Alaska Destination Weddings

A large percentage of my wedding clients are planning an Alaskan destination wedding.

Often the couple has a family tie to Alaska or it’s been on their traveling wish list and they are using their wedding as a reason to travel here.

As a lifelong Alaskan I cannot express in words the beauty of this landscape. You will be creating lifetime memories. Every penny you spend will with well worth the adventure for you and your guests.

Alaska is a wedding destination that offers unique and stunning wedding venues for adventurous couples looking to tie the knot in a picturesque setting. The rugged wilderness, sparkling glaciers, and dramatic landscapes make it a perfect location for a dreamy wedding.

Alaska destination wedding on the Knik Glacier with Turnstone Farm elopement flowers. Photo courtesy of Lily of the Wild. GO HERE to see more of this wedding.

In this blog, I’ll explore why Alaska is the premier choice for destination weddings and what makes it stand out from other wedding destinations.

First, let's talk about the stunning scenery. Alaska is home to some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders in the world, including the towering mountains of Denali National Park, the vast expanse of glaciers, and the deep blue waters of the Inside Passage.

The breathtaking vistas create the perfect backdrop for wedding photos that will be cherished for your lifetime and beyond.

Please know that you don’t have to travel far from Anchorage to get breathtaking views and stunning, unforgettable wedding photos.

Here are some wedding and elopement options just an hour or two from Anchorage: Hatcher’s Pass, Sheep Mountain Lodge, Girdwood, Indian, Portage, Whittier, Seward and our literal backyard: the Chugach Mountains.

You don’t need a sunny day for gorgeous Alaskan Wedding Photos. This couple eloped in Hatcher’s Pass, which is a short drive from Anchorage and offers stunning mountain vistas. Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm elopement bouquet. GO HERE to see the full blog from this wedding Photo courtesy of Echo Photo.

One of the most popular locations for destination weddings in Alaska is the stunning Kenai Fjords National Park. It is known for its fjords, glaciers, and abundant wildlife, making it a perfect place for couples to exchange vows and wow your guests.

You can have your ceremony on a boat while surrounded by whales, sea lions, and other wildlife, creating a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone.

Another option for couples is to get married on the beach in Homer or Seward, where the mountains meet the sea, offering a picturesque setting for your wedding. Couples can opt for a relaxed and casual ceremony or an upscale and luxurious event.

Read more about a real wedding in Seward, Alaska here: https://www.gardenwildfloral.com/wedding-blog/micro-wedding-at-salted-roots-cabins-in-seward-alaska

Caitlin and Nate got married on the beach at Miller’s Landing in Seward, AK. Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm wedding bouquet. Photo courtesy of Erica Rose.

You can also choose to get married at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, where you can incorporate traditional Native Alaskan culture into your wedding ceremony all very close to the heart of our biggest city.

Another factor that sets Alaska apart from other wedding destinations is the range of outdoor activities available for couples and guests.

If you and your partner love adventure, you can plan activities such as hiking, kayaking, fishing, and even dog sledding for your guests.

The opportunity to explore the great outdoors will keep your guests entertained and create unforgettable memories.

If you want to make your wedding an intimate and romantic affair, you can opt for a cozy cabin in the woods for your venue. The serene and peaceful environment will allow you to have a private and intimate ceremony surrounded by nature. This option is perfect for couples who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in nature.

One of my favorite intimate Alaska destination wedding venues is the Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood, Alaska.

Stunning rainforest background near California Creek at the intimate Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood, Alaska. Turnstone Farm bridal bouquet. Photo courtesy of Joshua Veldstra. CLICK HERE to see more from this wedding.

This venue is perfect for micro-wedding with a real old time Alaska lodge feel.

See a fall wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge with Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm flowers here: https://www.gardenwildfloral.com/wedding-blog/wedding-at-raven-glacier-lodge-with-danielle-and-paul

Another thing that makes Alaska a perfect wedding destination is the variety of seasonal options.

The long summer days offer plenty of sunlight, making it perfect for outdoor ceremonies, while the winter months offer the chance to experience the stunning Northern Lights, creating a unique and magical experience for couples and guests alike.

