Eloping in Alaska is a literal dream, but planning (long-distance or not) can be challenging logistically. Here’s everything you need to know about planning your Alaskan elopement broken down into 9 easy steps.

STEP 1: Dream Up Your Perfect Elopement Day

You’ve already knocked out the hardest part of planning an elopement (see Step 4): deciding where you want to elope! Congrats on deciding to elope in Alaska. I guarantee you won’t have any regrets if you’re looking for an elopement day (or days!) full of adventure, beautiful scenery, fun, memories, and documenting every step of the day.

Questions to Ask Each Other While Planning Your Dream Alaskan Elopement

Now is where the fun begins in planning your Alaskan elopement: dreaming about what your ultimate lavish elopement day would look like. Do you want to draw out the day and soak in every moment close to a scenic Air BnB or are you looking for a little more adventure? What kind of adventures do you want to plan into your Alaskan elopement? Do you plan to keep things small and intimate, or do you plan to invite close friends and family? When you envision yourself on your elopement day and you’re getting ready, what are you wearing? What are the smells and who is around you? When you’re standing with your partner exchanging vows, take in your scenery and note it. When you are celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary, are your favorite photos the ones surrounded by family after your elopement or are they the epic editorial-style landscape portraits?

As an Alaskan elopement photographer, I would love to be that trusted person to you. As a local, I can ensure you have the absolute best locations, know how to prepare for your elopement, advise you on proper gear and equipment for your adventures, and so much more.

My goals as an Alaskan elopement photographer is making sure every one of my clients have an elopement day that is tailored to them and unique to their elopement vision while having the absolute most FUN DAY(S) EVER! Let’s make some memories, shall we!

STEP 3: Set a Date for Your Elopement

The date you choose for your elopement will be key in determining the types of adventures are available, accommodations, attire, footwear, florals, and even where you can actually elope! Check out this article about When to Elope in Alaska. This will provide you with the elements you’ll need to consider when planning your Alaskan elopement and selecting your elopement date.

Of course, if you and your partner have a special date in mind, then the season is irrelevant. We can still make your dream elopement day come to life. Ultimately, at the end of your elopement day, as long as you are married to your partner and love of your life then that is what truly matters.

If you’re looking for a particular setting or view or blue pools, just let the pilot know prior to take off and they’ll come through for you. Helicopter tour companies that offer glacier tours are very familiar with elopements so they know what to look for.

Girdwood

South of Anchorage is the cute little ski resort town of Girdwood. Alyeska Resort offers ski slopes in the winter, stunning views and hiking in the summer, and an excellent nordic spa experience. Girdwood is wild but upscale in a tree-huggy-vibe type of way. The cabins are quaint, but those are million-dollar views. Surrounded by mountains topped with glaciers, Girdwood offers a variety of settings.

There are SO MANY other beautiful location choices but as a local, I like to keep these gems I’ve scouted for the couples who choose to work with me (*hint* *hint*).

1. What time do you and your partner want to say “I Do?”
   • If you want a particular type of lighting, like golden hour, then you will be on Mother Nature’s schedule. In Alaska, golden hour in the summer basically is non-existant unless you want to get married at 2am. In the depth of winter (January, February) golden hour is all day long because there are so few hours of daylight.
   • By planning the time for your ceremony, you can work backwards on your timeline, starting with…(question 2)
2. When do you and your partner want to start your day? Do you and your partner plan to do anything together prior to putting on wedding attire and getting ready?
   • Maybe you just spend some quiet time together while you sip morning coffee. Or maybe you whip up some breakfast together. Maybe you take a morning walk and just enjoy soaking in one another. Sounds like a pretty great way to kick off an Alaskan elopement.
3. Do you need to build in driving time, hiking time, boating time, or additional commuting time at any point(s) throughout the day?
   • I encourage couples to intentionally build in time for them to just stop and truly soak in the moment while in the actual moment. I don’t even have to take photos if you’d prefer the privacy.
4. When and where you both want to get ready?
   • At your housing? Or are we hiking to a glacier before you throw on a suit or dress with those ice cleats?
5. When does the sun set? After the sun sets, do you plan to do any elopement photos?
   • When the sun sets, the fun can carry on! Astrophotography with you and your new partner could be fun. Or maybe a warm campfire to wrap up and snuggle down before calling it a day.
   • If you would prefer to not do any photos once the sun sets, then this would typically be where we would part ways for the evening.

