Elope Montreal: Elopement Guide for Lovebirds : 2024

Elopement + Montreal moments = pure love for intimate weddings.

Elopements are super fun, super you, and can be much much cheaper and way less stress than full on weddings. Many couples elope alone, without guests or anyone else other than themselves, while some include a small number of people with them to celebration with, all together and it’s magic. Either way, an adventurous elopement is a super personal and exciting way to make things official. Imagine a wedding ceremony for 3, or 4, or as many as you can count on one hand. That’s a tiny big day, and I love helping my couples plan these types of intimate events. An elopement ceremony can be a romantic experience in scenic locations, followed by relaxing activities like spa treatments or discovering secluded spots. As an elopement photographer based in Montreal, Quebec, I’m all about documenting the experience in a real and authentically-you way. Elopements are super liberating when compared to planning some large 80+ people wedding, and if I were planning an elopement, I’d think about where I’d want to make that happen, which hotel or venue I want to be close to in the city, or go the other way ~ if the outdoors were important to me, there are so many gorgeous little and roomy chalets out of town to choose from. I think about what time of year I’d want to do this, fall, late summer, and who will be with me, if anyone at all :)

I have photographed tiny little elopements in the eastern townships - like Sutton, Dunham, Bedford, and totally love all the cabins, chalets, and interesting places my couples have booked. A little north of Montreal you have Mont Tremblant (which anywhere without 30 kms of here has tons of beautiful, quiet, and sweet cabins to rent) Saint-Saveur, and all around this area is perfect for couples that want that woodsy vibe for their elopement. Imagine wadding through a cool river on a hot summer day just a few minutes from your rented chalet, discovering wide open fields with the wind pushing the summer breeze through your shirt while running across to the forest on the other side. Fun times right?

For people hoping to do this the courthouse way, check out Palais de Justice Montreal, Palais de Justice Laval, and Palais de Justice Longueil, for people on the South Shore. The thing about courthouse weddings is that yes they are short, sweet, and inexpensive, but many people use them for a quick in and out, making the time you have available to you very limited. There isn’t a lot of aesthetic charm either, which is a look all on its own that can be interesting.

Even though planning an elopement can eliminate many of the details you’re likely hoping to avoid when planning a full-on wedding, you still need to plan and organize basic things like the timing of when you’ll begin your ‘ceremony’, if travel to various locations it’s important to think about the best time for that, your food and dinners, etc.. Depending on the time of year the available sunlight will change also, and late fall here in Montreal the sun sets by 5, and it’s pitch black by 5:30pm. If I were planning any type of portrait session I would want to do this later in the afternoon, evening, or very early in the morning. Overcast days make the light very diffused and even, but less dramatic. Bright open skies mean blue sky all day, and beautiful sunset with rich, colourful skies in the evening. This is the time I love most for outdoor portraits. I avoid noon, or anytime between 10-4, as the light is more overhead generally and less flattering in most cases.

Daniel and Eunhwan, what can I say, these two make a photographer happy. This elopement was golden from the start. Of all the weddings I’ve photographed, elopements are always something really special to celebrate, and I knew this was going to be a fun one. Eunhwan was super sweet the whole day, she even stopped to talk with birds, and was just a breeze to work with. Their family and very close friends made the trip to Montreal with them, and it was clear while everyone listened to them exchange vows, this wedding was a long time coming. They chose the Mount Stevens Club downtown for their ceremony, which is a super moody and old venue. Old dark wood everywhere, old world paintings, kinda magical, and lots of that vibe.

I knew this was going to next level elopement since I photographed their adventure session in Mile End last season, which you can check out here: The groom, Daniel, was super looking forward to this day as many couples have been since covid had derailed so many plans for engaged couples. I set up and shot their first look, and it was beautiful to see. The wedding went just like that, smooth, meaningful, and beautiful. For a long time, the situation for wedding planning was not looking good, covid restrictions and business was pretty much shut down for wedding photography and wedding photographers. Their wedding day was pretty magical, so huge win for these two! Beautiful photos all day long.

