Photography by Unspoken Photography.
How two high-school band kids from Ontario rode their motorbikes across the country and married on an alpine peak — reached by helicopter — in the British Columbia backcountry.
Blythe and Nick met at a grade 7 arts camp, in the band section, thanks to a tuba and a baritone sax.
They grew up at opposite ends of the same small Ontario town, crossed paths at music camp, and then landed in the same high school band — seated next to each other because of their instruments. Twelve years, a lot of shared sheet music, and countless motorcycle miles later, they decided to get married the way they do everything else: on their own terms, pointed toward adventure.
And they didn't fly out to BC for it. They rode. Two motorcycles, from Ontario to the West Coast. (On one of our early calls I genuinely pictured road bikes and thought, "that will take forever" — then realized they meant motorbikes, which is a very Blythe-and-Nick way to arrive at your own wedding.)
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
What Blythe & Nick wanted from their elopement
They found the idea of eloping on Instagram, and the moment they booked it, they described a huge weight lifting knowing it would be just the two of them, doing exactly what they wanted.
Their vision was refreshingly loose: easy, fun, well-paced and meaningful time in each other's company. They also wanted their motorcycles woven in somehow and had a willingness to hand the reins to someone who could design the day so they could simply show up and enjoy it. As Blythe put it, they "obviously struggle to plan these things", which is the exact moment a planner-led elopement earns its place.
The one hard NO they had on the entire questionnaire was Bagpipes. No bagpipes. Noted, and honored.
Riding across a country for a mountaintop
Because they rode their bikes out, even their attire had to travel ahead of them. They shipped everything to BC where a family member dropped it off and then on my way through, I stopped in to grab their dress, suit, shoes, and a few keepsakes, met the two of them for a quick hello, and drove everything out to the SKY Helicopters hangar in Pitt Meadows so the dress could hang and be ready.
Blythe and Nick went out for a relaxed breakfast, and then rode their bikes out to the heliport.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
Getting ready at the hangar (and a groom's veil moment)
The afternoon at the hangar was pure good energy. Hanna and Simone handled hair and makeup in the upstairs suite while Nick polished the motorbikes out front. Flowers arrived, and Nick's mom had sent a beautiful charcuterie spread, which they enjoyed once Blythe's hair and makeup were done. Blythe had brought several pieces of jewelry and chose a pendant Nick had given her, on a new chain, which I helped her fasten before helping her into her dress.
I'd asked ahead whether we could roll the motorcycles out onto the helipad, right in front of the helicopter, for photos, which we were able to accommodate in between take offs and landings, so that absolutely happened!
Their first look was out on the tarmac, and Nick was wonderfully speechless as he was completely taken with the way Blythe looked. Then the day handed us a gift: another helicopter lifted off while they stood there, so we caught them leaning against the motorbike, watching it rise, Blythe's veil streaming in the rotor wash. That veil had other plans all morning, constantly lifting free no matter how many bobby pins went in. At one point Nick simply grabbed it and tucked it into his beard. I told him nobody said the groom can't have a veil moment.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
The flight: two helicopters, a lake, and an Inukshuk
For the flight into the backcountry, we took two helicopters. Blythe and Nick flew in one with their photo and video team, Sarah and Graeme; I flew in the second with Angela, their officiant.
Our first landing was lakeside at Widgeon Lake where we did portraits by the water, mountains all around, and a small shared moment where each of us added a rock to a little Inukshuk on the shore. From there, we lifted off again for the peak.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
Ceremony in complete silence
Our first attempt at the summit spot had a bit too much cloud, so we simply flew to the other side and touched down there. And then it was just… quiet. The best kind of quiet you only get when there is genuinely no one else for miles.
Blythe and Nick read each other personal vows on the peak, exchanged rings, and were pronounced married with the whole alpine world to themselves. We captured a few portraits, and then — because the light and the flight schedule wait for no one — it was time to lift off.
