If you’ve ever (or, never!) been to Alaska and think an adventure wedding might be for you, then the best next step is to explore Alaska elopement packages because this state has us all swooning!
It’s welcoming people, the undiscovered wild, and the endless adventure…it is ALL ready for your love story to take its next step.
Scroll down to learn all about an ideal Alaska Elopement Package and Timeline, as well as how to choose to elope in Alaska.
How to know eloping in Alaska is right for you
If you have a spirit hungry for adventure…
Or want your wedding experience to be filled with activities with eye-popping beautify everywhere you look, and love the idea of helicopter rides, float planes or more…
If saying your vows surrounded by towering peaks, icy glaciers, surprise sightings from the northern lights make you feel excitement…
Then, Alaska is the destination for you!!!
How to plan an elopement in Alaska
In a lot of elopements, the vendors you work with are limited. This means that the ones you pick are super super important to how they will impact your experience. I think that there are two types of vendors: the ones that show up and do their job OR the ones that join your team.
So if you want to plan an Alaska elopement experience and you’re not from there, you need to highly consider someone who will join your team and is prepared to get in the weeds with you of planning out this experience.
The first time I went to Alaska, I knew that there was A LOT that I didn’t know about the ways of AK. After that visit (and then more!), I compiled a guide for the secrets I uncovered with lots of work so that you hopefully don’t have to.
One thing that all my clients say is that my elopement concierge service provides a perspective on their planning that they absolutely need and would have been lost without. It brings pride to me to be able to provide my knowledge, experiences, and expertise to the couples I work with.
Scroll down to hear more about my Alaska Elopement Packages which all come with my elopement concierge services to make your planning so much easier!
What makes Eloping in Alaska special
Alaska is so incredible because it’s unique from any other state in the United States. That means, when you’re thinking about your Alaska elopement package, you can’t approach the decisions the same way you would if you were planning an elopement in the Midwest, or really any other state.
Alaska brings the honeymoon to your ceremony
Not only does Alaska provide the most incredible backdrop for your vows and ceremony, it gives you countless options for adventure activity, honeymoon celebration, and a full bucket-list wedding experience.
Instead of rushing to the next thing, or hopping on a plane for that desperate getaway after the ceremony, an Alaska elopement is best planned to incorporate time to breathe, connect, and explore all within the entire experience.
Adventure is knocking, make your Alaska elopement package includesd it all
Here is a miniature version of the many things that your Alaska elopement could include:
- Dog sledding/dog carting
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Helicopter exploring
- Seaplanes
- Train
- Vanlife/Jeeping Overlanding/Camping
- Kayaking
- Glacier pack rafting
- Resort/lodge experiences
- Hot springs
- Glacier walking
- Waterfall chasing
- Via Ferrata
- So much more!!!
Creating your ultimate elopement itinerary should include any, and all, the things that make you and your partner feel the most celebrated. There is a way to include it all, so don’t limit yourselves on ways to honor your love, no matter what your version of adventure feels like.
There are no limits –and NO rules!– to your elopement adventure.
Alaska Elopement Packages and Things to Consider
Picking your Alaska Elopement Package:
You can explore all my photography and elopement concierge photography here. But I feel like I need to give you a friendly warning about most Alaska elopement packages.
A lot of photographers bring you a very machine-style photography experience. You hire them for a couple of hours, they show up, take pictures (and most of the time would never be willing to hike to the destination to even begin taking the pictures), and then quickly leave to edit and send the results your way.
This style of doing things is wrong for two reasons. The first is that the photographers who work like that do not partner with you to capture your vision. This leaves you with images that don’t capture the essence of you two. They might be stunning pictures, but they don’t feel like you.
The second issue is that they don’t give you enough time for the magic in-between moments. Want to know the pictures that my clients love the most? It’s not the ones in the action, although those are truly epic. It’s the ones in the in-between of activity. The ones where my couples are just getting to be together.
So how does this all play a part in your Alaska elopement package? My warning is that you need to pick a photography package that allows you ample time to do everything you want, without rushing from item to item on an agenda. And, you want to plan your package and vendors for your elopement to work to your ultimate vision & goals, not just something that is”practical” or “good enough, I guess.” Your elopement deserves amazing, so work with your photographer or planner (or, me!) to build a plan the ticks all your boxes.
