"Eloping was quiet, grounding, and unapologetically us."
Our Alaska elopement is a key memory that I will never forget.
We just got off a helicopter and we were standing on a glacier in Alaska—just the two of us. My now husband and I. No crowds. No city traffic. The nerves. The feeling of being so small in such a big place.
And I remember thinking—this is what getting married is supposed to feel like. How I WANT it to feel.
I didn’t want to feel rushed. I didn’t want other people or societal standards to tell me how I should get married. I wanted this moment to feel symbolic of US- my husband, Jeremy, and I.
If you’ve even thought about an Alaska elopement, I have a feeling you’re not looking for something traditional either. Welcome to the non-traditional club! I want to walk you through what we did—our experience, what I’d do differently—and how you can actually plan something utterly magical like this for yourself.
You won’t want to miss this article to kick off your elopement dream!
What's Inside
Sail Lake Clark National Park 4-Day All Inclusive Alaska Tour
Butte Hike with Knik Glacier Views in Alaska
Alaskan Adventurous Luxury Hiking 3-Day Tour Package From Anchorage
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Why We Chose an Alaska Elopement
At the time, Jeremy and I had been together for 12 years and living together for 9 odd years. We didn’t want the bridal shower, bachelor party, the church wedding, and we really didn’t want to pay for 100 of our “friends” to come to a giant party. That just wasn’t us.
We put off traveling (which we did at least 4-8 times per year) to spend all our free time and money heavily renovating our house, so we wanted to do something that brought us back to traveling. Something slower. We wanted to spend time together in nature. Something that felt like ours, and ours alone, instead of something we were putting on for other people or what “society” norms told us we should do to get married.
I wish I could say that I had a miraculous realization. The idea stemmed in a far less exciting way. An Instagram post. It was of a couple getting married on a glacier, and I thought, “Damn…. that’s so cool!” Then followed the question, “Why not elope in Alaska?”
The idea of getting married on a glacier struck me, because it was simple. The wedding expectations that have coined the name “bridezilla” kind of fall away, and what you’re left with is what actually matters. Jeremy and I celebrating our next life chapter the way only we wanted to. That was the only thing that mattered.
For us, that was enough.
What an Alaska Elopement Actually Feels Like
It’s cold, yes. Literally and figuratively. If you’ve ever been on a glacier before, you may understand. I had been on many glaciers before, yet this time was different. One of the best ways that I can describe it was that it was cold in the way that made my soul feel awake.
There’s this sense of scale that shifts your perspective. Feeling so small in such a vast place. The little things you might stress about during a traditional wedding just don’t hold the same weight out there.
I remember thinking—no one else is here and that’s exactly the point.
It was quiet, grounding, and unapologetically US.
You’re not performing anything. We cried during our vows and didn’t care how we looked on camera. We ate cake pops as our ‘cake’. We reveled in an incredible backcountry helicopter ride that took our breath away.
And I think that’s what stayed with me the most. Eloping was for us and us alone.
An Extra Bit of Special – The Photographer
The only people in the helicopter were my husband, Jeremy, the pilot (who doubled as the officiant), and the photographer. The photographer was my cousin, Rich, who’s photography business (Canid Creative) was starting to take off. He had never photographed in Alaska before, so we flew him to Alaska with us to capture our day!
I go into the logistics of this a bit more, so stay tuned! This out-of-the-box thinking saved us tons of money compared to hiring a photographer in Alaska. I’m so incredibly grateful for his flawlessly natural skill in capturing our perfect day!
What about the rest of your family?
We didn’t forget about the rest of our family! After we dropped our dogs off for our parents to watch them, we flew out of an airport nearby. That way, after our return flight, we had casual BBQ party planned for close family and close friends after we returned from Alaska.
My Alaska Elopement Experience
You’re probably wondering, how did we pull this off? That’s where most blogs will end. In this article we’ll share all the raw details.
First, let’s set the stage and look at the elopement overall.
Elopement Logistics:
- Time of Year: Mid-September 2024
- Destination:
- Outfitter Region: Palmer, Alaska
- Elopement Specifics:
- Elopement Package Type: Glacier Heli-Elopement
- # of People in Helicopter: 3 + the pilot
- My husband and I, photographer, and pilot- who doubled as the officiant)
- Location of Elopement Ceremony: Knik Glacier
- Photography Helicopter Landing Points: 3 Stops
- Knik Glacier
- Shore of Inner Lake George (located southeast of Knik Glacier)
- Nearby ridge line
Our Elopement Photos
We’re excited to share a few of the many special moments from this day. Most gallery photos are courtesy of Canid Creative.
