Alberta: wedding photo & video
We photograph and film weddings and elopements across Alberta as one team, starting in Calgary. Alberta has no waiting period for a marriage licence, so the ceremony can take place the day it is issued, while City park permits take about a month to process. Ask for the Alberta price list; it arrives within one business day.
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Wedding photo & video across Alberta
We photograph and film weddings and elopements across Alberta as one team, with an independent partner photographer matched to your location. In Alberta we shoot in Calgary, a city of 1,306,784 people at the 2021 census1, standing 1,045 m (3,428 ft) above sea level1.
Alberta's licence is quick. It is issued by a registry agent office, and the ceremony may take place the day it is issued2. The couple applies together, and there are no residency or citizenship requirements2.
The slower part is the park. A City of Calgary wedding permit takes about 30 days to process3, and drones of 250 g or more need a Greenspace Application that can take 8 weeks or more4. Your partner talks you through both on the first call, with the Alberta price list in hand, so the date and the permit land together.
Locations in Alberta
In Alberta we shoot in Calgary. The Calgary wedding page covers full-day weddings, park ceremonies, small weddings and two-day weekends along the Bow and Elbow rivers, with the July light, the City's permit costs and the licence rules set out in full. It also says which spots need a City photography permit before they reach your shot list, and what the evening light does after dinner.
Alberta marriage licence basics
Alberta licences are issued by registry agent offices. The Government of Alberta fee is $40 CAD plus a service fee that varies by agent2. There is no waiting period, the licence is valid for 3 months, and it is valid only for a ceremony held in Alberta2. You need 2 witnesses, each 18 or older5.
The couple applies together at the office and swears or affirms one or more affidavits; blood tests are not required2. At the ceremony the couple and both adult witnesses must be physically in front of the officiant, because proxy and teleconference marriage are not allowed5. We summarize published rules; the registry agent who issues your licence is the authority, so confirm the details with that office before the date is fixed.
Marriage licence
- Issued by
- Government of Alberta (licences issued by registry agent offices)
- Fee
- $40 government fee plus a registry agent service fee (varies by agent)2
- Waiting period
- none (the ceremony may take place the same day the licence is issued)2
- Valid for
- 3 months2
- Witnesses
- 2 (each 18 or older)5
- The couple applies together at a registry agent office and swears or affirms one or more affidavits.2
- There are no residency or citizenship requirements, and blood tests are not required.2
- An Alberta licence is valid only for a marriage ceremony held in Alberta.2
- The couple and both adult witnesses must be physically in the presence of the officiant; proxy or teleconference marriage is not allowed.5
Questions couples ask
01How far in advance should we book a wedding photographer in Alberta?
02Do you travel to Alberta, and is travel included?
Yes. Travel within Alberta is built into the quote and not added afterwards, so the price list is the figure you plan with. We introduce you to an independent partner photographer matched to your location and share their recent galleries and films first.
03Can we book photo and video together?
Yes, as one crew. The one limit is aerial footage: in City of Calgary parks, drones of 250 g or more need a Greenspace Application that can take 8 weeks or more4. We start that request early if you want drone shots, and otherwise film from the ground.
04What happens if it rains on our wedding day?
We agree a covered fallback for any outdoor ceremony and bring umbrellas for the portraits. In Calgary, July is the wettest month in the weather table at 65.7 mm6, so a summer date carries the most risk of showers, and the plan keeps the schedule loose enough to wait one out.
Check your date
Sources
- Wikidata — Q36312 (Calgary): population P1082, elevation P2044 (accessed 2026-11-06) wikidata.org/wiki/Q36312
- Government of Alberta — Get a marriage licence (accessed 2026-11-06) alberta.ca/get-marriage-licence
- City of Calgary — Parks and greenspace bookings (accessed 2026-11-06) calgary.ca/bookings/parks-greenspaces.html
- City of Calgary — Park bookings (accessed 2026-11-06) calgary.ca/bookings/parks.html
- Government of Alberta — Getting married (accessed 2026-11-06) alberta.ca/getting-married
- Wikipedia — Calgary climate table (Environment and Climate Change Canada 1991–2020 normals, Calgary International Airport) (accessed 2026-11-06) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary#Climate