How to Elope in BC
Without Planning a Wedding You Secretly Hate.
A step-by-step elopement guide for couples who want a wildly meaningful day in British Columbia, planned by an actual elopement planner, not “whoever had time” on your vendor team.
Hey, it's Jocelyn! For the past 11 years I've roamed this province, from sky-scraping summits that'll steal your breath (and maybe a little dignity) to hushed ocean shores where the waves whisper secrets, and forests so enchanted, you half expect a unicorn to photobomb your pics.
I've unearthed BC's best-kept secrets, the actual magic spots, and I'm itching to help you craft an elopement that's not just a dream, it's a "pinch me, is this real?" moment.
Why This Page Exists
You know you don’t want the big wedding…
But now you’re stuck thinking, “Okay, so how do we elope?”
This guide is here to take the overwhelm out of it — and show you how simple, meaningful, and stress-free it can be.
What You’ll Learn On This Page
Why eloping in BC feels different (and magical)
How to choose your date, location & legal steps in BC
The quick path from “I want this” to “We did it”
Which package (Earth/Sea/Sky) fits your vision
What to do next—download our free guide or inqure
If the idea of a big wedding makes you want to fake a power outage and disappear into the forest, you’re in the right place.
Eloping in BC can be beautifully simple: you, your person, epic West Coast views, and a tiny handful of details handled by people who know what they’re doing.
My job is to take “We think we want to elope?” and turn it into “How was that the best day of our lives and somehow stress-managed?”
Is Eloping in BC Actually Right For You
(Or Are You Just Overwhelmed)?
You don’t have to want a wedding-in-a-barn or a ballroom to deserve a wedding.
Most couples who land here are feeling something like:
“We love our people, but we do not love the idea of performing for 120 of them.”
“We could technically afford a big wedding…we just don’t want our relationship to start with debt and drama.”
“Our families have Opinions and we’re already tired.”
“We want our wedding day to feel like us, not like a Pinterest board with a DJ.”
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yup, that’s us,” eloping in British Columbia is probably the move.
BC gives you:
Insane landscapes (mountains, ocean, forests, lakes, sometimes all in one day)
Legal elopements that are straightforward as long as you have a licence, officiant, and two witnesses
Enough adventure to feel rebellious, without needing to backpack for three days and sleep with a bear bell
What Eloping in BC Actually Looks Like (Spoiler: It’s Not Running Away in Vegas)
Picture this:
You wake up slow. No 6am hair-and-makeup assembly line, no texting your aunt about gluten-free dinner rolls. Just coffee, a quiet morning, and maybe a walk by the ocean or through the trees.
Later, you drive to a trailhead or hop in a helicopter. The air smells like cedar and salt. You say your vows on a cliff above Howe Sound, in an old-growth forest, or on a foggy beach where the waves are louder than your intrusive thoughts.
There might be:
Champagne on a blanket
A first dance in hiking boots
A handful of your favorite humans
Or literally just the two of you and us as witnesses
Behind the scenes, there’s a full timeline, a vendor team, and about 47 tiny logistics you never had to think about because that’s what my team and I are doing while you’re busy having the best day of your life!
Planner-Led Elopements Hit Different
A lot of “adventure elopement experiences” are secretly being planned by whoever on the team is the most organized (usually the photographer or officiant). They’re incredible at what they do, but they’re still juggling their main job while trying to:
Build timelines
Communicate with every vendor
Manage family dynamics
Think about weather, backup plans, and logistics
Sea to Sky Elopements is built the other way around.
You’re booking an actual planner by trade to run your elopement like a red-carpet event, just with more moss and less carpet:
Timeline design that accounts for light, weather, travel, and the way you actually want your day to feel
Location scouting across BC so you don’t fall down a Google rabbit hole
Full vendor coordination (photography, florals, hair + makeup, officiant, helicopter, the works)
Guest & family communication so you’re not stuck writing a 2,000-word email about why you’re eloping
Day-of orchestration so you’re not wondering “what’s next?” every 10 minutes
If you want an elopement that feels luxe and taken care of, and still wildly personal and a little rebellious, that’s where I come in.
How to Elope in BC: The 5-Step Plan
2
CHOOSE YOUR VIBE & SEASON
Before you pick a date or book a flight, we figure out the feeling of your day:
Moody forest, mist, and moss
Sunny coastal cliffs and ocean views
High-alpine snow and big mountain energy
Once we know what you’re craving, we’ll match it with the best season in BC (for example, wildflower meadows in summer vs. snow-covered peaks in winter).
