There is something wild and rugged about a Pacific Northwest beach and Vancouver Island is literally surrounded by beaches, each one unique.  It’s hard to beat an elopement venue as classically “west coast” as a windswept beach!  



Whether you are looking for open sand beaches to run barefoot through the shallows or a rugged driftwood lined beach with rocky headlands and crashing waves, there is a Vancouver Island beach ready for your unique outdoor elopement location.  

I’ve compiled a list of the best beach locations on Vancouver Island worthy of your uniquely you elopement day as well as things to consider when planning a beach elopement (hello tide tables!!).  

1. JORDAN RIVER

The Jordan River area of Vancouver Island sits along the southern west coast of the island facing the open expanse of the Pacific Ocean and the furthest tip of the Olympic Peninsula.  The beaches in this area are rugged and remote and most are accessed by hiking trails through lush rainforest.  

If you are planning to elope here, plan on a more “remote and rugged” experience with nature right on your doorstep.  The small town of Port Renfrew and the village of Jordan River have a few quaint and unique restaurants and cafes but amenities are limited.  Nature is the focus here!  

Places to Stay in Jordan River: Book a cabin in the woods at Ferngully Cabins or stay in a seaside cottage at Wild Renfrew.  You can also find lots of unique places to stay with beach access on Airbnb.   

Places to Eat in Jordan River: Grab pizza in classic west coast style at Stoked Pizzeria & Market. Fuel up with coffee and snacks at Shirley Delicious and sit down for a cozy dinner at Renfrew Pub.

Here are my top 2 choices for eloping in Jordan River:

mYSTIC bEACH

Description:  Mystic Beach combines all of the best of Vancouver Island and puts it into one location.  Here you will find a rainforest trail including tall evergreens, ferns and a suspension bridge, sea caves, a mix of rocky and sandy shoreline, crashing waves, sunset views and a beautiful waterfall that falls onto the beach.  What’s not to love about this location!  It is part of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. It is a 2km hike from the main parking lot. It is a forested trail with lots of roots, mud and a suspension bridge.

Access: Mystic Beach is part of Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. It is a 2km hike from the main parking lot along a forested trail with lots of roots, mud and a suspension bridge. If you plan to elope at sunset, be prepared with headlamps for the hike back as it gets dark in the forest as soon as the sun sets.  

Permit Requirement: Since Mystic Beach is part of BC Parks, a letter of authorization from the park ranger is required for any professional photography within the park. This is simple to acquire but can take time to process so planning ahead is important. No fee is required. 

Sandcut Beach

Description: Sandcut Beach is a rolling pebbly beach backed by evergreens.  It is known for its beautiful rainforest trail and small waterfall that cascades over limestone cliffs onto the shore.  The waterfall is undercut so you can walk in behind and can also walk along the top across the flat and eroded limestone pools. It’s a beautiful and unique beach location for your elopement! 

Access: The 400m hiking trail down to Sandcut beach is beautiful on its own with old growth trees and eroding steps being reclaimed by the forest.  It is often muddy and crosses endless tree roots but is also very photogenic!  Once at  the beach, it is about a 10 min walk to the waterfall.

Permit Requirement:  Sandcut Beach is part of CRD (Capital Regional District) Parks and does require a permit for an outdoor ceremony.  You can apply for an access permit here.  The fee is $145 and requires at least 6 weeks to process. 

2. SOOKE

Sooke is a small region in southern Vancouver Island centered around the city of Sooke.  It faces the Olympic Mountains across the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  The beaches here are more sheltered than on the open west coast, but they are carved into the rocky landscape offering a beautiful mix of white sand and rocky cliffs.  

If you want to elope in a natural setting, but still want the ease of access to the city of Victoria and more amenities, then Sooke is a great option.  

Places to Stay in Sooke: Stay at Sooke Point Ocean Cottage Resort so close to the water that you feel like you are living on a yacht! Or for a more country garden vibe stay at Wits End Retreat. 

Places to Eat in Sooke: Eat at Sooke Harbour House or Westcoast Grill or my personal favourite, Wild Mountain.  

For something truly unique try the locally made mead at Tugwell Creek Honey Farm and Meadery.  

