How to Elope on Vancouver Island: Licence, Permits, Locations and Photographers
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- How to Elope on Vancouver Island
- Step 1: Get your marriage licence
- Step 2: Find two witnesses
- Step 3: Book an officiant
- Step 4: Check whether you need a permit
- Where couples elope on Vancouver Island
- What an Island elopement costs
- Photographers who shoot Island elopements
- Elopement tips from the Island
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
- Related posts
How to Elope on Vancouver Island
Eloping on Vancouver Island takes less paperwork than most couples expect. You need a $100 BC marriage licence, two witnesses, and an officiant, and you can marry the same day you buy the licence. The harder part is picking a spot, since the Island has beaches, rainforest, lakes, and small islands all within a day's drive.
This guide covers the legal steps, permits for parks, where couples elope, what it costs, and photographers who shoot elopements here.
What you need to elope in BC
- A BC marriage licence ($100, valid for 3 months)
- Two witnesses over 19
- An officiant: a marriage commissioner or a religious representative
- A permit if you're marrying in some parks, including Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
a photographer can be one of your witnesses
Step 1: Get your marriage licence
A BC licence costs $100 and is valid for 3 months. There's no waiting period and no residency requirement, so couples from outside BC can elope here too. You buy it from a marriage licence issuer or a Service BC location, and you leave with it the same day.
If you're eloping somewhere remote, like Tofino, Ucluelet, or one of the Gulf Islands, pick up your licence in Victoria, Nanaimo, or another larger town on the way. Smaller communities have fewer issuers.
Our full guide to getting married in BC covers ID, age rules, and ordering your certificate afterward.
Step 2: Find two witnesses
Even the smallest elopement needs two witnesses, both over 19. They sign the licence with you and your officiant after the ceremony.
If it's just the two of you, your photographer can be one witness. A planner, videographer, or a friend who comes along can be the other. Some officiants can help you find a second witness, so ask when you book.
Step 3: Book an officiant
In BC, a marriage commissioner or a religious representative can legally marry you.
Marriage commissioners charge a fee set by the province: $78.75 ($75 plus GST) for the first hour, then $25 for each extra hour and $0.63 per kilometre of travel. Ferries and a long drive to the west coast add up, so ask for the total before you book. Commissioners perform civil ceremonies only.
If you want a ceremony written around your story, look at independent officiants. See our roundup of Vancouver Island wedding officiants, or browse officiants on WeddingHelp.
Photos: Veronique Gagnon Photography (left) and Moonrise Photography (right).
Step 4: Check whether you need a permit
This is the step couples miss most often.
- Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Long Beach, near Tofino and Ucluelet): Parks Canada requires a wedding permit for every wedding in the park, however small. Contact the park at 250-726-3500 or Pacrim-license-permis@pc.gc.ca. Anyone paid to perform a marriage in the park, including marriage commissioners, needs a valid business licence, so confirm your officiant has one.
- BC Parks (provincial parks across the Island): rules depend on the park and the size of your group. Check with BC Parks before you commit to a spot.
- Municipal beaches and parks (Tofino, Victoria, and elsewhere): each town sets its own rules. Contact the town office for the spot you have in mind.
- Private land: only with the owner's permission. Many Island B&Bs, farms, and small venues are happy to host an elopement.
tip: Pick a backup spot within a short drive of your first choice. Island weather changes fast, and a covered option or a forest trail can save the day if the wind picks up on the beach.
Where couples elope on Vancouver Island
The west coast (Tofino and Ucluelet). Long sandy beaches, surf, and rocky headlands. Mornings are often foggy, which looks great in photos. Our real Tofino wedding stories and tips go deeper on this area, and Victoria vs. Tofino compares the two.
Rainforest and waterfalls. Old-growth forest and waterfalls are spread across the Island, including around Port Alberni and the highway to the west coast. Many are a short walk from a parking area, which matters if you're carrying a dress.
Mountain lakes and backcountry. For couples who want to hike, the Island's mountains and lakes offer views without crowds. Check trail conditions and park rules first, and plan the timing with your photographer.
The Gulf Islands. Salt Spring, Galiano, Pender, and the others are quiet and pastoral, with orchards, farms, and ocean views. You'll need to plan around BC Ferries schedules, and so will your officiant.
Victoria. Waterfront parks, gardens, and heritage buildings, with hotels and restaurants close by for dinner afterward. Good if you want a city elopement or have a few guests flying in.
Parksville, Qualicum Beach, and the Comox Valley. Wide beaches at low tide, calm water, and views across to the mainland mountains.
What an Island elopement costs
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage licence | $100 | Valid 3 months |
| Marriage commissioner | $78.75 and up | Plus extra hours, mileage, and ferries |
| Park permit | Varies | Required in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve |
| Photographer | Varies by hours | Many offer elopement packages |
Photography is usually the biggest cost. Full-day coverage in BC often runs $2,700 to $3,500 for six hours, and many photographers offer shorter elopement packages. See how much a wedding photographer costs in BC for the full breakdown.
Photographers who shoot Island elopements
These photographers list elopements as part of their work and have claimed their WeddingHelp pages.
Moonrise Photography
Moonrise has 14 years of experience and loves the West Coast mountains and backcountry. A good fit if you want to hike to your ceremony spot.
Veronique Gagnon Photography
Veronique has photographed weddings and elopements for nearly 15 years. Her work mixes fine-art portraits with candid moments, and she puts nervous couples at ease.
Salish Coast Photography
Based in Victoria, Salish Coast shoots elopements and intimate ceremonies in Victoria and the Gulf Islands, with a documentary style and gentle direction for portraits.
Crassodon
Serhiy Prylutskyy has more than 16 years of wedding and elopement work in Victoria. His fine-art portraits use low-key light for a moody, dramatic look.
Also worth a look: Mariah Coulombe Photography, a Victoria photographer who travels for elopements. For more options, see our top Vancouver Island wedding photographers or browse all photographers.
Elopement tips from the Island
- Go on a weekday. Beaches and trails are quieter, and photographers and officiants have more open dates.
- Watch the tides. Some beaches nearly disappear at high tide. Check a tide table for your date and time.
- Plan for rain. A clear umbrella and a backup spot are enough for most elopements.
- Sort out your ferries early in summer if you're heading to a Gulf Island. Book a reservation where you can.
- Plan dinner. A small restaurant booking or a picnic after the ceremony makes the day feel complete.
Thinking about inviting a few more people? Our micro wedding guide for Vancouver Island covers weddings under 30 guests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to elope on Vancouver Island? The legal side is about $180: a $100 licence and a $78.75 marriage commissioner, plus their travel. Photography, permits, and anything else you add come on top.
Can we elope on Vancouver Island if we don't live in BC? Yes. BC has no residency requirement for a marriage licence.
Can we get married the same day we get the licence? Yes. BC has no waiting period.
Do we need witnesses to elope? Yes, two witnesses over 19. Your photographer can be one of them.
Do we need a permit to elope on a beach in Tofino? It depends on the beach. Long Beach and other beaches in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve need a Parks Canada wedding permit. Beaches managed by the District of Tofino have their own rules, so check with the district.
Sources
Checked in September 2026. Fees and rules change, so confirm before you book:
- Marriage licences (Government of BC)
- Marriage commissioners (Government of BC)
- Permits and licences, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (Parks Canada)