1
CHOOSE YOUR REGION IN BC
British Columbia is huge. Together, we’ll narrow it down to a region that fits your vibe and your logistics, like:
Sea to Sky Corridor – Squamish, Whistler, Howe Sound
Vancouver & Fraser Valley – coastal forests, beaches, urban-meets-nature
Vancouver Island – rugged shoreline, big trees, stormy romance
You’ll tell me your access needs, guest count (if any), and how adventurous you actually want to be, and I’ll recommend specific locations and backups.
4
TELL YOUR PEOLE (OR DON’T
One of the biggest stressors around eloping is other people’s feelings.
We’ll talk through:
Whether you WANT anyone there in person (we generally host up to 20 guests)
How to share the news before or after
Gentle but firm scripts for parents, in-laws, and friends who “just don’t get it”
If you want help navigating family expectations or sticky conversations, I’ve guided a lot of couples through that—and we can absolutely build that into your planning experience.
3
SORT THE LEGAL STUFF
The part the internet makes sound scarier than it is. To be legally married in BC, you’ll need:
A BC marriage license (valid for 3 months before your ceremony date)
A licensed officiant
Two witnesses to sign after the ceremony
We’ll remind you when to get your license, help you plan where to handle the legal signing, and brainstorm whether you want to:
Do the legal part on your elopement day, or
Handle paperwork separately and treat your elopement as your “heart-official” day
Both options are valid. The government doesn’t get to decide which day feels like your real wedding.
5
DESIGN YOUR DAY
This is where my planner brain gets way too excited.
Together we’ll:
Build a timeline that balances adventure with breathing room
Plan meaningful moments (letters from family, a private first look, a post-ceremony picnic, a paddle, a campfire, whatever feels like you)
Coordinate vendors so everyone knows where to be and when
Make backup plans in case West Coast weather does what West Coast weather does
You get a clear, easy-to-follow plan. On the day, you just show up and follow my lead.
YOU PROBABLY GOOGLED HALF OF THESE BEFORE YOU LANDED HERE, SO LET’S MAKE IT EASY
BC Elopement FAQs (Planner Edition)
01 | CAN WE INVITE GUESTS TO OUR ELOPEMENT?
Yes. Eloping is about intention, not isolation. We typically plan elopements for up to 20 guests which feels like enough to have your inner circle without recreating a 150-person production. You can:
Elope just the two of you (we’ll happily sign as witnesses)
Bring a couple of ride-or-die humans
Or host a tiny, intimate-wedding vibe crew
02 | CAN WE LEGALLY ELOPE IN BC IF WE DON’T LIVE THERE?
Yes. You don’t have to be a resident of BC or even Canada to get legally married here—as long as you get a BC marriage licence, have a licensed officiant, and two witnesses.
We’ll help you plan when to get your licence and where to do the legal signing, especially if you’re travelling in.
The short version:
A valid BC marriage licence (purchased within 3 months of your date)
A registered officiant
Two witnesses
A short ceremony where you declare your intent to marry and sign the documents
Your officiant handles registering everything with the Vital Statistics Agency after your ceremony.
03 | WHAT EXACTLY DO WE NEED TO BE LEGALLY MARRIED IN BC?
04 | WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WEATHER IS TERRIBLE?
This is BC. We hope for golden hour and also respect the power of sideways rain. Every elopement plan comes with:
A thought-through Plan B location
Adjustments for wind, rain, snow, or smoke if needed
Clear communication so your vendor team and guests (if any) know the plan
Some of the most emotional, cinematic elopements we’ve done have been in fog, drizzle, or snow—so “bad” weather is rarely actually bad. It just changes the vibe.
05 | WHAT DOES A TYPICALL ELOPEMENT CEREMONY LOOK LIKE?
Whatever you want, with a loose skeleton like:
A grounding moment or reading
Your vows
Exchange of rings (or tattoos, or something symbolic)
A short legal declaration with your officiant (if you’re signing that day)
A “we’re freaking married” moment—cheers, cliff-yell, first dance, whatever feels right
We’ll help you structure a ceremony that feels personal, not performative, and honors any cultural or spiritual traditions you want to include.
Want our guide in a downloadable version you can reference anytime?
WE’RE DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHERS
The Sea to Sky Experience
At Sea to Sky Elopements, we plan elopements that are as unique and wild as the mountains themselves. BC’s landscapes whisper of adventure, and your love story deserves to be told amidst its breathtaking landscapes.
We’ll be your guides as your planning journey unfolds in stages, shaped by your dreams, preferences, and a little bit of magic. We help you navigate the journey from dream to reality, ensuring your Elopement is an experience that feels intentional, personal, and unforgettable.
