Whistler Heli Wedding Guide

Are you thinking of a Whistler Heli wedding or elopement? Then this guide is here to help you. I’ve been lucky enough to join dozens of couples as they get married on mountain tops, glacial lakes, and amongst the beautiful scenery the Sea to Sky has to offer. Ultimately, these locations are reached and accessed by Helicopters. A fun and adventurous way of celebrating, whether it’s an elopement, engagement session, or bridal portraits. Getting a flight, allows you to get up high, away from the hustle and bustle in the valley below.

A few tips for you, to help with planning a heli wedding.

Winter: It’s no question, if you get the chance to fly in the winter, it is spectacular. Although the likeliness of this happening is far less in the winter months, due to weather. It’s also cold… really cold. If you are planning a winter heli wedding or session, then your clothing choices matter. For weddings or elopements, think thick tights under your dress. Ideally skin tones or white to match your dress. Warm socks, and winter boots. This goes for the guys too. I would also recommend putting some toe warmers in there, and some hand warmers for your gloves. When it comes to what to wear up top. I would suggest a nice thick wool coat (for both). If you want to wear fur, by all means, but think a fur coat, vs a shrug. I promise you’ll thank me. Those fur shawls do very little for warmth. They are generally lined with a satin like material that does not help for warmth one bit. Plus too much of your skin will be exposed, and if it’s windy, you won’t be enjoying yourself one bit.

The wonderful thing about winter, is the sun is super low and the days are short. If you can book the last heli of the day, you’ll be up there for sunset, or close to. And there is no better time to be on top of a mountain. So try and book that 3/4:00 time slot. The light in your photos will be dreamy.

Summer: Regardless of it being spring or summer, you half to prepare for the elements. Think appropriate footwear. In the spring and early summer, there will still be lots of snow. And when that snow melts later in the season, your are walking over uneven rocks. No stilettos please! If you must wear heels, think a nice thick heel, and something with tread. For the gents, mens dress shoes are notorious for having no grip. If you can swap out your nice shoes for even a pair of Blundstones, we’d feel much more at ease. Always bring a warm layer, something you wouldn’t be upset about if you needed to wear it in photos. I’ve been up there in June, where the wind has been unbearably cold. You just never know what the weather gods are going to deliver. Sunglasses are great to have for the flight, but ideally you ditch them for your ceremony and portraits.

The days are long in the spring/summer months. But I still recommend booking the earliest or latest flight of the day (4pm). The latest is usually the most realistic with wedding and elopement timelines. And for engagement sessions, the same applies. Reason being, is the high, over head sun in the summer, generally casts unfavourable shadows under the eyes. The lower the sun, the better. Of course, this is just a suggestion, I know this doesn’t always work for everyone.

Rainbow Mountain