Here are my two top choices for a beach elopement in Sooke:

East Sooke Regional Park (Aylard Farm)

Description: Walk through fields of tall grass blowing in the wind leading to a white sand beach and turquoise water nestled between black rocky headlands. If that isn't enough, climb out to beautiful Creyke Point with windswept open vistas or hike the coastal trail to Beechy Head. East Sooke Regional Park is undeniably a beautiful Vancouver Island Elopement location!

Access: From the parking lot there is a crushed gravel path (100m) leading the the beach. Access to Creyke point is along a short forested trail but the point itself is a climb down rocky bluffs.

Permit Requirement: East Sooke Regional Park is part of CRD (Capital Regional District) Parks and does require a permit for an outdoor ceremony.  You can apply for an access permit here.  The fee is $145 and requires at least 6 weeks to process. 

If you want to get more inspired about this location read a full blog post about Eloping at East Sooke Park.

Witty’s Lagoon/Tower Point

Description: Witty's Lagoon is a wonderful low tide beach with long stretches of sand bars reaching out into the sea. The park covers forested trails around the lagoon and Sitting Lady Falls as well as Tower Point with a rocky headland leading to a white powdery sand beach. Across the water you can see the majestic Olympic Mountains. It's a perfect beach elopement location for forest lovers and beach lovers alike!

Access: You can access Witty's Beach by either walking the forested trail along Witty's Lagoon and past Sitting Lady Waterfall (around 2km depending on which side of the lagoon you walk) or you can access it from the opposite side of the lagoon at Tower Point. This is a more accessible option with a much shorter walk.

Permit Requirement: East Sooke Regional Park is part of CRD (Capital Regional District) Parks and does require a permit for an outdoor ceremony.  You can apply for an access permit here.  The fee is $145 and requires at least 6 weeks to process. 

For more information about eloping here, read my full blog post about a Witty's Lagoon Elopement on Vancouver Island.

3. TOFINO

A Vancouver Island icon, Tofino is probably the first place people think of when they think of eloping on Vancouver Island. And for good reason! Tofino is on the west coast of Vancouver Island and is home to the famous Pacific Rim Nation Park Reserve with sand beaches stretching for miles, crashing surf and misty rainforest trails. The town of Tofino itself has beautiful beaches that are outside of the park. It's the perfect place to elope if you want the classic Vancouver Island experience or if you want to incorporate surfing into your elopement experience.

The only downside to eloping in Tofino is how expensive accommodation can be and how quickly resorts book up! Eloping here requires planning ahead or coming in the off season when low season rates are available.

Places to stay in Tofino: Stay in cabins right on the beach at Oceanfront Village Resort or stay in luxury at Pacific Sands Beach Resort or camp near the beach at Surf Grove. Just remember to book early as these places book up quickly, especially in the peak summer months. Most people book a year in advance!

Places to eat in Tofino: Grab coffee and donuts at Rhino Coffee House. Grab a pint at Tofino Brewing Co and dine at Wolf in the Fog.

Narrowing down which beach to get married at can be daunting because you literally can't go wrong with any of the beaches in this area...they are all beautiful! Here are my top choices for a beach elopement in Tofino:

Middle Beach (Tonquin Trail)

Description: Middle Beach is a quiet and less crowded beach than most other beaches in Tofino. This is partly because you can only access the beach via the Tonquin Trail or from the private Middle Beach Lodge. It is also not a surfing beach as the surf doesn't build up in this area. But, this is why I recommend Middle Beach as an elopement location! You will find more privacy here than other beaches. There are 3 beaches along the trail separated by rocky headlands and old growth forest. Each beach is white sand and backed by evergreens with views of small islands just off shore.

Access: Tonquin Trail is 3km of walking trail that combines a crushed gravel path, wooden boardwalks, look-out viewing platforms and steep stairs down to sandy beaches. The trail rolls up and down inclines but there is little elevation gain.

Permit Requirements: None Required

For a full blog post about eloping at Middle Beach read here.

Wickaninnish Beach

Description: Wickaninnish Beach is part of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and is a classic Tofino beach with rolling surf perfect for surfing. What makes this beach unique is the ease of access (read below), the unique sand dunes that back the beach and the fascinating tide pools found on the south end of the beach near the Kwisitis Visitor's Centre. It's all of that classic west coast surf vibe you might be looking for, plus a bit more!

Access: The beach can be access from 4 visitor parking areas stretching down the beach. There is ample parking here and even on a busy day you can usually find parking. It is a quick 30 second walk from the parking lot to the beach. The beach itself is sand stretching out in both directions.

