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Banff Gondola Elopement | Quynlan & Braden

Quyn and Braden met at his prom many years ago. Braden showed up with his girlfriend so Quyn never gave him a second thought. Braden couldn’t help but think Quyn was too dang gorgeous to be his friend’s date. As they got to know each other more, Quyn fell in love with the way Braden cared for others, and Braden knew Quyn was the girl he would marry, as he couldn’t picture his life without her.

Through their many years together, Quyn & Braden have endured countless trials. Since getting engaged in December 2018, they have rescheduled their wedding not once, but twice. Only two months after their engagement Braden was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma and they were forced to postpone their celebration. After the cancer became more manageable they were ecstatic to finally get to celebrate their love for one another with their friends and family only to have to postpone a second time due to COVID.

Finally, they decided enough is enough and they couldn’t wait any longer to be married. They decided to elope in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with their immediate family and two best friends. It was a snowy blissful day to celebrate all that they’ve been through and the perfect declaration that COVID can’t cancel LOVE.

Getting Ready

Quyn & Braden started their morning getting ready at the Solara Resort penthouse suite in Canmore, Alberta. With only their favourite people present, they laughed, cheersed, and cried. Quyn & Braden wrote letters to share with each other along with a special gift. Reading those letters was full of emotion and tears. Braden gifted Quyn a beautiful bracelet to pass down to their future children to wear on their wedding day. Quyn gifted Braden a photo album of steamy boudoir photos that brought a huge smile to Braden’s face. Quyn also had a first look/reveal over Zoom with all her bridesmaids who were no longer able to be there.

Bride and groom get ready at the beautiful Solara resort in Canmore, Alberta. Getting ready accommodations surrounded by the beautiful rocky mountains.
  • bride getting ready with Nikole D Beauty, a Canmore makeup artist who does on location styling.
  • Bride in white wedding robe getting ready in Canmore Alberta for Banff elopement with Nikole D beauty and boho hair babe.
Bride getting ready with mom and friend the morning of her elopement day. Crying while getting her makeup done. Black and white picture
Bride and maid of honour pop champagne off the balcony while getting ready at Solara Resort in Canmore, Alberta.
Bride and maid of honour portrait cuddling on the bed while getting ready for elopement.
  • bride and groom write letters for each other to read while getting ready for their elopement day. Bride cried as she read hers. Elopement day getting ready ideas. Black and white image.
  • bride reads letter from groom while getting ready before her elopement. Very emotional getting ready ideas for your elopement day. Getting ready pictures.
Groom gets ready with best man morning of his elopement day. Portrait of groomsman tying groom's tie.
Bride gifts groom with photo album of boudoir photos. Wedding gift ideas for the groom. Bride gift to groom.
Groom and sister emotional hug while getting ready for wedding.
Bride facetimes her bridesmaids who were not present at her elopement which is a great way to include your loved ones in your elopement day when they aren't there.
Bride first look with both her dads morning of elopement.

First Prayer & Ceremony

The Malcolm Hotel made for the perfect outdoor ceremony location. Quyn & Braden had an intimate moment praying together before walking down the aisle. During their ceremony, we got the most beautiful light snowfall. They both wrote their own vows to each other and you could tell how meant to be they were by how similar their vows were.

The Malcolm Hotel wedding and elopement ceremony location in Canmore, Alberta.
Bride walking up the stairs at the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, Alberta before walking down the aisle.
Bride and groom first touch and prayer without seeing each other before their wedding ceremony.
Bride and groom have a first touch without seeing each other before their elopement ceremony. Picture of bride hugging groom from behind.
  • Bride and Groom pray together back to back before their elopement ceremony without seeing each other. At the Malcolm Hotel in Canmore, Alberta.
  • groom's reaction seeing his bride walk down the aisle. Groom is wearing a black tux and it is snowing during their wedding ceremony in Canmore, Alberta.
  • Bride walking down the aisle with parents during elopement ceremony in Canmore, Alberta at the Malcolm Hotel.
Elopement ceremony image of groom looking at bride holding hands. Ceremony in Canmore, Alberta at the Malcolm Hotel.
Bride and Groom holding hands during ceremony. Photo of the bride emotionally looking at her groom all dressed up in a black suit.
Bride and groom reading personal vows to each other from custom handmade vow books. Bride wearing lace ballgown wedding dress, and groom wearing black suit with square cufflinks.
Elopement ceremony with immediate family at the Malcolm hotel in Canmore, Alberta.
Bride and groom first kiss during winter elopement ceremony in Canmore, Alberta at the Malcolm Hotel patio.
Bride and groom just married, walking down the aisle photo.

