Alaska Elopement Packages

Alaska elopements are probably one of our favorite elopements. Why? From mountain views to epic icy, glaciers, Alaska is the perfect place to elope if you’re looking for somewhere remote, unique, and adventurous. Explore Hatcher Pass, or rent an Airbnb to have a multi-day helicopter adventure together. Our comprehensive Alaska elopement package covers everything from locations, vendors, and tips for your Alaska elopement.

* While we don’t offer bundled elopement packages in Alaska, we do provide you with all of the information and resources you will need to create your perfect elopement package. Our Wandering Weddings members are also amazing vendors to ask questions. These members have plenty of experience curating awesome elopement experiences for couples.

How to Elope in Alaska

This is a long resource packed with awesome tips and inspiration. Use the links below to jump right to the section you’d like to check out.

• Vendors For Your Alaska Elopement Package
• Places to Elope in Alaska
• When to Elope in Alaska
• Permits and Marriage License in Alaska
• Places to Stay in Alaska

Vendors For Your Alaska Elopement Package

When putting together your Alaska elopement package, you want to consider your overall elopement budget. Whether you’re planning an elopement in Denali National Park or a micro wedding near Girdwood, your budget is everything when planning! Elopements have a pretty big range when it comes to an average price because it all depends on what vendors you decide to include on your wedding day. Please note that you are not required to include every vendor type in your package.

Are you ready to start planning your Alaska elopement?

Check out our vendor categories to consider when thinking about your elopement package:

Photographers

These vendors are where most of your elopement budget will be going towards, but for good reason. On average, our photographers will charge $2,500-$6,000 per elopement. This depends on how many hours of coverage (half-day versus full-day) a couple is looking for their Alaska elopement package.

Videographers

Like elopement photographers, videographers are going to be a great investment for your elopement day to document your adventures together. On average, our videographers will charge $2,500-$6,000 per elopement. Keep in mind, this depends on how long you want your elopement footage to be. For example, a full-day video coverage would cost more versus covering just your elopement ceremony.

Officiants

On average, our officiant members will charge $500-$800 per elopement. Officiants are great to orchestrate your favorite traditions and wedding vows. It’s also important to note that some other vendors are also officiants, so we recommend always asking.

Elopement Planners

You don’t necessarily always need a wedding planner for your elopement adventure, but having a planner does help if couples have a very clear elopement vision. The average price for our planner members is $1,000-$3,000. Planners are also great for couples who don’t want to DIY or worry about anything, or couples who live far from their elopement destination.

Florists

Since you’re planning an elopement, you’ll need less floral arrangement than your average traditional wedding in Alaska. If you aren’t down to DIY your own bridal bouquet, then a florist in Alaska can average $300 to $600.

Venues

Are you looking to elope in Girdwood, Fairbanks, Anchorage, or  Chugiak? Even though there are plenty of public land options to consider eloping to in Alaska, there are also some pretty neat private venues in Alaska too to include in your elopement package. Our team loves private venues because they do offer you more privacy and flexibility when you two are going to elope. Private venues, on average, will charge $300 to $4,000, depending on the location.

Places to Elope in Alaska

Alaska has a bunch of places to explore. There are actually so many different options that it’s easy for couples to become overwhelmed. Where are the best places to elope? Do you need a permit to elope in Alaska? Should you worry about crowds at your elopement destination?

While we are going to mention some of our favorite places to elope in Alaska below, it’s important to note that connecting with one of our members who specialize in Alaska elopements will allow you to have your elopement at secret locations and trails not many people know about.

As professionals in the elopement industry, it’s our goal to provide you with all the tools and information you need to plan an epic elopement, but it’s also our goal to keep these areas protected. Our list of elopement locations in Alaska should give you a good idea of where you would love to have your ceremony together. Once you know what areas you two are loving, then connect with our members to start planning your adventure!

Check out some of our favorite areas for your ceremony or elopement portraits:

Denali National Park

Denali National Park is perfect for your elopement together. This area has 6 million acres of wilderness to potentially be your backdrop for your ceremony. Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest peak, standing 20,310 ft. high is at this park’s center. Are you not sure what the heck to do during your elopement? This park has everything from tundras, forests, and glaciers. Do you love animals? You can spot grizzly bears, moose, sheep, and even wolves in this area. This area is also a great area to view the northern lights! If you’re looking for the most optimal time to visit, then plan a summer elopement here to enjoy gorgeous wildflowers and wildlife. Grab your backpacks and hiking boots to start your adventure here.

