Multi-Day Alaska Helicopter, Glacier, Horseback and Dogsled Elopement

Wait until you see this EPIC Alaska elopement complete with helicopter glacier landing, horseback riding, AND dogsledding!

Yes, I love Oregon, but Alaska also has my heart. It’s beautiful, and there are so many unique things to do there. Pair that with an amazing couple, and you have an event that is for the books. Seriously, this elopement is one of the coolest to date, and we adventured the hell out of Alaska for three days. It wasn’t all day, every day, but it was filled with fabulous moments.

Shelby and Jeff came from Indiana with their parents and siblings to have the most freaking amazing multi-day epic experience. Truly, they included so many things—this couple definitely didn’t half-ass their elopement!

The first day, we did a few getting-ready shots before their ceremony, and Shelby wore a killer black dress (the Zander from Midgley and Sottero Designs by Maggie Sottero). We chartered helicopters from Alpine Air Alaska, and our pilot, Martin, flew us over swampy meadows in search of moose and other wildlife until we landed on a glacier.

I want to take a moment to brag on Martin—he’s from Austria and not only flew our helicopter, but he also served as a bouquet holder, dress fluffer, and mountain-top charcuterie board assistant. He was nothing short of fabulous!

After the glacier, we flew to a mountain top for the ceremony, and the family came in a separate helicopter. It was a fabulous day spent zooming around exploring Alaska from the air, which was made even better by Shelby and Jeff’s elopement ceremony. We also hung out among the lupines and alpine lakes overlooking the glacier. One of my favorite parts (ok, f-ing epic if you want my honest opinion) was listening to the ice calve off the toe of the glacier into the water. Yeah, Alaska is that cool. 

We traded helicopters for horses on the second day, and we took a horseback ride outside of Anchorage with Sunderland Ranch. Shelby’s mount, Ellie, was a doll, and I give major kudos to Jeff, who had great instincts despite not being familiar with horses. It all added up to incredible, memorable photos. 

On day three, we drove to Seward, a little over two hours from Anchorage, to ride with Seward Helicopters to go dogsledding on a glacier (I know, right?!). Honestly, it was otherworldly. We got to pet puppies who will eventually race in the Iditarod, and we also did a mile and half loop (which is longer than it appears) with the dogsled team. After we landed from dogsledding, Brian and I actually hopped back in a helicopter for our own adventure. We flew to stay overnight in a yurt just outside the boundaries of Kenai Fjords National Park. The yurt was at the base of a glacier iceberg lagoon and provided epic opportunities for future elopements. Hint, hint. But that’s a story for another time—reach out if you’d like to hear more!


As usual, there were other folks who made the day fabulous. The Teal Door did florals, Meaghan from Fleurt Beauty Company came from Oregon to do hair and makeup, and Cian from Celtic Ministries officiated the ceremony. I also got a headstart with Shelby and Jeff by meeting them for lunch a few days before their wedding, which helped us get to know each other and prepare for an amazing Alaskan elopement resulting in the most incredible images.

Shelby & Jeff’s heirloom album turned out beautifully!

This elopement was featured on Wandering Weddings! Click the image below to view the feature.