Proposing in Banff

[Split98]

Hey team,

Need a bit of help thinking this through, and thought I'd tap people here to see if anyone has any ideas.

We're heading to Calgary from Ontario for my first Flames game in Calgary (then another, then BoA in Edmonton) and our trip to Banff in between looks like the perfect place to ask this incredible woman to make me the luckiest guy on the planet (perspective: this trip was my Birthday present from her).

Does anyone have any ideas on where to get a great backdrop (a bit of privacy would be nice) at the end of January?

Thanks in advance!

[Jordan!]

Lake Louise i'd imagine.

Middle of the ice rink

DO ITTTTT


also, Congrats when she says yes!

[Tyler]

Take her to the top of the gondola and do it in front of this backdrop:



Privacy may be a bit of an issue but you can try and time it properly.

Bonus points if you can arrange for someone to capture the moment on film/camera

[craigwd]

The frozen falls of Johnston canyon should be very pretty and isolated in the winter.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Split, only one place. On the ice in front of Bow Falls below the Banff Springs Hotel. My wife and I exchanged our vows there during the winter and it was spectacular. Take her for a little walk down by the falls, then mosey out on the ice and get down on one knee. Afterwards, head to the Hotel for drinks and dinner. You'll never forget the experience, and when you show people the pictures, they'll be blown away.

[OMG!WTF!]

If you can swing it and want a sure thing, go here...



Mt Engadine Lodge...

http://www.mountengadine.com/

It's about an hour and ten minutes from Banff but the drive itself is worth while and beautiful. You can just have dinner there. Or you can stay the night. But literally there is no better spot in the area or on the planet in my books.

You're talking about a dozen to twenty other people rather than hundreds.

[Amethyst]

If you're going with outdoors at the end of January, have an indoor backup just in case.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Bouw N Arrow

Lake Louise i'd imagine.

Middle of the ice rink

DO ITTTTT


also, Congrats when she says yes!

That would look incredible. Everything I've seen from Lake Louise has the mountains towering as I hoped.

The ice rink would be hilarious if I could pull it off!

And thank you! I'm an amazingly lucky guy.

Originally Posted by Tyler

Take her to the top of the gondola and do it in front of this backdrop:



Privacy may be a bit of an issue but you can try and time it properly.

Bonus points if you can arrange for someone to capture the moment on film/camera

The gondola is on her list to do, so I'm glad to hear that as a recommendation.

Have you (or anyone) seen a spot up there without railings though?

I just upgraded to the Pixel 2 to make sure that if there is an opportunity to shoot it, I'll have a decent camera to grab this with

Originally Posted by craigwd

The frozen falls of Johnston canyon should be very pretty and isolated in the winter.

I just had to look this up... and wow. That looks absolutely incredible. If not a proposal spot, I want to see if we can make time to get there at least.

Originally Posted by New Era

Split, only one place. On the ice in front of Bow Falls below the Banff Springs Hotel. My wife and I exchanged our vows there during the winter and it was spectacular. Take her for a little walk down by the falls, then mosey out on the ice and get down on one knee. Afterwards, head to the Hotel for drinks and dinner. You'll never forget the experience, and when you show people the pictures, they'll be blown away.

That looks amazing! That's a lot like what I've pictured Banff as (probably where most of the shots are from) and January (right now?) should have some nice thick ice to do it!

I'd imagine to grab a shot (she'll think it's a picture for us) I'll need to bring a tripod?







Thanks a ton everyone. I've been stressing about finding the perfect spot, and should have looked to CP earlier!

[Split98]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

If you can swing it and want a sure thing, go here...



Mt Engadine Lodge...

http://www.mountengadine.com/

It's about an hour and ten minutes from Banff but the drive itself is worth while and beautiful. You can just have dinner there. Or you can stay the night. But literally there is no better spot in the area or on the planet in my books.

You're talking about a dozen to twenty other people rather than hundreds.

That's a really good idea. Hour+ isn't a big deal at all with our day (will be coming back to Calgary though) but that looks incredible!

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

If you're going with outdoors at the end of January, have an indoor backup just in case.

This is a really good point. Especially around there, anything could happen. I hear there's a great spot at the lodge?

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by Split98

That's a really good idea. Hour+ isn't a big deal at all with our day (will be coming back to Calgary though) but that looks incredible!

It's actually kind of on the way back to Calgary. It's a half hour to 45 minutes from Canmore up the Spray Lake road...it's a gravel road but significantly better in the winter than summer...much smoother covered in snow. You can easily have dinner there and get back to Calgary. They also just have afternoon tea and cookies. It's a relief being there compared to anywhere in Banff.

[killer_carlson]

I love the Banff Springs. I bet if you called the concierge up and asked for their suggestions they could help you set something pretty spectacular up. It might be pricey though.

Best of luck!

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

It's actually kind of on the way back to Calgary. It's a half hour to 45 minutes from Canmore up the Spray Lake road...it's a gravel road but significantly better in the winter than summer...much smoother covered in snow. You can easily have dinner there and get back to Calgary. They also just have afternoon tea and cookies. It's a relief being there compared to anywhere in Banff.

I'm not sure recommending someone to drive on mountain winter roads in the middle of January at night is the best idea if they aren't familiar with it...Maybe a lunch there would be a better idea.

You may also want to consider Delta Lodge at Kananaskis. It's not nearly as busy, you could spend a night there and can be very nice in the winter.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

It's actually kind of on the way back to Calgary. It's a half hour to 45 minutes from Canmore up the Spray Lake road...it's a gravel road but significantly better in the winter than summer...much smoother covered in snow. You can easily have dinner there and get back to Calgary. They also just have afternoon tea and cookies. It's a relief being there compared to anywhere in Banff.

Oh that's a great idea!

The seclusion would be really neat there

[Split98]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

I love the Banff Springs. I bet if you called the concierge up and asked for their suggestions they could help you set something pretty spectacular up. It might be pricey though.

Best of luck!

I was thinking about that too

At least a secret photographer

[TheFlamesVan]

Originally Posted by Split98

The gondola is on her list to do, so I'm glad to hear that as a recommendation.

Have you (or anyone) seen a spot up there without railings though?

Oh yeah man you can walk up/down the trail if you want. Lots of places to go if you bring proper footwear.

PS. Can't miss with Banff Springs either.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I'm not sure recommending someone to drive on mountain winter roads in the middle of January at night is the best idea if they aren't familiar with it...Maybe a lunch there would be a better idea.

You may also want to consider Delta Lodge at Kananaskis. It's not nearly as busy, you could spend a night there and can be very nice in the winter.

It's ok, I'm the best driver on the planet.

And Delta Lodge looks like a great spot! Especially if weather isn't playing nice, this looks to be a great spot

[Split98]

Originally Posted by TheFlamesVan

Oh yeah man you can walk up/down the trail if you want. Lots of places to go if you bring proper footwear.

PS. Can't miss with Banff Springs either.

That's great news

She just bought new boots to hike around a bit while we're up there!

[bagofpucks]

We have an acreage with lots of space, snow shoes and a mountain view if you wanted an option a little bit different than the usual Banff spots. Can’t compete with some of the views in Banff, but you would get privacy and not have to deal with tourists (well except maybe the curious deer).

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Split98

It's ok, I'm the best driver on the planet.

And Delta Lodge looks like a great spot! Especially if weather isn't playing nice, this looks to be a great spot

Delta lodge has a great spot that has a valley within the mountains.