"Do it for the Plot"

There’s a certain kind of magic that only exists at high elevation — where the air is crisp, the world feels quieter, and love somehow feels louder. Eloping at Sunshine Village in Banff National Park is about more than saying vows. It’s about choosing adventure, intention, and a wedding day that feels as alive as the mountains themselves.


This collaborative styled elopement at Standish Peak, set just beside the iconic Sunshine Village sign, was the embodiment of everything we love about mountain elopements: movement, spontaneity, luxury-meets-wild energy, and a story that unfolded exactly how it was meant to.


Snow in Banff Mountains At Sunshine ski resort with chairlifts and groomed slopes in winter. Bride and groom on the chairlift cuddling

The wedding couple ride the lifts up to their ceremony site on standish lift.

Sunshine Village Banff chairlift views with snowy mountain peaks and bright blue skies in the background. Wedding Couple Cheer getting off

Capturing this couples elopement in Banff At sunshine Village. Getting up to their ceremony Spot at Standish Peak.

Panoramic winter landscape of snow-covered mountain peaks and ski slopes under a clear blue sky. with sunshine village sign as backdrop

Sunshine Village Iconic Sign with the bride and groom celebrating post ceremony at Standish.

alpine setting ceremony, at Sunshine Village Rocky Mountain range, Banff, Bride and Groom First Kiss during their ski elopement ceremony

the first kiss during the elopement ceremony overlooking the incredible views at Sunshine Village Ski Resort.

A Mountain Morning Wrapped in Warmth & Alpine Luxury

The day began tucked inside Sunshine Village Lodge, where rustic elegance and alpine comfort instantly set the tone. The entrance lobby — anchored by a grand stone fireplace — became our detail-styling dream. Warm light flickered across carefully curated elements that told the story of a winter mountain elopement:


 a wedding dress styled near the fire

 skis and a snowboard resting casually nearby

 boots, accessories, rings, and vow books, ski goggles

 a white fur coat, flowing veil, and soft winter bouquet, cute heart shaped ear muffs

 Sunshine Village lift passes and a mountain trail map


Every detail felt intentional — blending mountain culture with elevated romance in a way Sunshine Village does so effortlessly.


Photographer James Banwell of Wild North Stories led the creative direction and photography, coordinating closely with Sunshine Village to bring this vision to life. The lodge provided two separate hotel rooms — one for the groom and one for the bride — allowing for a relaxed, authentic getting-ready experience right on the mountain.

Carnations and pearls lay elegantly beside vintage travel postcards featuring scenic destinations on a dark wooden surface.
Sunset illuminates cozy mountain lodges nestled among snow-covered peaks and evergreen trees in a winter wonderland.
Panoramic winter view of a snow-covered ski resort with wooden lodge buildings and evergreen trees in the background.
Canadian flags wave against a deep blue twilight sky with silhouetted pine trees and mountain peaks in the background.
Mountain lodge illuminated at dusk with snow-capped peaks and purple twilight sky in the background.
People carrying ski gear and equipment walking through snowy terrain near a wooden ski lodge structure.
Mechanic working under a car on a lift in an auto repair shop with tools and equipment visible.
Dark atmospheric photos show silhouettes against stone walls in a dimly lit underground space with wooden beams.
A collection of vintage audio equipment and musical instruments arranged in a dimly lit room with warm lighting.
Close-up of hands working with colorful craft materials and supplies on a dark table surface.
Colorful concert tickets and event passes scattered on a table with QR codes visible.
A series of vintage white christening gowns and dresses displayed against a dark stone wall in dramatic lighting.
Two wedding rings rest on a blurred map background in a romantic travel-themed composition.
A black jewelry box containing a ring sits on top of a colorful map background.
Five dark jackets hanging on rustic stone wall with white sneakers displayed below in moody lighting.
Wedding attire and ski equipment arranged in front of a cozy stone fireplace with glowing flames.

Getting Ready at The Lodge, The top of the Rockies!


Michelle and Paul arrived at the gondola at 8:00am sharp, after an early journey from Canmore, after a nights rest driving from edmonton the day before — bags in tow, fully committed to the adventure. Sunshine Village staff welcomed her with warmth and care, helping transport her gear straight up to her room so she could settle in and slow down before the day truly began. Bags loaded into the Gondola and up they went to get ready! The hotel gave us two rooms beside eachother for the bride and groom to get ready! Because this wasnt a real elopement there wasnt a first look, but a peak through the windows with skiers below you on the runs would be the perfect first look opportunity!


 Mel from Rock & Rose created a soft, natural glam makeup look that enhanced Michelle’s features without overpowering them — perfect for mountain light, snow reflections, and real emotion. After the long drive and early start, this moment of pampering was grounding and restorative.


