A person in a dark green suit gently kisses the hand of their partner in a lace-back wedding dress, standing atop a mountain with a misty range in the background.

A Hiking Mountaintop Elopement in the Canadian Rockies

Ashley (she/her) and Natalie’s (she/her) Canadian Rockies elopement is the perfect reminder that weddings don’t need to follow tradition to feel meaningful. After swiping right on Bumble six years ago and growing through moves, milestones, and personal challenges, they knew they wanted a day that reflected them

So, instead of a big, traditional celebration, they spent a week hiking, paddleboarding, and white water rafting in one of the most breathtaking places on earth. Their sunset hike to a mountain ridge, where they shared vows with no one but the peaks as their witness, made their day unforgettable. 

How did you meet, and what led you to this moment?

Natalie and I swiped right on Bumble six years ago, and the rest is history. We were both living in Dallas at the time and met at a local bar for our first date. 

The first couple of years were challenging for me as I was working through religious trauma and hadn’t come out to my family yet. 

Natalie was so patient and kind – she gave me the confidence to love and accept myself fully. That love has been so healing for us. 

After five years, moves, job changes, and so much personal growth, we were ready. 

On July 6, 2023, Natalie proposed, and there were zero doubts. We wanted to spend the rest of our days together.

Why did you choose to elope rather than have a traditional wedding?

We knew a traditional wedding wasn’t for us, especially since we don’t have the most supportive family. An elopement gave us the freedom to do exactly what felt right, just the two of us in a place we loved. 

It was about starting our life together in a way that reflected who we are: adventurous, independent, and deeply connected.

What made you choose the Canadian Rockies for your elopement?

The Canadian Rockies are breathtaking, and we wanted a week filled with everything we love: paddleboarding, hiking, white water rafting, exploring, and good food. We spent our elopement trip doing just that. 

On Thursday, we took a sunset hike to a ridge that felt like pure magic. With photographers and a videographer capturing it all, we said our vows with the mountains as our witness. It was unforgettable​.

Walk us through the elopement day itself – what were some of your favorite moments?

We started the day with breakfast together at our hotel, Fairmont Banff Springs. Ashley had her nails and hair done at the hotel while Natalie picked up our wedding cake, because cake in bed later was non-negotiable!

In the afternoon, we packed up for the big hike. The drive to the trailhead took about 1.5 hours, and we met our photographers and videographer there. The hike up was tough, it took about 2.5 hours, and we laughed the whole way. The views at the top were jaw-dropping. We did a first look, shared our vows, and soaked in the moment.

Some of our favorite parts? Laughing at the bumpy drive, laughing at how hard the hike was, how cold it got at the top, and the fact that Natalie’s tie had to be cut because no one knew how to tie it!

We finally got back to the hotel at 1 a.m. and ate our wedding cake in bed. It was perfect​.

What did you wear for the big day, and how did you find your outfits?

I wore a dress from Blue Bridal in Austin. I took four of my closest friends with me, and surprisingly, I found it on the first try! It was a great experience.

Natalie had a custom suit made by Soto & Co in Austin. We loved them because they’re so inclusive and tailor suits for women. Natalie looked incredible, and it felt so true to who she is​.

How did you personalize your elopement ceremony?

We wanted it to be all about us. We wrote our vows before leaving for Canada, finding inspiration on TikTok and using how-to guides. Sharing those words alone on a mountain felt so personal and true.

We also kept the legal part simple. One of our best friends, who’s an officiant, married us at our favorite pizza place in Austin before we left. It was low-key, fun, and stress-free​.

How did you find the right vendors to bring your vision to life?

We found our photographers and videographer on Instagram, and they were amazing. Hiking with them felt like hiking with friends—they made everything smooth and enjoyable. They also referred us to the other vendors we worked with, which made planning so easy​.

Looking back, was eloping the best choice for you?

Absolutely. Eloping gave us the chance to focus on what truly mattered: each other. We wanted intimacy, adventure, and a day that felt us. It was everything we could have dreamed of and more.

Photography by Willow and Wolf

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