While wedding permits are only required for big weddings, permits are required for backpacking most of Denali for your elopement. You are required to register and pay for a permit at least 60 days in advance of your climb here. It’s important to check their website for the most up to date information on the park’s permits and regulations.

Anchorage

Alaska’s largest city is Anchorage. We love elopements within this area because you’re close enough to the city to appreciate cultural sites, but you’re also close to nearby wilderness areas like mountains, Kincaid Sand Dunes, McHugh Creek, Beluga Point, Portage Lake, and more. Anchorage is a great area to narrow down your elopement planning, so we suggest teaming up with one of our awesome vendors to find which adventure you want to go on near the area.

Hatcher Pass

Near Anchorage, you’ll find Hatcher Pass. If you’re looking for an experience that looks straight out of a book, then Hatcher Pass is your spot. There’s plenty to explore here, and you can even stay at one of the famous a-frame lodges on sight during your elopement (reserve with plenty of time). This road that runs through mountains will give you the landscape views you have been imagining in Alaska. From tall mountains to sparkling lakes. Hatcher Pass Lodge is actually situated above treeline at 3,000 feet in the mountains. Not only is this spot worthy of your elopement destination, but it’s also beautiful year-round.

Related: A Simple Alaska Wedding Adventure at Hatcher Pass

Knik Glacier

Another worthy spot to explore for your portraits or commitment ceremony is Knit Glacier. This ice field is pretty amazing, and you’ll get all the Frozen vibes that come along with it in the winter. There are over 25 miles to explore, making it one of the largest glaciers in Alaska. If you’ll want to visit this area, you’ll need an airboat, jet boat, or helicopter. This area is perfect for couples who are looking for something a bit different during their elopement. A helicopter adventure here is a pretty unique experience for any wedding day!

Girdwood

If you’re more into a small town surrounded by lush forests and snow-capped peaks, then Girdwood is perfect for you. This area is super close to Anchorage (36 miles), and it’s the perfect escape for a day trip during your elopement. Girdwood is a small mountain town and is surrounded by the peaks of the Chugach mountain range. If you’re looking to do any winter sports activities, then this area is also perfect because blankets of snow cover the town during the winter. Check out Alyeska Resort for skiing and other adventures.

When to Elope in Alaska

Alaska is gorgeous but pretty unpredictable. Alaska is known as the land of the midnight sun, and it’s because summers have long days while winters have shorter daylight hours. For example, summers in Anchorage experience 19 hours of daylight, while Fairbanks can experience up to 22 hours of daylight. This makes Summer the most popular time to plan your wedding day because you’ll have so much daylight time to explore together. If you’re a couple who is trying to plan for a sunrise or sunset elopement ceremony in Alaska during the Summer months, then we highly suggest teaming up with a professional in the area.

If you’re wanting a winter wonderland experience, then planning a Winter wedding in Alaska ensures you’ll have a snowy elopement adventure. Winters in Alaska can last from November through March, and it can be difficult to get around due to the icy streets. Plan ahead to where you both want to explore to see what season is the most optimal. While winters are cold and snowy, you’ll also get shorter days during this time. Fall, however, sees the least amount of sunlight and experiences a lot of rain. Even though it can be rainy, we have seen beautiful elopements during this time, especially with the fall foliage.

Related: This Rainy Alaska Elopement Will Inspire You to Elope

Photo by Juliana Renee Photography

Permits and Marriage License in Alaska

When it comes to planning an Alaska elopement in places like gorgeous Denali National Park or anywhere else, you want to make sure you have the permits you need. Some places don’t require any permits to elope, but other places do. It’s important to always double-check with the location before or ask your elopement vendors for advice.

Another important thing to remember is to also follow the rules and regulations set in place at your elopement destination. It’s our duty to leave no trace (LNT) when we visit public lands. Let’s all do our part and stay on the trail and respect the lands we are visiting.

Getting a marriage license in Alaska is pretty simple. Couples need to pay for the marriage license application ($60) and provide the necessary documentation needed to submit. Alaska marriage licenses do require a 3 day waiting period, but you have up to 3 months to use your license for it to be valid.

Places to Stay in Alaska

Check out our favorite places to stay in Alaska during your elopement.

Are you still looking for the best place to elope and not set on eloping in Alaska? Look into elopement packages in some of our favorite locations:

Washington – New England – Oregon – North Carolina – Colorado – Texas