Tips on Having a Destination Wedding in Beautiful Banff, Canada

How far in advance should we book our venue and our vendors?

Banff and Lake Louise are limited in venues so its best to book as soon as you know that Banff is the place for your wedding.  Like anywhere else; its best to book at least a year in advance to be sure that you get the date that you want.  There are only so many Saturdays in the busy wedding month of May – October and venues like the Banff Springs Hotel and Buffalo Mountain Lodge fill up so quickly.  Some hotels like the Rimrock have strict booking policies so it’s best to check with the specific venue that you are interested in first before getting your heart set on something that you won’t be able to have.  There’s nothing worse than a bride in tears before she walks down the aisle because she didn’t get the aisle that she wanted!

Where can we have an outdoor wedding in Banff?

It all depends on how many guests you are planning on inviting and if you want your guests to be able to sit down for the ceremony.  There are a couple of places that are operated by the Town of Banff; Tunnel Mountain Reservoir ( sometimes called Banff Meadows) and the Central Park Gazebo.  Both sites have ample room for 50+ guests.  The Terrace at the Banff Springs Hotel is always a crowd pleaser with its stunning views of the Bow Valley.  The Juniper Hotel has an outdoor terrace that is spacious and looks out towards Vermillion Lakes.  The Rimrock Terrace has beautiful green grass and with Mount Rundle in the background your photos will be stunning.  If you are having a smaller wedding of ten guests or less you can always ask your marriage commissioner to meet you and your guests at popular places like Two Jack Lake, Cascade Gardens or Surprise Corner.  Again, check with the hotel that you would like to have a wedding ceremony at because most hotels have a food and beverage requirement.  We always recommend and indoor option as a ceremony back up.  Having a wedding in the mountains comes with risk and sometimes Mother Nature will not cooperate with you no matter what.  Be kind to your guests by saving the comments about the weather and have your ceremony indoors.  All your photos can be outside and your guests will be happy.

Where can we have a reception in Banff?

Banff has many different styles of hotels to accommodate you and your guests for your memorable wedding reception.  From a Luxurious high-end castle all the way to a rustic lodge nestled in the pine trees…..the possibilities are here!  When you book your wedding with a hotel in Banff or Lake Louise, you will be assigned a Wedding Coordinator or a Conference Services Associate.  This person is not your wedding planner.  If you want a Banff wedding planner you will have to hire one independently.  Your hotel contact is there to advise you of the hotel, it’s policies and procedures, the menu etc.  They are not there to advise you what color of eggplant goes with gold and what kind of gifts that you should present your brides maids with.  90% of the receptions in Banff are held indoors at hotels with the remaining 10% held outdoors in a more informal atmosphere.  Considering an outdoor event for 200; check with Parks Canada first to see if your event is possible.

Is the accommodation expensive?

Banff offers all types of accommodations from fun and funky B&B’s all the way to 4 diamond and 5 star luxury hotels.  Your guests do not have to stay at the same hotel that your wedding is being held at.  Most hotels will give you a preferred rate if your wedding is being held there.  Some hotels have a minimum room requirement on the night of your wedding.  It’s always nice to add a gift bag or something special to your guest’s rooms.  When they check in, have some maps of Banff and area as well as an itinerary for the weekend waiting for them in the room.  Guests will want to know what’s happening and how they can get involved while they are visiting the mountains.

How do we get to Banff?

Banff is located just a short one hour drive from the Calgary International Airport.  There are many different national car rental agencies at the airport that you can reserve a car at.  You will enjoy the foothills and the scenery as you approach the mountain range.  Canada’s highways are easy to navigate and driving a car to Banff will give you the freedom to explore the area while you are in town.  If you want to leave the driving up to someone else so you can enjoy the scenery and take plenty of photos; you can get a shuttle from the airport right to the front door of your hotel.  While you are in Banff and Lake Louise there are many tours that you can join in on.  Take some time to set something up with a local tour guide for your guests.  A nightly animal watch tour will be exciting and unforgettable for your guests.

Does Banff have vendors that can assist us with our wedding?

Banff has florists, DJ’s, photographers, videographers, wedding planners, limo rental agencies, and many other wedding providers to assist you.  That being said……if you want to bring your favorite Pastor to marry you just make sure that they have the necessary requirements to marry you in the province of Alberta.  Banff books up fast for vendors and we understand that you may want to bring your own flowers or photographer which is fantastic!  Enjoy your time here for your wedding and surround yourselves with the people who you love most on your special day.  GMiB will be able to advise you of the local vendors and match you with the vendors that suit your wedding day preferences.

After our wedding we want to stay and enjoy the area; is their enough for us to do for a week?

The wedding is over and you are free to enjoy your time together as newlyweds!  Start with a spa day at the Willow Stream Spa and pamper yourselves.  Take a hike, go up the gondola and maybe take in some golf at the Banff Springs Hotel golf course.  Drive along the highway to Johnson Canyon and see what beauty we have just 5 min off of the highway.  Take your time at Moraine Lake and have a tea while you watch the sun get lost in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.  See some elk and bighorn sheep at Lake Minnewanka while you are getting ready to board the Minnewanka Boat Tour for the afternoon.  Enjoy world-wide, award-winning cuisine on and off Banff Avenue, and if there is time….stop at Louis Vuitton and buy yourselves a wedding gift!

There are plenty of activities for all kinds of honeymooners.  If you want an adventure vacation or a nice relaxing retreat then Banff is the place to have your wedding!