10 Reasons to Consider Alaska for Your Destination Wedding or Elopement
After you decide that you want to plan a destination wedding, or that you want to elope somewhere epic, it’s time for the most exciting part! Now you get to choose the place where you’ll marry your best friend, promise to spend the rest of your lives together, and spend your wedding day having an absolutely unforgettable experience. There are tons of amazing elopement and destination wedding locations around the world, but Alaska is one of the best!
Jaw-dropping landscapes, once in a lifetime adventures, and more – this guide will talk about some reasons why you should have your elopement or destination wedding in Alaska!
Photo by Donna Marie Photography
Icy Glaciers
It’s no secret that Alaska’s landscapes are absolutely beautiful, and some of the best views are those of the glaciers. There are tons of glaciers (it’s estimated that there are over 100,000!) all over the state, and they make for some really unique scenery. If you want views that you can’t see anywhere else in the US, that’s a great reason to plan your destination wedding in Alaska!
Take a look at Aaron and Kendall’s wedding portraits to see some gorgeous examples of an Alaska glacier elopement
The Northern Lights
Seeing the dancing ribbons of green and red in the sky is on so many travelers' bucket lists – and there’s no better time to experience the colorful display than during your wedding! Alaska is a great place to view the Aurora Borealis, but you’ll need to plan your wedding date carefully – they’re visible from mid August through mid April, but you have the best chance of spotting them in the winter, when nights are long and dark.
Photo by The Hitched Hiker
Long Summer Days
While winters are an amazing time to see the Northern Lights, and a great time if you like snow or want to go skiing, a huge perk of planning a destination wedding in Alaska in the summer is that the days are really long! Due to how far north the state is, some places will have nearly 24 hours of daylight in the summer, which means you’ll have tons of time to explore and adventure.
Alaska is Remote and Wild
Not only is Alaska’s scenery absolutely jaw-dropping, but it’s also really remote, and many parts of the state remain undeveloped! This means that it’s easy to get away from the popular locations and to get out in the backcountry to enjoy a truly private, wild wedding day. Whether you plan an intimate elopement or a destination wedding, you can enjoy the incredible scenery that Alaska has to offer, and get the views to yourself in the lesser known spots! For an outdoor wedding with no crowds around, Alaska is a great place to go.
You Can Take a Helicopter Tour in Alaska
Imagine flying over the most amazing landscapes on your wedding day. In Alaska, you can take a helicopter to a remote destination, soar over snow capped mountains, land on a glacier, and exchange vows amongst some of the most incredible views! And, you don’t even have to hike! Taking a helicopter is a really unique adventure to have on the day you get married, and an absolutely unforgettable experience.
Alaska’s Wildlife
Another great reason to have your elopement or destination wedding in Alaska is the chance to see the wildlife! So many animals call this wild state home, including bears, arctic foxes, whales, and so many species of birds. Whether you take a wildlife tour or you go for a hike, you can spot some animals in the wild!
Incredible Mountain Views
Amongst Alaska’s wild landscape you’ll find tons of snow capped mountain peaks and incredible summits. The mountains make an epic backdrop for an elopement or a destination wedding in Alaska, and whether you want to go for a hike or find an easily accessible spot with views behind you, you’ll find what you’re looking for here!
Photo by Donna Marie Photography
Alaska’s National Parks
For adventurous couples who want to experience some of the most epic landscapes, Alaska has eight national parks! Denali National Park is home to the tallest peak in North America, and an amazing place to go for hiking, climbing, and wildlife viewing. If you want to see glaciers, Kenai Fjords National Park is a breathtaking sight, and if you want a truly wild adventure, check out Gates of the Arctic National Park. Gates of the Arctic is one of the wildest places on the entire continent, without any paved roads or trails!
Unique Adventures
Your love story is an adventure, and getting married should be too! When you plan an elopement or a destination wedding in Alaska, you’ll have so many amazing experiences and adventures to choose from. We already talked about helicopter elopements, but you can also fly in a float plane, go on a fishing boat, experience dog mushing, take a hike, go kayaking or skiing or even have a laid-back picnic by a lake.
Year Round Fun
Alaska’s weather is pretty wild – but no matter the time of year, you can visit this amazing state to tie the knot! In the winter, it’s an amazing place for skiing, snowboarding, or just some winter fun, and you can see the Northern Lights. In the summers, the snow melts and you can enjoy warmer temperatures for hiking and exploring. Each time of year brings a unique and different experience. Don’t worry, as a full-service wedding and elopement planner, I’ll help you prepare for any weather!
Ready to Plan Your Elopement or Destination Wedding in Alaska?
Are you sold yet? Have you decided that the remote scenery, epic views, and wild landscape of Alaska is perfect for you?
My Alaska destination wedding packages are customizable, with full service planning that includes absolutely everything you need – location scouting for elopements, help with any permits required for an outdoor ceremony, and everything you need to make sure that the two of you have an unforgettable, perfect wedding day where you don’t have to worry about a thing.
To learn more about Alaska destination wedding and elopement packages, or to start planning your adventurous day, contact me!
