Ashley & Derrick
The Couple and Their Decision to Elope in Banff National Park
I am so so excited to finally be able to share this stunning elopement in Banff National Park! Ashley and Derrick chose to plan an adventure elopement in Banff and invited a few of their closest family members and friends to come along and celebrate with them. The whole day was filled with fun, laughter, and lotsssss of shots.
Ashley and Derrick first met at Sunday Viet School when they were just kids, but it wasn’t until later that they reconnected through a cousin and started dating. After their engagement in Kauai, they started thinking about where they wanted to elope. One of their top choices was the mountains in Banff.
Banff is a magical place but it sure has its quirks. Besides trying to get the appropriate permits and navigating the legal requirements to have this day, we also had to plan in a way that we can avoid the kind of tourists Banff often attracts. But, it was ALL SO WORTH IT in the end!
From a Sunrise Elopement First Look To Chugging Beer with Family and Friends, This Is How To Plan an Adventurous Elopement In Banff
This Banff National Park elopement was my last one in Canada for the year.
Since Ashley and Derrick had decided to hold a sunrise elopement ceremony, we all woke up early for getting ready photos. We then found our way to a picturesque spot by the lake which also happens to be one of the hardest places to get to in Banff. I don’t usually do sunrise elopements but this was one of the best sunrises I’ve ever get to witness. Although the weather was freezing that morning, Ashley and Derrick embraced the cold weather and immersed themselves in the experience of sharing this private moment together.
After the first look moments, the couple spent a bit more time exploring the park before meeting up with their family for the ceremony and, I have to say, it was truly one of the sweetest ceremonies I’ve had the honor to be a part of.
After their Banff National Park elopement ceremony, we went and explored a bit more for their adventure portraits.
Then Ashley changed into her Ao Dai, a traditional Vietnamese dress, and I am so honored they let me photograph Ao Dai and mix my culture and my career for the first time ever.
Ashley and Derrick, truly, thank you so much for allowing me to capture your day. From wearing matching socks of your fur baby, to dealing with the crazy shuttle system of this park, to chugging beer and champagne with not only each other but also all the loved ones who came all the way here to celebrate you, your elopement in Banff was truly one for the books. Congrats again on your beautiful marriage.
– Henry
Meet The Best Banff National Park Elopement Vendors:
Photographer: Henry Tieu Photography (aka Henry)
Day-of Coordinator: Rain and Pines
Catering: Whippt Kitchen
Elopement Suit: Kenjo Suits
Meet Your Wedding & Elopement Photographer
I’m Henry Tieu, a dad and the photographer behind these honest, meaningful, and artful images of weddings and elopements across Washington and around the world. Since 2018, I’ve documented more than 200 celebrations across six continents. My work has been featured by Junebug Weddings, Brides, The New York Times, Green Wedding Shoes, Dancing With Her, and Sony, and recognized with international awards. But more than anything, I care about creating photographs that help people feel their memories both now and years from now.
