Alaska is the most beautiful place to elope on the face of the planet, but knowing when to elope in Alaska is the key to planning. Gear, clothing, footwear, temperatures, and location accessibility are all affected by the seasons. The region of Alaska you plan to elope in also plays a huge part in determining how to make sure you pack and plan for when you elope in Alaska.
Here is a breakdown of the seasons to help you decide when to elope in Alaska!
WHEN TO ELOPE IN ALASKA: SUMMER
Summer Clothing
Summer is the easiest season to prepare for when eloping in Alaska. Footwear can be pretty much whatever type of shoe you prefer. If you plan to elope after a hike or on a beach, appropriate footwear for the location or activity is recommended. Some tours may also require closed-toe footwear due to potential hazards of the tour or activities during the tour.
Temperatures in the summer range from the 40’s to the 80’s. June and early July tend to be the warmer and less rainy months of summer. By late July through September, Alaska gets a bit rainy. Occasionally we get lucky enough in the temperature swing that we’ll get thunderstorms, though they’re rare in Alaska.
Summer Activities & Locations for Eloping in Alaska
The advantage of summer is the endless hours of daylight and the accessibility to nearly any type of setting Alaska has to offer. Glacier? Let’s take a helicopter! Mountain Top Views? I know of several, let me show you the options! Magical fairy forest vibes? I know just the place.
Activities are just as varied. Train rides, hiking, biking, surfing, paddleboarding, tubing, fishing, sailing, horseback riding — the possibilities are endless. And you have 18-22 hours of daylight to pack in as many activities as possible when you elope in Alaska. You can see why it’s call the Land of the Midnight Sun, eh?
Pros and Cons of Eloping in Alaska during Summer Months
PRO: Endless daylight!
With roughly 20 hours of daylight in the summer, when you elope in Alaska you can literally start your elopement day adventures at 12:01am and you’ll have full daylight.
CON: Endless daylight.
If you’re looking to capture the northern lights or some epic mountain peak photos in the dark with the stars glowing behind you then you’ll definitely want to consider a winter elopement. Sparklers? You can see them, but not as dramatically as when it is dark outside. Stars? They twinkle, but not bright enough to include in your photos.
PRO: Uninhibited Accessibility to Locations!
The best part about summer is that accessing even the most remote locations for your elopement is possible (within reason). We may still run into some snowpack or have to traverse some ice, but not to the degree of the other three seasons. Appropriate footwear for navigating the trails are still recommended.
CON: Everyone else also has uninhibited access to the same locations.
During summer we have the classic influx of tourists via cruises, planes, ferries, RV road-trippers, motorcycles, etc. All walks and all types venture north in the summer. This means there is an increase to the number of people accessing the same trails. Luckily, you have me on your side and I can scout brand new locations that no-one knows exists — I love a good challenge!
PRO: The Opportunity for Nature’s Best Photobombers!
Alaska is WILD and so are it’s furry beasts. I have had black bears, brown bears, bear cubs, bull moose, mama moose with babies, wolverine (not recommended for run-ins), owls, eagles, and even river otters photobomb various shoots I have done. I tend to err on the side of caution and do come prepared for run-ins like these. Most of these encounters are incredibly humbling, but sometimes mamas and babies get a little unpredictable. Having someone with knowledge of how to handle and work around what Alaska’s feisty nature throws your way is so helpful. When nature decides to step in, it really just adds that extra sprinkle and cherry on top of the whole day.
CON: Photobombers.
While nature’s animals photobombing your elopement can add a lot, unfortunately sometimes we also have people photo bombers. Generally, it’s in good fun and the photos are knowingly taken for the humor factor. My skills as a photographer have grown and I am very capable of removing distractions and unwanted background “guests.”
PRO: Seasonal Tours and Accommodations are Open!
Summer is by far the easiest regarding when to elope in Alaska. Summer is when Alaska comes to life in maximum capacity. Every tour service, every accommodation, every remote lodge, every everything is open for business making Alaska your proverbial oyster.
CON: Book Early.
Because Alaska is so much busier in the summer, especially since 2020, tours and accommodations book up fast. While deciding when to elope in Alaska, I do recommend planning for the next year (if possible) so that you can book every tour, your top choice for accommodations, and your preferred vendors for your elopement day!