Next let’s get into the nitty gritty details that most articles won’t.
My Itinerary
We stayed in Alaska for about two weeks after our elopement ceremony, so I will only include the elopement specific itinerary below for reference for this article.
Click through each tab below by day to see our elopement logistics.
Feel free to comment or email me at support@guideradventure.com for the full Alaska trip itinerary.
Day 1: Anchorage on Own
Day 1: Anchorage on own + photographer arrival
This was our first full day in Alaska, which we intentionally choose to be a relaxed day.
- We explored Anchorage on our own. A few things we did were:
Visited the Alaska Wild Berry Products store, which sold wonderful gifts and sweets. Plus, they have the world’s largest chocolate waterfall, a 20 foot chocolate waterfall. Yes, my chocolate fans, you heard me right!
- Saw the Captain Cook Monument in Resolution Park.
- Saw historic Train Engine 556 in Delaney Park.
- Walked around downtown Anchorage.
- Picked up our photographer (my cousin Rich) at the Anchorage airport and drove him to his hotel.
Day 2: Elopement Day
Day 2: Elopement day!
- Met at photographers hotel, where I did my hair and makeup in Rich’s hotel room since we were staying in the camper van.
- Drove to find “first look” spot, a nice off-the-beaten path riverside camping spot. We didn’t have a location planned, so we just scoped out possible spots as we dove toward the tour company.
- Met helicopter pilot at the tour company’s airfield.
- We competed a safety briefing, overview of the day, and gathered all things we would need on the flight and for the ceremony.
- Take off & elopement time! Below is what our elopement schedule looked like:
- Flew to Knik Glacier first for ceremony (we got to choose a place on the glacier that we liked)
- Had ceremony on a glacier river on Knik Glacier
- Flew to Inner George Lake for lakeside photos. The lake was strewn with turquoise icebergs (one of which calved while we were there- go cool!). The shore was lined with black rocks, a stark contrast to the stunning fall foliage covering the mountains in the backdrop.
- Flew to ridge line for photos. The pilot did a fly by photo shoot, which made for epic photos!!
- We saw so much wildlife while in the air, including moose, black bear, Dall sheep. The original ridgeline we were going to touch down on had a black bear sow with at least 1 young cub, so we quickly changed plans to another ridge.
- Flew back to tour company airfield.
- We got a hotel that night in Wasilla, AK and crashed. Rich, Jeremy, and I were completely spent! We ordered pizza and fell asleep by 8pm. What a wedding night! lol
Day 3: Exploring & Hiking/Fishing Photos
Day 3: Turnagain Arm + Portage Glacier Hiking & Fishing Photos
- Dropped off package of rented flowers at FedEx.
- Drove from Wasilla to Anchorage to submit marriage paperwork at Anchorage Bureau of Vital Records.
- Cruised Seward Highway along the Turnagain Arm, stopping at Beluga Point, Bird Point, and many other view points.
- We saw so much wildlife! From beluga whales, black-billed magpie, harbor seals, sea otters, and so much more.
- Saw people surfing a bore tide – an absolute must!
- Stopped at the Begich Boggs Visitor Center in Girdwood, AK. This area includes access to Portage Lake, Byron Glacier Trail, and Portage Glacier, along with a good number of hiking trails.
- While this area is stunning, it also serves a stark reminder of the devastating environmental impacts happening to our glaciers. To learn more about this important matter, click this great article from the University of Alaska Anchorage about the Portage glacier retreat.
Our Elopement Specifics
Now that you’re feeling super inspired to jump in a helicopter for your elopement (or so I hope!), let’s talk about the details you REALLY want to know. These are the specifics that you don’t find in most articles, but I’ll tell you anyway. I’m sharing this in full transparency, as I wish I had a guide like this when I was planning our trip.
Overall Trip Details:
- Total Cost: ~$7,702 ($5,081 without campervan)
- Full cost breakdown below
- Length of Total Trip: 14 days in Alaska
- Elopement was 1 day
- 2 days of photography with Rich
- Arrival Airport: Anchorage Ted Stephens International Airport (ANC)
Elopement Vendors Used:
I personally highly endorse any of the vendors that made our special day possible. Feel free to drop questions in the comments!
