Fall Wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge

Tell me… Do you remember the 21st night of September? BECAUSE I SURE DO! Read on folks!

When someone says forest fairytale, Bronson and Michelle’s wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge, in Girdwood, Alaska comes to mind. The lodge has a very ‘cabin in the woods ‘ feel right out of a storybook. The lush green forests that surround it, as well as the river that rushes by, provide a serene atmosphere. Moss grows up along the siding and roof which makes me feel nostalgic. Inside, the lodge is filled with trinkets and knick-knacks, candles, and warm ambient light that makes it feel so welcoming.

The kitchen will mesmerize you as you gaze across the candles, cooking utensils and scattered ingredients that show how hard Cathy and her team worked to prepare the food. Walking through the lodge made me feel at home as if I was a child walking through my grandparent’s house again. I can’t quite describe what feels like, but it is wonderful. Raven Glacier Lodge is nothing short of enchanting and it was all I hoped it to be and more.

Bronson and Michelle said that as soon as they saw Raven Glacier Lodge, they knew it was the one as it was uniquely Alaskan, just how they wanted it. From then on they trusted Cathy to give them an amazing wedding experience providing not only the venue but the catering as well. I think they made a great choice!

Their wedding coordinator, Cathy Scott, did a wonderful job pulling their vision together and making sure things ran smoothly!

B.A.M wedding September 21, 2019

Getting married at Raven Glacier Lodge and need a photographer? I would love love looove to talk with you! Let’s make some magic!

Kind words from Michelle

“Donna Marie is amazing behind the camera. At times I will catch her looking through the lens with one eye and the other eye open capturing the whole moment and lining up exactly what she wants to instill in one image. She is pure talent and so easy to work with. She stayed till the end and made sure we got all the photos we wanted with friends and captured all the details we asked of her plus some! She has this energetic abundance about her that keeps everyone motivated all night long and engages in your photoshoot one-hundred percent. She is quick to get your sneak-peaks out and communicates quickly. So happy with our choice and our chemistry together, Donna is amazing, highly recommend and I shall let her talent show off in her photos alone.” – Michelle

Details, details, details…

I knew when meeting with BAM (Bronson and Michelle, their wedding tag!) that their wedding would be one for the books. The way they love each other and how they described their wedding day to me made me so excited about it all. I love that no matter what, their wedding day was 100% centered on their love and that was all that truly mattered. They enjoyed sharing the special moments with their friends and family and were genuinely loving their day. Every detail was so thoughtful, from the venue down to the scent that guests would smell throughout their reception.

 

The Attire & Look

Michelle’s dress was a beautiful Haley Paige Gown that she purchased from Bateau Bridal Boutique, a local dress boutique in Anchorage, Alaska. Her wedding shoes are boots from The Frye Company in a beautiful shade of blue suede (her something blue and may I add, appropriately named!). Her veil is also from Bateau and was long, beautiful and double-layered which made for so much fun for photos! She also wore a fur shawl over her dress for the evening to keep warm. Hair was done by Kyle James at Jealous Salon, and makeup by Lauden Garness. On top of it all, she was also sporting a lovely tan from Top Notch Beauty!

Bronson’s attire was a custom made suit from Men’s Wearhouse. He chose a lighter colored suit with a rich and vibrant paisley red pattern for the inside. He also sported a pair of Nebraska Husker football socks, to get on Michelle’s Dad’s good side!

 

The Florals

Now, let’s talk about the flowers. my oh my, the flowers. Tanya Val is an Alaskan florist based in Anchorage. She is such an artist with her floral designs and I love the intricacy and detail in pieces she makes. I loved the way the bouquet draped so beautifully in Michelle’s arms and the colors were perfect as well.

The Mountain Theme

Their entire day was mountain themed, which was fitting considering Bronson proposed at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. They also live in Alaska surrounded by gorgeous mountain ranges. They had a black and white metal print of a photo of Kilimanjaro as a guest book and a wooden mountain shelf at the guest table. The labels on their candles had mountains as well as their invitations and Bronson’s cuff links. The ceremony was filled with so much love, a few readings from friends, and the most unique hand fastening I have seen. They are both avid yogi’s and opted to use a yoga strap as their ‘rope’. I thought that was an incredibly special touch.

The Wedding Gift

At the end of the night, all the guests got to take home a sweet reminder of the day in the form of a candle. A huge portion of our memories is built around our senses, Michelle wanted her guests to remember them and their special day by sending everyone home with an Alpenglow Candle Co. candle that had been burning at their table for the night. How amazing is that? I really enjoyed reliving all the sweet memories while editing with the candle burning in the living room.

The Film

I got to work alongside the lovely Grace Films on this wedding day and loved it! Scroll to the bottom to see the video she put together!