July Wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood
One of my favorite venues is the Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood, Alaska. In this blog I’ll talk about what weddings do best here, I’ll highlight the reception area, and talk about the ceremony location and options for your guests.
A beautiful and intimate venue for your Alaskan wedding is the Raven Glacier Lodge in Gridwood, AK.
Wedding party with Gardenwild (previously known as Turnstone Farm) flowers outside the Raven Glacier Lodge.
Just a short and stunning drive from Anchorage is the picturesque ski town of Girdwood, AK.
Girdwood is home to a few impressive wedding venues including the Raven Glacier Lodge.
I’m always thrilled when I get to design flowers for this magical space. For this mid July wedding, the couple chose soft and bright pinks to really pop in the sheltered forest surroundings.
Peonies were the perfect flower to create exactly what they were looking for. Lush, fragrant and luxurious, peonies are the quintessential wedding flower. And with this wedding date lining up perfectly with Alaskan peony harvest, I was delighted.
Alaskan Peonies were the star of this Turnstone Farm bouquet for a wedding at July Raven Glacier Lodge.
What type of weddings are best for Raven Glacier Lodge?
Smaller weddings. Wedding sizes of 75 or less do great here. (Don’t quote me on this, please check with the lodge owner) From my recollection, weddings that I’ve designed for here have around 30 - 80 guests.
Simple weddings. If you want ease of planning, Raven Glacier Lodge is fabulous as they do all your food in house. There’s lodging inside for the couple and a limited about of wedding guests. Lots of other lodging is available close by, so your guests will have quick travels to and from. Although, it’s always better to book early in order to secure rooms for everyone.
Intimate weddings. Due to the towering sitka spruce and hemlock forest, and the homey lodge interior, Raven Glacier Lodge has a cozy feel. Your guests can stroll the surrounding forested paths, walk down to the babbling creek or hang out by the fire pit. Cherished conversations and connections among your guests are sure to blossom here.
The reflecting pool at Raven Glacier Lodge offers magical photo options.
Just married couple under soft and lush peonies on the Raven Glacier Lodge arch.
The arch at Raven Glacier Lodge
The arch at Raven Glacier Lodge is a classic garden-style shape. It can be moved to wherever you’d like to have your ceremony. Most couples choose to have their ceremony near the reflecting pool. It offers a serene backdrop for your event and numerous possibilities for photos.
The arch I sent our for this couple was pre-made at my Anchorage studio. The couple delegated “flower fairies” from their wedding group to attach it. This is a lower cost option for folks that want a floral arch but want to save on delivery and set up fees.
Want to learn more about wedding floral arches? GO HERE to read our blog.
Just married couple descending the stairs to the reception area at Raven Glacier Lodge.
The reception space at Raven Glacier Lodge
The reception area at Raven Glacier Lodge is outdoors on the patio.
Depending on the weather, you may need to ask guests to bring layers. I’ve set up for multiple weddings here where the air was chilly. But being in the presence of the forest is well worth the temperatures.
The bar area is tucked under the porch and stairs. And the stair descent offers a dramatic entry for the just married couple.
The dance floor is at the base of the stairs. It is a nice size for any number of dancers.
Just married couple on the dance floor with cake table in the foreground.
Looking for more inspiration for weddings at Raven Glacier Lodge?
GO HERE to see a fall wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge.
GO HERE to see a big full floral arch at Raven Glacier Lodge.
Thanks to Emily Jordan Photography for the amazing photos in this blog.
Are you planning a wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge? Reply below to ask any questions you may have about the space.
Best Wedding Venues in Girdwood, Alaska
Here are two of my favorite Alaskan wedding venues, Raven Glacier Lodge and The Alyeska Hotel. Both are nestled in the picturesque ski town of Girdwood, Alaska.
Alaska is one of the most beautiful places in the world. That’s why it is one of the best places to find an amazing wedding venue.
Aside from a longish airplane ride, Alaska it is relatively easy to get to. Once here, the wilds of the Alaskan wilderness are at your fingertips.
Anchorage, our major city, is only a short drive from so many potential jaw-dropping Alaskan wedding venues and elopement locales.
Here I’d like to highlight two wedding venues in the cozy resort town of Girdwood, Alaska that get you worlds away from the hustle bustle and into the remote-feeling wilds of Alaska.
Weddings Venues in Girdwood, Alaska
Girdwood is a very popular wedding destination for locals and out-of-towners. It is a 45-60 minute drive from Anchorage and is situated at the base of our largest downhill ski resort.
It’s a resort town so there are many Airbnb and hotel options for guests. That said, it is a small community, so booking early is always recommended.
Weddings at The Alyeska Resort
A fabulous location for a larger and more formal wedding would be the Alyeska Resort.
