Your Ultimate Tofino Elopement Guide

Can’t decide between the beach or the forest for your elopement? A Tofino elopement offers both! This small, 2000-person population, beachside town in Northwestern Vancouver Island will give you this, and more. If you want to kick off your wedding shoes and dip your toes in the ocean (or even go for a surf on your wedding day), a Tofino elopement should be on the top of your list. Need some more convincing? Let’s get started.

Fees and Permits

Don’t want to deal with the headache of getting a permit? Well, you’re in luck! To have a Tofino elopement, you are not required to get a permit to get married on the beach! All you’ll need is a marriage license, officiant, and two witnesses to make this thing legal.

While ceremonies are allowed on the beach, there are just a few (very easy) rules to follow when saying your vows – straight from the official Tofino website:

• Public access cannot be restricted.
• No structures or large equipment may be erected without approval by Council.
• Alcohol is not permitted on public property, including Tofino’s beaches,  at any time.
• All users of public property are encouraged to leave the space better than they found it.  All items such as small PAs, chairs, arbors, etc. should be set up and removed as close to the ceremony as possible to minimize the disruption of public space.
• Additional restrictions may apply.

Lodging

One thing there is no shortage of in Tofino is lodging. Depending on whether you want to rough it out and camp, or are looking for something more luxury, there will be something for you.

A campground I’ve stayed at many times and absolutely love is Bella Pacifica Campground. Located on Mckenzie beach, the sites are big and private. The bathrooms are clean and well maintained, and the beach is a short walk and a staircase down.

For a more luxury experience, check out the Tofino Wild Pods. Truly a unique experience, you’ll be staying in a clear dome right on the water. You won’t know how much you want it until you see it. Check it out here.

Finally, you’ve got the Ocean Village Resort. This is the row of adorable rustic cabins you see lining Mckenzie Beach. These are basically directly on the beach and offer stunning views. You’ll never want to leave.

Activity Suggestions

While there is so much nature to enjoy in Tofino, you might consider adding something onto your special day to experience it in a different way.

Booking a float plane or helicopter tour is the number one way to make sure that you have a unique, unforgettable experience. These tours can easily be booked through Tofino Air, where they have many different options you can choose from, including a hot spring cove tour, remote lake experience, and so many more.

Is it on your bucket list to see whales? You’re in luck – you can check it off in Tofino from March through November. There is no shortage of companies you can book a whale watching (or other wildlife) tour from, and no shortage of wildlife to be spotted.

Tofino is most popular for it’s surfing – and it’s not something you want to miss out on if you’re making a trip there! There are an endless number of surf shops that you can rent gear from, and an equally endless number of beaches that are great for surfing at. One of the most popular being Cox Bay (and also features a quick hike to a gorgeous lookout when you need a surfing break), Long Beach, and Chesterman Beach.

Best Locations to Explore in Tofino

Photo locations are one thing that are not lacking for your Tofino elopement. There are many different photo vibes you can lean into, so let’s take a look at what’s out there.

First, there are tons of beaches. I have done some research on some of the more popular ones, so here are the details you need to if you’re considering them for your photo locations.

Tonquin Beach

This beach is within walking distance from downtown Tofino. However, the beach is quite small, coming in a quarter of a kilometre long. The Rainforest Trail will bring you down to the beach. This is a 1km pathway through the lush forest, made up of dirt trail and boardwalk. This beach is very popular and central, so going on a weekday or early in the morning is best.

Long Beach

The beach you’re probably most familiar with. It’s 10km long, making it the longest beach on west coast Vancouver Island. It has both soft and hard sand, and is the perfect place for a long stroll on the beach.

Florencia Bay

This is one of the more unique beaches you’ll find in Tofino. It’s full of driftwood logs, making this fun to explore and hop around from log to log (the floor is lava, anyone?). The beach is 5km long and surrounded by cliffs. It’s accessible by stairs, so be ready to get your steps in. Because of the terrain, this beach is less popular meaning you’ll have more privacy.

Check out this link to see more info on each of these beaches, and what your other options are!

Canso Plane Crash Site

This hike is super popular, for good reason! The end of the hike brings you a plane that crashed back in 1945. Still in great condition, you can check out the inside of the plane and it’s a super unique place for photos. The hike isn’t too difficult, with much of the trail flat until the end. It can get quite muddy, so prepare for this and watch your step!

More Resources

Does this sound amazing, but you’re not sure the beach is for you? Come to the mountains! Check out my blogs on eloping at Mount Rainier in Washington or Sea to Sky in Squamish.