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.