Our Honest Guide to Having a Destination Wedding in Alaska
Planning a destination wedding in Alaska was the best decision we ever made and in July 2022, we brought 65 of our closest family and friends to Seward for a once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
We turned it into a 9-day adventure full of hiking, wildlife cruises, bonfires, glacier views, and unforgettable memories that went far beyond a traditional wedding day. Years later, we still hear comments about how our wedding was one of the most spectacular that our guests had ever been to… and it didn’t make us broke!
In this guide, we’re sharing everything we learned from the experience: a basic cost breakdown of what it really takes to get married in Alaska, creative wedding ideas for every type of couple, a full list of our personal tips and travel advice, and answers to the most common questions couples have when they start thinking about tying the knot in the Last Frontier!
Emily & Sean’s Destination Wedding in Alaska
📍 Location: Seward, Alaska
Venue: Seward Windsong Lodge
Photographer: Chugach Peaks Photography
Coordinator: Alaska Wild Hearts Events
Date: July 10th, 2022
Guests: 65 family and friends
Trip Duration: 9 days (group travel and wedding events)
Our Wedding Week Highlights
- Group wildlife & glacier cruise in Resurrection Bay (via Kenai Fjords Tours)
- Welcome night on an outdoor patio overlooking a floatplane base
- Hiking excursions for guests (easy to moderate trails in Anchorage and Seward)
- Group bear viewing excursions in Lake Clark and Katmai National Parks
- Chartered fishing trips and Kachemak Bay cruises out of Homer
- Yurt stay in Humpy Cove an hour boat ride out of Seward
- Reception dinner at a local lodge
- Free time built in for guests to explore at their own pace
Cost Breakdown (Approximate)
(✅ Note: Prices reflect our personal choices in 2022 and may vary!)
- Venue + permits: $8,000
- Reception dinner + catering + 6-hour open bar: $8,000
- Lodging for us: $2,000 (cabin, suite, & yurt rentals for 8 nights)
- Transportation (bus rental): $2,800
- Decor, rentals, & setup: $1,500
- Day-of Wedding Coordinator: $1,600
- Photographer: $2,500
- Dress, suit, and attire: $2,400
- Misc. & extras (bonfire, gifts, etc.): $1,000
- Estimated Total: ~$29,800
Why We Chose Alaska
- It’s where we wanted to build our life together. Sean and I had talked about moving to Alaska immediately following our first visit in 2020. For us, it was more than just a place we traveled to; it’s where we fell in love with the outdoors, spent weekends hiking and fishing, and made some of our most meaningful memories together.
Alaska was a special place that was deeply rooted in our hearts (as cheesy as that is!), and we knew it was the only place in the world we wanted to celebrate our love. - We wanted our wedding to feel like an experience, not just an event. Instead of a traditional one-day affair, we turned our wedding into a full-blown adventure. We got to share a place we loved with the people we loved and that made it unforgettable.
We’re big adventurers, as you may have seen from my itinerary planning service Concannon Adventure Travel, so this style of wedding represented us as a couple. - The setting spoke for itself. Alaska’s natural beauty is unmatched. With glaciers, mountains, and ocean all in one place, we didn’t need elaborate décor or fancy venues. Seward gave us the perfect mix of wild, peaceful, and scenic, and it felt like us.
- We wanted something intimate but exciting. A destination wedding in Alaska allowed us to keep our guest list intentional while giving everyone a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Instead of rushed small talk at a banquet hall, we got to spend real, quality time with our guests over the course of nine days.
- We wanted our wedding to reflect our lifestyle. Nature-loving, travel-obsessed, and always up for an adventure. Getting married in Alaska felt like the most honest and joyful way to start our next chapter.
Our Personal Tips for a Destination Wedding in Alaska
1. Plan Early, But Stay Flexible
We started planning our wedding about 11 months in advance which helped with booking lodging, vendors, and group activities. But Alaska wedding planning services are actually quite limited, so we ended up having to change our wedding date a few times just to ensure we had a cake and a hotel with a room block!
