Pyramid Island Elopement Photography
Pyramid Island is without a doubt one of the most popular places in Jasper National Park for wedding and elopement photography. The long wooden bridge out to the island has become widely recognizable over the years, popularized by countless visitors sharing their adventures on social media. But Pyramid Island has been a popular wedding and elopement venue since long before Instagram and Facebook made it big.
We’ve had the pleasure of photographing couples from all over the world tie the knot in this special place for over a decade. The island is a place that has seen a lot of love, and carries a lot of love stories. The two weddings shown in this blog post actually feature one couple eloping from the United Kingdom, and one from the Ukraine. But no matter where people come from to make it official, it is Pyramid Lake, the island, mountain, and forests that tie all those stories together.
An elopement ceremony on Pyramid Island in Jasper National Park. These two travelled all the way from the United Kingdom!
How to elope at Pyramid Lake
Eloping at Pyramid Lake is pretty easy to do, but there are a few important things to know! There is a little area just to the left after you cross the bridge onto the island that is designated for weddings. It is recognizable by the rows of benches facing out towards the lake and Whistler’s mountain. This wedding site is available for booking from May 1st until mid-October. If you are planning to have your wedding or elopement at this site on Pyramid Island during those months then you must book the site through Parks Canada (follow this link). It is available for rental in one hour increments, and costs $49, plus a $13.50 booking fee. During the winter months of October-April, the site is available on a first-come basis, although the path to the island may be snow drifted and the island itself might be windy and cold!
Now it should be mentioned as well that other areas on the island do not need to be booked for your ceremony (actually neither does the main wedding area outside of the busy hours of 10:30AM-6:30PM). Some people prefer to elope at the far end of Pyramid Island, or one of the numerous picnic areas and viewpoints along the island trail. The short loop around the island is very accessible for people with average walking ability. The most popular ceremony spots are the main wedding area next to the bridge, and at the far end of the island next to an old fallen tree.
The Pyramid Island designated wedding area, just to the left after the bridge.
The famous bridge to Pyramid Island.
A Jasper bride all the way from the Ukraine cast in beautiful fall light on the Pyramid Island bridge.
Things to remember when eloping in Jasper or at Pyramid Island
The designated wedding site must be booked through Parks Canada during May-October
From October-May the site is first come first serve (but check out these notes from Parks Canada)
You and your guests will need to purchase a parks pass upon entry to Jasper National Park
There is limited parking at the Pyramid Island parking lot, but there is quite a bit of parking a short distance past there at the end of Pyramid Lake Road.
It takes about 10 minutes to drive to Pyramid Island from the Jasper townsite.
Everyone must follow Parks rules and regulations.
Hiring local vendors ensures the best outcomes, service and compliance for your wedding or elopement needs.
We always recommend putting nature first in your elopement planning, and following leave no trace principles.
In the busy summer months, and especially on Saturdays, you will probably see other brides and grooms out and about near the island! There are often back to back weddings on the island during the high-season.
A Jasper Wedding and Elopement Photography Favourite
Pyramid Lake is a Jasper visitor favourite, and for good reason. Pyramid Island is a very special place, and no matter when you visit it is always different. It is also a place you can keep coming back to over the years and finding something new, or enjoying a different activity or adventure. With the number of hikes, bike rides and ski trails around the lake you won’t run out of places to explore, and in the summer time the lake is a great temperature for swimming. This is part of what makes it such a perfect place to be married. It is so special to be able to return to your wedding place over the years with family and friends and create more memories and ties to such a beautiful place.
There are plenty of activities to do at Pyramid Lake year round. Renting a boat or taking a canoe tour is a great way to get out and enjoy the lake in the summer; whether it is to take a few casts with a fishing rod, or just to enjoy the sights. There are picnic sites around the lake, beaches, and bike rentals at the Pyramid Lake Resort. In the wintertime Pursuit clears a skating loop and a hockey rink on the lakefront, and there are sleigh rides along the shore as well. Year round it is a great place for star-gazing and aurora-chasing, although of course the Jasper Dark Sky Festival is probably the best time for it ;)
All the fun and activities make it a great place to hang out, but it is really the views that make it all so amazing. Pyramid is a dream location for elopement photos, and certainly a dream location for a wedding or elopement photographer!
If a Pyramid Island Elopement is the dream for you, get in touch now to check our availability. We’d love to be a part of your adventure!