 Melanie from Styling the Rockies designed an updo built specifically for the alpine environment — elegant, secure, and wind-ready. Loose pieces framed Michelle’s face, while the structure held strong through hours outdoors and even skiing later in the day. Her hair and makeup truly went the distance, proving that mountain elopements don’t require compromise — just thoughtful design.


James the Lead photographer and organizer for the styled shoot, Owner of Wild North Stories, was busy making sure everything was going to be organized in time, locations were scouted, and all vendors were ready, along with capturing the morning as it unfolds. He helped assist with capturing promo for the Lodge and Ski hill, as well as all the vendors. He put in so much work finding everyone for this session, organizing with the Ski hill everyones tickets, meeting point, preferred spots for the ceremony, and ensuring everything went according to plan in time before the lifts shut down. Shout out to James for this incredible experience!

A person holding ski poles stands next to red gondola lift cabins at a ski resort station.
A group stands near a red gondola lift cabin at a ski resort on a winter day.
People working in an automotive repair shop with service vehicles and equipment visible in the background.
Skiers and snowboarders gather at the entrance of a ski lift station on a snowy mountain slope.
A collage of six images showing various angles of a white and black racing car and pit crew members working on it.
Person in winter gear loading luggage onto a ski lift gondola at a snowy mountain resort.
Person in beige winter coat poses playfully with skis in snowy conditions outside a building.
Hair styling tools and products arranged on a wooden table including flat irons, sprays and styling accessories.
Stone fireplace with glowing flames creates warm ambiance in rustic room with exposed rock walls.
Modern hotel room interior with wooden headboard, white bedding, and large windows letting in natural light.
Two people preparing hair and makeup products near a window with snowy trees visible outside.
A group gathers in a warmly lit room sharing laughs and conversation during a social gathering.
Two people share warm embraces and laughter while wearing cozy sweaters indoors.
People socializing in a casual indoor setting with warm lighting and wood furnishings.
Sequence showing hair styling process with curling iron and white shirt.
Close-up shots of dark curly hair against a light background.
A casual indoor gathering shows people enjoying themselves in a home setting with warm lighting.
A series of photos showing someone getting their hair styled in a white robe with a tan sweater in the background.
People gathered in a hotel room getting ready with hair and makeup supplies on the table.
Group preparing in a hotel room with styling equipment and blue winter gear visible.

Groom gets in a Snowboard Run to save the Bride!


Michelle forgot her ski boots at the bottom of the hill, we realized when I was doing the getting ready photos, that the boots were in her car, and didnt make it into the gondola. Paul was eager to get out and kill some time, and save the day by grabbing her boots for her! I went down as well for the run, while I waited. We had a wicked run down the mountain and got some shots of him in his suit! This was a ski day after all, why not take advantage of the ski in ski out experience at the hotel that Sunshine Village has to offer, and enjoy a quick ride, while the bride is getting ready? Even with the ride down, and the 20 minute gondola ride up, its still an incredible experience, and just quick enough that when we got back everyone was about ready to go!

Snowboarder carves down a snowy slope with evergreen trees lining the mountain run.
A snowboarder rides down a snowy slope at a mountain resort with snow-covered evergreen trees and peaks in the background.
Snowboarder carving down a snowy mountain slope with snow-covered evergreen trees in the background.
Skier glides down a pristine snow-covered mountain slope surrounded by evergreen forest.
A person snowboarding down a snowy mountain slope wearing a navy blue jacket and white pants.
A snowboarder performs a trick jump against a bright white snowy background on a winter mountain slope.
A person snowboarding down a snowy mountain slope wearing a blue jacket on a bright winter day.
Panoramic view of snow-covered mountain peaks and ski slopes in a winter landscape.
Snowboarder carving through fresh powder snow with mountain peaks in the background.
Skier carving through fresh powder snow on a steep mountain slope with evergreen trees in the background.
A skier carves through fresh powder snow on a steep mountain slope surrounded by evergreen trees and snow-capped peaks.
A snowboarder carves down a snowy slope wearing dark winter gear and goggles.
A snowboarder carves down a snowy slope with a chairlift visible in the background.
Snow-covered mountain peaks and ski slopes stretch across a panoramic winter landscape at a scenic ski resort.
A skier carves through fresh powder snow on a steep mountain slope with evergreen trees and peaks in the background.
A snowboarder in a navy jacket carves through fresh powder on a snowy mountain slope surrounded by evergreen trees.

Ski Boots, Lift Lines & Letting the Day Unfold


Once hair and makeup wrapped, we transitioned into true ski hill mode — and like any authentic mountain day, things didn’t go perfectly… they went perfectly real.


