We’ve captured many couples at Moraine as Banff elopement photographers, but this was by far one of the craziest light shows Mother Nature has ever put on for us.
A Secret Banff Elopement
We’re capturing Michelle and David’s mountain wedding in Canmore, Alberta next year, but these two were too wildly in love to wait. When Michelle messaged me asking if we’d be up for being their Banff elopement photographers for when they secretly tied the knot at Moraine Lake, we answered YES YES YES! They also asked if we knew of any officiants in mind that would be up for meeting us for a ceremony, and we had the perfect commissioner in mind.
Take a look at this Kananaskis elopement in the heart of the Rockies!
Jodi Hartung of Young, Hip & Married is by far one of our favourite marriage officiants in Banff National Park. Judy is always up for anything. We’ve seen her smiling face plenty of times this year before the crack of dawn, ready to meet Banff elopement photographers and the bride + groom anywhere and everywhere.
A Blue Wedding Dress and Two Furry Guests
Typical to summer weather in the Canadian Rockies, the mountains had vanished in thick wildfire smoke days before Michelle and David’s secret Banff elopement. The night before, one of the biggest thunderstorms of the season rolled through the mountains. Just enough to clear some of the smoke! We met Jodi and the bride and groom before sunrise at Moraine Lake, everyone excited that the mountains were in view. Even though it was a little cold, the bride was rocking the most beautiful blue wedding dress! This unique wedding dress idea is definitely an A+ in our books.
Michelle and David brought their two dogs along as guests, though we had the honour of signing the marriage license as Banff elopement photographers 😉 After the ceremony and a few tears of joy as Michelle and David read their vows to one another, we headed to the Moraine Lake viewpoint to snap some pictures. We could see a black thunderstorm roll in on the other side of the lake.
Banff Elopement Photographers Caught in Smoke/Thunderstorm/Awesomeness
With its loud bangs and claps in the sky, we knew we only had a short time before the downpour began. Within 15 minutes, we could feel a few rain drops fall. We wrapped up the Banff elopement photographers session. Just as we were about to leave, though, the sky lit a bright eerie orange glow and a fleeting rainbow conjured across the lake. It was quite literally like nothing we’d ever seen at Moraine Lake before. This elopement photography was truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
We grabbed a couple pictures moments before the downpour began, and quickly ran back to the cars. We drove to another spot, and finished the Banff elopement photography as the storm passed. Calm and dry, we made sure to cuddle up with the doggos one more time before saying goodbye to these two on their elopement day. Congrats Michelle and David, we can’t wait to capture your big day as you celebrate with family and friends next summer! Cheers!
FEATURED!
A photo from this Banff elopement photographers session at Moraine Lake was featured on Looks Like Film and Photobug Community blogs!
Film & Forest are two Banff elopement photographers capturing love stories in Jasper, Vancouver, Tofino, and beyond. We travel across Western Canada to photograph adventurous couples in BC and Alberta’s wildest places. Count us in for backpacking trips, hiking elopements, adventurous climbing weddings, and everything in between!
Learn more about us and our adventure wedding photography services.
Wow these are truly stunning. I’ve followed y’alls work for a long time, but this is one of the most beautiful elopements I’ve seen you shoot! I LOVE that their dogs were their witnesses and that dress was just perfect against a Banff background.
Haha yessss, furry witnesses for life! We were so excited on Michelle’s blue wedding dress too, she’s an absolute bombshell! 🙂
Seriously beautiful, I’ve never been to Banff, but it looks like the perfect place to elope 🙂 and you captured it beautifully!
Definitely come visit if you ever get the chance! There really is no place like it 🙂
I didn’t want to click on this because I knew that I was going to be 100% jealous. I have wanted to see/shoot here forever and every time I see Banff come up I am just like UGGGGGGGG another rad Banff session.
Hahaha thanks Matt! For reals how we feel about Yosemite every time we see an elopement there 😉
Gosh, these are absolutely magical!! That rainbow is insane. What a gorgeous spot for a Banff elopement!
To say we were freaking out is an understatement haha! The rainbow over Moraine was like nothing we’ve ever seen before!
This Banff elopement is everything I dream of when it comes to adventure wedding photography! I LOVE, love, love your tones & how genuine every image feels! Beautiful work!
Thank you so much Cass! A little unpredictable weather is definitely key to adventure.
Wow. I mean my jaw is on the floor from looking at the beauty of Banff and this sweet couple’s elopement. Absolutely stunning.
Aw thank you Caroline! Moraine Lake was a whirlwind of awesomeness with the storm.
Goodness! This Banff elopement is the JAM! It’s so unique and colorful. You did a great job of capturing the environment and their story!
Yess, we love bringing out rich colours in our editing! It also helps that Moraine Lake is so dang blue 😉
Omg you’re a magician! That shot with the umbrella! :O Such an incredible Banff elopement!!
The rainbow literally only lasted a minute or two! We were scrambling to capture it before the downpour came a minute later. Totally worth getting soaked for aha.
Gahhhh! Sooo dang beautiful! love that her dress matched Moraine Lake, and that they brought their dogs! Banff is such a perfect spot for an elopement!
Thank you! Doggos make the perfect elopement witnesses in our opinion hehe 😉
I quite literally dream of Banff – what an amazing place to have an elopement. I love the rainbow that snuck out – those photos are seriously stunning.
Thank you, it was truly unreal! Never seen Moraine Lake have such a crazy rainbow before. Banff National Park looks so unique for each and every elopement.
This is just unreal! The blues in the first part of the set made me feel something. The emotion and the vast landscape just make this one of the best wedding sessions I’ve seen in a very long time! Best session out of Banff, best elopement photographers for Banff. Hands down!
Oh gosh thank you so much, Joseph! That truly means a lot. We love tieing in both the landscape of the Canadian Rockies with the intimate emotion that elopements bring. Was definitely one of our highlights of the summer for sure!