Best time of year to elope in Alberta

Jun 28

Alberta has become a popular elopement destination for couples all around the world. With the Rocky Mountains, desert, boreal forests, vast prairies, and more, it’s no wonder why Alberta is a clear choice for elopements. Even with your elopement location being an obvious choice, it can be difficult to choose your date - especially if you’re not local to Alberta.

Seasons in Alberta are quite different from seasons across the world. We have long winters that can span from five to seven months, short autumns and springs, and our summers are unpredictable. This guide was created to help you narrow down what season you’d like to elope in Alberta.

Summer (June to August)

Summer is definitely the most popular season for elopements in Alberta. The weather is warm, the days are long, and everything is green. One of my favourite things about Albertan summers is that they are neither dry nor humid making it very comfortable to be outside in the sun.

Summer is also the season where everything is in bloom. However, because of the large variety of landscapes within Alberta, wildflowers are in bloom at different times of the summer depending on location. For wildflowers in the prairies, try for an elopement in late June or July. For wildflowers in the mountains, they will bloom in valleys around mid-June but won’t be in full bloom in the alpines until late-July to early-August.

Summer averages:

Daytime highs of 20 to 25℃ (68 to 77℉)
77.7mm rainfall (July being the wettest month)
9.5hrs of sunshine hours

Things to keep in mind:

Crowds. Summer is also the most popular season for tourists, so it will be more difficult to get locations all to yourself.
Sunrise & sunset are at extreme hours of the day (4am/midnight.)
Forest fires. Summer is the most popular season for forest fires which will have many areas in the mountains closed off to the public with extreme smoke throughout the entire province.
Expensive. Because summer is the most popular season for tourists, many hotels, restaurants, activities, & transportation prices are hiked up.
Unpredictable weather. Some years our summers are hot and dry with temperatures in the mid to high 30s (). Other years our summers are cold and rainy with temperatures in the high teens.

Autumn (September to November)

Early autumn is the next most popular season for elopements in Alberta. Over the past decade, our autumns have been exceptionally warm and extend our summer season into late September and sometimes even early October! September can bring temperatures in the low to mid-20s (), beautiful autumn leaves, and pink harvest sunsets (especially on the prairies!)

However, the season can drastically change within a week's time and bring snow, brown foliage, and overcast skies. This usually begins to happen mid-October and by November the autumn colours are gone and there is snow on the ground.

Autumn averages:

Daytime highs of 0 to 17℃ (℉), sometimes reaching low to mid-20s ()
18.3mm rainfall
106mm snow (usually staying for a day or two)
5hrs of sunshine hours

Things to keep in mind:

Early autumn & late autumn are drastically different
Autumn colours in the prairies aren’t always bright and full of colour
Window for autumn colours in the Rockies is late September to early October
Parts of the Rockies will start to get snow in early autumn
September to October will be busy & crowded still
November will be fairly quiet

Winter (December to February)

Although I say December to February for our winter season, it can sometimes stretch from September/October to April (even early May!) However, December to February are always the coldest months with the most snow. Even with the cold and snow, winter is a beautiful time of year to elope as all of Alberta looks like a winter wonderland!

Southern Alberta experiences a natural phenomenon called Chinook. It’s a type of warm wind that blows over the region melting snow and bringing temperatures up to 10-20℃ (℉) for a few hours or days.

Winter averages:

Daytime highs of -5 to -15℃ (℉), but dropping to -30 to -40℃ (℉) some days
Can see up to 9m (30ft) of snowfall in a year
3.4hrs of sunshine hours

Things to keep in mind:

Dress warm! Bring a proper winter jacket, boots, and spare mittens
Expensive but quiet. The Rockies can sometimes be expensive during the winter months as the skiing crowd takes over the mountain communities. Even with the slopes being busy, many trails are quiet.
Days are dark. Sunrise hours are late in the morning and sunset hours are early to mid-afternoon.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is when elopement and wedding season starts up again. If I’m being quite honest, spring is my least favourite season in Alberta. With the snow starting to melt it’s often quite slushy and messy outside. However, there are a few beautiful things about spring - especially the month of May. Early spring wildflowers - like crocus and violets - start to grow between snow patches, sunrise and sunsets are at a more reasonable time of day, cherry and apple trees are blooming, and many locations are still on the quiet side.

Spring averages:

Daytime highs of 2.2 to 17.5℃ (℉)
19mm rainfall
125mm snowfall
7.6hrs of sunshine hours

Things to keep in mind:

Dress for any kind of weather. Spring can be cold and snowy, rainy, or warm.
Off-season. Spring is usually when hotels, transportation, restaurants, etc. will be most reasonably priced.
Quiet. Since it’s off-season, trails and popular locations should be fairly quiet.

Every season in Alberta is quite unpredictable. No matter what time of year you choose to elope, you need to be prepared for anything. The amazing part though, whether it’s a winter wonderland, rich autumn browns, or a bright sunny day, it’s going to be gorgeous!

My best advice is to choose a time of year that holds meaning to you, decide what aesthetic you want, and what is most comfortable for you. Regardless of what you choose, you will have a once in a lifetime experience.