Biplane Elopement in Ottawa

Before we begin showing you this beautiful biplane elopement in Ottawa, we’d like to acknowledge that we live and work on the unceded territory of the Anishnabe Algonquin Nation.

biplane elopement

We’ve been so excited to share this Biplane Elopement with you all, because it’s been a dream of ours in the making for quite some time now. It’s the adventure of a lifetime and way more exciting than city hall: a Biplane Adventure! It will give your celebration that extra little flare to make it memorable. Getting married on an airstrip and jetting off afterwards for an airplane ride over the city of Ottawa. There’s no better adrenaline rush to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter!

One of our favourite parts about this entire adventure is how accessible it is. The airstrip itself is located only 15-20 minutes from downtown Ottawa, so it would be easy to go for dinner and enjoy a romantic evening out in the city afterwards. It’s a great way for people outside of Ottawa to see the city, or for locals to see it in a way they’ve never seen it before!

Same sex couple spraying champagne

The Logistics: How it works

Ottawa Elopements has paired up with a local biplane company to bring this adventure to life. The team of pilots we work with have been nothing but professional, organized, and flexible in creating the best experience for our clients. This is an adventure add-on that you can choose to include in addition to either your Elopement package or Micro Wedding package, so if you’re interested in arranging this for your own wedding day, be sure to get in touch and we can make it happen!

Absolutely! We recommend this adventure add-on for anyone considering our Elopement package (where just the couple attends the ceremony), or our Micro Wedding package (where you can have up to 10 guests attend your ceremony). We can easily accomodate a ceremony on the tarmac for up to 12 people. Or if you’d like a more extravagant experience, we’d be happy to chat more about how we can create an evening reception inclusive of dinner and drinks at the airport as well. The sky is literally the limit!

*the cost includes a biplane ride for the couple getting married, and the photographer to take photos from a second airplane. If you would like to arrange a biplane ride for any of your guests, we can create a custom quote (and timeline) for what you have in mind!

If any of your guests would be interested in having a biplane ride as well, we can make that happen. We will need to arrange this well in advance of your wedding date, as it takes time to coordinate. There are 2 things to consider here:

1. Price: for each biplane ride, there are additional costs involved. Let us know how many guests would like a ride, and we can give you a quote for this.

2. Timing: we’ll also need to factor in enough daylight for each additional guest to have their biplane ride. Since we usually aim for a sunset biplane ride, the timing of your ceremony and plane ride may need to get pushed earlier into the day to accomodate more people.

The length of your experience depends on which package you select. Our Elopement package spans 2 hours, and it includes time for your ceremony, couples portraits, a snack / champagne toast, and in this case, a 20 minute biplane ride. Our Micro Wedding package spans 3 hours, and it includes time for your ceremony, couples portraits, photos with your guests (candid and staged), a snack / champagne toast, and in this case, a 20 minute biplane ride.

The biplane is able to operate between May – October. This sometimes varies if we have an unseasonally early winter or late thaw.

Since the biplane ride is highly dependent on weather, it’s important to know that there is a risk of last minute cancellations or rescheduling. One of the reasons why we love elopements (and smaller scale weddings) so much is the flexibility that goes along with planning them. If we do need to shift the date or time due to bad weather, it’s much easier to do so when there are only 2-12 people involved. We’ll work closely together with you ahead of time to ensure we have a backup “rain date” selected in the case that we might need to postpone.

Yes, this is definitely an essential component of the flight! Since the biplane is an open cockpit, you are directly exposed to the elements (ie: wind, sun, etc). For safety reasons, you are required to wear a helmet as well as ear protection for the noise. It’s important to note this so you can plan your hair style accordingly to fit under a helmet.

Safety is our number one priority when it comes to this adventure experience. Since we work with a team of dedicated professionals who all have the proper training and credentials to fly, they will be able to walk you through a safety demonstration before the flight to ensure that everyone is equipped properly. They will perform a safety check and ensure you have the right gear on in order to fly.

The great thing about this experience is that it takes away all the headache and hassle of a “normal” flying experience! Since this airstrip is not connected to the main Ottawa Airport (YOW) in any way, there are different protocols in place to get you in the air. You will not be required to go through security, nor do you need to “check in” or show proof of ID before flying. We will require anyone flying to sign a waiver upon arrival as part of the safety demonstration, but nothing beyond that.

First off – we are truly honoured you’re interested in working with us! And so excited to celebrate with you! To get the ball rolling, simply fill out our contact form. Easy!

The Biplane Elopement in Ottawa

We are so grateful that Alanna and Jules trusted us with their vision. This was the most simple and romantic evening with just the two of them at sunset. They exchanged rings and vows on the tarmac, popped a bottle of champagne, and were whisked away afterwards as newlyweds: flying into the sunset on a biplane. This certainly isn’t something every couple can say they’ve done, but it’s something we’re really excited to bring to life for more adventurous souls. Scroll down to see the dreamy images from their big day!

Vendor List

A big thanks to all our amazing vendors who came together to pull this elopement off!

This elopement was planned entirely by Ottawa Elopements

Photography: Lauren McCormick Photography

Officiant: Grounded Ceremonies

Florals: Pollennation

Are you looking for help planning your dream elopement day? We gotchu boo! Just fill out our contact form and we can start planning!