The mountains are calling. Are you answering? Download our guide below, and let’s do this!
You Don’t Need More Instagram Inspo. You Need a Plan.
If you’ve made it all the way down here, you already know a traditional wedding isn’t it. You don’t need another board of mountain-top photos. What you need someone to walk you through what actually happens next.
That’s what our free “How to Elope in BC” guide is for.
Inside, you’ll find:
A printable planning checklist tailored to eloping in BC
A deeper dive into regions, seasons, and location ideas
Legal checklists you can screenshot and bring to your licence appointment
Questions to ask each other so your day feels like you, not a template
A Sneak Peek at the Sea to Sky Elopement Planning Guide & Checklist
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A Sneak Peek at the Sea to Sky Elopement Planning Guide & Checklist ||
01
DEFINE YOUR DREAM ELOPEMENT
Most couples come to me knowing what they don’t want — the big guest list, the family drama, the 12-hour timeline.
What they’re missing? A clear idea of what they do want instead.
Let’s fix that.
Ask Yourselves:
✔️ How private do we want this to be?
✔️ Are we open to guests — or just the two of us?
✔️ How much planning capacity do we realistically have?
DOWNLOAD MY FREE ELOPEMENT PLANNING GUIDE
You don’t need to have all the answers right away. Part of my job is helping you figure it out.
02
CHOOSE YOUR LOCATION & SET A DATE
You’ve got options — and I’ve scouted them all. Your elopement location sets the stage for everything, from logistics to attire. Do you want sweeping ocean views, alpine peaks, or a hidden waterfall? We break down how to choose the best spot, what permits you may need, and the ideal time of year for breathtaking scenery.
Popular BC Elopement Backdrops:
✔️ Coastal (e.g., Sunshine Coast, Lighthouse Park) – soft, scenic, relaxed
✔️ Mountain (e.g., Whistler, Squamish, helicopter-access) – adventurous, bold, remote
✔️Forest/Lake (e.g., Golden Ears, Joffre, private lookouts) – grounding, peaceful, magical
03
BOOK YOUR VENDORS & SECURE YOUR PERMITS
Even a simple elopement has a few key moving parts. Whether you want an officiant, a photographer, or a private chef for a celebratory dinner, this guide walks you through choosing vendors that align with your vision.
Inside the guide:
✔️ A list of essential vendors & when to book them
✔️ Advice on how to include loved ones without inviting them
✔️ Tips on how to achieve the most privacy
04
BUILD YOUR TIMELINE & PERSONALIZE YOUR DAY
A stress-free elopement isn’t about cramming in a million things—it’s about intentionally creating an experience you’ll never forget. From a sunrise first look to a sunset champagne toast, this guide helps you plan a day that isn’t rushed and flows effortlessly.
Inside the guide:
✔️ Important vendor checklists
✔️ Unique ideas to personalize your elopement
✔️ Packing lists & final preparation tips for a seamless day
Grab your FREE Elopement Planning Guide & Checklist and stay on track as you plan your perfect day—mark off each step and watch your dream elopement come to life!
05
HAVE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!
You’ve planned, prepped, and dreamed about this moment—now it’s time to soak it all in and have the most unforgettable elopement day!
The key to an incredible experience is to stay present. Let go of expectations, embrace the unexpected, and focus on what truly matters—your love and commitment to each other. Whether you're saying your vows at sunrise on a mountaintop or celebrating under the stars, take deep breaths, be in the moment, and allow yourselves to fully enjoy every second.
After your elopement, the adventure doesn’t have to end! Celebrate in a way that feels right for you—whether it’s an intimate dinner, a scenic road trip, or a post-elopement adventure.
Inside the guide:
✔️ How to stay present
✔️ What to do after your elopement
Resources for Planning Your Elopement
With experience planning 150+ people’s elopements across the province of BC, I bring a well-traveled eye to your elopement. I know this region intimately and its breathtaking beauty and your unique love story is sure to be captured with us!
Sea to Sky Elopements is a premier adventure elopement company based in British Columbia, Canada. Specializing in luxury, all-inclusive elopement experiences, we’ve crafted unforgettable celebrations in breathtaking locations across BC and beyond. From golden hour mountain peaks to serene coastal shores, we design, plan, and capture extraordinary moments for couples who dare to dream big.
Trying to choose between a planner-led elopement package and a photographer- or officiant-led one? Learn the real difference, why it matters for your BC elopement, and how planner-led packages create a calmer, better-organized, more meaningful day for you and your vendors.