exactly What We Wanted”

As the evening wrapped up and we made our way back to the hangar, I said my goodbyes to the couple. They thanked me and said, “This is exactly what we wanted.” 

Not perfect. Not Pinterest-worthy. But real, joyful, and theirs.

That moment, that feeling, is exactly why I do what I do.

Because a wedding doesn’t have to feel like a production. It CAN feel like a breath of fresh air. 

A snowball fight at golden hour. 

A private vow exchange on top of a mountain that would’ve been bare just weeks later.

It can be simple. It can be intentional. It can be you. And these two lived it.

Thinking about a helicopter elopement of your own? Let’s make it happen. Reach out, and we’ll start planning your perfect mountaintop moment.