Permit Requirements: None required for the ceremony, but you will need a park pass for the day to access the beach.

4. Nanaimo

OK, I admit that this will probably be the only blog post you read that lists Nanaimo as a top beach location for your Vancouver Island elopement, but as a Nanaimo local I can honestly say that it is a beautiful location for your wedding venue! Nanaimo is Vancouver Island's second largest city and has all of the amenities you need plus it is centrally located to access other regions of the island. If you are short on time, it is also quick and easy to get to with three ferry terminals and an airport (not to mention sea plane options!) To top it off, there are gorgeous beaches and parks with fewer crowds than other classic Vancouver Island destinations.

Places to stay in Nanaimo: Stay in the heart of downtown Nanaimo at Courtyard by Marriott or directly on Departure Bay Beach at Battersea Beach House or in Nanoose on the beautiful estuary at Inn the Estuary.

Places to eat in Nanaimo: Eat at the Modern Cafe, La Stella Trattoria or The Black Rabbit for fine dining. Grab coffee and breakfast at The Vault Cafe or Mon Petit Choux.

Here are my top two choices for a beach elopement in Nanaimo:

Neck Point Park

Description: Neck Point Park is a well known park on Nanaimo’s coastline and a local favourite. The trail follows the coast line out onto the point and 'neck' offering sweeping views across the Strait of Georgia to Texada Island and the North Shore mountains on the mainland. The rocky shore and islets out in the water make for a classic Vancouver Island view. The park has 4 different beaches giving you lost of variety for your phots, rocky headlands jutting into the sea and a combination of coastal and forest views with wooden stairs and lookout platforms at classic viewpoints. This park is one of my favourites on all of Vancouver Island!

Access: The trail is a 3km loop trail that is a mix of crushed gravel, wooden stairs and look out points. There are trails that criss-cross the forested centre of the park if you want to add a little forest to your day.

Permit Requirements: None required

Moorecroft Regional Park (Nanoose)

Description: Technically this park is north of Nanaimo in Nanoose, but it is a quick drive and worth the effort. Moorecroft is the site of an old youth camp with one old wooden barn still standing along the sheltered cove. There are two points, Vesper Point and Cook's Point, that make a great spot for scenic pictures during your photoshoot. The highlights of the park for me are the driftwood lined beach with multiple drifwood "forts", the calm emerald green cove that feels more like a lagoon when it fills at high tide and the views of the small Gerald, Amelia and Douglas Islands just off shore adding to the view of the North shore mountains across the Strait.

Access: The beach and lagoon are accessed from a short crushed gravel 300m trail from the parking lot. There is also a beautiful 2km forested trail surrounded by ferns off of the main trail if you want to add a bit of forest to your day.

Permit Requirements: None required

5. North Vancouver Island

It is no secret that North Island is my favourite region of Vancouver Island. It has a rugged wilderness that captures the soul and ignites a sense of adventure. Here you can find empty stretches of sand and forest where it is just you and nature. Come prepared for the elements and for a true rugged experience. Port McNeill and the whole northern region is perfect for the adventurers at heart who want

to get off the beaten path and into true wilderness. The towns of Port McNeill and Port Hardy are the two main hubs in the region. Port McNeill has a few more options for restaurants and also is where you will find the ferry to take you to nearby island destinations as part of your elopement experience. You could also choose to base yourself in Telegraph Cove which is a charming little village built out on piers over the water. It's the gateway to the Broughton Archipelago with adventure tourism at its core.

Places to stay in North Vancouver Island: Stay at Kwa'lilas Hotel in Port Hardy or in rustic cabins at Cluxewe Resort near Port McNeil or at Telegraph Cove Resort.

Places to Eat in North Vancouver Island: Eat at Devil's Bath Brewing Co. in Port McNeill or at Nax'id' Pub in Port Hardy or at Killer Whale Cafe in Telegraph Cove.

Full disclosure, I have not done an elopement in this region yet, BUT it's my goal to convince the adventure lovers out there to book an adventure elopement here because I think it would be the ultimate adventure!! These photos are from my own family's adventures exploring our favourite places. We go every year! (and psst...I have way more hidden gems to share from this region with clients because it's my favourite region of Vancouver Island!)

