The Travel tab has a few different options for transit between Calgary and Banff. There are at least 3 different shuttle services that run back and forth several times per day! Between the different shuttles, it should be possible to find an option that works with your travel schedule. Shuttles typically run at around $75-80 CAD per passenger. Renting a car at Calgary International Airport is also an option. We've also made a spreadsheet for people to coordinate ride-sharing between Calgary and Banff (see Travel tab).
Since Buffalo Mountain Lodge is in Banff National Park, all vehicles are required to display a parks pass. You can purchase a pass at the park gates or at a visitor center in Banff or Lake Louise, or you can pre-purchase and print your pass online via this link: https://www.banfflakelouise.com/park-pass-purchase
Nope! There are busses and shuttles that connect lots of hot spots in the Banff/Lake Louise area, as well as Calgary. That said, you are more than welcome to rent a car (in Calgary or in Banff) if you feel the draw of the deep mountains! See the travel tab for more info about getting to and around Banff!
Dress code is cocktail. However, we are planning to do an outdoor ceremony barring extreme weather, and Banff in October can be chilly and potentially snowy. We'd love it if you'd wear heftier footwear for the ceremony, so that nobody gets frostbite on their toes before trying to dance all night long! Hiking boots or snow boots are totally welcome. And please wear or have a warm coat for the ceremony. We know you'll look fly underneath, and we'll have lots of time to admire your fashion during the party afterwards. We will also have blankets and hand warmers at the ceremony to help everyone stay warm.
We're planning to do the ceremony outdoors. It will likely be chilly! See FAQ about dress code for our thoughts on staying cozy. In addition, we will serve up warm drinks before the ceremony in the Wine Cellar at Buffalo Mountain Lodge, and we'll provide blankets and hand warmers to keep you toasty.
It's hard to say, but average temperatures in late October are usually pretty cold, hovering around 40 degrees F as a high and dropping below freezing at night. It's a dry cold, so sunshine can make it feel a lot warmer. We recommend bringing layers!
We strongly recommend bringing bear spray with you if you are hiking in the Banff area. (Busier hikes like Johnston Canyon, the Lake Louise lakeshore, or the pathways to the Peyto Lake viewpoint are pretty safe without bear spray.) We have several bear spray canisters that you can borrow, so just let us know if you need one! Bear spray is also available for purchase at most outdoors shops in Banff, Canmore, and Calgary.
To be safe, it's probably good to book travel arrangements and accommodations as early as you can. The festival starts on the 26th and runs through the 5th.
See our schedule tab for all the details! In brief: Friday evening: welcome event Saturday afternoon/evening/night: wedding fun Sunday: for those sticking around, we'll do breakfast from 9-11 and then a gentle hike to work off any wedding woozies
Kids and babies are totally welcome during the wedding weekend. We hope that staying on-site at Buffalo Mountain Lodge will make it easier for families to coordinate their little ones' needs and naps. In addition, we've arranged for babysitting during the reception, with a room directly connected to the venue space that will be dedicated to kids not being bored silly. Let us know if you have thoughts/ideas about how we can keep your kids as happy as possible while we celebrate!
It depends what you'd like to do! October is a crazy month in Banff, usually starting out with balmy weather and dipping into true winter by the end of the month. If you shoot for the 2 weeks before the wedding, you'll likely get some pretty nice fall weather in the Banff area. Fall foliage tends to peak around the second week of October, and temps can be in the 70s or higher, cooling down in the week or so before our wedding. If you shoot for the 2 weeks after the wedding, you may have perfect timing for opening days at the local ski resorts! Banff Sunshine can open as early as the first week in November, but it varies year-to-year depending on the weather. Planning a true ski vacation this time of year would be a gamble, but if you love wintery weather, Banff/Lake Louise will not disappoint in early-mid November. For those staying in town longer, some adventures we'd suggest checking out: - Banff Mountain Film Festival (Oct. 26th-Nov. 5th) - Driving Icefields Parkway and visiting the Columbia Icefield - A trip to Jasper townsite and national park, and/or Jasper Dark Skies Festival (held in mid-late October) *Jasper recently experienced a devastating wildfire that destroyed a large portion of the town. We're not sure if Jasper will be open by late October, but if you feel moved to donate to the recovery of this incredible mountain community, you can do so here: https://www.jaspercommunityteamsociety.ca/ - Hiking in Larch Valley (early-mid October) - Mountain biking in Banff, Canmore, or Kananaskis Country - Snowshoeing and XC skiing (if we're lucky with snow!) - Visiting all of the lakes: Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake, and Bow Lake are all famous for their beautiful blue water and relatively easy to access