As you may have noticed, there’s a running theme to my blogs. I love Saskatchewan. There is a beauty that is practically indescribable — though I’ve tried my best throughout these pieces to try to capture it. From Saskatoon to Prince Albert and everything in between, there are about a million places that I could spend my days happily exploring around the region. This is probably why it's one of my favourite places to recommend to couples looking for wedding locations — getting married in Saskatchewan is ideal!
There is SO much to explore, so many places to choose from and an amazing juxtaposition between the city and the rural areas, so you end up with the best of both worlds at your disposal. There’s no shortage of natural wonder. The rivers that run through the boreal forests. The rolling hills and prairies that create a sprawling landscape.
Dotted amidst the natural beauty are small towns like Waskesiu, which is the only community located within Prince Albert Park, or the larger towns like Saskatoon, which combine city living with natural surroundings.
All of these components, plus a ton more, are what make Saskatchewan such an incredible place to get married. It’s the perfect place for any couple that loves a little culture, a little adventure and a lot of beauty.
Instead of an epic ode though, I decided I really wanted to take some time out and write a detailed guide to all the things you need to know for getting married in Saskatchewan. A guide that touches on a variety of topics that any couple would need to think about when planning for their Saskatchewan wedding adventure:
Where to get married in Saskatchewan
The best time to get married in Saskatchewan
How to plan a wedding in Saskatchewan
What are some of the best wedding venues in Saskatchewan
Finding Saskatchewan wedding vendors
The best places for Saskatchewan wedding photography shoots
Those topics only scratch the surface of all the things we’ll be talking about, so without further ado, here is your comprehensive guide to weddings in Saskatchewan…
Setting The Tone
When it comes to setting the tone of your wedding, it’s best to try to do it as early as possible. Though there are a ton of factors to consider when looking at the tone of your wedding, there isn’t one quite as important as choosing the right time to get married. Winter, Spring, Summer or Autumn — there are plenty of reasons to choose either of the seasons to get married in Saskatchewan. Let me break it down by season.
A Frozen Wonderland: A Saskatchewan Winter Wedding
I love the silence that seems to fall over the Saskatchewan landscape as the snowfall of Canada winters takes over — and considering the winters in Saskatchewan generally last between November to mid-March, the snowfall lasts a while. The coldest months of the year tend to be January and February though, so aiming for before or after gives you the opportunity to frolic amidst the snow drifts without having to completely worry about the arctic temperatures. In fact, the colder it gets, the less snow there is, so if you envision a winter wonderland, we probably want to aim more for late November, to early December.
There is ONE major benefit to a winter wedding though: the groomed trails that Saskatchewan has to offer. Groomed trails give you the chance to cover miles upon miles of terrain that would normally take hours upon hours to cover all with the added benefit of being blanketed by a thick layer of snow and ice. Lakes end up completely frozen over, and forests become barren. It’s otherworldly, and I definitely encourage you to take a look at some of the amazing groomed trails that would be available should a winter wedding be your thing.
Blooms And Blossoms: A Saskatchewan Spring Wedding
Contrasting to the waning sunlight and the barren landscapes of winter, a Spring wedding in Saskatchewan gives you bursts of glorious light, chance sightings of rainbows after spring showers and colourful blooms of flora and foliage as far as the eyes can see.
The rivers are brimming with life as the melting snow turns into freshwater flowing down the waterfalls in Prince Albert National Park. The weather is also fairly contrasting, as the temperatures spring up into the warmer ranges, making both an outdoor and indoor wedding possible.
Warm And Wonderful: A Saskatchewan Summer Wedding
The days are long, the weather is warm and the season is prime for festivals, outdoor events and hiking. It’s safe to say that the summer in Saskatchewan is an amazing time to visit, and an even more amazing time to get married. There are plenty of outdoor adventures to take part in while you enjoy your time, like ziplining (I’ve never done a wedding photo shoot on a zipline but I’m down to try!) and hiking along the variety of trails Saskatchewan has to offer.
Summer is also the best time to capture outdoor wedding photography under the glow of the golden hour — that magical hour that happens one hour after sunrise, and one hour before sunset, that somehow manages to cast everything it touches in liquid gold.
The Transformation: A Saskatchewan Autumn Wedding
In Autumn, you get the benefit of fairly warm temperatures, coupled with the arrays of reds, oranges, yellows and bronzes that explode from the trees as the season begins to change. When you pair that with the golden hour that I just talked about, you find yourself in a setting so naturally beautiful that even Bob Ross himself couldn’t accurately capture it on canvas!