- Photography: Canid Creative by Rich Lauri
- Camper Van Rental: Indie Campers (rented out of Anchorage)
- Heli excursion: Outbound Heli Adventures
- Heli-Elopement Package – They have since changed their packages, but the hyperlink here is to their current offerings.
- Florals: I rented very realistic fake flowers from Something Borrowed Blooms, LLC. You can order hairpins, bouquets, boutonnieres, and so much more for a fraction of the price.
- Dress: I rented the Tilly dress from Dare and Dazzle.
- Hein Le of Dare and Dazzle made it super easy to choose styles shipped to your house, try on, alter, and do everything you need. I 100% would recommend renting a dress! I would never pay excessive money for a dress I wouldn’t wear again, and this was the perfect solution for me!
- Other:
- Vow Books: I ordered these vow books from Etsy.
My Elopement Cost Breakdown
Let’s crack into the stuff that most blogs won’t share – cost. Below is an itemized breakdown of what we paid for related to the elopement portions of the trip. I tried to take out costs for the remainder of our trip in Alaska. Things like the camper van rental and parking would be less for a shorter trip or may not be applicable for others.
- $2,834 - Elopement Package
- $2,621 - Camper van rental (2 weeks)
- $ 1,619 - Photographer
- $300 - Dress Rental
- $139 - Marriage license and notarization
- $96 - Airport parking at departure airport (for 2 weeks)
- $61 - Flower rental (bouquet, boutonniere, & hairpin)
- $32 - Vow books
- $ 0 - Flights
- $0 - Hotel nights (~3 nights)
- $7,702 = TOTAL COST
- $5,081= TOTAL COST (without campervan)
Where I Saved $3,000 on My Elopement
A few small ways that we saved big money were by using credit card rewards points and hotel loyalty points. Be sure to check out the “Top Savings Hacks” tab to the right where I dive more into each of these.
Below is an itemized list of what we saved.
- -$ 1,730 - Flights (My husband, myself, and the photographer)
- -$150.50 - Hotels (For photographer)
- -$490 - Hotels
- Unknown - Rakuten Cash Back
- ~$2,370 = TOTAL estimated savings on our elopement
Rakuten is a free-to-use shopping rewards platform where you can earn cash back when using their browser extension. I’ve saved $1,104 since I started using it. Earn $50 cash back on qualifying purchases for signing up for Rakuten or use my referral code MEGANL3519.
My Best Elopement Money Hack Tips
I won’t gate keep! Below are a few money hacks where we got the most bang for our buck:
- Rent as much as possible: I rented my dress and all florals (bouquet, boutonniere, and hairpin). There are also companies out there that rent jewelry, wedding guest clothing, decorations, and more. Considering rental options was worth the small fee to not have to sell something later or for it to sit in a closet to collect dust.
- Get creative:
- Photographer: We started looking into how much photographers cost (especially in Alaska) and were blown away at how much they were charging. My cousin, Rich, lives in Pennsylvania and started a photography business, Canid Creative. One day I asked Rich if we could fly him out to Alaska to shoot our elopement. I believe Rich’s wife said, “he would be silly not to jump at this opportunity,” so we flew Rich to Alaska. While he did give us a family discount, this ended up saving us huge bucks compared to hiring a photographer in Alaska. Going rates at the time we were researching photographers in Alaska range from $4,000-$8,000+ compared to the ~$1,600 we paid since we used the below tips!
- Use points: I’m a huge fan of earning and using rewards points on things we would normally otherwise buy to make our money work harder for us.
- Hotel Rewards Points: I travel for work so I utilize Marriott Bonvoy rewards points to earn points on my stays. I used these points to pay for our photographers hotel and a splurge on hotels a few nights to take a break from the campervan during our trip.
- Credit Card Travel Rewards Points: I regularly put all of my daily spending and bills on my Chase Sapphire card and pay the entire amount off each month. This earns points that can use on travel. Plus, Chase and other travel credit cards offer very useful travel perks and additional savings.
Shop Smart Tip! My caveat for credit card points is to only use this savings vehicle if you do it responsibly! What I mean is don’t go into debt you can’t pay (and pay a crazy interest rate), just for points. It’s simply not worth it. I pay my card off entirely each month so I only use that spending as a savings vehicle on my travel.
Quick Answers About Eloping in Alaska
If you’re early in the process, here’s some other questions I usually get at this point in planning:
What is the difference in eloping and a wedding?
What is the difference in eloping and a wedding?
