Updated August 16th, 2023.
The heart of the Canadian Rockies beats with a rhythm of enchantment, a perfect symphony of breathtaking landscapes and romantic allure. Nestled within this captivating backdrop, Alberta offers so many amazing wedding venues that match any type of celebration. From picturesque mountain retreats to rustic cabin-like venues, Alberta’s diverse landscapes provide an array of settings that promise to transform your special day into an unforgettable masterpiece.
Whether you envision a grand affair that mirrors the majesty of the Canadian Rockies or an intimate gathering embraced by the rustic charm of the prairies, Alberta’s wedding venues offer something truly magical for every couple. Let’s dive into a world where dreams take shape against a backdrop of majestic peaks, rolling hills, and crystalline lakes – a world where love stories are etched into the very fabric of Alberta’s landscapes.
In this article, we’ll traverse through a curated selection of Alberta’s most enchanting wedding venues, each handpicked by us to reflect the diverse tastes and desires of couples seeking to exchange their vows in this picturesque province. So, whether you’re drawn to the allure of a mountainous paradise or the serenity of a tranquil lakeside haven, Alberta has a treasure trove of venues waiting to host the wedding of your dreams.
Join us as we explore the breathtaking options that Alberta has to offer, and let your imagination run wild as we unveil the perfect destination for your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. Your journey to discovering the best wedding venues in Alberta starts here – an expedition of love, romance, and limitless possibilities.
Table of Contents
Click a section below to jump to your ideal location
- How We Chose the Best Alberta Wedding Venues
- The Best Banff Wedding Venues
- The Best Lake Louise Wedding Venues
- The Best Canmore Wedding Venues
- The Best Candian Rockies Mountain Wedding Venues
- The Best Calgary Wedding Venues
How We Chose the Best Alberta Wedding Venues
As mentioned above, this is not an exhaustive list of every venue in Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore, or Calgary. It is however our personal list of favourites. We’ll outline how and why we’ve chosen these venues to be our favourites and share some past weddings we’ve photographed at those venues.
These are the things we keep in mind when choosing a venue for our list.
1. Beautiful or unique locations for ceremonies, receptions and portraits
2. Friendly and helpful staff
3. Amazing food
4. Proximity to amenities for you and your guests
Our Top 3 Wedding Venues in Banff, Alberta
It’s hard to beat the Fairmont Banff Springs when you’re thinking of iconic Banff wedding venues. It’s the quintessential Fairy Tale castle in the Rockies, an iconic and timeless location at the bases of Mount Rundle and Sulfur Mountain (famous for its Hot Springs).
From the ceremony views on the terrace to the medieval castle feel of Mount Stephen Hall for your reception, it’s hard to beat the Banff Springs for an iconic Banff Wedding no matter the time of year.
Looking for something more laid back, or maybe having an intimate wedding? Then Buffalo Mountain Lodge is another amazing wedding venue in the town of Banff. Buffalo Mountain Lodge is nestled atop Tunnel Mountain with stunning views of Mount Rundle (not to mention the meadow right across the street for portraits, family photos or even your ceremony). BML has multiple different reception spaces, and plenty of rooms for your guests to stay in. It’s also within walking distance from camping sites just up the road on Tunnel Mountain.
Finally, the Juniper is a total hidden gem when it comes to weddings. It also has a special place in our hearts because it’s dog friendly, and one of our dogs is named Juniper! This amazing little hotel has a great reception room with amazing views of the Banff Townsite from its terrace (and its rooms). It’s also just down the winding road from Mount Norquay with one of the best lookouts in the entire town of Banff.
Our Top 3 Wedding Venues in Lake Louise, Alberta
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
There is one true king of weddings in Lale Louise and that’s the Fairmont Chateau. Sitting on the iconic blue lake, with views of the glaciers, the peaks, and all the splendour that brings people from around the world, it’s hard to beat the majesty of this world-famous hotel. The Victoria Ballroom allows you to bask in the views all night long with its floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the lake. As with any Fairmont, the staff, food, and accommodations are also top-notch.
The Post Hotel is a lovely and rustic venue, perfect for smaller guest count weddings. The space is intimate and comfortable and the vaulted ceilings, heavy timbers and grand riverstone fireplace provide a wonderful atmosphere of rustic elegance, which is ideal for your wedding in the mountains.
