Banff National Park is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with Lake Louise being one of the busiest destinations. But just a few kilometres from Lake Louise is an even more magical place: Moraine Lake. I don’t mean to compare magic-ness, and if you want to elope to either location you will NOT be disappointed, but a Moraine Lake elopement is just a little harder to get to. The location seclusion makes your Moraine Lake Elopement all the more dreamy (and less busy), and I would say it’s the best elopement location in Banff. Depending on how much you want to hike, there are endless locations with epic views to exchange I Dos.
The images below are of Alax and Doug, a super chill and wonderfully adventurous couple. For their fall engagement photos in Banff, we went to Lake Louise. Coincidentally, this ended up being exactly one year prior to their Moraine Lake elopement. And both days were perfect. For their Lake Louise engagement photos, we did the Big Beehive hike. The larches were just ending but the evening blues and purples were beautiful and it was just the right temp for cuddling. We got back to lake Louise just in time for the moon rising as the sun slipped behind the mountain. GORGEOUS.
For their Moraine Lake elopement, we took the shuttle up a winding road deep into the valley. Immediately, we were greeted with the bluest blue of Moraine Lake. Since most folks spend their time around the lake and the rock pile (cue nearly all Banff engagement or wedding photos), we wanted to go somewhere more secluded and special: Larch Valley.
As we ascended into the valley below Sentinel Pass and Temple Mountain (the highest in the Lake Louise area), the golden larches greeted us like a warm embrace just before their big send-off for the season. The sky was this stunning blue, a perfect backdrop against the shimmering golden trees. Honestly, it felt like we had stumbled into a postcard !
Whenever I’m in the energy of the mountains, I can’t help but think about how much change this place has witnessed over time. It’s impossible to imagine all the cycles of weather and footsteps, human and non-human alike–and still, everything stands and continues its glorious existence. Much like a relationship, I suppose.
Snow had fallen the night before and Mother Nature was just showing off her best side. Orange trees, blue skies, white ground and mountains everywhere: the characters had put on their best attire just for us. Alax and Doug braved the chilly air and got dressed in the shelter of the larches. Then we walked along the path toward a little lake where they said their vows.
After soaking in those epic views, frolicking in the snow and getting their hems dirty, we cracked open a couple of beers to celebrate the hike down. There’s something just so dang special about sharing those small joys in the great outdoors. We always feel more alive, you know? Totally charged up. Connected to each other, connected to nature, it doesn’t get any better than this.
If you got to this blog because you’re researching a Moraine Lake Elopement, click here to email me. We’ll chat logistics and make this magical place a reality for your best adventure yet!
