How to Plan a Destination Wedding in Alaska
Planning a wedding is hard - but a destination wedding, especially one in a place as wild as Alaska, comes with some additional challenges! Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. This guide will tell you everything you need to know, and a step by step outline of how to plan a destination wedding in Alaska!
Here are the steps to your dream day!
1. Deciding to Plan a Destination Wedding in Alaska
The first step to your destination wedding is making the leap and deciding to go for it - this might sound simple, but sometimes it’s more complicated. Planning a wedding far from home can be hard, and a lot of couples feel pressure from family or loved ones to make their wedding go a certain way, to invite certain people, or to give up what they want to make others happy - don’t fall into that trap! There’s no right way to get married, but there is a way that’s right for you, so if you’re dreaming of tying the knot amongst mountains and glaciers, the first step is to decide to do this thing.
2. Set a Wedding Date
The next step is to think about potential wedding dates. Alaska’s weather can be pretty crazy, to say the least, so it’s important that you know what to expect. It’s okay if you don’t figure out an exact day on the calendar quite yet, but having a season or time frame in mind can be helpful once you start looking for venues!
Alaska is warmest in the summer, with long days and slightly more predictable weather - though you never really know exactly what you’re going to get. Winters are snowy and very cold, but it’s still possible to have a destination wedding in Alaska during this time of year!
Fall and spring are a little unpredictable, and usually don’t last very long, with snow starting early in the fall and staying late into the spring. Coastal areas are warmer and don’t get as much snow, but can be rainy!
3. Make a Guest List for Your Destination Wedding in Alaska
We recommend making a guest list - or at least an estimate of how many guests you plan to have - before you start looking for wedding venues, as the capacity of the venue will be important to know! You want to know what size venue you’re looking for, and narrow down your options to venues that can host your celebration.
4. Book a Wedding Venue in Alaska
Next, find a wedding venue! Look for places that feel like the right place to say your vows, and if your wedding day is smaller, you can get creative and look for unique venues, like cabins or even parks and trails. If you’re looking for a bigger wedding venue, there are plenty of places in Alaska that offer virtual tours if you can’t come see it in person!
Once your wedding is booked and you have a date, it’s official!
5. Hire a Wedding Planner
We absolutely recommend doing this as soon as possible to make everything else easier! Our job as wedding planners is to design and plan your day, down to all the little details. We’ll match you with other great vendors, design and style your wedding, create a timeline, and keep things running smoothly - basically, we’ll do all the heavy lifting so all you have to do is get married!
Contact us if you’re ready to start planning your destination wedding in Alaska!
7. Book Other Wedding Vendors
Once you’ve hired your wedding planner, we’ll help you with this next step! We’ll recommend some amazing vendors that can help with anything else you need for your day, and make bookings with vendors who work with your budget, your vision for the day, and your personalities. We’ll then coordinate with all vendors every step of the way to make sure everything goes smoothly!
8. Send Wedding Invitations
For a destination wedding, it’s best to send save-the-dates and invitations a little earlier, to give your guests enough time to make travel plans. We recommend sending save-the-dates at least 6-8 months out from your wedding date, and official invitations 3-4 months before the big day, and 6-8 weeks before the deadline to RSVP.
9. Shop for Your Wedding Attire
Getting married in Alaska might mean there are some additional things to consider when you’re shopping for wedding attire! If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, you’ll need some layers to stay warm (even in the summer we recommend some layers, as it can still get chilly!), so adding furs, jackets, shawls, or other cold weather accessories can be helpful.
Another thing to think about is packing your wedding attire, so make sure that you consider this while you’re shopping! If you need to get on a plane with a wedding dress, make sure it’s something that can pack into a suitcase (a ballgown dress with a huge skirt won’t be ideal), and that you wither bring a mini steamer with you or plan to have one at your hotel or Airbnb to smooth out any wrinkles. Most airlines do have a coat closet, so you can carry on your dress/suit on the flight and they can store it for you.
10. Figure Out The Paperwork
Paperwork is an important part of the process if you want to be legally married! We’ll help you navigate this and explain how everything works, so you’ll just need to fill out the marriage license application at the right time and make sure you get your paperwork in time for your wedding day.
11. Make a Destination Wedding Packing List
Making a list of everything you need is important, because your wedding definitely isn’t a time to forget anything at home! Make sure you have the big stuff on this list, like your attire and your wedding rings, but also put the little stuff on it, like toothbrushes and paperwork. Alaska Wild Hearts will send you a checklist a month before your date. Pro tip: Check the weather forecast a week before your trip, since the weather is always changing.
12. Arrive in Alaska for Your Destination Wedding
We always recommend that you get to wherever you’re staying at least a few days early, to give you time to relax and settle in before the wedding festivities begin! When you get to Alaska, make sure you spend the day before your wedding relaxing, hydrating, and eating plenty of snacks.
13. Get Married
The big day is here - after all that planning it’s time for your destination wedding in Alaska! You’ll marry the love of your life, have a once in a lifetime experience, and tie the knot.
Ready for a Destination Wedding in Alaska?
If you want to have an incredible destination wedding, we’re ready to help you plan it! Wedding planning doesn’t have to be stressful, and we’re here to take over for you, with wedding planning packages that include all inclusive options for couples who don’t want to worry about a thing, day of coordination for couples who want a little more DIY, and plenty of in between.
Get in touch to start planning your destination wedding in Alaska!
Photographer: Kristian Irey
Planner: Alaska Wild Hearts Events
Florist: Turnstone Farm
Venue + Accommodations: Salted Roots
Catering: The Hearth Eatery & Catering