How to Elope in Alaska

With its dramatic mountain peaks and breathtaking scenery, Alaska can be such an exhilarating place to elope. Alaska is unlike any other place you will ever visit. It’s a wonderful place for adventurous couples looking to tie the knot in the great outdoors. Whether you want to elope in an accessible Alaska landscape, or you want to explore the wild backcountry, Alaska has so much to offer for your elopement. 

Where to Elope in Alaska

Alaska has no shortage of breathtaking destinations for your elopement! If you’re not familiar with Alaska, never fear. Here’s a shortlist of some of my favorite spots. If you’ve got something else in mind, we can always make your perfect elopement happen. 

Denali National Park:

No matter the time of year, Denali National Park is a breathtaking piece of wilderness. You can have any type of elopement in Denali, whether you want to go backpacking or whether you want to fly into the park by prop plane to a remote, mountaintop location. You can fly into Fairbanks, or rent a car and drive north from Anchorage. 

The Matanuska-Susitna Valley:

This valley has a number of gorgeous locations, no matter the season. One popular spot: Hatcher Pass, a mountainous location accessible by car. If you want to hike further into the area, head out in the summer towards Summit Lake. This area is also home to the Matanuska and Knik Glaciers. To visit Matanuska, you’ll need to pay a special fee and either hike in or fly in. To visit Knik, visit the area by helicopter for the safest option. Knik River Lodge is an awesome spot for a reception, too. 

The Matanuska Glacier:

Matanuska is such a special spot, it deserves its own place on this list. This glacier, located 100 miles northeast of Anchorage, is 26 miles long and 4 miles wide. Needless to say, Matanuska is one of the most exceptional spots for a wild elopement. To enter the area, you will need to pay a fee of $20 per person, though that fee may vary depending on the private landowner. There are countless trails in the area, though ice spikes are recommended. Alternatively, you can fly into the area for an especially epic elopement. You can opt to elope in the area, and then stop at Sheep Mountain Lodge nearby (just 12 miles away) for a small reception or celebration. 

The Anchorage, Chugiak and Girdwood Area:

Anchorage and its surrounding areas are some of the most popular areas for couples eloping in Alaska. Many people will fly into Anchorage and drive either north or south. The Anchorage area has lots of wooded areas with mountaintop vistas. 

Nearby, Girdwood is a beautiful ski spot home to many classic winter activities; in the summer, it’s a beautiful spot to hike. Many couples love this spot because so many gorgeous spots are within such a short distance. There’s lots to explore along the Turnagain Arm, between Anchorage and Girdwood, with ocean views and mountaintop views. Check out Moose Meadow or Bird Point! In Chugiak, you’ll see plenty of beautiful views with some waterfalls nearby, as well. 

The Kenai Area:

This quaint fishing area by the sea has so much to offer eloping couples looking for a wonderful and scenic getaway. From mountains to beaches to rolling fields, there’s no shortage of peaceful and pretty spots. The Homer Spit, in particular, is a popular scenic destination and makes for a lovely elopement by the ocean. 

The Juneau Area:

This southcentral area is a lovely spot for an elopement. With lush rainforests and sprawling mountains right by the ocean, this area has so much to offer couples looking for a getaway. Juneau is the capital of Alaska, and most of the tours will dock here so it can be a bit busy. Nearby, though, there are so many pretty spots: the Mendenhall Glacier, plus Mt. Roberts, Brotherhood Bridge Trail, Treadwell Mine, and Auke Bay, to name a few. There are literally countless elopement options here, so we can work together to plan a perfect weekend. 

Portage:

Just south of Girdwood is Portage Lake, and even further out, Portage Glacier. There are plenty of excellent spots to explore in this area. In the winter, you can hike along the edge of Portage Lake to reach Portage Glacier. In the summer, you can opt for a cruise along the glacier (alternatively, hike up Portage Pass Trail).

The Wrangell-St. Elias Mountains:

This area has a wonderful adventurous and luxurious option for couples: Ultima Thule. This romantic resort is an exclusive spot in the wilderness, located along the bank of Chitina River. A family built this spot in the Alaskan wilderness, and it’s unlike any spot in the country. It’s located 100 miles from the end of any road; it’s so remote that many mountains in this area remain unnamed. You’ll fly into the area via private plane, and from there, basically anything you want is on the table. Pick from one of the five private cabins and enjoy fresh fish and local food. 

What to Do During Your Alaska Elopement 

Alaska is the PERFECT spot for your adventurous location! I often recommend my couples plan a special adventure for their elopement day or around their elopement day to make the getaway feel extra special. Here are some epic ideas to plan alongside your elopement: 

• Explore the Guyot Glacier Ice Caves or Mendenhall Ice Caves for a truly mystical and once-in-a-lifetime experience (think of the photos!)
• See Alaska for the sky and rent a helicopter or plane to see Alaska by air. You can do this in many parts of the country, so let’s plan the perfect spot for you. 
• Go dog sledding along a glacier
• Fishing fans will love all the wilderness fishing options in Alaska – plan a tour to go fishing! 
• Whitewater rafting in Alaskan rivers, from the Kenai Peninsula’s Sixmile River to Denali’s Nenana River.
• Take a scenic train ride on the White Pass and Yukon Route, a Canadian and American narrow gauge railroad that links Skagway in Alaska and Whitehorse in Yukon. The views are outstanding! 
• Rent a car and explore some of Alaska’s beautiful natural parks or outdoors. Denali National Park is a must-see, as are some of the glaciers. 
• Take a whale watching tour if you visit during whale watching season
• Book a boat tour of the Kenai Fjords Tours
• If you’re visiting at the right time of the year, book a Northern Lights tour

In Alaska, the possibilities are endless! We can plan the perfect unforgettable experience for your elopement. 

