2 Day All-White Alaska Helicopter Elopement
Are you ready to elope your life?
Let’s create a day for you that’s wild, bold, and full of fun in a dramatic landscape!
sam@samstarns.com @samstarns
Carissa & Ben are proof that you can plan an Alaska elopement, including two helicopter rides and a dogsled experience during Alaska’s peak travel season in July in the span of 2 months (from booking to elopement). That is, if you’re on top of things and willing to trust the advice of your photographer/planner! Below is some real wedding inspiration for your Alaska elopement.
Both are nurses with children and busy work/life schedules but knew they wanted this adventure to be focused on them, with some room for spontaneity. They booked two full 12-hour days of coverage, to ensure we were able to have as much time as possible to capture anything we decided to do (uh, hell yes to this!). The night before, we met up and the 6 of us had dinner and talked plans for the coming days! Y’all, it had been a while since I laughed so hard. C&B truly chose some awesome friends to be included.
How Ben & Carissa incorporated loved ones into their Alaska elopement.
They brought their closest 3 friends, Tina, Kevin, and Shay. Tina officiated their ceremony at the beginning of Day One, before we took off for a glacier landing and dogsled experience. One of Ben’s bucket list items was to experience dogsledding with his bud, Kevin!
Day 1
Day One involved a sweet first look with a view of the Turnagain Arm. Their ceremony was on the shore of a pristine blue lake, with the sun peeking out occasionally to say hi. We grabbed lunch at the lodge where we were set to take off via helicopter.
Day 2
On Day Two, Carissa, Ben, and I met up to explore a nearby waterfall. Just as we got to the trailhead, our floatplane tour called and canceled due to weather where we were going to fly. Instead, I called up one of my favorite helicopter outfitters, Alpine Air Alaska. They were MVPs and fit us in with a custom flight after we grabbed a beer at a nearby brewery.
We flew to a glacier that’s never disappointed, with landing options at the toe of the glacier, on the glacier itself, and on a mountaintop meadow overlooking the glacier. And what’s a view like that without a few drone images?
Tips on How to Plan a Short-Term Planning Elopement
- Keep in mind experiences/tours/other reservations that might require booking well in advance.
- Realistic expectations. Trust your photographer if they’re saying some locations will be crowded, or if rental cars will be exorbitant (like they are in Alaska Memorial Day-Labor Day). Also be realistic if you’re booking a photographer for a September elopement in June – it’s our peak busy season and if it takes us a couple of days to respond, that’s normal!
- Don’t procrastinate. The closer you wait until the big day to finalize plans, the more stressed out everyone will be.
- Stay in touch! Staying in contact with your vendors, while also following the above tip of being realistic if you’re booking vendors in the middle of their busy season.
- Your Ultimate Alaska Elopement Guide – complete with places to elope, best times of year, and more.
Check out their epic All-White Alaska helicopter elopement, complete with outfit change, below!
VENDORS
Vibe Artistry Hair & Makeup
The Teal Door Florals
Suit Supply
Wear Your Love XO
Maggie Sottero
Arctic Moon Bakery