Whistler Mountain Elopement | Brit + Andrew | Whistler Elopements

Brit and Andrew had been planning their intimate elopement at the Sea-to-Sky Gondola in Squamish for months. Everything was in place, until four days beforehand when the news broke that the Sea-to-Sky Gondola had been vandalized and was inoperable. A shift in plans and getting in touch with Whistler Blackcomb got the plans back on track for an amazing Whistler Mountain elopement.

When we first chatted with Brit, she and Andrew were not planning a Whistler mountain elopement. They had a perfect elopement with just their immediate family planned at the Sea-to-Sky Gondola in Squamish. Everything was planned, from where they were getting ready, where they were eating lunch, transportation to the gondola, ceremony location to champagne reception on the deck overlooking Howe Sound. All of that planning was ruined the morning of August 10, 2019 when the news broke on social media and national news networks that in the early hours of the morning, an unknown person had cut the main haul line of the Sea-to-Sky Gondola. The gondola was closed indefinitely for the police investigation and the months of repairs it would take to rebuild.

Brit and Andrew were not even fazed, and we quickly came up with a plan to shift their entire day an hour’s drive north to Whistler. Whistler Blackcomb hadn’t been an option while planning from the start because some of their family members had mobility issues. Making the walk from the Roundhouse Lodge to the Peak Chair just wasn’t possible. The dream of a Whistler Mountain elopement wasn’t out of reach though, as I made a phone call to the wedding sales manager at Whistler Blackcomb. Jess Skilton made a few phone calls and pulled some strings with the Whistler bear tours to arrange for a truck to drive some family to the peak, while the rest of us took the Peak Chair. With a solid plan in place only 24 hours before the big day, Brit and Andrew were finally able to get excited again.

The weather was a perfect blue-bird day with light fluffy clouds. Paul and Steve arrived at the beautiful rental house in Kadenwood, Whistler where the whole family was staying for the next few days just as Brit and Andrew were getting into their wedding attire. A quick first look on the patio with gorgeous views of Whistler behind, and we all headed into Whistler Village to upload the gondola. Once at the top, the bear viewing truck was waiting and the rest of us made our way to the Peak Chair. Once the whole family was re-assembled at the peak of Whistler Mountain, we chose a ceremony site with amazing views of Black Tusk. The ceremony was very intimate, personal and slightly frightening to anyone with a fear of heights. Brit and Andrew sealed their vows with a kiss, and after taking lots of family and group photos, Brit and Andrew accompanied by Paul and Steve took the scenic route back to the gondola. On the long walk, Brit found a dime on the path. Finding a dime on the road was always a sign of good luck for Andrew’s family and that “Someone or something is trying to get your attention and guidance or validation that you’re on the right path.”

After saying goodbye to the local marmots and downloading back into the village, we returned to the Kadenwood mansion where a catered buffet dinner was waiting. We finished off the formalities of Brit and Andrew’s Whistler Mountain elopement with a sunset first dance on the same deck where they shared their first look hours earlier.

This special wedding day couldn’t have happened without the local wedding community of Whistler coming together in times of crisis. One of the bonuses of working with vendors that are familiar with the area as well as the other vendors and the services offered in the community. An entirely new plan for a mountain top elopement came together in less than 48 hours, and the results were perfect.

Check out the photos as well as the teaser video below. As always, all vendors are credited at the end. Please check out their sites and share the love!

Thanks to all of the other vendors that helped make this Whistler Mountain elopement possible! Check out some more amazing views Jill and Haydn’s adventure elopement here!

Vendors
Venue | Whistler Blackcomb
Catering | Whistler Cooks
Photo | Tara Lilly Photography of Whistler Elopements
Video | Paul Cameron Productions of Whistler Elopements