What we learned from this experience is that for Alaska, you absolutely need to build in buffer time and don’t over-schedule your guests. Leave room for flexibility and changes due to weather, changing road conditions (a rockslide wiped out the road that led to our original photo spot), and everything in between.
2. Choose a Location That Feels True to You
We picked Seward because it was a place we loved, not just for the views, but for the memories we’d already made there. We actually have stamps in our national park passport book from July 10th, 2021 (our second visit to Alaska before we were even engaged) and our wedding day on July 10th, 2022!
This was purely a coincidence, but it means so much to us now. Don’t just choose a scenic spot. Choose a place that means something to you both!
3. Keep the Guest Experience in Mind
All of our guests were flying in from out of state, so we created a 9-day itinerary with a mix of group events and free time. Things like welcome dinners, optional excursions, and meetup spots made everything feel more cohesive and less stressful for everyone.
For the most part, we gave everyone our itinerary and what we’d be doing every day of our trip, allowing people to plan their own vacation to Alaska and meet up with us if they wanted to. Otherwise, people just met us for the rehearsal dinner and wedding day!
We were very chill about this aspect of our wedding, but it also led to us only being with our immediate families for the majority of the week. If you’re expecting to be with all of your guests for multiple days in a row, then you’ll want to consider this before planning your wedding in Alaska.
4. Expect a Small Wedding
A trip to Alaska isn’t cheap, so don’t pressure anyone to stay longer than they want. We invited 130 people to our wedding and were shocked when even 65 people said yes. You have to be comfortable with how your wedding turns out even if only your parents can show up.
If you aren’t and really want a big wedding, then Alaska may not be the destination for you if many of your guests can’t make the journey due to work restrictions, financial restrictions, etc.
5. Expect People to Complain About the Distance and Cost
Let’s be real, not everyone is going to be thrilled about flying to Alaska for your wedding. You’ll likely hear comments about the long flights, the cost of hotels, or how “far away” it is. And that’s okay. Not everyone will come, and not everyone needs to.
We reminded ourselves that we were inviting people into an experience, not just a ceremony – and those who showed up? They had the time of their lives. It’s your wedding, your vision, and your story.
The people who want to be there will move mountains to make it happen and that makes it even more special. Don’t take it personally if some decline. Focus on making it unforgettable for the ones who do come.
6. Don’t Overthink the Decor
When you’re surrounded by glaciers, ocean, and mountains, you don’t need much else. We kept things simple with local greenery and baby’s breath bouquets, lantern centerpieces, string lights, and natural wood elements. The landscape was our backdrop.
7. Pack for All Weather And Tell Your Guests To Do the Same
Even in July, Alaska can surprise you with wind, rain, and chilly evenings. We made sure everyone knew to pack layers, rain jackets, and sturdy shoes and to expect everything from 40 degrees Fahrenheit and rain to 85 degrees and unrelenting sunshine.
Everyone came well-prepared which saved us the headaches of dealing with more complaints.
8. Hire a Photographer Who Knows the Area
Our photographer wasn’t just great at capturing the moment She knew the best lighting times, secret photo spots, and how to work with unpredictable Alaska weather.
When our favorite photo spot was unreachable due to the rockslide, our photographer said “no worries, I know an even better spot!” And she took us the where you see in the photo below, where we had Exit Glacier and pine trees all around us. That local experience made all the difference.
9. Say Yes to Group Adventures
One of the best parts of our wedding wasn’t the wedding day, it was sharing bucket-list experiences with our people. The wildlife cruise, hikes, kayaking trips, and bonfires helped everyone bond and turned our wedding into a true shared adventure.
On the morning of our wedding, we even went for a short hike in Kenai Fjords National Park with 25 of our guests! It helped everyone feel less stressed and more excited for the day than spending hours upon hours getting ready.
