The Northern outdoors may be a great place to find solitude but it’s arguably just as good for getting together in matrimony – if you can live with a few wildcards.
Stories abound of couples pledging their love to each other at the Snowking’s castle in the wintertime or at the many municipal and territorial parks in the area.
“The most common locations for outdoor wedding bookings on (City of Yellowknife) property include the Folk on the Rocks site, Somba K'e Civic Plaza and the Rotary Waterfront Park, during July, August and September,” according to Alison Harrower, corporate communications advisor for the city.
The attraction of the Somba K’e Civic Plaza has even brought people in from outside Canada.
In 2017, Brandon and Ryan Panaligan travelled to Yellowknife from California to tie the knot — literally. Their Game of Thrones-themed wedding, under dancing Northern lights in the early fall, involved the ancient hand-fastening rite that harkens back to pre-Christian unions in Europe.
The couple weren’t sure at first whether a gay marriage would be accepted in the city that they didn’t yet know, but a little bit of research showed them how accepting the city can be, they told NNSL Media at the time.
Territorial parks are also common choices for those looking to get married in the outdoors but in a place that’s accessible and logistically realistic for a large party with a lot of family.
Those looking to wed outdoors, though, should keep in mind that they share the space with the wildlife.
When Amanda Epp and Darcy Lansdown got married at Prelude Lake in 2012, they told NNSL Media that they had just made it official and were preparing to take their pictures when they were notified a black bear had been spotted nearby.
They moved location rather than risking the unwanted third wheel.
Wedding rentals are also popular enough, among other events, at the Snowking’s castle that the crew has had to outline some policies to make sure the seasonal and off-grid venue survives the traffic—these involve ambient lighting and heat conservation, among other measures.