Skis needed resetting. Gear needed adjusting. And in a very on-brand plot twist, my snowboard boots officially retired — soles peeling off — moments before heading up the lift. Thankfully, it was my last day squeezing life out of them, and Sunshine Village rentals saved the day just in time before we climbed all over Standish Peak capturing ceremony moments.


I rode the lift ahead so I could photograph Michelle and Paul riding up together — bundled close, laughing, soaking in the views — and caught a joyful shot of them unloading at the top. These in-between moments are what make ski hill elopements so special. They’re unscripted, playful, and full of life.

Panoramic winter view of a ski resort lodge with snow-covered slopes and multiple buildings against a bright blue sky.
A winter wedding couple shares a romantic moment in the snow outside a ski lodge with ski equipment nearby.
Snow-covered ski resort lodge with wooden architecture and people gathering outside in winter.
Snowboarders carve down a snowy mountain slope with evergreen trees and snow-covered peaks in the background.
Skiers carrying snowboards and equipment pose on a snowy slope with mountain views in the background.
Skiers and snowboarders enjoy a sunny day at a ski resort with snowy slopes and mountain peaks in the background.
A skier adjusts equipment on their skis at a snowy mountain resort with evergreen trees in the background.
Photographer in black jacket taking detailed close-up shots in snowy winter conditions.
Skiers prepare to get on a snowy ski slope with snow-covered evergreen trees in the background.
A winter wedding scene with skiers in formal attire on snowy slopes surrounded by evergreen trees.
A sequence of images showing a person in white ski gear falling into deep snow while skiing.
White ski boots and wedding dress details against fresh snow at a mountain resort.
Skiers in winter attire gather near a lodge building at a snowy mountain resort.
People stand beneath a ski lift station on a snow-covered slope with wooden lodges in the background.
Skiers and snowboarders enjoy a snowy winter day at a ski resort with chairlifts and groomed slopes.
A scenic winter ski resort panorama showing chairlifts, snowy slopes, and mountain peaks in the background.
Snowy mountain ski resort with chairlifts and slopes surrounded by evergreen trees in winter landscape.
Skiers approach the Banff Sunshine Village ski lift station on a bright winter day in the mountains.
Skiers exit a chairlift at a snow-covered mountain resort on a sunny day.
A panoramic view of a ski resort with snow-covered slopes and ski lifts against a bright winter sky.

A Ceremony Above the Clouds

At the summit, Alpenglow Ceremonies, led by the incredible Molly Matheson, performed an intimate, unofficial ceremony so the couple could experience the full emotional arc of an elopement — without pressure, expectations, or an audience beyond the mountains themselves. And the occassional skier passing by with their phones out capturing the magical moment.


Vows were exchanged using Sunshine Village note card books, and one page read at the back of them said:

“Ski you soon!”


It couldn’t have been more fitting. These two sat down in the morning and wrote their vows together, of course given their situation was unique, we needed a bit of ideas and some drinks to settle the nerves.

As the ceremony began, a gentle breeze rolled through. The sun broke free. The sky turned a vibrant alpine blue.


Earlier that morning, my partner Phil (our behind-the-scenes content creator and scout) had been exploring ceremony locations and noticed many peaks were still clouded in. We trusted the timing — and around 2:00pm, nearly three hours later than originally planned, the views opened completely.


The delay was never a concern. Sometimes the mountain simply asks you to wait — and rewards you generously for it

Panoramic view of snow-covered mountain peaks and ski slopes under a bright blue winter sky. Bride and Groom kiss in their skis

Kissing at Standish Peak Sunshine Village Resort in Bridal outfits at the sunshine village sign.

A sequence of playful poses in the snow with a snowy mountain backdrop and blue letters visible in the background.
Sequence of a skier performing a jump trick over blue and yellow obstacles in snowy mountain terrain.
A winter wedding couple embraces in a snowy mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks and blue skies in the background.
A series of snowboarding action shots showing jumps and tricks against a snowy mountain backdrop.
People embrace and celebrate in a snowy winter mountain setting wearing formal attire and winter coats.
A panoramic sequence of snowy mountain landscapes with skiers enjoying winter activities in a pristine alpine setting.
A winter mountain wedding ceremony takes place against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks and evergreen trees.
A couple shares a romantic winter wedding kiss in the snow with snowy mountains and evergreen trees in the background.
A snowy mountain landscape with evergreen trees and snow-covered peaks in the background.
People celebrating in winter attire against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains.
Group enjoying a festive moment in a snowy mountain setting with evergreen trees visible.
A couple shares a romantic moment in the snowy mountains during their winter wedding photoshoot.
A winter wedding couple stands together on snowy slopes with majestic snow-capped mountains in the background.
A snowy winter landscape in the mountains with evergreen trees and snow-covered slopes.
A snowy winter landscape in the mountains with evergreen trees and snow-covered slopes.
A snowy mountain landscape with skiers navigating through fresh powder on a winter day.
A couple in winter wedding attire walks through a snowy mountain landscape with snow-capped peaks in the background.
Two photographers capture a winter scene with snowy mountains in the background.
A couple embraces in a snowy winter landscape during what appears to be an intimate outdoor moment.
A couple playfully throws snow at each other during a winter photo session in a snowy mountain landscape.