WHEN TO ELOPE IN ALASKA: FALL
Fall is short, but beautiful in Alaska. The leaves begin to turn vibrant golds and reds after the first hard frost in mid-September. Within days, the leaves are glowing and then we inevitably have a huge windstorm that blows the leaves away. The best colors usually are at their best for only two, maybe three weeks.
Fall Clothing for Eloping in Alaska
Fall can be a little nippy, so layers are your friend (again — are you seeing a theme here?). Flannels and leggings and cozy blankets are the vibe when not in your elopement attire.
When eloping in Alaska in the fall it’s important to consider that we are losing daylight hours rapidly. By the time September hits, the sun is setting around 7 or 8pm and rising around the same time in the mornings. Mornings are crisp and may dip into the 30’s as winter creeps in slowly. Afternoons, when it’s sunny, are still warm enough for tshirts outside though.
The closer to October you decide to elope, the more you will want waterproof footwear. If you can find waterproof footwear that is also good on ice, get that.
Fall Elopement Activities
When the tourism season begins to slow down, many of the tourism based activities settle in for the coming winter months. However, there is still plenty to do and things to see and places to go. Many places won’t have their first snowfall that sticks until around the end of October (Halloween). Once the flakes begin to fly, parks and campgrounds begin to close their gates and limit access.
Prior to the snow falling, there is gorgeous hiking, berry picking, and pristine scenery with the dramatic fall colors. So many times growing up we’d pull off the side of the highway and pick fresh blueberries. SO YUMMY! An advantage to eloping in Alaska in the fall is roads become far less congested and the population drops by a huge amount. This means you won’t have to fight crowds nor get stuck behind slow tour buses.
My favorite activity I’ve done in Alaska (besides fishing) is riding the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward. We got the tickets to have a 360-degree view of the scenery, but could move freely throughout the train. I spent a ridiculous amount of time freezing on the open air platforms snapping away at the pristine nature. This is an incredible way to see parts of Alaska that are virtually untouched and you’d never see otherwise.
WHEN TO ELOPE IN ALASKA: WINTER
Winter in Alaska is unpredictably beautiful. There is magic when flakes slowly drift down and dress nature in a fresh layer of snow. The flip side of the beautiful is the unpredictability. Even with a forecast, there is really a 50/50 shot of the weather actually happening the way it’s been predicted to. Here are a few of the major pieces to consider when you elope in Alaska in the winter.
Winter Clothing to Wear When Eloping in Alaska
Winter in Alaska is cold (duh!). Making sure you have the proper layers, outerwear, appropriate gear and footwear. Layers are your friend during the winter, but this is easier said than done while wearing a long dress and tailored tux. Making sure you have coverage from the top of your head to the tips of your toes is very important.
Clothing Tips (Mostly for the Brides) for Eloping in Alaska
For women, adding layers under the bodice of a gown is going to be very difficult because of the tailoring. To help negate the cold, add sleeves on to your dress! It’s a small change that can help you stay warmer longer. Ultimately, most women will need to purchase a jacket – pea coats are heavy wool, but can be stiff when trying to pose and may cover more of your wedding attire than desired. I personally love a faux fur shawl around the shoulders or, on especially frigid treks, a heavy (faux or real) fur coat. Pair a furry shawl with fuzzy set of earmuffs and you’ve just elevated your wedding attire without compromising for the cold. Don’t forget the gloves to keep fingertips warm, too!
There are lots of options for cute winter footwear for women but I would highly recommend a winter boot that is rated for at least 0*. Pair this boot with some tall wool socks and your feet will remain warm AND dry throughout the elopement. The best part is that the boots will be hidden by the long dress (assuming that’s the style), though I love the juxtaposition between the formal dress and rugged gear! You can also hide fleece-lined leggings or tights under your dress. These come in a variety of colors including skin-tones so if they do show, especially in photos, it’s not obvious.
Cuddle Duds are a brand of base-layer gear that is very popular, reasonably priced and is thin enough it can be easily layered without much trouble. Smartwool also has base layer gear that is very warm and I have personally used it while snowmachining in backcountry!
Winter Elopement Locations in Alaska
With winter comes snow, and with snow comes ice. Regionally, the average amount of snow varies substantially and may sometimes limit accessibility to certain locations or adventures. Within the last three winters, two of them were record amounts of snow. A good general rule is the further north you adventure, the more likely you are to experience colder temperatures, harsher weather, and more snow. BUT! Just because there is more extreme weather (potentially), it also means that you may find incredible locations for a literal winter wonderland elopement.
