I was lucky enough to plan Mackenzie and Cody’s Arctic Valley wedding. Their day was filled with joy, adventure, sunshine, laughs and love from the beginning of the day until the very end and I am so grateful I got to be part of it. The fall flowers paired with the mountain views were spectacular (you know I’m a sucker for flowers) but what really stole the show was Hank the moose. If you are getting married this summer, keep scrolling for lots of Unique Mountain Wedding Ideas.

Bride and groom in wedding attire in the Alaska Mountains

THE LOCATION: ALPENGLOW LODGE

First off, let’s chat about this incredible lodge, because its definitely one of the best wedding venues near Anchoarge. Arctic Valley Ski Chalet also known as Alpenglow Ski Chalet is perfect for couples looking to get married at an Anchorage wedding venue with incredible views. Many couples are especially attracted to the venue since there is an option to rent the chairlift and give guests the opportunity to explore the mountains from up top. Totally worth it in my opinion! The chalet can be dressed up in so many different ways to make it a warm and romantic environment. This is definitely one of our favorite wedding venues in Anchorage!

TRAVEL TIPS FOR ALPENGLOW LODGE

Don’t underestimate how long the drive up the bumpy gravel road takes to arrive at the chalet. I would highly recommend planning your ceremony 15-20 minutes later than the time on your invitations to allow for guests showing up late. Even better - consider hiring a bus to transport guests from Anchorage so they don’t need to worry about drinking and driving later in the evening.

Wedding ceremony arch with fall flowers — Wedding ceremony arch by Bloomsbury Blooms

MACKENZIE AND CODY’S ALASKA MOUNTAIN WEDDING

You can’t possibly be over seeing all the stunning photos of couples in love, eloping and getting married in Alaska. Besides, I will never take for granted the fact that I get to plan couples weddings for a living soooo that means I won’t stop sharing all the fun I get to have with you!

GETTING READY

Cody and Mackenzie chose to get ready separately with their bridal party and closest friends. They parked their RV nearby and we rented an extra tent for Mackenzie and her gals to get their hair and makeup done by Ema Rose. Cody and his guys opted to get ready upstairs in the chalet, and were soon looking dapper in their light gray suits.

FIRST LOOK WITH DOGS

Once dressed, Cody and Mackenzie met on the front side of the mountain with their two pups for a first look in the sunshine. This was such a special moment, filled with nothing but smiles, hugs and barks. Even their pups were feeling special all dressed up with a flower collar and tie!

A CEREMONY IN THE MOUNTAINS

Soon guests began arriving and it was time for the real festivities to begin. Local musicians began the processional and Mackenzie and Cody were ready to officially tie the knot. The ceremony was tailored so perfectly to reflect them as a couple, and their vows had just about every guest shedding tears. Fun fact, throughout the ceremony Mackenzie may or may not have kissed Cody multiple times before they were pronounced married, she couldn’t help herself haha! The views were magical and being part of this moment was so special.

Bride and groom reading vows during ceremony in the mountains

A RIDE UP THE CHAIRLIFT

Shortly after the ceremony guests were invited to take the Arctic Valley chairlift up the mountain to explore and see the ski resort from a different view. We knew the photos would be incredible up there so we made sure to have the bridal party and bride and groom portraits take place up top with Donna Marie Photography who captured the day perfectly. This time also gave Mackenzie and Cody a chance to reflect on their ceremony and take in all the feelings of their wedding day. Meanwhile, some guests chose to stay near the chalet drinking cocktails, trying the delicious Hors d'oeuvres and enjoying the entertainment provided.

Bridal Party taking photos in the mountains at Arctic Valley Ski Resort

HANK THE MOOSE

We would be remiss not to highlight Hank the Moose who was well loved throughout the evening. Guests enjoyed taking photos, mounting and poking fun at hank. Hank is a stuffed moose that travels around Alaska providing entertainment for photo booths. I cannot count on two hands the number of times I was asked where guests could find a moose like Hank to have as a pet. He sure did look real!

Wedding tablescape with flowers at Arctic Valley Lodge — **RECEPTION DETAILS**

When I began working with Mackenzie, she knew she wanted flowers to act as a main focal point. We teamed up with Dallas at Bloomsbury Blooms who delivered the most incredible textures, colors and variety of warm fall florals to help us transform a working ski resort into a beautiful wedding venue for the weekend. These flowers are a perfect example of **fall wedding bouquets + flowers** that couples envision for their late summer or fall wedding. Personally, I had a couple of favorite statement arrangements which included the ceremony arch and the hanging reception bar installation. For the wedding tablescape we paired the luscious blooms with accents of gold and slate gray to create a romantic yet whimsical vibe. Guests walked into the chalet and their jaws dropped when they saw the transformation that we had designed and completed. Dinner from Wild Fork Catering was delicious and soon after guests were treated to an incredible song performance by the bride for her new husband. Once toasts and all the fun stories had been shared everyone was ready to get the party started with dancing upstairs!

THE DANCING AUNTS

For the last 20 years Mackenzie’s aunts have chosen a song to perform at family members' weddings and wanted to continue this tradition. They rehearsed for hours and chose to dance to Gangnam style. Guests loved every bit of this performance and it was the perfect way to get the dance floor moving and grooving.

A MOMENT FOR THE ALASKAN THEMED CAKE

The couple hired the DJ G&G Sound and Light to get guests on their feet for the reception, and boy did they do their job, the dance floor was rocking!

Sparkler Send-Off

Mackenzie and Cody were sent off by their favorite people as newlyweds with sparklers that no doubt added a dazzling finish to their beautiful wedding.