Canmore is one of my favourite places in Alberta, especially for weddings. Not only did I get married there myself, but I also adore photographing different love stories there also. From the mountains to the water, Canmore offers it ALL. Not sure where to start? Here are a few venues, locations and tips to consider when planning your Canmore Mountain Wedding.

Permits, Licenses, and Transportation

This is a big one and is why it is the first on my list! Being prepared for your wedding (or engagement shoot) in Canmore should first include the permits that allow you to photograph there. Your photographer should already have a pretty solid idea of where’s allowed and where’s not, especially for your wedding day. I have never personally been stopped by authorities, but those who have have either gotten a warning, a ticket, or were no longer allowed to photograph in that location until a valid permit was shown. I can’t imagine the added stress for a wedding day! For all my Canmore weddings, I ensure AND guarantee that I discuss this all with my couples leading up to their day and is my responsibility as your photographer to obtain these prior to our shoot! No additional stress needed.

Transportation is also a big one to consider. Even with Canmore being as small as it is, the driving time to different spots can actually affect your timeline! Ensure to hire a transportation service that you trust and be sure to add on LOTS of time for your photos in case of wildlife on the roadways, mountain weather (ie. snow, wind, rain, wildfires), or weekend traffic on the highways.

Places for Engagement Photos:

This is a small list of some of my favourite Canmore photo locations that you can use for either your engagement session, your wedding day, or both! Just be sure to ask you photographer (me) what the permissions and permits are for each location. You wouldn’t want to show up to the site without obtaining these documents.

Whitemans Pond

Whitemans Pond is a location that I love which is also very close to Canmore itself. Just up the road past Grassi Lakes, this location is within Kananaskis and is definitely jaw-dropping! The pro’s of this location is that it showcases the most incredible mountain bowl as well as a beautiful reflective lake. Down the road a little further down is also a treed area that gives off a very foresty vibe. A perfect balance for your gallery! The downside is that there is limited parking and you might have to walk along the roadway to get to the “prime” spot. Keep this in mind for weddings that are in the Spring or Fall as the roads can get really mucky (ie. white dress or heels). Warning: this area is QUITE windy almost always. Great for photos, but can be dangerous for your wedding hair.

Canmore Engine Bridge

A popular spot for weddings and locals, the canmore engine bridge is definitely one that is stunning! The bridge is located in the heart of the town and has the river flowing beneath it. I really love the design of the bridge and feel it would make for an interesting addition to any wedding gallery.

Quarry Park

This location is so beautiful. It’s again located within Canmore so getting there is very easy! This spot is perfect for a jaw-dropping background and very accessible, making it perfect for wedding parties and family portraits! There is also a small man-made lake in the area that is beautiful to take photos nearby too. Keep in mind that this location is also a dog park so there could (I know first hand that this can happen) be accidents. They have now made it mandatory to pay for parking so keep this in mind for couples who want to travel solo without their wedding party (or bus).

Other notable locations include Spray Lakes, Three Sisters Viewpoint, Policeman Creek Trail and many small pull offs around the area! If you have a vision in mind for your engagement session or wedding, let’s chat about where you might like to go.

Canmore Venues I LOVE

There are so many beautiful venues that you should absolutely consider when choosing your Canmore wedding. Some locations even offer private outdoor spaces to rent which would be perfect for a more intimate wedding without interruptions.

Cornerstone Theatre

I love this venue. The building is gorgeous and rustic but also is incredibly romantic. The staff are also amazing and very accommodating to both the couples and to vendors. What I love about working with the Cornerstone team is that they have multiple outdoor locations available for their clients to get married in, and multiple spaces for their reception. Cornerstone Weddings can host multiple weddings per day based on the location and each couple are assigned a day-of coordinator!

The Gem

This gorgeous new space located just outside of Canmore is one that I am so excited to photograph in! I’ll be photographing my first one here in summer of 2025 so stay tuned for a more in-depth description and photos too. What I can say however, is that the space is literally a dream and with multiple levels in the building, this venue is perfect for a reception. *placeholder image is sourced from google.

The Malcolm Hotel

I love this venue because not only is it an amazing space to keep everyone under the same roof, but it also has gorgeous views of the mountains! If you are considering this location for your ceremony and reception, you can certainly choose to have that indoors or out - depending on weather and time of year. What I love about a Malcolm wedding is that your guests don’t have to worry about travel to get to your ceremony or reception and that it’s all in-house!

Stewart Creek Golf Course

I love the views of this ceremony space. Not only is there a covered tent available for unforeseen weather (which in the mountains is quite likely) but the reception space is just across the parking lot! The staff were awesome to work with as well and were very accommodating for the couple and their guests. The pro’s definitely outweigh the cons on this space but I should mention, that the views face south meaning that depending on the time of day for your ceremony, the sun could cause dramatic shadowing and light on your faces.

This is a live blog meaning opinions and venue suggestions may change! I hope this was a little helpful as your begin to plan and if there are any questions you have, I would be happy to lend a hand.

Thanks for being here! xo Em