“Just Married” Adventure on the Banff Gondola

To celebrate Quyn & Braden getting married we all took a ride up the Banff Gondola for a very windy adventure. They had their first dance together on the mountaintop listening to their favourite song and soaking in the fact that they were now husband and wife.

Bride and groom walking up the Banff Gondola to take portraits on Sulpher mountain for their winter adventure elopement.
Wedding rings portrait, bride has gel nails and groom is wearing a square cufflink.
Sulphur mountain summit up the Banff Gondola.
Bride running around the rooftop of the Banff Gondola lookout. Very windy and dress blowing but the bride is very happy and smiling in this portrait.
Bride and groom portrait standing side by side all wrapped up on his arm and kissing her on the head. We took their elopement portraits on top of Sulphur mountain up the Banff Gondola
Banff gondola elopement portraits on top of sulphur mountain with green bouquet from Always Sunny Design. Bride and groom about to kiss surrounded by the snow peaked rocky mountains.
  • Portrait of bride from Banff Gondola Elopement. Twirling around in her lace ballgown wedding dress and silk shawl to stay warm.
  • Portrait of groom walking while fixing his cuffs. Wearing a black suit and tie and square cufflinks.
Banff gondola elopement portraits on top of Sulphur mountain. Groom hugging and kissing bride from behind.
Elopement portraits from Banff Gondola elopement on Sulphur Mountain. Bride and groom flying like an airplane for a fun couples prompt.
Bride and groom have their first dance up the Banff Gondola for their elopement. On top of sulphur mountain. Elopement photography by Liv Hettinga, a Banff National park photographer.
Bride and groom have their first dance up the Banff Gondola listening to their favourite song and spinning each other around. Mountain winter elopement in Banff National Park captured by Liv Hettinga Photography.
Bride and groom first dance on their Banff Gondola Elopement. They adventure and dance on top of sulphur mountain while listening to their song and soaking in the fact that they just got married in the beautiful rocky mountains.
Black and white photography image of bride and groom almost kissing with lots of grain. Elopement photography portraits. Black and white editing.
Banff Gondola Elopement with a view of the town of Banff. Bride and groom riding down the gondola after their adventure and first dance to now have their reception at McDonalds.
Sulphur mountain Gondola Lift lower terminal. Banff National Park Gondola elopement. Black and white edited film image.

Town of Banff & McDonald’s Reception

We ended their day with a walk through the town of Banff and toasting over fries and a burger from McDonalds.

Bride, groom, maid of honour, and best man walking through the town of Banff on elopement day and wearing masks because they got married during the covid-19 pandemic.
Bride and groom portrait wearing masks in the center of the town of Banff because they got eloped during corona virus, a worldwide pandemic that did not cancel love.
Bride and groom portraits in the town of Banff, walking though the town center at sunset.
Town of Banff wedding portraits looking at the mountains. Images by Liv Hettinga Photography an Alberta Elopement photographer.
Bride and groom running across the street in the town of Banff to McDonalds to spend their dinner eating fries and a Big Mac.
Black and white elopement photography. Bride and groom eating a Big Mac, fries, and a coke on elopement day at McDonalds as their celebratory meal.

Teaser Film by Kord and Co

Vendors Involved:

Custom Portrait Illustration by Liv Hettinga Photography of bride and groom portrait.

Photographer: Liv Hettinga Photography
Videographer: Kord and co
Planner: Love Spell Co
Bouquet: Always Sunny Design
Hair: Boho Hair Boutique
Makeup: Nikole D Beauty
Vow books: Marquise Studio
Ring box: Blush Vintage Rentals
Officiant: Married by Cole
Charcuterie: Berry & Pepper Box
Custom Portrait Illustration: Crafty Liv

Weddings and Elopements

CATEGORY

6/14/2021

POSTED

heyyy!!

I’m your elopement hype girl and a photographer for the goofball lovers + those who want to make their wedding day an adventure. I’m also the owner of a converted camper van and love exploring the outdoors. You’ll find my heart on this blog. Whether it’s documenting my real life couples or giving my brides + grooms the tips + tricks they need to plan their best elopement, I’ve poured my heart out for you here. 

I'm Liv Hettinga

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Banff Gondola Elopement | Quynlan & Braden

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"Liv is extremely talented and great to work with! She gave us enough direction in our shoots to know what to do but still left tons of room for candid, genuine moments. Nothing beats seeing real smiles and laughter in your photos! She was more than willing to collaborate and go for some sillier ideas, and was always super encouraging. She's an incredibly sweet person and we felt very comfortable to be ourselves around her. Liv's talent is beyond just the technical knowledge, she really has an artist eye for beautiful photos. Her editing style is perfect, not too dark or light but still brings personality with the warm tones she adds. I HIGHLY recommend working with Liv!!"

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