Planning a Helicopter Elopement in Revelstoke

Glacier Helicopters are our go-to for helicopter elopements here in Revelstoke. While most helicopters in the valley are owned by heli-ski operations, Glacier runs charters and tours for all sorts of clients. They’re easy to get to, great to work with, and have skilled, professional pilots who can take us to amazing locations. If you’re not used to working with helicopters in the mountains (and most of as aren’t!) there are a few things to keep in mind when planning your day.

Time of Year

While the mountains around Revelstoke are beautiful year round, each season has factors to consider. Spring is my favourite time of year in the valley, with lush green and blossoming flowers everywhere you look. Up high, however, the melting snow can make it more difficult to find suitable locations in the alpine. While the helicopter has no problem landing on snow, you’re likely to sink knee deep in slush as soon as you step out. If you’re looking for a remote lake or river in the valley surrounded by snow capped mountains, spring is the time to go, but if you want to get up on top of the peaks you’re better to wait for the warmer months.

Summer in the alpine brings with it another favourite of mine - wildflowers! There’s nothing more picturesque than a wide ridge dotted with an array of colours looking out on endless peaks and glaciers. But it’s important to remember that July and August bring heat and heat brings wildfires. Even if they’re not close by, wildfire smoke can travel from other areas of the continent to add an orange haze to your day. While this can be dramatic for photos, it is also dangerous for your health to spend too much time in - especially when hiking or if you have a respiratory disorder. While Glacier does their best to keep a helicopter in town for tours and contract work, it’s always possible that the province will call upon their machines and pilots to help with fire management, leaving you resorting to plan B.

Early autumn is my recommended time for helicopter trips to the alpine. The temperatures are mild, the shorter days provide gorgeous early morning and late afternoon light, and the mountains are beginning to get topped with snow again. It’s even possible to catch some remaining wildflowers in some spots. As November rolls around it’s raining more often than not and it’s the one month of the year that locals will tell you not to visit Revelstoke. We spend it hibernating inside waiting for winter or on vacation exploring someplace new.

Winter is what Revelstoke is known for, and with good reason. It’s a skier and snowboarders paradise and the capital of heliskiing. Whether you just want to be out on remote snow covered mountains or ride down them after you say I do, we can make your dreams come true. Weather and avalanche conditions play a big role in choosing locations in the winter, so it’s good to have a back up day planned in case a storm rolls in bringing more of the good stuff.

Time of Day

I always suggest we plan helicopter elopements for either as early or late in the day as possible. The peaks are magical when the rising or setting sun hits them just right and brings everything to a new level. This can be hard to do in the late spring and early summer, as the sun rises by 5am and sets close to 10pm. Helicopter pilots in our valley have busy schedules and are limited to a strict number of hours they can fly in a day. This can often mean that they aren’t able to do tours at sunrise and sunset until late August or September when the days are shorter. That being said, any opportunity to get up on a ridgeline, no mater the time of day, is going to provide you with memories to last a lifetime and amazing photos to boot.

Weather & Clothing

The weather is always more extreme in the mountains. Even if it’s a perfect day in town, the temperature drops, rain clouds roll in and out, winds can blow unrelentingly, and even the sun is more intense up high. Be sure to wear proper footwear and be prepared for all types of weather. Pack a bag with puffy coats and rain jackets or even a blanket to wrap up in just in case. It may not be the look you had in mind, but you’ll be glad you have something to warm you up if needed. It’s also a great idea to wear SPF on your face and exposed skin, not matter the time of year - the number of sun burns I’ve gotten from mid-winter mountain adventures is not zero. Long veils or really big dresses can also be tricky to manage in and around helicopters. The rotor wash and blow your vail out of your hair and risk getting caught in the propellers. A ballgown dress with lots of layers can limit you to the back seat, as it could cover up some of the displays and controls for the pilot if you’re sitting up front.

Cost

It typically costs about $2000 to have a helicopter for a two hour elopement. This includes the pilot plus 4 passengers which is usually the couple getting married, the photographer, and the officiant. In BC you need two witnesses for your ceremony, so it’s common for your photographer and pilot to take on this role. I’m a little unique as on top of photographing your elopement, I’m also able to solemnize your marriage. This means you can choose to bring a loved one along to lead your ceremony and sign on the witness line while I’d be the legal officiant and the pilot would remain your second witness. You can also pay an additional fee (about $250) to bring more guests, but this can cut into your flying time. Your booking usually consists of a 30 minute helicopter tour, an hour at the ceremony location, and then a flight back to the hangar. If you’re adding more guests, the helicopter may need to fly back and forth from the hangar, making the time you spend in the air a bit shorter.

Location

Epic helicopter locations are endless around Revelstoke, but it’s not always possible to have an exact spot picked out in advance. The weather and other conditions can dictate your options day to day. Take a look online and through my portfolio for inspiration of settings that catch your eye and screenshot your favourites. We’ll show these to the pilot who will take us to the most similar, safe option according to the days conditions.