Starting with the big events and continuing to break down the overall task into smaller chunks is helpful. HOWEVER, by choosing me as your photographer, I am more than happy to help build your personalized timeline, anticipated commute times, and anything else you want to make sure happens while planning your elopement with me. I’m just here to make sure things go smooth and stay on track.

There are lots of popular tours and places to stay that sell out a year in advance, especially during summer months. After knocking out your timeline, you’ll know exactly what you need to start booking and which vendors you plan to include in your Alaskan elopement.

STEP 7: Book Your Elopement Vendor Dream Team

This is where creatives unite and create your dream elopement. You’ve been planning your Alaskan elopement and you are now ready to lock in meal options, adventure or guided tours, housing, hair and makeup, florals, cake (or other sweet treat).

The beauty of an elopement is you can include as much or as little “tradition” into the day-of details. Elopement vendors in Alaska are well networked because our community is small, but mighty. We all support each other and work well together to deliver the best for our couples. If it matters to you, it matters to us.

STEP 8: Purchase Your Elopement Attire & Gear

This is one of the most fun parts of planning your Alaskan elopement. You’re already breaking away from tradition by choosing to focus on a day that is exactly and uniquely yours. Take it a step farther and dream up some something different for your attire.

Not your ordinary suit jacket and pocket square…add a classy lace panel on the back of your jacket, or embroider your elopement date into the inner pocket of your jacket. Your elopement day deserves a little extra flair. Dream big, friends! A groom could also choose to rock the lapel floral trend. This fun trend has some added floral flair for a little eXXXtra elevated touch. Functional footwear is the best footwear in my opinion. While polished leather loafers look slick, they’re also slick on wet rock and ice, literally. Throw in a little contrast to your attire – rubber boots with your custom tailored suit? Absolutely yes. Hiking boots? Also absolutely yes. We can always change into the fancy shoes at location and carry them between sites.

Planning Your Alaskan Elopement Bridal Look

For the ladies let’s think functional but epic. Only the most epic dress will do for your epic Alaskan elopement. Pro tip: look for a dress with pockets or see about having some sewn in. These are especially handy for holding rings until they’re exchanged, holding vow books, and hiding tissues or hand warmers during colder months.

Alaska offers a one-of-a-kind elopement experience that you won’t find anywhere else. Learn why Alaska is the perfect destination for couples looking to tie the knot.

If you’re looking for a unique and breathtaking location to elope, Alaska may be just the place for you. With its stunning natural rugged beauty and wilderness, Alaska offers an unforgettable experience for couples looking to exchange vows. Read on for 5 reasons why Alaska is the perfect destination for your elopement and start planning your dream wedding today.

1. Alaska has Stunning Natural Scenery!

Firstly, Alaska is known for its stunning natural beauty, that’s no secret. Unlike most places, Alaska has mountains that touch the clouds, blue ice of vast glaciers, and pristine lakes and rivers – there is a plethora of backdrops to choose from. The crazy part is most of this epic scenery is within an hour or two of Anchorage. As a local elopement photographer, I am constantly discovering new, untracked locations that would be perfect for an adventurous day spent celebrating an elopement!

Whether you choose to exchange vows on a mountaintop, in a coastal rainforest, or river flats of the Matanuska River, the scenery in Alaska is sure to take your breath away. With so many beautiful locations to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect spot to say “I do” and create memories that will last a lifetime. Not a good enough reason for why Alaska is the perfect destination for your elopement? This is just the first reason, keep reading.

2. Alaska Offers a Variety of Unique and Adventurous Activities.

Alaska also offers a HUGE range of unique and adventurous activities for couples to incorporate into their elopement. From dog sledding and snowmobiling in the winter, to hiking (and picking fresh berries!) and kayaking in the summer, there’s no shortage of outdoor adventures in Alaska. If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable experience, consider taking a helicopter tour to a remote glacier or booking a water taxi to a private beach where the mountains meet the ocean.

3. Alaska has a wide variety of intimate and private elopement locations.

Alaska offers a variety of intimate and private elopement options for couples looking to escape the crowds and have a completely personalized experience. From secluded cabins and lodges to remote beaches and mountaintops (some that you don’t even have to hike to in order to access them!), there are endless possibilities for a romantic and private ceremony surrounded by the most epic scenery an eloping couple could ever imagine. With Alaska’s vast wilderness as your backdrop, you’re sure to have a breathtaking and unforgettable wedding day. Plus, with fewer guests to worry about, you can focus on each other and enjoy the moment without any distractions or pressures of a traditional wedding.

