An intimate elopement in an airplane hanger in Palmer, Alaska.

I met Zack & Zoe during the intimate mountaintop elopement of two of their close friends the previous winter. Zack officiated their ceremony, and kicked it off with a kneeling toast and a flask of whiskey. His humor and love for his friends was off-the-charts hilarious.

This is the story of their unique Alaska Airplane Hangar Elopement.

Zack & Zoe met when Zack was a patient of Zoe’s at a local physical therapy clinic. Their first date, Zack surprised Zoe by boarding her onto a bush plane at Blue River Aviation, out of their airplane hangar in Palmer, Alaska. Little did she know this was his first unaccompanied flight.

When Zack planned to propose to Zoe, they flew out in the same plane and he popped the question. When trying to sort out where their intimate elopement would happen, Zack & Zoe tossed out the idea of the Blue River airplane hanger. We took a short drive, checked out the hangar and that was it – they would get married beside “their plane.” Choosing to have an Alaska airplane hangar elopement was perfect for them. Minimal set up, private, and meaningful to them and their story.

They stood before their closest friends and parents and recited the most intimate and sincere vows. They promised their lives together by holding pinkies because pinky promises are for LIFE! After they were pronounced husband and wife, everyone bundled up and wandered outside for photos. We stood between more bush planes, basking in February sunshine, and the background draped in mountains. The whiskey flask may have made an encore appearance.

We then ventured up the road to the Knik River flats and danced in the fading orange glow of a frigid February afternoon that made these two absolutely glow in their love for each other. Wrapped in flannels to keep away the cold, Zack & Zoe braved the cold so we could snap some steamy photos that really documented the sincerity and depth of their love for each other.