10. Build in Downtime
Your guests are likely traveling a long way, and Alaska has so much to see. Leave gaps in the itinerary for people to explore at their own pace. Some guests went kayaking, others just relaxed in their cabins and everyone loved the freedom.
11. Write Down Your Must-Haves
Before planning anything, we made a short list of non-negotiables: being outside, keeping it small-ish, including adventure, and making it affordable for guests.
That short list became our compass. Every decision we made from the location to the logistics had to support those values. It kept us grounded, intentional, and focused on what the day was really about.
12. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
A few things didn’t go perfectly (a late photographer, broken lanterns, etc.), but no one remembers the hiccups. They remember the love, the laughter, and the magic of being in a place that felt bigger than the wedding itself.
13. Think Outside the Traditional “Venue”
Alaska doesn’t have tons of classic wedding venues and that’s part of the charm. Our ceremony was outdoors with mountain and glacier views, and it didn’t require a fancy venue at all. In fact, we technically got married on the front lawn of a roadhouse!
You can get married in a state park, a private lodge, a rental cabin’s backyard, a glacier overlook, or even a public beach (just be sure to check for permits if it’s public land). If you’re flexible, nature will do the decorating for you.
14. Alaska Time is a Real Thing – Plan for Flexibility
We lovingly call it “Alaska Time,” and it’s something every couple should know about. Things often run a little slower and looser here. Vendors might not respond instantly, ferry or flight schedules can shift, and weather can change your plans.
Build in extra time and have a Plan B for anything outdoors. Trust the process, and remember: the laid-back pace is part of Alaska’s magic.
15. The Little Moments Will Catch You Off Guard
One of the most unexpected parts of getting married in Alaska was how deeply the small, quiet moments hit us. Listening to everyone young and old share their epic stories about how they came across a moose blocking their hiking trail or their helicopter ride around Mount Denali just felt surreal.
We were so happy that all our efforts resulted in not just our memorable day, but everyone else’s as well! Not because it was dramatic or over-the-top, but because it was real. Alaska has a way of slowing everything down and grounding you in the moment.
Alaska Destination Wedding FAQ
How much is a wedding in Alaska?
Budgets vary wildly, but most couples can expect to spend $15,000–$30,000 for a small to mid-size wedding in Alaska.
That includes the venue, food, transportation, accommodations, and basic decor. If you’re DIY-ing, hosting in a public park or scenic spot, and keeping things simple, it’s definitely possible to go lower. But, if you’re bringing in vendors, renting a private lodge, or organizing group tours, costs can climb quickly.
If you’re considering eloping in Alaska, then you could consider a private helicopter glacier landing just for the two of you, your officiant, a witness (if you want someone other than your photographer), and your photographer!
These 2-3 hour ordeals allow you to keep costs much lower and average between $3,000-$8,000 total. Personally, if we did our wedding again, we would strongly consider this option!
Can a non-resident get married in Alaska?
Yes! Anyone can get legally married in Alaska, you don’t need to be a resident. You’ll just need to apply for a marriage license through the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics.
The fee is $60, there’s a 3-day waiting period, and the license is valid for 90 days. You can apply online or in person, and you’ll need to pick it up in Alaska before your ceremony.
Since we were living in Maine at the time, we wrote a letter to the bureau letting them know that we wouldn’t be able to pick it up in person, so we provided money for the shipping in order for them to mail our license back to us. People in Alaska are so kind… this never would have flown in New England!
What’s the best time of year to have a wedding in Alaska?
Late June through early September is the sweet spot for weather. July is especially popular because it offers long daylight hours, vibrant greenery, and the highest chance of dry weather.
That said, it’s also the busiest (and most expensive) time to travel, so plan well in advance. If you’re dreaming of a winter wonderland vibe, March offers longer days and snowy scenery without the deep freeze of January or February. Plus, you may even see some northern lights!
How many guests is realistic for a destination wedding in Alaska?
We had 65 guests, and it felt just right. While it’s definitely possible to host a larger wedding, most couples find that 30–70 guests is the sweet spot for a destination wedding here.
