An Adventure-Packed, Intimate Elopement in Seward, Alaska

Standing next to the helicopter that flew them to this glacier, the groom kisses his bride’s forehead. The landscape consists of light blue icebergs floating in the water, lush foothills, and snow-capped mountains.
 

L and E met after each, somewhat hesitantly, and agreed to go on a blind date that was set up by a mutual friend. Although they were both admittedly very nervous leading up to and right at the beginning of their date at a popular Tex-Mex restaurant, L and E both quickly felt at ease in one another’s company– laughing and talking for hours until the closing bell rang.

Falling in love happened fairly quickly for both L and E, as they just sort of “naturally gravitated towards each other”. E loves L’s thoughtfulness and caring heart; L loves how easy-going and level-headed E is. They are the perfect complement to one another– a balance of yin and yang.

When it came time to pop the question, E knew he wanted to fulfill L’s long-held vision and wish: a private proposal with flowers from her favorite shop, followed by a beautiful, celebratory dinner. On the big day, E took L to a happy hour at one of their favorite spots. While they were there, E had arranged for a friend to decorate their condo with flowers and pictures of the two of them over the years, and put out a charcuterie board and a bottle of champagne. When they went home after happy hour, presumably to snuggle up in comfy clothes and order takeout, E was ready. L opened the door and immediately burst into ecstatic tears as E got down on one knee.

The idea of a big, traditional wedding was never a dream of theirs. L and E wanted a wedding day replete with dedicated time to one another, creating lifelong memories that only they would share. Rather than spending one (expensive) day pulled in a million different directions, they cherished the idea of eloping and spending several days together in a spectacular place, enjoying epic moments that they would never forget.

What better place than Alaska for a one-of-a-kind elopement, with a “mixture of adventure and beauty”?! L and E secured a gorgeous cottage overlooking Resurrection Bay in Seward. On the big day, which dawned calm and peaceful and a tad overcast, the two got ready, one upstairs and one down, in rooms overlooking the misty waters and dramatic Kenai Mountains. L looked stunning in her sleek, elegant mermaid-silhouette dress; E looked handsome in his custom-tailored navy suit. Each wore cowboy boots– L, a cream-colored Tecovas pair, and E, a dark, tobacco-brown pair from Lucchese; and L carried a cascading bouquet of flowers in peach, and pink, sage, and cream.

After their first look along Resurrection Bay, L and E’s adventure really kicked off. They boarded a helicopter, which whisked them away to lovely Bear Glacier, where the two exchanged hand-written vows in a ceremony officiated sweetly by their pilot. L and E, now officially newlyweds, reboarded the helicopter and soaked up sweeping views of the last frontier’s forests, waterfalls, and wildlife (a bear!), as they flew to another beach and then to Thumb Cove. Here, the happy couple danced, relaxed, and enjoyed a replenishing snack.

Next, L and E cruised on a chartered sailboat through the bay’s silvery, incandescent waters back to Seward. Onboard, the two laughed and shed tears in equal measure as they read letters penned by their loved ones and toasted their new union with champagne.

In a perfect denouement to their perfect day, L and E arrived back at their lovely cabin on Resurrection Bay and celebrated with welcome drinks, a private chef-prepared dinner, and a jubilant first dance.

E and L desired more than anything for their elopement to be “full of moments [they] want to relive over and over again”. Indeed, that is the dream that came to fruition in the wilds of Alaska.

Congratulations, you two!

Check out my recommended vendors, venues, and BnB’s in my complete

Alaska Elopement Guide
Sitting calmly in her cabin bedroom, the blonde, tan-skinned bride sits calmly while getting her lipstick applied by the makeup artist.
With her hair and makeup finished, the bride is seen from behind as the zips up the back of her open-back, satin, mermaid wedding dress, complete with buttons along the zipper. She has two tattoos on either side of her upper back, perfectly in view.
Adding the final touches to her wedding outfit, the bride is seen in front of a round mirror on the wall as she pushes her veil into the top of her updo.
Ready for the first look with her fiance, the gorgeous bride stands in her dress, pearls, and veil, in front of a wall of windows, where you can see the snowy mountains and Resurrection Bay in the background.
Adding his own final touches, the groom is seen getting ready, fitted in his dark blue suit and white shirt, adding his beach and green boutonniere to his lapel.
On his way to the meeting spot for their first look, the groom stands at the edge of the beach where the grass and trees meet the sand, standing with a friendly smile with his hands in his pockets.
Walking to the first look under an arch made of broken branches, the glowing bride holds her pink, white, and peach bouquet.
On the shore of Resurrection Bay for their Alaska elopement, the bride stands behind the groom with her bouquet in one hand and the other touching his shoulder. He stands looking away from her in anticipation.
The reaction moment of their groom seeing his bride for the first time on their wedding day: he is smiling widely, almost in disbelief, as she gently touches his arm and smiles back, just as happily.
A section of a gigantic light blue iceberg the couple flew by during their helicopter ride to Bear Glacier. The iceberg is vast and rich with jagged peaks throughout this work of art.
On their way to the glacier, the bride and groom smile joyfully during their helicopter ride. Each wearing a headset and red safety harnesses.
Upon her first gaze at the view they landed at, the bride is seen taking her first steps out of the helicopter, mouth agape from the spectacular site before her. She has on her tan cowboy boots and is holding her peach, white, pink, and green bouquet
A far-away shot of their ceremony, this image shows the towering mountains in the distance, tops covered in clouds, as well as the light blue icebergs floating in the water below, as the bride and groom recite their private vows on this lush glacier.
Holding hands during the end of their ceremony, the bride and groom stare lovingly into each others eyes, as the officiant looks down on his book, and the icebergs fill the surface of the water behind them.

Congratulations, L + E!

Dress: Brickhouse Bridal

Suit: Custom from Vincent Ford

Boots: Tecovas (Bride) / Lucchese Handcrafted Boots (Groom)

Caterer: Alaska Roots Catering (Chef Todd Ritter)

Baker: AK Wedding Cake (Carolina De Los Santos)

Flowers: Sireli Floral (Taline Markossian)

Makeup: Kierra Manion Makeup (Kierra Manion)

Hair: AK Upstyles (Emily Cizek)

Accommodations: Salted Roots Alaska
13690 Beach Dr
Seward, AK 99664

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Ready to Celebrate Your Day Your Way?

Elopement Photographer Andrea Enger (Portrait by Realm Studios)

If you’re ready to get the ball rolling to secure your photographer, let’s do it!

You can do that by filling out the form below, emailing me directly at andrea@andreaengerphotography.com, or by calling or texting me at (720) 739-0784. I look forward to hearing from you!

If you’re still in the research phase, I hear ya! Here are some more resources that my couples have found helpful. I hope you do, too!

Budget Guidebook (free download)

Colorado Elopement Guide

Elopement Location Planning Worksheet (free download)

Elopement + Micro-Wedding Planning and Design Resource (free download)

Elopement Planning Toolkit (free download)

More Photo Galleries:

 
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