Looking for something with a little more choice when it comes to venue size and options? The Lake Louise Ski Hill could be just the right place for your winter or summer wedding, with different spots for ceremonies, portraits, and reception spaces as well as a little bit more freedom to party hard as you’re not attached to a Hotel, this might be for you.
Our Top 3 Canmore Wedding Venues
Alpine Heli – Get Married ON the mountains, not just in them.
Alpine Heli is our favourite heli company in the Rockies. They have a great team, and some of the best pilots in the world. Beyond that they can take you to truly amazing places for your wedding no matter what time of year it is. Imagine getting maried on the top of a mountain with no one but you, and your guests for as far as the eye can see. Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Silvertip Resort
As Silvertip says themselves “Exchange Your Vows on the Roof of the World”, with a beautiful ceremony spot overlooking the Canmore Bow River Valley, an easy to access location for your guests, and a large and rustic reception space it’s hard to beat Silvertip as the spot for your wedding in Canmore.
Stewart Creek Golf & Country Club
Stewart Creek is a little outside of the main town of Canmore if you’re looking for something a little quieter and more removed from the hustle and bustle. Let their team take care of everything for you, while you enjoy the spaces where the natural lighting, rustic wood-burning fireplace and large patios offer the perfect ambiance for your special day. Their stunning outdoor ceremony space has tent coverage so you and your guests are comfortable all year round and you don’t need to worry about bad weather taking you away from stunning ceremony views.
Our Top 3 Alberta Rockies Wedding Venues
Emerald Lake Lodge is situated in a quiet, cozy, and fairytale beautiful valley off the beaten path in the BC Rockies. The island the lodge is on doesn’t allow cars, so it’s quiet and pedestrian friendly, all of the rooms have fire places, and the food at the lodge or at Cilantro (the restaurant) is some of the best we’ve ever had. There is great cross-country skiing and hiking year round, and if you’re getting married near Christmas there isn’t a more “white Christmas” spot in the world for your wedding.
The Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge
The Pomeroy Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis is sort of a hidden gem. Most folks travelling from outside the province (or even outside of Southern Alberta) may have never heard of Kananaskis Provincial Park (known locally as K-Country) before. It’s off the beaten path and one of our favourite parts of the mountains because of the lack of crowds. The Lodge itself has multiple venue rooms, outdoor ceremony sites, and a whole dang Nordic Spa! Totally worth a look if you want to get away from the masses of tour buses that can be found at most spots in Banff or Lake Louise.
Kicking Horse Lodge, and the Eagle Eye Restaurant are at the top of the world. See that photo above? That’s -right- outside the restaurant, at the top of a mountain, with 360 degree views of the mountains around. The food is top notch, the gondola ride is a total winner for your wedding guests, and there are loads of hotel rooms and rentable AirBnB chalets at the foot of the mountain for your guests. Plus you can’t beat the skiing for a winter wedding, or the hiking, and biking for a summer wedding. Truly a hidden gem in the Rockies for your wedding.
Our Top 3 Calgary Wedding Venues
To round out our Fairmont Trifecta, the Palliser in Calgary is about as old-school classic as you can get in Calgary. A huge, beautiful sandstone building, classic architectural accents, sweeping staircases and huge crystal-chandelier laden ballrooms. As with all Fairmonts the service, staff, and food are top notch, and they have their own in-house coordinators to help you plan your events.
Want to get married on a lake, without having to drive out of the city? Then this is the place for you, with a fairly large dining room, wrap around deck over the water, and a convenient location in the south of the city for your guests the Lake House is an amazing venue. Also, and I say this with no hesitation, we have had some of our favourite wedding meals in our 13 years in business here, and have heard nothing but rave reviews from our couples about the meals, the staff, and the location. If you’re getting married in Calgary and the Lake House isn’t on your list, it should be!
Last, but certainly not least, the Ranche House, a historic rancher’s home in the beautiful Fish Creek Valley. With indoor and outdoor spaces, this venue can serve for both a winter or summer wedding, plus it has the added benefit of only having to walk outside for your portraits meaning once your day is started you never need to get into a vehicle until it’s time to go home at the end of the night.
If you found this guide helpful, we’d love to be your wedding photographers. Jump over to our Contact Page and reach out!