Another thing to consider when it comes to the different seasons of Saskatchewan is what the peak tourism times are. While that may not affect your plans in terms of when you want to get married, it might impact the costs of the travel, so it’s best to get ahead of it as early as possible. The peak times for travel to Saskatchewan is June-September, mostly because of the weather and the variety of outdoor events that the area has to offer. Food festivals, farmers markets, things of that nature.
Inside, Outside, And Everywhere In Between
As I mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of beauty when it comes to Saskatchewan. It somehow manages to exist in the middle of nowhere, while maintaining a small but thriving cultural scene in places like Saskatoon or Regina. Then, of course, there’s Prince Albert National Park, and the town of Waskesiu, which gives you the ability to stargaze, and take in a farmer’s market and art gallery the next day — all before you jump into a paddle boat ride along a lily covered channel of water.
It’s that ability to exist in both places at the same time that makes Saskatchewan wedding photographers so excited about the assignment. We get the chance to traverse all over with you, telling the story of your epic romance while being simultaneously surrounded by epic land and life. One of the highlights, in my mind, is Saskatoon, and the focus that the area puts on the local Indigenous cultures, as well as their contributions to the land, the food and the arts of the region. There are a variety of small galleries in the area that would make for an amazing side trip as we scout out locations.
When it comes to Saskatchewan destination weddings, though, any of the aforementioned places provide plenty of reasons to plan your special day there, and that’s only scratching the surface of what this beautiful place has to offer. Unfortunately, if I tried to dig deeper into every place, this blog would never end, so in the interest of time, we’ll move on.
Who Should Get Married In Saskatchewan – And, How To Do It!
We’ve talked about the when, and some of the where, but now we should talk about a couple of the other key components. The who and the how: who should get married in Saskatchewan, and how do you go about doing it?
Getting married in Saskatchewan requires couples to purchase a Saskatchewan marriage license, which is only valid for 90 days after purchase. You’ll need to provide two forms of identification, both must be government issued, and one must be a form of a photo ID. Any clergy or marriage commissioners who are registered in Saskatchewan can perform marriages, so just make sure whomever you choose registers in the area if they aren’t already. You can find full information on the process here.
Now, who should get married in Saskatchewan? That’s an easy question to answer. Everyone and anyone! I’m not just saying that because I love it there, I’m saying it because it truly does have something for everyone. Whether you love a grand outdoor adventure or laid-back leisure, natural wonder or small-city life, it really does have it all. So the answer to who should get married here, is, absolutely and unequivocally, everyone.
Well, we’ve covered nearly all of it. Where to go, what to do, when you can do it, and who should do it. I wanted to add a little bonus section though. One that has my own personal recommendations of local artisans in the Saskatchewan area that can assist in making all your wedding dreams a reality, from the hair and make-up to the flowers, dress and everything in between that will help paint the wedding picture for you.
W Bridal in Saskatoon is an absolutely gorgeous bridal shop that offers a wide range of bridal dresses that somehow manages to fit every budget. What I love most about them is that their selection is just as amazing as their staff — as is evidenced by the pages-long “love letters” section of their website, a place where their customers go to leave gushing reviews of their experience at W Bridal.
Also located in Saskatoon, Michelle’s Flowers is a great place for all your floral needs. They offer services where you can just choose to get your wedding party flowers there, or you can put together an entire package that includes the wedding party, reception, ceremony or full-day services.
Elite Wedding Productions is a family-owned and operated wedding videography production company that is there to capture all the goofy dances, the coordinated entrances and all the laughter, smiles and speeches that sprinkle their way throughout your big day. As much as I love photography, I think videography is the perfect complement to it.
From bold and bright, to smoke and sultry, the magical makeup abilities that Kelsey Rae possesses can easily traverse any of the moods you are hoping to strike for your big day. She can design a makeup look based on the tone, the setting and the aesthetic — take a look at her portfolio to get a better idea.
HAIR! Sorry, I’m not trying to yell, but that’s how important it is to think about your hair when it comes to your big day, and all the photographic evidence you plan on capturing leading up to that big day. Which is why I love The H Company in Prince Albert. They have a full-service salon at your disposal and specialize in special occasion looks.
Well, we did it! We got through my comprehensive, all-inclusive, everything-you-need-to-know guide to weddings in Saskatchewan. From the gorgeous scenery to the planning and the partying, all the bases have been covered. All except one.
What Kind Of Wedding Photography Packages In Saskatchewan Can You Provide?
Well, considering I can’t wait to be your wedding photographer, why don’t you reach out and we can talk about all the types of photo packages I can offer you, along with some of the hidden gems of Saskatchewan that I couldn’t list here. A girl has to have some secret weapons, right? I can’t wait to talk to you.