Join us as we begin the adventure of a lifetime...
The Wedding
February 11, 2023
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Ceremony
1 pm MT
St. George's In the Pines
100 Beaver St
Banff, AB T1L 1A4
Canada
Reception
5 pm MT
Fairmont Banff Springs
405 Spray Ave
Banff, AB T1L 1J4
Canada
Attire: Black Tie Optional
Wedding Events
Welcome Dinner
Friday, February 10th
6 pm
Bluebird Restaurant
218 Lynx St, Banff, AB T1L 1A1, Canada
Farewell Brunch
Sunday, February 12th
10 am
Fairmont Banff Springs, Ivor Petrak Room
Please find more details on the weekend's logistics here
Getting There
Accommodation
Fairmont Banff Springs
Our wedding will be at the magical & historic Fairmont Banff Springs.
As one option for guests, we've secured a discounted rate for hotel rooms at the Fairmont for our guests. We don't have a hotel block, so while it is a large hotel, we'd recommend reserving hotel rooms as soon as you're comfortable. Word of fine print caution: Note that the rooms are non-refundable with the wedding rate.
Please click here to reserve hotel rooms, using code "PWED".
PS: There's another beautiful Fairmont property an hour away at Lake Louise. Don't mistake the two (although that is a stunning property so you'll have great views... but a long drive to the wedding!)
Elk & Avenue Block
In addition to the Fairmont code, we also have a hotel block at Elk & Avenue in downtown Banff. It's about a 10 minute walk to our Church and we'll have a shuttle from the reception back to Elk & Avenue. There is also a local bus that stops right outside Elk & Avenue and runs to the Fairmont.
Elk + Avenue Hotel
Booking Code: #2470904
Arrival: February 10, 2023
Departure: February 12, 2023
Rate: $159.20
Cut off for special rate: 30 days prior to arrival – January 13, 2023
To receive the group discount, guests must call reservations at 1-877-442-2623 and quote the group code corresponding to the hotel requested – Elk + Avenue : #2470904. Please note that hotel room reservations must be made by phone, the group discount cannot be applied to reservations made online.
We don't have any requirement with the Fairmont, so please feel free to pick any hotel that you like best.
Transportation
Get your passports ready! Join us for an adventure as we start our new adventure together!
Where to fly into:
Calgary (YYC) is the closest airport. Expect to go through immigration, customs, and (on the reaaally small chance) any needed COVID testing once you land.
The last two times we flew into Banff, it took us about 30 minutes from getting off the plane to getting through immigration and into our rental car - though we didn't check bags. Immigration was very straight forward and easy coming from the US.
Getting from the airport to the venue:
There are a few options, but we'd recommend taking the airport shuttle to the hotel. Between winter weather and the hassle of getting a car, the shuttle will probably be easier, particularly if you're just coming in for the wedding. Click here for more information on the shuttles.
The shuttle is about $70 CAD each way per person. It drops off at both the Fairmont & Elk and Avenue, as well as many other local hotels.
We will have free transportation from the hotel to the church and back the day of the ceremony. There is also a local bus from the hotel if you want to explore Banff and the surrounding area.
Check out more travel tips here and click here for details about the event schedule & logistics - and don't hesitate to text either of us if you have questions planning your tip.
FAQs & Suggestions
What do I need to get into Canada?
We expect that this will change often! Sign up for email alerts from us to stay up to date with changes and keep an eye on the official government websites.
This website walks through all the steps you'll go through upon landing in Canada, but here are a few highlights and tips as of December '22:
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Make sure your passport won't expire within 6 months of travel. If it will, renew your passport ASAP
As of November '22, most COVID restrictions, including providing proof of vaccination and testing requirements, have been dropped.
No visas are needed for visitors from the US, Ireland, England or Australia. You will need an up-to-date passport, though!
Need to update a US passport? Click here to learn how! The process is backed up right now during COVID (as long as 18 weeks at one point!), so if your passport will be expiring within 6 months of our wedding, we'd suggest starting the process now.
What's the weather going to be like?
Cold! The average high is 32 F and the average low is 13 F. Bring a jacket! That said, our events are all inside and we'll have plenty of hot cocoa (or Hot Toddies depending on your preference) to warm you up. For family portraits, we may take these outside - as quickly as possible.
On average, it snows 8.5 days in February and averages 8 inches/snowfall. We may (we hope!) get snow on the day. We will have a shuttle that goes from the hotel to the venue. If it's so bad that we can't get to the venue... we'll update you live!
What are the COVID precautions?
As of November '22, most COVID restrictions, including providing proof of vaccination and testing requirements, have been dropped. If Canada closes their borders ahead of the wedding... well... we'll let you know the plan B. :) Make sure you sign up for email alerts so we can keep you posted with last minute updates.
Are children welcome?
We won't have child care available, but children are absolutely welcome to come to the ceremony & reception.
What exactly is black tie optional?!
Your favorite fancy clothes - whatever will make you feel as beautiful as possible! Feeling stuck after 3 years of a pandemic and wanting to dress up? Feel free to rock a tux or gown. The venue will suit it - it is a castle in the mountains, after all! Prefer to wear a suit or cocktail dress? Please do! You'll look gorgeous in that!
Why Banff?
Travel and exploring nature (particularly mountains) is something we both cherish which is why we picked the beautiful location of Banff. We're excited for you to join us as the serenity and awe of the natural scenery set the tone for our celebration of our relationship. Our goal is that the coziness of the venue enables intentional connection, taking a few days away from the hustle of everyday life to reconnect with friends & family.
We are so excited to celebrate this milestone in our lives with friends and family, but we understand that traveling to Canada for a wedding is a big commitment and might not make sense for everyone. Please know that while we would love for you to join us, we absolutely understand if it's not the right choice for you right now. No hard feelings!
If you're unable to join us, we invite you to join the livestream of our ceremony if you'd like. As we get closer to the wedding, we'll send out the link to view the ceremony.
Things to Do in Banff
SIGHT SEEING
Banff is in Canada's oldest national park and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. The nature is why we came here and the views are truly stunning. For a quick trip, go up the gondola that's about 10 minutes from the hotel to see the entire valley.
SKIING
Great skiing is only 30 minutes away from the hotel!
SkiBig3 can hook you up with lift tickets and rentals. Check out their guide to local skiing here.
Winter fun
Will & I lived in Minnesota, so we promise that with the right friends (and clothes), the winter is a great time to get outdoors!
From ice skating at the hotel to local dogsledding & sleighrides, there are countless ways to live our your winter dreams.
Our Story
We met at Harvard Business School where we were in the same cohort in the Fall of 2017. A close friendship blossomed into love as we traveled and adventured across the world.
Our life has already taken us from Boston to Minneapolis to Kentucky and now Chicago. Together, we've scaled the Patagonian mountains and dove to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. We've traveled across the world to meet in Hong Kong. We've harvested thousands of pounds of grain and built a hydroponic greenhouse together.
If nothing else, the last two years have taught us that nothing is for granted and life is uncertain. But, we know that whatever the future brings, the one thing we know for sure is that it will be an adventure.
We're so excited to begin that adventure with you in beautiful Banff, Canada.
Registries
The one thing we've learned from the past year is that things can change quickly! We'll be updating the website if anything changes due to COVID, weather, etc - but you can sign up below for emails so you don't miss anything. We'll also be using this for last minute updates (in case a big blizzard comes in and changes things day of!).