Eloping is a more intimate, highly customized, and unassuming ceremony that focuses on the couples experience despite traditional wedding values and typically includes up to 15 guests. Elopements are usually more cost effective and less stressful than traditional weddings and highlight the unique personalities and values the couples share.
Does eloping make you legally married?
Does eloping make you legally married?
Eloping makes you as legally married as a traditional wedding, so as long as applicable marriage paperwork is completed and notarized as legally binding documents in the state you’re married in or abides by any additional requirements as set out by the state.
What is the typical cost of an elopement?
What is the typical cost of an elopement?
Most Alaska elopement packages fall between $3,500 and $12,000+, depending on several variables. Variables that determine the cost include number of duration, number of guests, and inclusions like planning services, photographer, officiant, food, beverages, cake, experiences and more.
What do you need to elope in Alaska?
What do you need to elope in Alaska?
At the time of publishing this article, you need to complete and notarize an Alaska Marriage License Application before getting married and submit the application to the Alaska Vital Records office. After the marriage, you will take the signed Alaska Marriage License Application (signed by the couple, officiant, and 1 witness) to the Alaska Vital Records Office. The Alaska Certificate of Marriage can be mailed to you. Planning well in advance of your elopement will ensure a seamless experience. More details and documents can be found at the State of Alaska Department of Health website here.
Can you get married in Alaska without being a resident?
Can you get married in Alaska without being a resident?
Yes, you don’t have to be an Alaskan resident to get eloped or married in Alaska. You’ll just need to complete some paperwork (above), and have 1 witness, and an officiant.
Do you need an officiant to get married in Alaska?
Do you need an officiant to get married in Alaska?
Yes, Alaska requires an officiant for the marriage to be legal. This requirement varies by U.S. state. Be sure to check your state’s guidelines.
What is the best time of year to get eloped in Alaska?
What is the best time of year to get eloped in Alaska?
Mid-June through early-September is the easiest weather-wise and with the best operator availability. That is the busiest travel time in Alaska though, meaning their may be less availability or higher costs. We eloped in a shoulder season (late-September) and really enjoyed the fall foliage.
How Much Does It Cost to Elope in Alaska
What I found when choosing which elopement tour operator we wanted to go with, I found that in Alaska some operators were either well worth the money or overpriced for what was included. Be sure to do your research before picking.
Let’s shift to talk about the variables and why elopement costs vary so much. A non-complete list of the variables can include:
- Activity (ie. glacier elopement, hiking elopement, etc.)
- # of guests
- Duration
- Elopement planner
- Inclusion of officiant, photographer, food, celebratory toast, cake, flowers, etc.
Below is a very generalized breakdown of what you can expect to pay for an elopement package in Alaska and the price point you can expect to pay at the publishing of this article. Elopement vendors vary widely, so take the below with a grain of salt.
Budget Elopement ($2,000–$3,500):
- 1-2 hours
- 1-2 guests
- Officiant included
- Simple ceremony
- Minimal travel
- Bring your own flowers, food, drinks, cake, etc.
Mid-range Elopement ($3,500-$6,000):
- Officiant included
- 3-5 hours
- 3-5 guests
- Some planning support
- Photographer included
- More flexibility
Luxury Elopement ($6,000+):
- Officiant included
- Remote locations (example: sailboat & helicopter elopement)
- 5+ hours or multi-day experience
- Additional photography and/or videography package
- Gourmet food and drinks
- Customized flowers
- Full planning support
How to Plan an Alaska Elopement Step by Step
This is the part that can feel overwhelming in the beginning, but it doesn’t have to be! Once we stopped trying to make it perfect, it actually got a lot simpler.
Step 1: Choose the Experience First
Before location, before logistics—ask yourself:
What do we actually want this special day to feel like?
- Quiet and remote?
- Adventurous and active?
- Scenic but accessible?
Is there anyone in that group that would physically struggle to be there?
Another thing to consider here is who are the top people you want to surround yourself with that day? For example, if you have an elderly grandparent who wouldn’t physically be able to get into a helicopter.
A few other questions I enjoy that help invite candid conversion between you and your partner are:
- Outside of tying the knot, what would make this day absolutely unforgettable?
- What are each persons non-negotiables that must be incorporated into the day?
Step 2: Pick Your Location
Alaska gives you sooo many options, but I can appreciate that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
We chose a glacier because it felt bold and different, but also meaningful to us. There’s something about standing on something that’s existed for hundreds of thousands of years that just puts things into perspective.
A few questions to ponder are:
- Is there a meaningful place to us that we can celebrate at?