This is also when having a local photographer is VERY helpful for scouting ahead and knowing where is accessible and safe to venture through.
We have a thing called ‘hoar frost’ in Alaska where the frost becomes 3-dimensional, coating everything in a layer of glittering frost. It looks similar to those rock candies on a stick if you’re looking for a mental visual.
Additionally, winter daylight hours are few but that means that a majority of the day is bathed in buttery golden light. I have yet to find a place on this planet with a more gorgeous combination between the golden light and glittery snow.
Winter Activities & Adventures
While daylight hours are few, the opportunity to create a day full of adventures. If you’re a winter sport enthusiast then there’s nothing more fun than skiing or snowboarding down some slopes as a symbolic ride into your next chapter. Just add your wedding attire + photographer (hi, me!) and you’ve got a recipe for laughs and memories. Alyeska Resort in quaint little Girdwood is where you’ll find the best slopes, a great nordic spa, wonderful restaurants, and glaciers galore. If you’re looking for something still outdoors, but a little less extreme for the sake of your wedding attire then consider snowshoeing to your location.
Sometimes, it’s easier to just take a ride to get where you need to go. Snowmachine rentals and dogsled rides are just a couple of fun winter options. I have a pop-up tent for changing into attire, or let’s consider going a little non-traditional with attire! There are snowmachine guides that will take you into backcountry on a snowmachine to get married at the face of a glacier on top of a frozen glacial lake. Or with a team of dogs running through an aisle of trees to an open area with Denali in the background. Can you see it for your elopement?!
Winter Accommodations When Eloping in Alaska
Winter is when life slows down in Alaska, across the state. Because Alaska is a tourism driven state, many seasonal vendors shut down like the Princess Lodges, trains, and cruises. Some of the more remote lodging options also close during the winter mainly because there’s not enough traffic to sustain a business through the winter months.
There are plenty of AirBnBs around Anchorage in a variety of sizes and amenities. Here are a couple AirBnBs that I have photographed and would recommend, especially if you have any friends and family coming along with you.
Summer Wind North – Luxurious Home with Hot Tub!
WHEN TO ELOPE IN ALASKA: SPRING
Spring in Alaska is a fickle time. This is the time of year where everything feels soggy from the melting snow and you can have SUMMERWINTERFALLSPRING weather all in a single day. Spring in Alaska is a short season and once the snow is melted and it feels like spring, then it will snow again. Typically we have our last snowfall just before Easter (April).
But then the buds on the trees start to bloom and within days, it goes from drab and lifeless to thriving and vibrantly green. By this time, most of the best locations are accessible around the Anchorage area and it is a gorgeous time of year for eloping in Alaska.
Spring Clothing
As mentioned above, spring can be fickle. For footwear, if you plan to venture off of pavement, then I recommend a waterproof option. In Alaska, we have a brand of boots called XtraTuffs. These boots are appropriate spring elopement boots for everyone (and they’ll be hidden by a long dress). Plus, they’re functional! So even after you elope, you can use them daily.
Layers are highly recommended. Spring is typically from mid-march to the middle of May(ish) and will experience temperature dips and weather swings. It is always better to have too many layers than not enough.
Spring Activities & Adventures For An Alaskan Elopement
By the time spring springs, the regular summer activities begin to fire up. Off-roading or having a helicopter fly you to a glacier, the possibilities are endless. It’s time to trade in the ski boots and poles for hiking boots and fishing poles. The best part about spring is this is when the daylight hours start to come back and get longer. By mid-April, it stays light until after 10pm. This means that the day can be filled with adventures.
Consider starting the day with making a hearty breakfast together. Sipping freshly brewed coffee in your jammies while light conversation flows easily. Mid-day you both go your separate ways to finish writing your vows and begin to get ready for your I Do’s. You take your time to get ready, soaking in each moment. For your first look, we pile into separate vehicles and drive to Hatcher Pass. Your soon-to-be husband sees you in your wedding dress for the first time with the background full of mountain views. Then we pile into a single vehicle and venture to the glacier helicopter pads before taking flight on another adventure. The day only goes up from there — all with endless daylight.
There are plenty of factors to consider while deciding when to elope in Alaska. With preparation (and proper layers) the possibilities for eloping in Alaska are endless. There are so many adventures to pack full as part of your elopement and make your elopement truly unique.
