Alaska Glacier Elopement with Glacier Pools, Ice Walls, Moose, and 4(!) Helicopters

“Our goal was to make this a special moment between the two of us, not a special moment for family and friends. We didn’t want to have any stress with the entire process and just remember our big day as a completely happy and bonding experience. We both love to travel and venture to new places, so what better time than our wedding?!”

Kristina and Tony are two livewires who thrive off adventure. Fun fact: they originally inquired wanting to elope in Namibia, but after some chatting, they decided to experience two extremes, eloping in Alaska and honeymooning in Tanzania.

Their elopement adventure was a multi-day experience, including dodging rain squalls in early September, 4 (count ’em, 4) helicopters, spotting moose from the air, ice walls, and a snookered glacier pool plunge.

Day One – Hatcher Pass

Adventure Session

After months of planning, Tony, Kristina, and I linked up at Hatcher Pass for a pre-elopement adventure. We dodged rain squalls, all piling into their Jeep Wrangler and laughing at our sardine predicament.

Hatcher Pass is not a location I’d typically recommend if you want few crowds and unique images (it’s a popular portrait spot), but it was the perfect pre-game for this adventure.

Immediately, I knew these two were going to have two of the most connected and fun days just from the level of intentionality and connectedness that they prioritized. Always touching, always laughing, always choosing to engage with each other.

Day Two – Helis, Glaciers, and Waterfalls

Getting Ready

Getting ready and detail images are the perfect opening to an elopement story. It sets the scene. Lodgings and details picked with care can add absolute ✨magic✨ to your images and how you feel.

Kristina chose a beautiful a-frame cabin just minutes from our helicopter HQ for the day. A spiral iron staircase was the focal point of the living area, the deck opened out to the Knik River (and a hot tub!), and Tony finished his vows in front of mountain views on their front porch.

Before they got changed into their duds from Gariani Menswear and Mockingbird Bridal, Kristina and Tony exchanged gifts with each other. Kristina’s a fan of purses and shoes and was ecstatic when she opened a Louis Vuitton box (I mean, just look at her face when she’s got that box in her hands!).

Their first look was relaxed and easy, right out on their Airbnb’s deck overlooking the Knik River. Tony’s mouth was agape when he saw Kristina in her fitted lace dress for the first time!

Meaghan from Black Fern Beauty Co. flew up from Oregon and did final touch-ups on Kristina’s makeup before helping her get into the Jeep (it takes a village sometimes!). If you’ve been around here a second, you’ll probably recognize Meaghan’s name; she’s one of my top elopement HMUA specialists regardless of location.

Helicopters, Glaciers, Moose, and Ceremony

Then it was off to the skies with a few close family and friends to their ceremony spot atop a glacier miles from anywhere. A total of 4 helicopters flew over icebergs and glacial pools, and I swear the sound of CCR’s Run Through The Jungle” was playing somewhere in the distance.

While Kristina and Tony had been on helicopter flights before, they never had the opportunity to land anywhere other than their takeoff location. This time, they were in for a treat. With Outbound Heli and many other Alaska helicopter companies, when you charter a private flight, the opportunities to land are nearly endless.

After their ceremony and salute from the 3 helicopters carrying their guests, we lifted off from the ice, heading to a mountaintop picnic. Miles from the nearest roads, they sipped on Veuve Clicquot and couldn’t stop looking at the vast iceberg lagoon and glacier laid out across the landscape in front of them.

Then the pilot said, “Alright guys, where do you want to go next?”

“Sam, do you have any epic suggestions?”

“How do you guys feel about the Wall from Game of Thrones?”

Dinner and Celebration

After a day full of adventures and celebration, don’t you think filet mignon sounds practically sinful? While we were making our way back to dinner, Chef Blair was prepping a surf & turf multi-course meal that was fit for a Michelin restaurant. Their loved ones gathered around the dinner table and filled the room with laughs, shouts, and shared stories. Guests toasted to these two, and Tony wrapped up the toast by saying, “Thank you so much for being here on one of the best days of our lives.“

If you’re dreaming of a day like this, full of intention and connection, reach out, and let’s co-create an Alaska elopement adventure together that sets the bar…