Plot Twist


A Love Story That Started “For the Plot”


This couple’s story is as unexpected and magnetic as the setting itself.


Both Michelle and Paul had been married before. Both were single. And just weeks before this elopement, they had never met.


I met Michelle the year before at a charity event. Paul, on the other hand, was someone I felt drawn to through his business posts online — the kind of connection you don’t question. When this styled shoot came together, I invited Michelle… and Michelle invited Paul.


When I asked how they met, Michelle laughed and said:

“I met him from his business post, the same one that you did!.”

Paul? Same story.

With the phrase “do it for the plot” guiding their energy, they said yes — to the experience, to the moment, and to each other. Even as near strangers agreeing to a wedding day together, they leaned fully into the joy, the humor, the intimacy, and the magic of saying yes to life. As Paul would say, a Full body Fuck yes.


They committed to the day wholeheartedly, traveling all the way from Spruce Grove to Sunshine Village — ready to groove, laugh, and embrace the absurd beauty of it all.



A couple in formal wedding attire shares a joyful moment during their winter ceremony outdoors in the snow.

Exchanging the rings on the top of Standish at Sunshine Village. Tears stain a brides face while exchanging the rings in the snow.

A Full-Circle Mountain Dream


For me, this day was deeply personal. I’m a snowboarder at heart and spent years exploring mountains, always dreaming of photographing an elopement on a ski hill.


Thanks to James putting the call out for vendors, that dream became reality — working alongside creatives I admire, finally meeting collaborators I’d only known online, and capturing a story that felt wild, real, and completely aligned.


Sunshine Village didn’t just host an elopement that day.

It held a moment of connection, trust, and timing that none of us will forget.


On the way down the hill, and throughout the rest of the afternoon while out snowboarding, while Michelle and Paul rested up from their big break, the stories of people wanting to hear more about the wedding day, offer congratulations, asking questions, and simply cheering them on, on the way to the restaurant, and even in the restaurant. Such a fun energy to have on the day for us, even though it was a styled elopement, these two played it up like it was the real thing for the fun of it! Thanks to these two for being so willing to try something radical for a fun day and to show what can be done!!!


My best tip, bring snow pants under the dress, and potentially some body heat pads to stick to your body underneath, and a big fur coat to wear on the side.


Meet the Vendor Team of the day

Skiers glide down snowy slopes on a bright winter day at a mountain resort.
A row of emergency response vehicles and personnel are staged in a parking area during an incident.
A group of people gathered together in a cozy indoor setting during what appears to be a social gathering or celebration.
People gather in a bright room for a social event or gathering, shown in a series of candid moments.
A couple embraces and smiles warmly while sharing a piggyback ride indoors.
A group of people gather together in a warmly lit indoor space for a social event.
Two stylists work on hair and makeup preparations in a hotel room with styling tools and products visible.
A person in a white top gets their hair styled with a pink styling tool in a salon setting.
Skiers descend snowy slopes at a ski resort with chairlifts and snow-covered trees in the background.
A sequence of three photos showing someone wearing a light blue patterned shirt expressing joyful emotions.
People relaxing in a cozy hotel room with warm lighting and window views.
A makeup artist applies cosmetics to someone in a white robe during a preparation session.
Photographer in black jacket takes close-up shots of objects in snowy winter setting with ski lodge in background.
A group of people in winter attire gather on a snowy mountain slope with a scenic white landscape in the background.
A couple shares a playful moment throwing snow at each other in a winter mountain landscape.

Vendor Love & Credits


Photography Lead & Planning


 James Banwell – Wild North Stories

https://wildnorthstories.com


Photography & Content Creation

 Sarah Thiessen – Wild Love Media

Phil Smith- assistant content creator

https://www.wildlovemedia.com


Ceremony

 Alpenglow Ceremonies – Molly Matheson

https://alpenglowceremonies.com


Makeup

 Rock & Rose – Mel

https://www.rockandrose.ca


Hair Styling

 Styling the Rockies – Melanie

https://stylingtherockies.com


Location

 Sunshine Village – Banff National Park

https://www.skibanff.com/sunshine


Models

Michelle and Paul

Thinking of an elopement like this? Get in touch so we can plan it together!