Many couples travel from distant cities, provinces and even far away countries to tie the knot with us here in Vancouver. Eloping under the trees of Stanley Park, on the sandy shores of English Bay or on a snow-capped Widgeon Mountain calls couples from all over the globe. We’re so proud to be an elopement destination hot spot and to call Vancouver home.
If you’ve decided on Vancouver for your elopement – congratulations! You’ve picked not only one of the most beautiful cities in the world but also one with so much to do. So once your vows are said and you’re officially newlyweds, here’s everything you need to have an amazing Vancouver getaway.
Photo by Erica Miller Photography
Restaurant recommendations
After tying the knot, you’ll likely want to celebrate with an awesome meal in a romantic atmosphere. Check out some of our favourite Vancouver eateries below! We’ve even included the neighbourhood or popular elopement spot nearby to these restaurants and noted which ones are best for our friends with dietary restrictions.
- The Teahouse in Stanley Park (Stanley Park)
- Shaughnessy Restaurant (Van Dusen Botanical Gardens)
- Seasons in the Park (Bloedel Conservatory or Queen Elizabeth Park)
- Bridges Restaurant (Granville Island)
- The Beachhouse (Dundarve Park, West Vancouver)
- Cafe Ca Va (West Vancouver)
- La Pentola (Opus Hotel – check out the Opus Hotel elopement package here!)
- Brix & Mortar (Yaletown)
- Provence Marinaside (Yaletown)
- Water St. Cafe (Gastown)
- Miku (Gastown)
- Black & Blue (Downtown)
- Nuba (multiple locations; vegetarian options)
- West Restaurant + Bar (South Granville)
- Heirloom Vegetarian (South Granville; vegetarian)
- The Acorn (Main St; vegetarian)
- Chickpea Restaurant (Main St; vegetarian)
- MeeT on Main/MeeT in Gastown (Main St or Gastown; vegetarian)
- The Black Lodge (Kingsway or Broadway; vegetarian)
- Virtuous Pie (Chinatown; vegetarian)
For our gluten-free newlyweds, indulge in some GF sweetness at Cartems Donuterie (multiple locations), Aphrodite’s Organic Café & Pie Shop (Kitsilano), and Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery (Cambie). Many of the vegetarian restaurants above also offer many GF options.
Photo by Emily Nicole Photos
Vancouver must-sees
It’s not a real visit to Vancouver unless you’ve ticked some of these must-sees off of your Vancouver bucket list. Enjoy exploring these gorgeous spots in Canada’s playground.
- Granville Island
- Gastown
- Stanley Park
- The Seawall
- Capilano Suspension Bridge
- Vancouver Aquarium
- Beaches: English Bay, Kitsilano Beach, Jericho Beach, etc.
- Queen Elizabeth Park
- Canada Place (don’t miss the Olympic torches!)
- Shopping on Granville and Robson streets
- Lynn Valley
- Yaletown
- Commercial Drive
Photo by Erica Miller Photography
Seasonal events
Depending on when you plan to elope, check out what’s happening in Vancouver when you’re here.
Winter (December – February)
If you’re in Vancouver over the Christmas holidays there are plenty of things to see and do like the Vancouver Christmas Market, Festival of Lights, Canyon Lights and much more. In January, get ready to eat with Dine Out Vancouver and the Hot Chocolate Festival. Into February, we have the International Wine Festival and the PuSH International Performing Arts Festival.
Spring (March – May)
March is the perfect time for newlyweds looking to laugh as Vancouver hosts the JFL NorthWest Comedy Fest. In April, you’ll enjoy the stunning pink streets with our annual Cherry Blosson Festival. And in May, it’s time for the arts with the Vancouver Opera Festival. If you’ve brought the kiddos along, check out the International Children’s Fest in May as well.
Summer (June – August)
Summer is a busy time in Vancouver with lots going on that our newly eloped couples can take part in. In June we celebrate the International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Craft Beer Week, Car Free Day and Italian Day. In July, we light up the sky with the Celebration of Light and get artsy with Bard on the Beach, Theatre Under the Stars, open air movies in Stanley Park and the Van Folk Music Fest. Lastly, we finish off summer with awesome events like Pride, the PNE, and the last few weeks of the night markets in August.
Fall (September – November)
The fall is the perfect time to come to Vancouver for arts lovers. In September, you can enjoy the Vancouver International Film Festival and the new Skookum Music Festival. In October there’s the Van Fringe Fest and Van Writers Fest. And in November, you can enjoy the Eastside Culture Crawl and Fan Expo.
Photo by Emily Nicole Photos
Day trips
If you have a bit more time in Vancouver, why not take a day trip and check out more of the Pacific Northwest? Here are some of our favourite places that you can head to for the day or a few days!
- North Shore Mountains: Grouse, Seymour and/or Cypress
- Whistler
- Vancouver Island: Tofino, Victoria and/or Nanaimo
- Sunshine Coast
- Deep Cove
- Okanagan
- Harisson Hot Springs
- Steveston
- Bowen Island
- Golden Ears
- Squamish
- Salt Spring Island
- Garibaldi Provincial Park
- Gulf Islands
- Seattle and surrounding islands
What part of Vancouver are you looking forward to visiting during your elopement?
written by Riana Ang-Canning
feature image by Erica Miller Photography