The Best Time to Elope in Alaska 

Before you set your heart on an Alaskan elopement, it’s important to better understand the weather and seasons in Alaska. It’s especially important if you have a specific vision in mind for your elopement and your photos. 

Let’s talk about sunshine. In the summertime, Alaska has long days and short nights, like some type of eternal sunshine. The length of those days will depend heavily on exactly how far North or South you plan to elope. It could mean a full hour difference for sunset or sunrise. This means that sunrise could be anywhere from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. depending on the location you pick. 

In the wintertime, Alaska has much shorter days; sun sets at a more extreme angle, too, than the summertime. In the winter, you may have around four hours of great sunshine, which is a factor to consider. You will end up with some lovely, romantic golden hour photos in the mid-afternoon, so it’s crucial to keep these timelines in mind. 

Alaska can have variable weather options, too. Summertime is of course a guaranteed primetime weather season for visitors. It’s nice and warm and everything is in bloom, too. Summertime falls between late-May and mid-August. 

In late August, the rainy season starts in Alaska. The leaves won’t turn color yet, and there are plenty of pretty wildflowers. The Fireweed sprouts in August, too. 

Fall in Alaska kicks in around late August, and despite the rain, the time of year is really beautiful! Catch fall colors from August to September, even sometimes early October, though September is your best bet for fall colors. If you do pick the fall, you should be okay with some rain here and there. 

Winter in Alaska will vary. Sometimes it starts in late October, and sometimes it comes in late December. If you’re looking for peak winter, your best bet is to shoot for January or February. 

How to Apply for a Marriage License in Alaska

There is one more technical thing you will have to think about when eloping in Alaska: your marriage license. Getting a marriage license, and planning the essentials, can be an overwhelming part about your elopement. However, don’t worry, I’m here to make sure it all happens smoothly, without a hitch. 

When eloping in Alaska, you have two options. If you prefer, you can get your marriage license in your hometown and get legally married while still at home. For many, this is a lower stress option so you can worry about your elopement ceremony without thinking about the legality. 

However, if you want to get legally married in Alaska, the state has a process to make it happen. To obtain an Alaska marriage license, you’ll need to submit your application to the Bureau of Vital Statistics by mail or in person. You will need to wait three days once you submit your application and your $60 license fee. You will need two witnesses (I can sign as one witness!) as well as an officiant for the ceremony. For more information, click here. 

In addition to your permit, you may need additional permits depending on the location of your elopement. Don’t worry, though, I can handle these when we pick a spot. 

Where to Stay During Your Alaska Elopement 

Alaska has absolutely no shortage of EPIC places to stay! Whether you’re looking for a mountainside lodge or a remote getaway or a serene seaside spot, there are so many awesome options: 

• The luxurious and remote Ultima Thule lodge for a truly unique experience
• The cozy fisherman’s cabin in the wilderness
• The Waterfall Resort Alaska, a legendary waterside sportfishing lodge near the state’s famed Inside Passage. This place can only be accessed by float plane or boat! 
• A tiny and unassuming barn in the wilderness, which can be magical in the winter
• A cozy, low-key yurt in the forest 
• A deluxe, luxurious mountain yurt
• The Inn at Creek Street, a unique hotel with rooms right above a bustling creek just minutes from a small town
• A cute cabin by Kenai Lake with wonderful views 
• This open-topped igloo with views of the northern lights 
• A luxury villa with a hot tub and views of the river and mountains
• The quaint, waterside lodge with hot tubs and massage rooms
• Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn & Adventure Spa, a beautiful, secluded, and intimate bed-and-breakfast 
• The secluded Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge just south of Denali 

No matter where you choose to stay, I’ll make sure to plan the coolest elopement for your special getaway! 

How to Get to Alaska 

You can get to Alaska by land, by air, or by sea. Most people, however, will fly directly into Anchorage International Airport and, from there, rent a car. You can also opt to fly into some of Alaska’s smaller airports, like Fairbanks, Juneau, or Ketchikan. All these cities have connecting flights within Alaska and outside of Alaska. There are also seasonal flights from other countries. 

If you have the time, you can also opt to drive up to Alaska and visit parts of Western Canada using the Alaska-Canada Highway. It’s also part of a much bigger road (which some people have on their bucket list), the Pan-American Highway. This highway goes from Ushuaia in Argentina all the way up to Alaska. 

In addition, many people will visit Alaska by boat. From May to September, you can take a cruise up to Alaska from Seattle. 

Once you arrive in Alaska, I recommend renting a car for maximum flexibility. So many spots in Alaska will be off the beaten path, and a car allows you plenty of flexibility to explore the entire state. 

Chomping at the bit to plan a wild elopement in Alaska? I’m with ya. Let’s get to planning!