Welcome to my little slice of heaven. I’m assuming you are looking to elope in British Columbia? First off, congratulations on making that choice and saying fuck it to the traditional wedding rumble. Now that you are looking for the perfect place to elope in bc, let’s dive into one of many of your options to getting you eloped the way you want! There is obviously endless opportunies to eloping in british columbia when you really think about it – But Garibaldi Lake is the location you want if you want a full day squamish elopement paired with an adventure so worth your love story without all the additional bells and whistles.
Why is Eloping in Garibaldi is perfect for your all day elopement adventure?
Most weddings take up a whole entire day, so why not have an elopement all day? Planning an elopement is no longer about running away in secret and doing a quick ceremony.
No, scratch that! Who thinks like that anymore? Elopements are easily turning into fun-filled days that are centered around authenticity, individuality, and activities that bring wonder and excitement for couples.
When we elope, we bring in things we value. People we value. And create a day that is carved out to represent who we are as a pair. For people who have a love of the outdoors, British Columbia has all the striking options.
So why is Garibaldi the perfect all-day elopement adventure location you should consider? Here are all the reasons!
Garibaldi Park is a short drive from Vancouver, taking roughly 1.5 hours to get to the most common trailhead: Rubble Creek. The drive up the Sea to Sky Corridor is always a beautiful one. You get the opportunity to wind through the coast where the mountains meet the sea – and regardless of the weather, rain or shine, it is always breathtaking.
You can grab your morning rituals – a hot coffee or tea, your favourite tunes – and enjoy a lovely drive into the beautiful mountains of the Squamish area.
When we think about eloping, we want to stress less, right? Rubble Creek trailhead is one of the easiest mountain elopement locations in the Vancouver surrounding areas. There’s no need for any 4×4 vehicles to climb over washouts or drive through forestry service roads. It’s a simple gravel road leading to a parking lot right at the trailhead entrance. How much easier does it get?
Garibaldi Provincial Park offers some of the most incredible backcountry adventures for local outdoor enthusiasts, with ample opportunities to fall into the wonderful wilderness that British Columbia has to offer.
The hike from Rubble Creek Trailhead will lead you up the mountain to an alpine lake – all without needing to book a helicopter or guide. The trailhead is the perfect place to meet, pack up, and head out to the Garibaldi Lake area via a beautiful Douglas fir-filled trail. The trail entrance was equipped with restrooms, which is always a bonus when heading into the backcountry.
Garibaldi Provincial Park is open all year round – but the best time to visit is between July and October. The coastal weather can change quickly in the mountains, to be best prepared and comfortable, the summer months leading into fall are the ideal time to consider this location for an adventure elopement.
The park does require a Day Pass for visitors between June and October on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. These measures help ensure the area isn’t overcrowded, so visitors can enjoy more peace and fewer crowds.
The park is a popular hike-in camping location, with many people packing out to the lake campground, Taylor Meadows, and even farther into the backcountry to enjoy the surreal landscape of the alpine region.
The hike up to the alpine lake for an elopement would be approximately an 18 km round trip from the trailhead – depending on your chosen route. There are two options once you reach the trail split: head straight to the lake, or take the route through Taylor Meadows to enjoy a beautiful boardwalk, wildflowers, and maybe even a spontaneous encounter with some local wildlife.
The first 6–8 km of the trail winds through dense forest with switchbacks climbing the mountain. You’ll eventually reach a junction leading to other stunning destinations within Garibaldi Provincial Park like Black Tusk or Panorama Ridge – which I highly recommend if you want killer views and a killer adventure. If you’re planning this for an elopement, get ready for a multi-day elopement experience that will be so worth your while!
The trail is well-protected by the forest, which makes it ideal in any weather – offering shade from the sun or a canopy to catch the rain on moody days. But once you get to the lake, it opens up to this outrageously beautiful turquoise lake surrounded by snow-dusted mountains. A scene straight out of a dream – it’s absolutely stunning. The lake area is also sprinkled with restrooms and these charming little community cabins that can be used to rest, to prepare, and gather between planned events.
This hike, at a steady pace, would take about 6 hours round-trip, so planning an all-day elopement in the Garibaldi Lake area is perfect! You get the hike, the feels, the adventure elopement experience, and a ceremony in an incredibly stunning location.
What are you waiting for?
How to plan your all day elopement in British Columbia
If you are looking to plan an all-day adventure elopement in British Columbia, the best advice is this: get an elopement-specific photographer. When you’re venturing out into the backcountry, there are a lot of things to consider that shouldn’t fall on you as a couple.
That’s why elopement photographers specialize in these experiences and offer packages that are centered around building meaningful, stress-free adventures for couples.
An elopement photographer will take away the stress of logistical planning, location scouting, accessibility concerns, what to prepare for, and the “can we even elope there?” questions.
Our beautiful province of British Columbia has so many incredible locations to consider when planning your elopement – and an elopement photographer will be able to guide you through all the important things you’ll need to think about. Eloping in British Columbia does require some expertise around permits and permissions, Leave No Trace principles, and timeline planning to get in and out of remote locations.
So, find your elopement photographer and reach out – they’ll help plan it all with you.
Justin + Kayla’s Garibaldi adventure elopement
Justin + Kayla decided to venture to Garibaldi Lake for their elopement and there was absolutely no regrets in choosing to adventure their way.
Their elopement day started off with the most surreal rain here on the west coast – the skies spilling with rain right up until we packed our bags from the trunks of our cars. Once we were ready to set out the landscape settled into the most stunning low mist amoungst the trees. Not a rain drop in sight.
The journey was like a page out of fantasy book. The dead silence of the forest, the pin drop noise of dropplets falling from the trees onto the forest floor. A quietness that was solely filled with whispers of the forest and laughter from Justin + Kayla. Every element welcoming their love story as they left only their foot prints behind up the mountain.
Taylor Meadows was were they took some quiet time together to enjoy the surrounding wild life – skip jacks and grouse birds greeted us in the meadow. They sat and snacked – wrote their vows with the forest watching.
The hike up to the meadow was so incredible – the privacy and intimacy was in our favour that day. Hardly another park visitor crossed our path.
Justin + Kayla both took the time they needed to write their vows they were going the share with each other once they got to their final destination at the lake front.
Once their pages were full of words that carried the most importance, they took their time to get ready in their wedding attire privately amougst the branches in preparation for their first look.
Justin + Kayla were dressed in their wedding attire in the mountains and ready for the next part of their adventure. Hiking boots still secured to their feet ready to take their leap into a first look in the Meadow.
That first look! Like c’mon! I can’t tell you how much exciting anticipation happens during these quiet intimate moments. The butterflies, they be real! It is always such a pleasure to witness the power of a first look reveal. I hold back tears everytime.
What a view! Every adventure comes with an Awwwww moment and this view was certainly a part of it. Arriving at the lake was unreal. The perfect day. Mist hung low, not a person around, the blue of the lake radiating upwards.
The two of them set down their back packs, took a quiet moment to themselves in the cabin – then went to stand by the shore line to exchange their vows.
Their vows rippled across the water, rings exchanged in commitment and cake was eaten to celebrate. What a day! What an adventure! What a way to elope in British Columbia!
Looking to plan your elopement in British Columbia?
Glad you found your way here. Your love is bold, your love story deserves to be just as daring. If you are looking to elope in British Columbia – what are you waiting for!?!
I’m Tatiana, your Vancouver based Elopement photographer. Let’s connect and get you the prepared, planned and eloped your way!
If you’d love to learn more about packages and the experience that awaits you, just click the link below.
Bisoux,
Tatiana