- What places do we really enjoy and what would eloping there look like?
- How do we feel about a destination elopement outside of the U.S.?
Why get trip insurance to protect your elopement trip?
You can’t prevent the unexpected from happening before or during your elopement, but you can help protect your trip costs if it does.
A few of the plan benefits included in various plans include:
- Trip cancellation and interruption benefits
- Lost and delayed baggage benefits
- Emergency accident and sickness medical coverage
- Medical evacuation coverag
- Much more!
Start your journey with Arch RoamRight.
Step 3: Understand Paperwork and Logistics
This part sounds intimidating, but it’s totally doable. Paperwork can include:
- Location Specific:
- National Park or recreation permits
- Applicable special use permits, special activity permits, activity agreement, or similar documents
- Park entrance fee
- Marriage Specific:
- Marriage applications
- Certificate of marriage
- Finding a officiant and witnesses
If you’re eloping in a national park, most of what we needed came from the National Park Service and a bit of research.
And honestly, if you’re working with a elopement planner or tour package, they usually help navigate this.
Step 4: Work With the Right People
This made the biggest difference for us. Alaska isn’t the kind of place where you want to wing it. Weather changes fast. Access can be tricky. Having someone local who knows what they’re doing makes everything feel… doable.
Be sure to read reviews and thoroughly understand what each tour company or planning service can offer before committing. They should make your special day easier, not more stressful.
Step 5: Plan Lightly (Not Perfectly)
This was a big one for me. We had a loose plan, but we didn’t over-structure the day. And because of that, we actually got to experience it instead of managing it.
The below questions were helpful in the planning of our elopement:
- General:
- How many days in advance should you give yourself before the elopement day for prep?
- If a destination elopement, will you add time on the back-end for a honeymoon?
- Destination Specific:
- How and where will the couple get ready (if choosing a backcountry spot)
- How will guests get to the destination location? How are those details communicated to guests?
- Will you need to ship any items to the hotel before your elopement?
- Rentals:
- If renting a dress for example, plan when you’ll return those items – in destination or after.
- What is the rental return timeline in relation to your travel plans?
Two Other Places I Would Consider Eloping
If we didn’t choose Alaska, I think we would’ve leaned toward something that still felt immersive and experience-driven.
Iceland
It has that same dramatic, otherworldly landscape, but with easier access in many areas.
Dolomites
A completely different feel—more alpine, a little softer—but still incredibly scenic and adventurous. I think the common thread for us would’ve been the same:
somewhere that makes you feel small in the best way.
Is an Alaska Elopement Right for You
This really comes down to what you want.
If you’re someone who:
- Wants something intimate & unique
- Feels overwhelmed by traditional weddings
- Values experiences over traditional wedding expectations
…it might be exactly right.
If you want a big celebration with lots of people and structure, it might not feel like enough. And that’s okay.
Now…what you’ve been waiting for- the honest tea.
3 Lessons From My Elopement in Alaska
If I could go back, I’d tell myself this:
- It’s your elopement. Do what is honest to you and your partner. You do you. Period.
- Keep it simple – There’s no need to over complicate the day or pack too much in.
- You and your partner don’t have to plan it all alone. – There are likely a ton of tour operators and planning services in your destination area and tons of resources online that can help. It doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Talk with a GuideR Adventure Travel Specialist for help on how to get started.
FAQs About Alaska Elopements
What are the disadvantages of eloping?
Everyone has their own opinion of what a disadvantage of eloping could be, but some ways that may feel like a disadvantage could be wishing more people or certain family members could attend and feeling less structured and missing pieces of a traditional wedding.
Is it eloping worth it?
Yes, it was absolutely worth eloping. For us an elopement in Alaska was, without a doubt, worth it. It felt like we actually experienced our wedding and was completely true to us.
Start Planning Your Elopement in Alaska (or somewhere else)
I still think about that moment on the glacier more than anything else. I couldn’t have changed our elopement at all. It was perfectly us.
And if you’re even considering the idea of what it would look like to elope in Alaska (or somewhere else entirely)… you don’t need to have it all figured out yet. You can just start exploring. And if you want a place to begin, our team at GuideR Adventure would be honored to help plan your perfect elopement.
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Megan Shurites
Megan is Chief Adventure Officer and Founder of GuideR Adventure with extensive experience in adventure travel all over the world. Megan has been to almost all US states and 5 of 7 continents and enjoys off the beaten path experiences. She strives to empower others to collect memories with those you love and conserve our natural spaces.
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