Peyto Lake Adventure Couple | Cedar Lane Weddings

The Story behind this beautiful Peyto Lake Adventure Couple Session

In July Allie & James were visiting Canada from eastern USA when they sent me a message to see if I was able to shoot an adventure session with them. Their original photographer was turned away at the USA/Canada border! This is a reality for people who do not having a Work Permit.

Allie & James were looking to have an adventure at Peyto Lake.

We lucked out during this Peyto Lake Adventure! Parks Canada has road work scheduled which will close all access to Peyto Lake. However, the upcoming work was delayed. We made it to this epic location, even spotting two black bears along the way! Allie was so excited to see the bears!

It was a sunny and warm day, one of the few we had all year here. I truly believe that was just for them! We hiked up to the lookout, where all the tourist buses give their patrons 10-15 minutes to stand around. We left them behind us to continue to a secret (not so secret, but definitely not as heavily visited) location up further the mountain.

The Journey

The Hike up to the secret rock pile with these two was so exhilarating. There are no wayfinding spots. No barriers between you and the edge. Just a small animal trail to follow that breaks off in multiple directions. These two had only met me minutes before, but trusted me to guide them somewhere they had never been. Somewhere that felt so wild. James was so willing and adventurous, and Allie was right there beside him every step of the way.

I couldn’t get them to stop laughing at each other, and honestly I didn’t want them to. There was just so much loving energy all around us.⁣⁣

I learned pretty quickly that Allie is a total badass.  She was climbing all over huge boulders in her dress, getting on top of big rocks to check out the view below — she was down for ANYTHING. A total gazelle! Or maybe a mountain sheep?

As we neared the end of our session, we stood at the top waiting for sunset sunrise and we realized it we hadn’t seen a soul for the entire time we were there; all 4 hours was just for Allie + James to connect as a couple, to experience being ridiculously in love and adorable, to be just them.⁣⁣

The first humans we saw, apart from us, was at the bus stop lookout, on our hike back down after the sun had set.⁣⁣

I love to stretch the boundaries of what couples think their elopement day can be, because it’s not just about 8-12-16 hours of photos. It’s about exchanging the most meaningful, private vows with your partner, crafting an epic adventure experience just the two of you.⁣⁣

Here are some of my favourites of Allie & James during their Peyto Lake Adventure:

Important note. Access to Peyto Lake is closed until construction on the parking lot and road is completed in 2021.
“The Peyto Lake and Bow Summit day use area will close until winter for improvements. Improvements to the upper and lower parking lots, viewing platform, trails, wayfinding and restrooms. The area will reopen for winter use. It will close again for the duration of the 2020 summer season while improvements are completed. Bow Lake, 6 km south of Bow Summit, is a separate location and is unaffected by this work.” – Parks Canada

If you enjoyed this beautiful Peyto Lake Adventure Couple Session, please make sure to read my recent Moraine Lake Adventurous Anniversary session and Adventure Elopement at Peyto Lake, both featured on Rocky Mountain Brides!!

Looking for more inspiration? Check out these posts: Nordegg Adventure Session, Nordegg Adventure Couple, Moraine Lake Adventurous Anniversary, Same-Sex Proposal session, Icefields Adventure Session, this Cannon Beach Engagement, Jasper National Park Anniversary or this Emerald Lake Adventure session!