It’s more manageable in terms of lodging, logistics, and group activities, and it creates a more intimate, shared experience for everyone involved.
It’s also important to recognize that unless you plan on getting married in a big city like Anchorage or Juneau, you’re going to experience limited lodging options for groups over 60 or 70 people.
If having a big wedding is important to you, then be sure to research destinations and availability before securing your venue!
How far in advance should we start planning an Alaska destination wedding?
Ideally, start planning at least 12 months in advance, especially if you’re getting married in a popular summer month. We only had 11 months from engagement to wedding, and we were “already behind” according to everyone we spoke to.
A year gives you time to book vendors, reserve lodging, and coordinate travel for guests. Many accommodations and vendors book out a year or more ahead in places like Seward, Homer, Juneau, Denali, and Girdwood, which is why we were struggling within the 9-11 month timeframe.
Do we need a planner, or can we do it ourselves?
You can absolutely plan it yourself, we did! We only booked a day-of coordinator so we wouldn’t have to stress on the day of the wedding.
That said, it helps to be organized, flexible, and comfortable coordinating logistics from a distance. If you’re planning a more complex event (think: large guest list, multiple vendors, or a remote location), hiring a local day-of coordinator or event manager can be worth every penny.
They’ll understand the weather, vendors, and local quirks better than anyone.
Where are the best places to get married in Alaska?
There’s no shortage of stunning options of places to get married in Alaska! Some of the most popular destination wedding spots include:
➡ Seward – great mix of mountains, water, and adventure
➡ Homer – artsy, scenic, and relaxed coastal vibe
➡ Girdwood – mountains, forests, and easy access to Anchorage
➡ Denali National Park – epic backdrops and true wilderness, perfect for backpacking honeymoons
➡ Matanuska Glacier or Knik River – for glacier elopements or photo sessions
➡ Hatcher Pass – alpine views, wildflowers, and a rustic vibe
➡ Skagway – colorful buildings, gorgeous fjord views, and a welcoming small-town charm
💡 Pro Tip: Think about the guest experience, too. Will they need to rent a car? Fly into a regional airport? Or hop off a cruise ship? Each destination has its own rhythm, and choosing one that fits your wedding style and your guests makes everything smoother.
How do we make it fun for guests who are traveling so far?
This was a big priority for us. We turned our wedding into a multi-day trip, with planned activities like a wildlife cruise, group hikes, and nightly bonfires along with plenty of free time for exploring.
Even something as simple as a shared Google Map with food recs or an itinerary handout makes guests feel included and at ease. We also created a wedding website that included links to everything our guests could do in every region of Alaska!
Some of our guests even took a cruise to Alaska, so this helped all of our guests find things that they would enjoy based on their own schedule and interests.
Can we have a legal ceremony in a national park or public land?
Yes, but you’ll need to apply for a special use permit, and the rules and fees vary by location.
Parks like Denali and Chugach do allow weddings, but you’ll need to plan ahead and follow all guidelines about group size, access, and environmental impact.
It’s totally doable, it just takes a little paperwork and you need to be willing to pay an application fee (Denali is currently $200).
Is it worth getting married in Alaska?
Without a doubt, getting married in Alaska was an adventure that brought our closest people together in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.
It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t always easy, but it was 100% us, and we wouldn’t change a thing.
The honest truth: Getting married in Alaska was more expensive than we wanted it to be, people complained about the logistics and the distance, and we spent a significant amount of our time answering questions and calming concerns.
But, overall, it was one of the most meaningful decisions we’ve ever made. It wasn’t just about the stunning views or the once-in-a-lifetime photos (though we got plenty of those!), but it was also about creating an experience that reflected who we are, and sharing it with the people we love most. It was wild and beautiful and imperfect in all the right ways.
If you’re dreaming about a destination wedding in Alaska, we hope this guide gave you the inspiration, insight, and real-life perspective you need to start planning!
Up next, check out our complete guide on visiting Alaska for the first time!
