Couple Hikes 30 Minutes During Snowstorm to Get Married at National Park

A looming snowstorm wasn’t enough to derail Melissa and Devon’s wedding plans.

The couple went ahead with their elopement on Nov. 10 at the Peyto Lake Viewpoint in Alberta, Canada, even after learning that heavy snow and strong winds were on the way. Their plan was simple but daring: a 30-minute hike into Banff National Park to exchange vows with the mountains as their witness.

To document the day, they hired Canadian photographers Marcin and Dorota Karpowicz, who specialize in elopements in and around the park. On the morning of the ceremony, a forecast showed worsening conditions — snow and high winds — and the photographers checked in to ask if the couple wanted to postpone or choose a more sheltered spot. Melissa didn’t hesitate.

She was determined to stick to the original plan, despite the weather.

Their officiant, Cole Hofstra, was just as committed. So the group set out, with Melissa hiking in a long-sleeved white gown and a fur-lined cape, ready for whatever the trail brought.

The Peyto Lake Viewpoint is considered a moderate hike with about 255 feet of elevation gain. But on this day, the climb came with swirling wind, falling snow, and freezing air. Still, the couple made it to the overlook and held a quiet, intimate ceremony as flakes swept across the valley.

Photos from the elopement capture the drama and joy of the moment: Melissa in a sleek fit-and-flare dress, Devon in a classic black tux and white shirt, both smiling through the storm. In one shot, they stand hand-in-hand as her cape lifts in the gusts and snow spins around them. In another, they walk toward the camera, grinning, while Devon turns back to look at his bride as they trek through the fresh snowfall.

Afterward, the photographers shared their admiration for the couple, describing the day as beautiful and heartfelt. They noted that despite the harsh conditions during the vows, the weather later eased enough for a calmer stop by nearby lakes, where the landscape turned quiet and reflective.

Reports from Environment and Climate Change Canada stated that winds that day ranged from 7 to 15 mph at lower elevations, with temperatures between 30 and 47 degrees Fahrenheit. About 1.2 inches of snow fell across the area — just enough to transform the viewpoint into a true winter scene.

For Marcin and Dorota, hikes like this are part of the job, but they admit it isn’t for everyone.

“It takes a certain kind of couple,” Marcin said, explaining that mountain elopements mean carrying wedding attire in backpacks and accepting that the weather can change at any moment. “Up high, it’s almost always windy and cold — you never really know what you’re going to face.”

Melissa and Devon did — and they wouldn’t have had it any other way.