Finally, let's talk about the people. Alaskans are known for their friendly, welcoming and adventurous nature, making them ideal hosts for your wedding.

You can expect a warm and hospitable welcome from locals who will go out of their way to ensure your wedding is a success.

In conclusion, Alaska is a destination that offers unique and unforgettable wedding experiences for adventurous couples.

From the stunning natural scenery to the range of outdoor activities, there is something for everyone in Alaska.

So if you're looking for a wedding destination that is both romantic and adventurous, Alaska should be at the top of your list.

Seasonal Flowers for a July Wedding in Alaska

July is a fantastic time to take advantage of the many seasonal Alaskan flowers available for your wedding.

Here’s an idea of what you can expect if you’re planning a wedding in Alaska in July and are requesting Alaskan flowers for your wedding.

Here are a few examples from past July weddings:

Top left photos are from an early-July wedding with seasonal flowers at the Alyeska Resort.

In Alaska, early July offers plenty of spring blooms like ranunculus, peonies and stock. I was also able to pop some lavender campanula into this bright and cheery bridal bouquet.

Alyeska Resort offers so much for a top notch Alaskan wedding. It offers ease of planning due to all the in-house amenities like catering and lodging. And it offers amazing photo opportunities from the deep and cool temperate rainforest to the wild mountainside just a short tram ride away.

Photo courtesy of Corrine Graves.

Bottom row is from a late-July wedding with seasonal flowers in Seward, Alaska.

Alaskan flowers in this bridal bouquet, floral arch and table arrangements include dahlias, China asters, phlox, strawflowers, campanula, and orlaya.

This wedding was held at the picturesque Salted Roots Cabins just outside Seward, Alaska. GO HERE to see all the photos from this wedding.

This Alaskan wedding venue has a cozy and upscale fell while being incredibly intimate. Beach access allows for a small ceremony with stunning backdrops of Resurrection Bay.

Photos courtesy of Kristian Irey

By late July, the flower fields are bursting with blooms. If you are looking for local flowers for your wedding planning for a late-July through early-September wedding is the absolute best.

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Mid-July Alaskan wildflower bouquet.

By mid-July, you can see all the variety that is available in this Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm bouquet. The Alaskan flower fields are just about to start their peak production of seasonal flowers.

In this “wildflower bouquet” you can see peonies, monarda, cloth of gold yarrow, cress, campanula, fireweed, forget-me-not and more.

This couple got married at the Forget-me-not Nursery in Indian, Alaska. It is a garden-scape of beauty that has a greenhouse for your reception and gorgeously landscaped grounds for your guests to roam.

Photos courtesy of Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm and Chugach Peaks Photography.

Micro-wedding at The Salted Roots Cabins in Seward, Alaska

Nicole and Garrett were wed at the beach adjacent to Salted Roots Cabins in Seward, Alaska.

I had the great pleasure to create florals for their special day.

Nicole wanted a lush, partial arch with a white to rust ombre tone. The end of July is the perfect time for Alaskan flowers. Peonies are still fresh and beautiful. And dahlias are just beginning to bloom.

Look closely and you will see the lovely “Dreamcatcher” dahlia, along with a very cool carnation. I know carnations have a bad reputation, but some of the more modern colors are truly amazing.

Floral Details by Kristian Irey

Eucalyptus and magnolia greenery, although not from Alaska, is beautiful, sturdy and versatile. I love how the rust undersides shade perfectly with the orange-peach dahlias.

And look how rain, or ocean mist, can make your wedding flowers even more gorgeous.

There is a silver lining to everything.

Kristian Irey did an expert job on photographing this wedding.

A Signature Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm Bouquet

Nicole’s bouquet was loaded with different floral varieties in the true Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm style. Campanula, orlaya, cosmos, peonies, dahlias, phlox, strawflower, carnations and magnolia made for a stunning bouquet.

The Salted Roots Cabins

The Salted Roots Cabins is a picturesque location just outside Seward, Alaska. They have beautiful modern cabins to rent out for the bridal party and guests.

The front area can be covered in a tent and set up for a reception and ceremony.