Don’t let your Alaska elopement package be ruined by the weather
Depending on the time of year, Alaska’s weather can change significantly!
Summers sometimes reach the high 70s Fahrenheit, Fall can be rainy, while the Winters are mostly a subarctic climate. But you cannot let the cold & other conditions spook you away from this incredible state.
The snow is only amazing, as long as you’re prepared.
Here are some basic gear to think about (even if you’re eloping in the summer!): a quality base layer, rain gear, good gloves, earmuffs, neck gaiters, hats, and really good footwear.
You never know what the last frontier will throw your way, so you want to prepare!
The seasons impact options in designing your elopement
You need to consider the season when planning your Alaska elopement package.
The most traveled season is from May 1st or about September 5th, so a lot of Alaskan elopements fall within that time period.
Although that leaves a lot of cold months, that doesn’t mean that a winter wonderland Alaska elopement is out of the question! It’s just about preparing for all of the potentials that come with the season and area of the state you’re traveling in.
Your Alaska Elopement location should be strategic
The size of Alaska is often not understood. The state is far bigger than you think – Texas, California, and Montanta…combined! Therefore, if you only have a couple of days for your Alaska elopement, my best advice is to pick a primary region and stick to it.
- Far North – Arctic Circle – Nome
- Interior – Fairbanks – Denali National Park
- Southcentral – Anchorage – Kenai Peninsula-Homer
- Southeast – Inside Passage – Cruise Ports
- Southwest – Kodiak – Katmai National Park
If your Alaska elopement package includes a post-vow exploration
Sticking within a region will still help you optimize your time to the best possible. Each region has a bucket-list adventure ready for you, you can’t go wrong!
I would be super happy to help you think about where/what to explore depending on the kind of experiences you want outside of your elopement experience with me! ️
Picking your Alaska Elopement Package Location
Here is a master list with a ton of different places to elope at, with all different kinds of vibes and feelings. But to give you a sneak peek, here are 3 spots you should absolutely consider.
- The Chugach Mountains (via Girdwood)
- Shearwater Cove / Kenai Fjords National Park
- Hunt for the Northern Lights
What will your Alaska Elopement Package be?
In conclusion, if you’re dreaming of a wedding that combines adventure, intimacy, and the awe-inspiring beauty of Alaska’s wilderness, an Alaska elopement package might be the perfect fit for you.
Together we can create an Alaska elopement package that meets your needs and captures the vibe and experience that you long for. Embrace the wild and embark on the journey of a lifetime tailored just for you.
Your dream wedding awaits amidst the untamed beauty of the Last Frontier.
Schedule a free brainstorming consultation call here with me to start your ideas flowing! 😀
Alaska is unique. So look for an elopement package that will actually allow you to experience Alaska! Your Alaska elopement package should have:
1) Concierge Elopement Planning: for help to find amazing ceremony locations/lodging, florals, food/treats, and ground transport. If you’re eloping on a cruise during a shore visit, this is a key package inclusion that will save you stress.
2) Beautiful Photography: that captures the moments & experiences
3) 6+ Hours of Coverage time: If you want the places that make eloping in Alaska drool-worthy, you need more than 1-2 hours. 4 hours is too short, still, to really leave “town”. Look for an Alaska elopement package with a minimum of 6 hours of coverage, or, multi-day coverage if you can. You’ll never regret the extra time for the experiences (& amazing images) it provides.
3) No Photog Travel Fees: no surprise costs for you as you plan!
4) Digital Downloads + Print Credits: all of my elopement photography packages include both. Digitals for social sharing, but, prints credits to make sure you bring your story to life. 🙂
5) INCLUDED Flush Mount Wedding Album: I pre-designed for my couples! A huge benefit to your elopement package so you can hold & remember your Alaska elopement forever 😉
Click here to learn more about my elopement packages for the Lower 48 + Alaska and internationally!
Everyone’s “best part” is different, depending on what you want and need! What I love about Alaska is that there are so many spectacular adventures basically at your fingertips. From exhilarating, to cozy, people-powered hiking and sport to zero sweat required helicopter access, jeep or overland access, and more…there is an Alaskan adventure for you.