Here are my top beach locations for eloping in North Vancouver Island:

Storey's Beach

Description: A beautiful, calm and sheltered tree lined crescent beach with exposed sand bars at low tide. Every time I have been to Storey's beach it evokes so many feelings of peace. The beach is tree lined and faces east so it doesn't get much afternoon light except for the small rays that squeeze through the trees. But it has a beautiful moodiness and you are almost certain to either have the beach to yourself or share it with a limited few there to walk their dog.

Access: There is a visitor's parking lot located next to the Rotary Pavilion on Storey's Beach Rd. The beach is directly in front of the parking lot. The crescent beach stretches out in either direction for a long ways. I recommend walking north along the shore towards the far north end of the beach where you will find the best light for your ceremony as well as a beautiful headland as a backdrop for photos. You can also park at the north end of the beach along Storey's Rd, however there is no designated parking.

Permit Requirements: None required

San Josef Bay

Description: This is the ultimate in adventure elopement beach locations. This is OFF THE BEATEN PATH! In my opinion, San Josef Bay is more beautiful than the beaches in Tofino, more wild than the beaches in Jordan River and less crowded than anywhere else on Vancouver Island. Famous for its sea stacks and caves, for its wide sweeping white sand beach and for camping right on the shore, this is an Vancouver Island adventure elopement destination like no other.

Plan to camp overnight to make the most of your visit and if you want your ceremony near the sea stacks, you will need to plan it with a low tide.

Access: San Josef Bay is accessed from a 68km gravel logging road. Although 4-Wheel Drive is not necessary to travel these roads, having mid-high wheel clearance is recommended. Bring a spare tire and/or a repair kit and know how to use them. Sharp rocks have been known to do a number on tires! Expect the drive to take 2 hours or more depending on the condition of the roads. These are active logging roads so give way to logging trucks.

From the parking lot it is a 2.5km walk along a nicely groomed trail to the beach. The trail is a mix of crushed gravel, wooden boardwalks and tree roots. Expect some sections to be muddy. Once at the beach it is a further 10 min walk along the shore to get to the sea stacks and sea caves.

Permit Requirements: None required for the ceremony, but if you plan to camp on the beach overnight you will need a backcountry camping permit which can be purchased here . This doesn't reserve you a spot, as it is first come first serve, but it does give you the convenience of prepaying before you get there.

Beach Elopement Tips

Rugged beaches can serve as an epic backdrop for your elopement, but just like each beach is unique in it’s features, you need to be uniquely prepared for to elope there!

Fortunately, I have some advice to help:

• Plan around the tides.  The tides here in the Pacific Northwest are really big!!  Some beaches become tiny slivers of sand at high tide and stretch out for hundreds of metres over sandbars at low tide.  Check the tide tables and make sure that you schedule your ceremony for a tide level that will give you enough space to truly enjoy the location.  
• Elope during a weekday when beach traffic is at its lowest - especially the more popular beach location.  
• Plan your trip outside of the peak summer months to avoid the crowds and to take advantage of lower prices for accomodation in the low season.  
• Be prepared for varying terrain.  While some beaches will have sand, some will have sharp rocks and oyster shells which are murderous on bare feet!!  Come prepared with footwear to be able to climb up to enjoy the view.  
• Be prepared to Leave No Trace so we can make sure to minimize the impacts we are leaving behind on these beautiful beaches.  As the saying goes…Leave only footprints!

Choosing the Perfect Beach Location for your Elopement

Whether the ocean plays a significant role in your relationship or whether being by the water is your happy place, I encourage you to think about your whole elopement experience when choosing which beach to elope at.  

Ask yourselves what other activities you might want to do on your elopement day or during your stay on Vancouver Island? Do you want to kayak, book a sailing cruise, explore quaint towns or visit parks? 

What amenities are important to have near you for the duration of your stay?  Is it important to be near a variety of restaurants and shops? Or do you prefer staying somewhere secluded in the forest?

What is your budget for accommodation? Accommodations in Tofino and Ucluelet are significantly more expensive than other regions of the island and book up quickly in the summer months, but off season discounts can be found.  

How much travel time do you have to get to your beach location?  It may be an island, but Vancouver Island is bigger than you think!  Expect a 4.5 hour drive from Victoria to Tofino and a 3.5 hour drive from Nanaimo to Port McNeill.  But the drive is indeed beautiful!!