Gros Morne Elopement Ideas

Every summer I am fortunate enough to go on a mother-daughter trip somewhere adventurous. Both my mom and I married men much less adventurous than we are, so we enjoy the opportunity to connect and see some places that our spouses have no interest in. Their loss!!

Last summer, we went to Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland.  I had no idea what to expect. I had been to the Halifax area in Nova Scotia before, but other than that, I had not had much chance to explore the rugged beauty of the east coast. And wow, was I ever blown away! Gros Morne is absolutely stunning and we were lucky that we had some unusually warm weather when we were there. We stayed at an adorable cottage in Rocky Harbour which was a perfect point for us to use for our daily adventures.

I started off my photography journey with landscapes, so it is always amazing for me to go back to my roots, so to speak. But the whole time I was there, I couldn’t help but thinking how Gros Morne would make a perfect spot for a couple to elope! And naturally, I also thought how excited I would be to photograph a destination wedding in Newfoundland! There are so many scenic spots in Gros Morne alone, so I wanted to compile some of my favourite points here for elopement inspiration! Here are some Gros Morne elopement ideas!

Tablelands Elopement

The Tablelands are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason! This is a rare spot in the world where the Earth’s mantle is above ground. For a geology lover like me, I was in heaven! Not only is the history rich here, but the scenery is stunning. There are many scenic places along the path and you can even hike off trail to your very own ceremony spot. You would be hard pressed to find another spot like it in the world!

Eastern Point Trail Elopement

This quiet and hidden gem is found right on Trout River Bay. We were planning on taking a more popular trail, but found this community trail instead and we were so glad. You go up a set of stairs to the side of the bay and you have a gorgeous trail through tall grasses the cliffs along the Atlantic. This ended up being one of our favourite spots and it was incredibly peaceful!

Western Brook Pond Elopement

Western Brook Pond is in the Long Range Mountains, which is the most Northern location of the Appalachain Mountains. This fjord is absolutely stunning and you can walk for 3 km and take a boat tour like we did. If you want epic views of the fjord, you’ll want to take a special excursion with the tour company or do a guided/unguided hike through the backcountry of the Long Range Traverse. Imagine reading your vows with this in your background! Few would believe that you were still in Canada.

Arches Provincial Park Elopement

When we arrived at Arches Provincial Park, there was a bridal party having photographs taken here! This would be a beautiful spot for an intimate ceremony as well. This is an easily accessible location for both you and your small group of guests. There is a rocky beach that you can walk along to get more epic photographs with the arches, but be prepared for some gorgeous windswept hair!

Cow Head Elopement

If I had to choose a spot for my own Newfoundland elopement, I would definitely select Cow Head. The town is incredibly quaint, but my main love of this area is the stunning Cow Head peninsula. After a hike through the forest and by an old lighthouse, you’ll open up to this amazing outlook over the Atlantic. It was breath taking! The rock formations here are phenomenal and it’s a perfect spot for a wide variety of wedding photographs. I could have spent hours exploring this area.

Bonne Bay Elopement

There is a well known song about Bonne Bay, and you can see why! Hop on a boat tour or grab a kayak to explore this gorgeous bay. The lookout over the bay looks almost tropical and there are many places in the quaint town of Norris Point to explore on your would-be wedding day.

Rocky Harbour

If a small coastal village is more your style for an elopement, Rocky Harbour has a fantastic variety of spots. The bright coloured buildings and wide selection of fish and chips, moose burgers and other Newfoundland specialities make this a perfect spot for a quintessential East Coast elopement!

Coastal Trail Elopement

First, you can stop at Green Point to check out the unique sound statue and stay up high for some photographs, or venture over to the campground to check out the coastal trail. The Coastal Trail in Gros Morne is unique due to your proximity to Tuckamore. Tuckamore are stunted trees whose shape has been transformed by the constant wind and weather off the Atlantic. Our hike along the trail was made even more magical due to the fast rolling fog that came in. In one afternoon, you could have gotten moody and foggy portraits, along with bright sunny and blue portraits. It really offers a bit of everything!

Eloping in Gros Morne

I think you can see by the stunning and varied scenery that Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland would make a gorgeous location for an adventurous elopement. One of the things I liked most about Gros Morne is that it is incredibly peaceful. There are many elopement locations like Yosemite and Jasper where you have to go quite a bit off the path to get a quiet spot, but not in Gros Morne! You can hike for hours and not see a single soul. Think of how special that would be on your wedding day, knowing that it is really just the two of you there.

In terms of time of year, you will likely want to go with a warmer season. If you’re thinking of a winter elopement, be prepared for lots of snow if you’re heading to Newfoundland. Woody Point in Gros Morne is one of the snowiest places in Canada! But regardless of the time of year, you will find it a wonderful combination of rugged and romantic. There are warm and cozy cottages to stay in, or trailers/campgrounds.

To elope in Newfoundland, you need to apply for a marriage license. Applying for a marriage license happens in person no more than 30 days before your desired wedding date, while also keeping in mind that they recommend at least 4 days before the wedding for processing. Check out the Service NL website for full details on all of the required documentation.

Next up, find yourself a marriage commissioner.  Outside of Woody Point in the park itself, the closest points are Deer Lake and Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. Alternatively, you can find a marriage comissioner who likes to travel!

And of course, find yourself an adventurous elopement photographer to go with you to capture your vow exchange and explore the gorgeous surroundings for an adventurous wedding session! The possibilities of meaningful images that we can create are endless!