Destination weddings in Banff

Planning destination weddings in Banff National Park has never been easier. However, like any destination wedding, there are some other essential pieces to the puzzle that you should take into consideration before booking any wedding vendors or selecting your date!

Destination weddings and the season you choose

I promise Banff National Park is beautiful no matter what time of year, but there are some seasonal elements to consider.

• Winter: Let’s be honest, this season is STUNNING! Nothing beats fresh power kissing the pines, but outside of the aesthetic, the winter season brings other concerns. When being out in the cold for a while we run the risk of runny noses, watery eyes or dry skin. We can always do our best to stay warm, but this is very common for winter weddings.
• Summer: Nothing, this season is literally perfect. Love me a summer wedding in the mountains.
• Spring: Bring on the avalanche warnings. Pending where you would like to have your wedding, it’s important to consider the trails and modes of transportation needed to get there. Also, many roads may still be closed for the winter season.
• Fall: This is when the fog and rain start to move in more frequently. Although it can absolutely add some mood to your imagery, it also can meet mucky trails and fields.

Consider the crowd levels and popular tourist seasons

Like every popular tourist destination, Banff National Park is no stranger to peak season. Every year thousands of people make the trip to the national park to enjoy all the seasonal activities Banff has to offer. You will find that June – August and December – March will be the busiest times of the year. Why is it important to know this? Will peak season, also comes the following:

• Higher prices on hotels/resorts
• Car rentals can be more costly due to supply in demand
• Flight rates may be on the higher end unless you book these early
• Driving to locations may take longer due to the amount of traffic on the road
• Parking is limited pretty much everywhere in Banff, so this may need to be calculated when heading to a new venue or photo location
• People will be just about at every popular tourist spot, so if you had a specific location in mind, it may take a bit longer to get access to that spot without others in the background.

When should you book vendors for your destination weddings?

To keep the theme rolling from above, peak season means that Banff wedding vendors will likely book up quickly. Most vendors are booking 12-18 months in advance for destination weddings, and Banff isn’t a big town, so there are only so many wedding vendors to go around. Unless you want to bring someone in from your home location, or a bigger city nearby, like Calgary.

Permits and those additional hidden fees

This one is likely the most important to consider because no one enjoys being fined, right? Most venues will let you know of any additional fees and permits that may be required to rent a space in a public place, but it is always good to do your own research. From my own experience, dealing with the Town of Banff has always been a seamless and pleasant one. The staff there are super helpful and can answer the questions you may have, or guide you in the right direction of who can properly assist you. Depending what activities you and your guests will be doing getting a seasons pass could be beneficial. The Discovery Pass, which gives you one year of access to national parks in Canada runs $145.00 (Canadian) and is good for a carload.

Overall, planning destination weddings in Banff should be a fun and enjoyable one, for both you and your guests. If you plan on taking some adventures during your stay, here is a blog post that shares hiking safety. Take a peek here.

Happy planning!