01. Why We Decided to Have a Backyard Elopement in Fernie, BC
My husband and I had a backyard elopement this past June in Fernie, BC. I have been looking forward to this day for so long, and when it finally arrived, it couldn’t have been more perfect. When we first got engaged in June 2021, we started to plan an intimate, backyard wedding with our closest friends and family. We were both very excited to have those closest to us celebrate our marriage together, but we quickly decided we didn’t want to spend most of our time planning a wedding – even with a small wedding, there is still SO much to do! We wanted to soak up our last year of being engaged going on adventures and enjoying all of the things we like to do together. SO, we decided to elope instead. We shared our decision with our friends and family and everyone was very supportive – and at the end of the day, eloping felt right for us, so that’s what we did!
02. Backyard Elopement in Fernie, BC
Ceremony Location
For our backyard elopement day, we decided we wanted to do something simple that focused on us and reflected what our relationship was like as a couple. Since we already live in a destination location in Fernie, British Columbia (picture a small mountain town, nestled in the valley, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains), we decided, why not just get married here – my hometown, where my husband and I met, and the place where we’ve created SO many memories together. After deciding on a location, we needed to narrow down where we wanted to have our ceremony. We went back and fourth on some of our favorite spots around Fernie, but in the end we chose to get married in our backyard. We own a home in Fernie that has an incredible backyard, with a view of the Fernie ski hill, and this truly was the best place to tie the knot in our little oasis that we’ve created together.
Elopement Attire + Details
We were both very easy-going when it came to what we were going to wear. I ended up getting a cute, midi dress from Park & Fifth and only ended up spending $80, I love a good sale. I was also eyeing up a pair of clogs that I HAD to wear on my wedding day and turns out sales are my jam, I planned ahead and scored two clogs for the price of one on a Black Friday sale. I bought a pair of clay earrings that were handmade in Fernie and searched the internet for days to find the perfect mini veil with a bow. Seb wore a suit jacket and pants that he already owned and also bought a new pair of shoes for the occasion. It was SO simple when it came to outfits but I still love the way everything turned out. I wanted to have a bouquet because flowers are beautiful and it adds a little pop to your day. Desiree from Moonlight Flowers & Boutique in Sparwood made the floral bouquet of my DREAMS, it was so perfect, and a cutie boutonniere for Seb. Our sweet pup, Moose, had a custom leather collar that was made by my very talented friend and “Pup of Honor” was stamped into it. Moose looked SO dapper. And finally, our wedding bands were handcrafted in Fernie by the insanely talented Element Jewelry Co.
Backyard Elopement Timeline
Our backyard elopement day was SO relaxed and we got to enjoy every minute of it. We woke up together and spent the morning drinking coffee and writing our vows together (super last minute, yup, but I really liked the way we did it). We decided we were going to try to not see each other once we were done getting ready, so I went up to my mom’s house to get my hair done and once I returned back to our house, we tried to stay apart until the ceremony. My mom, as one of our witnesses, came over to help me put the final touches on my wedding outfit, and our photographer and officiant came to the house as we were getting ready. CUE THE WATERWORKS.
It was the most beautiful sunny day in June, and I walked out into our backyard and got to marry my best friend with our dog by our side. We read our vows to each other and we officially became husband and wife! After the ceremony, we celebrated with some cute drinks and we FaceTimed Seb’s mom, and we cried a few more tears. Then we took off with our photographer to have some portraits done in some of our favorite spots around our home – rivers, mountains, cedar trees, some of our favorite things to be surrounded by. After we finished taking photos, I threw on my denim jacket over my wedding dress and we hit up one of our favorite local sushi restaurants called Yamagoya in Fernie, BC and the rest is history!
03. We Eloped!
The best day ever. Getting married in our backyard was PERFECT and we wouldn’t have done it any other way. We smiled, we laughed, we cried, and we loved. We are both so excited to start this new chapter of love together as the Thomsens!
04. The Details
Dress – Park & Fifth Co.
Clogs – Charlotte Stone
Arch – Wild Wolves Design
Florals – Moonlight Flowers & Boutique
Pup of Honor Collar – My beautiful friend, Gillian
Rings – Element Jewelry Co.
Earrings – Risen Clay Co.
Hair – My beautiful mom, Trish
Fernie Elopement & Wedding Photographer
Hello! I’m Sam and I’m an elopement photographer based in Fernie, BC! I love elopements so much, and even more so after eloping myself! I love going on adventures with my husband and our sweet pup, and I also LOVE capturing you as you embark on your adventure of a lifetime!
My approach to photography aligns with a documentary-style approach, chasing those in between moments, candid captures and stolen glances. If this sounds like something you’d love to have for your elopement day, send me a message here! You can also check out more about me here, and my portfolio here!
