A helicopter elopement on Rainbow Mountain above Whistler, for a couple who flew in from Singapore.
They landed high in the alpine near Rainbow Mountain on a helicopter elopement in Whistler, BC. Fresh snow, no sound but the wind, mountains in every direction. Nobody was watching, so nobody had to perform.
Some couples want a big celebration. These two wanted the opposite. They travelled from Singapore to British Columbia, Canada with a simple plan: say their vows somewhere wild, stay present with each other, and come home with photographs that felt like them.
Why couples fly to Canada to elope
I hear from a lot of couples in cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. What they want is usually the same: privacy, space, and landscape on a scale they can’t find at home.
Whistler is a couple of hours from Vancouver, has good places to stay, and a short helicopter flight puts you on a summit with nobody else around. For a couple who wants more than a venue, that combination is hard to beat.
A day above the clouds
The helicopter lifted off, climbed over the snowy peaks and set them down in the alpine. No crowds, no noise, just the two of them and a lot of white.
They read their vows, opened the champagne and took their time in the snow. It was -16°C up there and they barely noticed. Those are the frames I keep coming back to: nothing set up, just two people paying attention to each other.
“Raveen really went the extra mile for us, not just as our photographer but also as our personal tour guide... the photoshoot never felt forced or overly performative.” — Kryza
How I photograph an elopement
When a couple has flown halfway around the world for a day like this, the camera shouldn’t get in the way. I keep things calm, step in with a little direction when it helps, and otherwise let the day happen.
It isn’t a photoshoot with vows in the middle. I shoot the stills and the video myself, so there’s no crew on the mountain and nothing between the two of you and the moment.
Why a helicopter elopement in Whistler
Privacy: the whole day is about the two of you.
Places you can’t walk to: remote alpine spots like Rainbow Mountain.
Help with the cold: I’ve worked at -16°C and can help you plan for it.
Room to breathe: no schedule except the one you want.
The light: snow and high alpine sun do things a ballroom never will.
Planning a Whistler heli elopement
Pick your season: alpine weather changes fast. In winter it can drop to -16°C, so plan proper layers under the dress and suit.
Keep a backup: helicopters only fly when the weather allows. We always plan a second option so the day goes ahead either way.
Keep it small: I photograph and film the day myself, in 4K, so the summit stays quiet and you can stay present.
The morning before the flight: getting ready slowly in Whistler, before the rotors and the wind.
Planning something like this?
If you’re thinking about a destination elopement in Canada, tell me what you have in mind. I’m based in Vancouver, BC and travel for elopements and small weddings. There’s another Whistler helicopter elopement on Rainbow Mountain here too.