The harvest moon that almost got away
Right as we were loading up to leave, a harvest moon was climbing over the peaks, Saturn glinting just beside it. Sarah spotted it and asked for two minutes to get her zoom lens out. The pilot's call was fair and funny: "anyone without a zoom lens, get in." We loaded up, Sarah worked fast, and the frames she pulled of that moon over the mountains turned out to be some of the most breathtaking of the entire day. A reminder that the best shots often live in the two minutes you almost didn't take.
Photography by Unspoken Photography.
Behind the scenes: the parts that made it feel effortless
A day this smooth is never luck. The week leading in was, frankly, bananas with weather! Torrential rain, an elopement two days earlier soaked through, and a real chance the helicopter wouldn't fly. We had a full Plan B location ready to go. Then the sky opened into a gorgeous, sunny fall day right on cue.
Underneath the ease was a lot of quiet work: assembling and briefing the full vendor team months ahead; guiding an out-of-province couple through getting their BC marriage license and delivering copies to their officiant in advance; retrieving their attire and keepsakes on the morning of; managing the weight-and-balance check-ins for two helicopters; and adding a second backcountry landing plus extra air and photography time so we could chase golden hour at more than one spot.
And after everyone flew home, one more thing: Blythe and Nick wanted their florals preserved in resin by an artist back in Ontario, so I carefully packed the bouquet and mailed it across the country to her studio. The little things travel, too.
Jokes all day long
I'll be honest, we went into this expecting two quiet, reserved people based on our calls. The actual day was wall-to-wall jokes, laughter, and easy vibes from start to finish. These two are a genuine team, quick to laugh, quicker to make each other laugh. One of my favourite quotes of the day, on how they run their relationship: "There's no pants in this relationship, only skirts."
By the end, Blythe told me she'd happily hire us again just so we could all hang out. That's about the highest compliment there is.
Winding down, their way
After the flight, Blythe and Nick changed and did the only fitting thing: rode their motorcycles to dinner at the Top of Vancouver revolving restaurant. From there, treats from Breka, stargazing at the beach, and back to the Airbnb hot tub to soak in everything the day had been.
Our whole team even ended at the same time (a rare thing) and went out to dinner together afterward, still laughing. When a wedding day feels like a day out with friends, you know it was a good one.
Why an adventure elopement needs a planner
A helicopter elopement is the definition of high-reward, high-complexity. Two aircraft, backcountry landings, weather contingencies, an out-of-province marriage license, a full vendor team, and a timeline built around light you can't reschedule. None of that should land on the couple.
Done right, all that complexity disappears into the background, and what's left is two people on a silent mountaintop with the whole world to themselves. That's the entire point. You bring the love and the sense of adventure. We hold the rest.
FAQ: Helicopter Elopements in BC
Where can you have a helicopter elopement near Vancouver?
Just outside the city in Pitt Meadows, SKY Helicopters flies couples into the surrounding backcountry — alpine peaks, remote lakes, and ridgelines you can't reach any other way. It's one of the most accessible ways to marry on a true mountaintop within reach of Vancouver.
How much does a helicopter elopement in BC cost?
A helicopter elopement is a premium, all-inclusive experience — the investment reflects the aircraft, flight time, full vendor team, and complete planning and coordination. Reach out for current package pricing and what's included.
What happens if the weather is bad on your elopement day?
This is exactly why planning matters. For Blythe and Nick, we had a full backup location ready in case the helicopter couldn't fly, so the day was never at risk. A good planner builds weather contingencies in from the start.
Can you get married in BC if you live in another province?
Yes. Out-of-province couples can marry in BC — you'll need a BC marriage license, which a planner can help you navigate, verify, and get into your officiant's hands before the day. Blythe and Nick came from Ontario, and we handled the license logistics for them.
Can you actually have a ceremony on a mountain peak?
Yes — with the right operator, flight plan, and Leave No Trace care. A helicopter lands you on a remote peak, you hold your ceremony in near-total silence and privacy, and you fly back out having left nothing behind.
How long is a helicopter elopement day?
Typically a full day: a relaxed morning, getting ready, a first look, the flights and backcountry ceremony timed around golden hour, and a curated evening to celebrate. The flying itself is a smaller window; the day around it is built to be savoured.