4. Alaska has an incredible network of supportive and experienced wedding vendors.

When planning an elopement in Alaska, it’s important to have a team of supportive and experienced vendors. As an elopement photographer in Alaska, I can testify to the incredibly network of florists, officiants, planners and caterers. There is a vendor for anyone’s style and vision!

Additionally, many wedding vendors in Alaska are familiar with the unique challenges and logistics of planning an elopement. From an elopement in a remote location or taking a helicopter to a glacier there is nothing off limits. Most vendors will jump at the opportunity to create a unique experience and bring your vision to life!

5. Alaska has Endless Daylight in the Summer & Northern Lights in the Winter – Need I Say More!?

Unlike most trendy elopement locations, during the Alaskan summer the sun rarely dips below the horizon. Why does this matter? Because celebrating the most special day of your life shouldn’t come with limits. Pack an entire day (literally 12+ hours) of adventures, vows, creating core memories, and enjoying your favorite snacks at your leisure while surrounded by gorgeous scenery .

Alternately, the winters are dark and perfect for fur accents, candlelight romantic dinners, campfires and more. The best of ALL those options is the opportunity to hop in the car, drive to a remote location, and capture your vows for a life of love while the sky fills with aurora.

In short, Alaska is the PERFECT destination for your elopement. Vast landscapes, wild adventure possibilities, and just unpredictable enough to add a sense of adventure to any couple’s dream elopement. Ultimately, if this is the type of adventure you’ve dreamed of for your elopement, reach out and let’s plan your dream Alaskan elopement!

For Better or Worse, in Sickness and in Health: An Alaska Elopement in Covid Times

One of the first questions I ask my clients is to share about their wedding day and their journey together. I love getting to know my couple past their wedding day because this allows me to really tell a story of their love through the images I capture. I want to capture the love, the looks, the details, and the emotion of every moment.

When I was first contacted by Calliope and Jeff, all I could think about was how I could possibly make their elopement day MORE special becuse they had been through the ringer in terms of planning a wedding during Covid. They had planned multiple in-person weddings followed with the disappointment of ultimately cancelling their plans, C+J decided to elope. Being educators, they both had a week off in March and they decided on Alaska or Hawaii for their elopement. Ultimately, Alaska had less restrictions for travelers, so off to the great frigid North they went!

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April 14th: The Day of the Elopement

Literally, an elopement is exactly what the couple wants and that is liberating. It is easy to bounce around or set a loose schedule or just run with the punches of the day. After I spoke with J + C, it was evident that these two are the real deal. Their elopement plans had fallen together seamlessly with contacting me, their photographer, and I was able to help point Calliope in the direction of an officiant, some florals, and a few suggestions for things to prepare like, you know, the marriage license.

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The day before their elopement I drove to Beluga Point to make sure that all was well and to scout the area for possible views, tide status, and wind. This spot along the Seward Highway is notorious for being calm one second and the next second brings hurricane-force winds. The day I scouted, the inlet was quiet. So quiet you couldn’t tell where the mountains stopped and the water began. PERFECTION.

Around 4pm I picked up Jeff and Calliope from the Historic Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska and we hit the road towards Beluga Point. We arrive and unlike the previous day, the water has whitecaps and the wind is whipping. Jeff and Calliope were troopers. They had selected this location for the views and decided to push through the weather. The officiant arrived and we made our way to the lower rocks. Jeff and Calliope shared their vows and were married with the mountains as their witness.

We all signed the marriage license while taking turns warming up in the car. North of Beluga Point is McHugh Creek, with stunning views and was the perfect place to pop some bubbly. We wandered and adventured, capturing their love and celebrating their newly minted marriage.

My favorite thing is surprising my elopement couples with a nice bottle of bubbly that they can pop and drink. Sometimes when there is a last-minute event, simple details can make an entire experience that much more special. An Alaska elopement with Uncharted Elopements is guaranteed to be epic, but I always try to level up the experience.

Jeff and Calliope, I wish you all the happiness, prosperity, and adventures you can handle. I sincerely hope our paths cross again in the future!