Across the road from the cabins, is the beach. This is another lovely locale for a ceremony. Nicole and Garrett chose to have their ceremony there.

Weddings here are small (around 50 guests) and intimate.

Inside The Salted Roots Cabins

The inside of the Salted Roots Cabins is clean and modern and filled with light.

It is the perfect place to get ready for a wedding, alongside your most beloved attendants.

Going the extra mile for your wedding guests

Nicole and Garrett wanted to do something a little extra special for their guests.

At my step brother’s wedding, the couple hand wrote letters to each guest expressing their gratitude to each person and how much they meant to them.

I shared this idea with them and they loved.

Here you can see the son of the groom reading his handwritten and personal note. This is so touching.

I know each guest always wants more time and more connection with the couple. This is a fabulous way to give your guests that extra care and attention.

Read our full blog on going the extra mile for your wedding guests HERE.

Evening Campfire at The Salted Roots Cabins

The grounds of The Salted Roots Cabins is cozy, intimate, gorgeous and truly Alaskan.

They have a fire pit and a sauna all nestled under a towering temperate rainforest canopy.

Alaskan Beach Wedding Photos

Alaskan beach wedding photos are my absolute favorite. A white dress always looks so dramatic and stunning.

Even on a cloudy day the pictures are gorgeous.

Kristian Irey Photographer

All photos courtesy of Kristian Irey.

Salted Roots: A Favorite Micro-wedding Venue in Seward, AK

I was thrilled to speak with Kelly Ann, co-owner of Salted Roots Cabins recently.

If you’re not familiar with Salted Roots, it is a collection of cabins just outside Seward. Kelly Ann says it feels truly remote without actually being remote - it is easily accessed by road from the town of Seward, AK. 

They opened their doors in 2020 right when COVID was starting to shut things down. What a wild time to open a business! Yes, Kelly Ann said, “bad luck to say the least”.

But whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger, right?! Thankfully, they were able to count on lots of local Alaskan visitors to keep their lights on.

A view of the 4 cabins that make up Salted Roots property.

I know for me, 2020 was a very busy year of booking local cabins and camping out.

In late July of this year I drove down to Salted Roots to set up for a micro-wedding. Micro-weddings are perfect for this venue as the cabins sleep a total of 20 people and a guest count of up to 50 is allowed. 

It felt cozy, intimate, and magical. Having access to the beach was enchanting and completely romantic.

Booking at Salted Roots.

Couples wanting to reserve this space for weddings need to be booking ahead by about a year and a half. 

They require booking out all 4 cabins, plus an event fee. This guarantees you’ll have the place just for you and your guests on your wedding day (or days).

If you are looking for additional accommodations for your guests, Kelly Ann can give you a list of neighboring properties that have lodging. There are many!

Booking out all the cabins gives you the entire property to use including a gravel beach-front ceremony space, parking, space for 20x20 event tents and a sauna.

When booking, 50% of the total is due at time of booking. On Jan 1st of the event year, you will owe the remainder of your booking fee. 

Highlights that Kelly Ann wants you to know about? Their over-the-top European-style wet-room-bathroom and kitchen. Sounds luxurious, doesn’t it?

The couple brings inspiration to their cabin designs from extensive travels they’ve done across the US.

After seeing these cabins in person I cannot wait to book a personal winter retreat here!

European-style wet-room bathroom inside a Salted Roots cabin.

Future Plans for Salted Roots.

Looking to the future Kelly Ann and her co-owner husband Matt have lots of plans. They’re converting an old German bus into another fun and beautiful sleeping space. 

In addition, they are developing an indoor event space (because you never know with Alaska weather!) and a commercial kitchen. 

After taking over the Flamingo Lounge in downtown Seward, they hope to offer catering for their guests' weddings. They are super excited to blend the two businesses.

Until then, they highly recommend getting food trucks for fun wedding food.

I love this idea. For my stepbrother’s wedding they hosted a night-before-dinner (sort of like a groom’s dinner) with a local food truck. It was super fun, delicious and memorable!

The interior space in a Salted Roots cabin.

What wedding couples absolutely love Salted Roots?