Folks often take a tram ride to the top with their guests and hold their ceremony on the mountaintop overlooking the Chugach Mountain range, Turnagain Arm and the cozy, woodsy town of Girdwood.
Receptions can be held inside the hotel at the base of the mountain in one of the banquet halls. It is formal, classy and absolutely gorgeous.
In-house catering is available, which makes that part of your planning a breeze.
A tram-ride makes the mountains completely accessible to guests that may have a harder time getting around.
Above left: bride at the top of Alyeska Resort. Above right: couple on the mountainside, a short tram ride from the Alyeska Hotel. Alaskan wedding photography courtesy of Corrine Graves. Alaskan Wedding Flowers by Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm
Above left: indoor elegance in the banquet rooms of Alyeska Hotel with bud vases from Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm. Above right: the grounds of Alyeska Hotel offer gorgeous photo opportunities. Alaskan wedding photography courtesy of Corrine Graves.
Weddings at Raven Glacier Lodge
If you’re planning a smaller wedding and want a cozier feel you must book the Raven Glacier Lodge. It is a classic Alaskan establishment.
You can host around 50 guests, outdoors, under their magical porch. Kathy, the owner, and her team cater your meal. All you have to do is bring the guests, flowers (book a call with me for that HERE), music and a planner if you desire.
I’ve created florals here on many occasions and I can say weddings here are pure magic.
Go here to view a magical and enchanting summer wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood, Alaska: Magical Summer Wedding Raven Glacier Lodge
Above Left: Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm floral arch and altar flowers using all Alaskan Grown flowers. In front of the tranquil Raven Glacier Lodge Reflecting Pool. Above Right: Raven Glacier Lodge lit up at night. Alaskan wedding photography courtesy of Lauren Roberts
One of my favorite things about weddings in Girdwood is that the coast is a short distance away. You can definitely schedule time to grab some breathtaking photos on the rocky and rugged beach of Turnagain Arm.
Go here to view another fall wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood, Alaska: Rebekah & Chaz Fall Wedding
When thinking about your decor and flowers for Raven Glacier Lodge, think about adding bright pops to contrast the darker woods and dark, moody coastline.
I love how Danielle’s bright autumn bouquet stands out against the striking backdrop of rocks.
Above: couple getting some pre-ceremony photos on Turnagain Arm, just a 5 minute drive from Girdwood’s town center. Alaskan wedding photography courtesy of Lauren Roberts.
Above: couple getting some pre-ceremony photos by the banks of California Creek on the grounds of Raven Glacier Lodge. Wild and colorful garden-inspired Gardenwild Floral/Turnstone Farm bridal bouquet. Alaskan wedding photography courtesy of Joshua Veldstra Photography.
Above: The magical temperate rainforest surrounding Raven Glacier lodge makes for a stunning, romantic and magical wedding. Above right: reception area under the Raven Glacier Lodge porch. Alaskan wedding photography courtesy of Lauren Roberts.
Wondering what your wedding flowers may cost? Go here to read my blog all about it: What Do Wedding Flowers Cost?
Magical Wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge with Rosalyn & Tyler
I had the pleasure to design dreamy and magical wedding flowers this past summer at the lovely Raven Glacier Lodge.
If you haven’t experienced this amazing place, let me just say that I expected woodland fairies to pop out from behind every tree.
Raven Glacier Lodge is a mystical and enchanting place.
Weddings here are intimate and are sheltered amongst the towering hemlocks and spruce of a temperate rainforest.
A rushing creek populates the background, giving folks a sense of calm and quiet peacefulness.
Rosalyn & Tyler wanted to express a wildness in their florals. Ultimately, after seeing their photos I saw also saw magic, romance, and enchantment.
Rosalyn’s most important pieces were her full arch and bridal bouquet.
I love a woman who values herself!
We debated the single flower bouquets. Rosalyn was worried they might look small but instead evoke modest luxury. Each bridesmaid holds a single stem Cafe au Lait dahlia (with a couple of stems of filler and foliage) straight from the Turnstone Farm field.
I like couples to think about what is really important to them on their wedding day. Priorities are important to identify and own.
This is a big day, and although there are many reasons for having a wedding, staying true to your vision is a must.
Rosalyn made it clear that a full arch was a non-negotiable.
The flowers I chose for this wedding were straight from the Turnstone Farm field (dahlias, snapdragons, anemones, and ranunculus) and bought in from other American Grown farmers.
August weddings are perfect for Alaskan-grown flowers. The fields are usually flush with all sorts of variety.
This particular summer was a more traditional summer - cooler and cloudier. My anemones bloomed almost all season (they are usually considered a spring-blooming flower) and my second planting of ranunculus did amazing.
Thank you to Joshua Veldstra Photography for these romantic and evocative photographs.
He is one of my favorite wedding photographers. Those who seek to capture romance and magic in their wedding photographs, he is your guy.