Unlike many wedding photographers, I shoot my images black and white, in camera. This means my pictures start in black and white as I make them, right in the viewfinder, and it’s such a pleasure to see an intimate moment that way. All the details are there, and a wedding day photographed that way I feel is just classic and beautiful without even trying. For couples thinking about their wedding and imagining what other options might be out there…. I can say elope. It’s 259% all good. Intimate weddings have this quiet slow pace to them, and sometimes friends join in, and the relaxed vibe totally flips and you can capture all this raw emotion and the beauty of it all.

For those looking for a more rustic and wild field of view, Mont Tremblant is an amazing area to elope. When planning a wedding you can spend a ton of time looking for wedding venues, but when you elope you can bypass all that and look for cozy little AirBnb’s, interesting and smaller hotels/motels, and really get creative searching for your own little wedding venues. There are a million beautiful little areas, forests, waterways, and wide open fields to run across, explore, and venture through. I love these areas for photo sessions, and always plan ahead to make sure my couple have easy to access options for beautiful locations.

Lidia & Armand - Ritz Carlton Elopement Photographer

Lidia and Armand always knew this was going down at the Ritz. Of all the wedding venues they could choose, they wanted this for each other. As someone super new to Montreal, Lidia wanted an intimate wedding, which they threw down at the Ritz, surrounded by just closest friends and family. Another great thing about elopements is that a small guest list doesn’t always mean a small celebration, because these two and their friends didn’t wait a minute to start the party. They even enjoyed a delightful cocktail hour, making the most of the luxurious setting. These two weddings are just the tip of the iceberg to help inspire you with how much a win-win it is to go small, and how you can re-interpret wedding traditions by re-imagining them with your own ideas & creativity, and how you can bring so much of your own interests and personalities to everything you do on your elopement. Wedding planning can be a lot easier when you choose to elope at a boutique hotel.

Covid killed the party. (For a while)

Couples had such a terrible time during covid with venue cancelations, flights on and then off again, and weddings were seriously a challenge which is why couples begun planning elopements so much more. Life was crazy during those times, and for people waiting and waiting for things to change just to get married, some sweeties lost hope and the idea of an intimate wedding was the best option. Many couples found solace in intimate spaces that offered cozy and inviting environments for their special day. It was a real challenge to make sense of it all, but the commitment by couples to make it happen with or without their full family was another reason these weddings couples planned stand out and seriously worth celebrating extra. Imagine, less stress, more fun, married, micro weddings for the win.

Here comes some AI generated content. I’m sorry if this hurts to read.

Montreal’s Top Elopement Photographer: Capturing Your Intimate Love Story. When it comes to capturing the magic and intimacy of an elopement, there is no one better than the top Montreal elopement photographer, Micheal Beaulieu. With an unparalleled eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Micheal has become the go-to photographer for couples seeking a unique and unforgettable elopement experience in the bustling city of Montreal. Micheal’s work goes beyond simply taking beautiful photographs; he has a knack for creating a genuine connection with his clients, allowing them to feel at ease and truly express their love and emotions in front of the camera. With an attentive and unobtrusive approach, he captures those candid, heartfelt moments that make each elopement truly special. Montreal’s vibrant cityscape provides the perfect backdrop for adventurous couples looking for extraordinary elopement locations, and Micheal knows just how to utilize the city’s diverse architecture, charming streets, and scenic parks to create stunning and cinematic imagery. From the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal to the iconic Mount Royal, he expertly incorporates the city’s unique charm into each photograph, ensuring that every image tells a compelling love story. In addition to his exceptional photography skills, Micheal offers personalized service and attention to detail from start to finish. He takes the time to understand each couple’s vision and works closely with them to bring that vision to life. Whether it’s scouting locations, offering styling advice, or assisting with the overall elopement planning process, Micheal is committed to making each couple’s experience truly unforgettable.

‘If you’re looking for a top Montreal elopement photographer who will capture your love story with authenticity, creativity, and unparalleled skill, look no further than Micheal Beaulieu :) With his passion for intimate storytelling and his ability to create breathtaking images, he is the perfect choice for couples seeking a truly unique and memorable elopement experience in the beautiful city of Montreal.” Kind words from fans, condensed into a wonderful, true and colourful quote.