Kelly Ann thinks it’s the creative couple who wants more of a DIY experience.

That said, if you don’t want to plan each and every detail she highly recommends going with a local planner or day-of coordinator. True North Events and Wild Hearts Events are two that Kelly Ann would recommend.

I wanted to know from Kelly Ann what was one thing she wanted guests to know most about her venue. 

She said, “It’s a work in progress. We’re on phase one right now. Phase two and three will bring a commercial kitchen with an indoor event space. The space is best for DIY couples. Salted Root provides the canvas for couples to make it what they want. It is personal, dynamic, unique, and flexible.”

Looking for Other Alaskan Wedding Vendors?

For couples still looking to book out additional services, like a photographer, for their wedding I’m here for you. I’ve worked with many other wedding professionals and have excellent suggestions.

There are so many fabulous wedding photographers in Alaska.

Two of my all time favorites are Lauren Roberts Photography and Joshua Veldstra Photography.

Kelly Ann highly recommends Bare Bones Creative, The Adams Co and Emily Jordan Photography.

Check them all out - looking at their galleries will give you a really good idea about their individual styles. I’m sure one will resonate with you.

Advice from a Wedding Pro.

Now that I’m in the wedding industry I love thinking back to my own wedding.

It was lovely and there are a lot of things I would probably do differently today. After all I am a slightly different person than I was back in 2012.

I was curious what Kelly Ann had to say about this.

Did she have one big mistake she would re-do to make her past wedding even better?

Yes, there was one thing. While she said her wedding was “pretty much 5-stars”, she does wish she had booked an extra night at her lodging venue post-wedding. She says having one more night just for the newlyweds would have been amazing, rejuvenating and much appreciated.

She wants couples to know that there can be a bit of a come-down after all the build up and excitement of the wedding day. Having an extra day of self-care can transform the transition into your new marriage.

In addition, here’s something we both have come to realize: while a wedding feels like it’s just for the couple, it is really an event you are putting on for all your most beloved.

You are the host and planner. Keep in mind that you are creating a once-in-a-lifetime experience where you are bringing all your favorite people together to celebrate.

How many opportunities do we really get to bring all these people together? What a blessing!

Next Steps!

Book Salted Roots here: https://www.saltedrootsalaska.com/specialevents

The A-framed at Salted Roots in Seward, Alaska.

Alaskan Sailboat Elopement

Alaska is a premier destination for couples wishing to elope.

Pristine mountain vistas, gorgeous backdrops of woods or tundra and water - lots of it.

This couple chose to embark on a sailboat adventure with a Turnstone Farm bouquet in hand.

And although I’d like to say that the weather they had is typical, you really never know what you’ll get. These folks completely lucked out with a gorgeous day on a sailboat with Resurrection Bay Sailing charters.

In late June the flower garden at Turnstone Farm is just beginning to open up into bloom. I chose these exquisite, delicate columbine, dried black albion pods, dark purple anemones to add some interest. Alaskan Grown peonies and dark, moody carnations set the foundation for this big and full bouquet.

Thanks to Wild Hearts Events and Megan Freeman Photography for coordinating this gorgeous event!

Miller's Landing Wedding in Seward, Alaska with Caitlin & Nate

Caitlin and Nate had a beautiful beach wedding in Seward, Alaska.

Weather in Alaskan can always be hit or miss, especially by the ocean where clouds can roll in and get stuck for days or even weeks on end. That is why this couple was so incredibly lucky to have a sunny break on their big day.

I remember sending flowers off with Caitlin the day before and both crossing our fingers in hopes of good weather!

My favorite part of Caitlin’s bridal bouquet was the incredible variety of florals I was able to fit in. Part of a beautiful bouquet for me is lots of floral types and textures.

Here are some of the varieties: Hydrangea, Anemone, Ranunculus, Rose, Dara, Amaranth, Oregano (I love popping in a bit of garden herb if at all possible), Strawflower, Yarrow, Snapdragon, and Dahlia.

Looking to get married in Alaska? I’m here for you! I offer one of a kind flowers using Alaskan Grown and American Grown blooms .

Click the link below to take the first step in booking your wedding flowers!