If you’re considering a winter elopement in Alaska then you’re in for a magical (and chilly) adventure! Alaska is a wild and beautiful state and winter takes a little extra planning for, especially when you’re traveling in and aren’t super familiar with the intricacies of the area and possible weather conditions. Even though a winter elopement in Alaska does take a bit of effort, when the stars align, it’s so freaking worth it! I’m here to help demystify the process for you so that you can make your plans with confidence. In this blog we’ll cover pros and cons, locations, what to wear, activities to do, and a little bit of everything else to make sure you have all the information you need to make informed decisions!

Right off the bat there are some immediate considerations to think through with your partner to determine if this is something you want to pursue. Do you like the cold? Are you someone that/bringing someone that might not be able to fully participate with weather extremes(potentially in the negatives temp wise, maybe snowstorms)? Are you flexible and okay to go with the flow if weather reschedules need to happen for safety reasons? I don’t want to scare you away, but it’s super important to talk over all the points before committing, which is why I put together a little list for you below!

Pros & Cons for a Winter Elopement in Alaska

If you’re debating whether a winter elopement is the adventure you want, this pros and cons list might help you figure it out!

PROS:

• Winter wonderland scenery
• Winter activities
• Stars & Northern Lights Opportunities
• No Bugs
• Late sunrise and early sunset for optimal golden hour
• Cozy indoor atmospheres
• Less crowds
• More vendor availability (except around holidays)
• More car and stay rental availability

CONS:

• Cold and unpredictable weather
• Very limited daylight hours with the sun not coming over the mountains very early and disappearing a good while before sunset
• Limited locations and accessibility
• Challenging photography conditions in the cold for you and with gear and how it handles the temps(might be rushing a bit if you’re super cold and taking lots of breaks to warm up which is OKAY!)
• No local florals and your flowers will unfortunately die after exposed to the cold
• Winter layers are a must (which can be a pro if you like cozy vibes but not if you really want to show of your dress/suit most of the time)

Choosing a Timeframe for your Winter Elopement in Alaska

You might be thinking “Well, winter is winter, right?” In some ways yes, but also there are some nuances! Choosing what timeframe you want to travel up during the winter will affect what things you can do and experience depending on the weather. I’m team Mid to Late Winter typically because everything has had a chance to fully freeze over and we usually have a nice blanket of snow, but here’s a little breakdown for ya:

Alaska Winter Weather & Daylight

Early Winter: Mid-October to December

• Weather: Temperatures typically range from 20°F to -10°F, depending on the region. Coastal areas like Anchorage are milder, while interior regions like Fairbanks are much colder.
• Daylight: Days get shorter quickly, with daylight averaging 6–7 hours by December in Anchorage and less in northern areas.
• Scenery: Snow starts to fall and blanket the landscapes making it pretty and winter wonderland-y, and rivers/lakes start to freeze.
• Unique Features:
  • First opportunities for Northern Lights viewing as nights are dark and clear.(This is actually possible as soon as it starts to get dark in August)
  • Early snowfall is often lighter and fluffier, which is ideal for photos.
  • Less icy conditions compared to later in the season.
• Challenges: Weather can be unpredictable, with sudden snowstorms or warmer spells causing slushy roads.
• Best Activities:
  • Dog sledding and ice skating as ice forms on lakes and rivers.
  • Early Northern Lights tours and cozy cabin stays.
  • Alpine helicopter landings, beside vs. on the glacier.

Mid-Winter: December to February

• Weather: Temperatures range from 0°F to -30°F, depending on the location. This is the coldest point during the winter.
• Daylight: The shortest days of the year occur in December, with Anchorage receiving about 5 hours of light around the solstice. By February, daylight increases to about 9 hours.
• Scenery: Fully snow-covered landscapes. Frozen rivers, glaciers, and ice caves become more accessible as the glacier lakes freeze and we’re able to land(usually closer to February vs December).
• Unique Features:
  • Prime time for Northern Lights viewing, especially in interior regions.
  • Snow is thick and powdery, perfect for skiing and snowshoeing.
  • Frosted trees and icy waterfalls make for pretty backdrops.
• Challenges:
  • Extreme cold can make outdoor activities more challenging.
  • Gear (cameras, drones, etc.) may require extra precautions to prevent freezing.
• Best Activities:
  • Snowshoeing, skiing, and glacier tours.
  • Stargazing and aurora photography.
  • Hot springs adventures, such as Chena Hot Springs near Fairbanks.

Late Winter: March to Early April

• Weather: Temperatures begin to rise, ranging from 20°F to 40°F, with coastal regions warming faster than the interior.
• Daylight: Significant increases in daylight, with Anchorage seeing about 12 hours of light by late March.
• Scenery: Snow begins to melt in lower elevations, but higher elevations and glacier areas remain snow-covered.
• Unique Features:
  • The snow is denser, often called “spring snow,” making it easier for activities like sledding and skiing.
  • Opportunities for warm, sunny winter days with crisp snow.
  • Longer daylight hours make it easier to fit multiple activities into a single day.
• Challenges:
  • Roads may be icy in the mornings and slushy in the afternoons.
  • Melting snow can create less pristine landscapes in urban areas.
• Best Activities:
  • Late-season aurora chasing.
  • Ice cave explorations before they become unstable.
  • Wildlife viewing as animals begin to wake up more for the springtime.

General Winter Facts for Alaska

Winter Events: Events like the Iditarod Sled Dog Race (March) and Fur Rendezvous Festival (late February) can add unique experiences to a winter trip.

Northern Lights: Best viewed from September through mid-April, with peak activity in mid-winter.

Daylight Variation: The further north you go, the shorter the daylight hours in mid-winter. For example:
Fairbanks: ~4 hours at winter solstice.

Best Locations for Your Winter Elopement in Alaska

There are basically three main airports people fly into, Juneau, Fairbanks and Anchorage(my recommendation). Fairbanks is a very popular destination in the wintertime as it’s home to Chena Hotsprings, Borealis Basecamp and other iconic destinations for aurora viewing. Definitely worth hitting up if that’s. your vibe! I’m biased towards the Anchorage area because it allows a lot of flexibility in where you can drive to and explore just from that central location. You can go North or South from there and see so many gorgeous sights. You could road trip from Anchorage to February but I typically don’t recommend that if you aren’t comfortable with winter driving. If you want to see both then it wouldn’t hurt to hop a flight or the winter train to Fairbanks to finish out your trip. For traveling to Anchorage you’d fly into Ted Stevens International Airport and go from there.

Some of my favorite destinations near the Anchorage area for a winter elopement are:

1. Knik Glacier and/or Matanuska Glacier

These are the two easier glaciers to get to within the area and they never disappoint! Whether you’re feeling a helicopter flyout (both) or a hike (Matanuska), these two are great options for a winter elopement and aren’t too far away.

Knik Glacier is mostly accessible via helicopter and off-road vehicles or snow machines (if you’re feeling extra adventurous). The tour companies are about an hour ish outside of Anchorage in Palmer.

Matanuska Glacier is accessible via helicopter and snowmachine, but you can also hike in from a specific area if you’d rather go that route! This glacier is about 3 hours outside of Anchorage.

2. Hatcher Pass

Located just outside of Palmer, Hatcher Pass a beautiful snowy mountain area in the winter. We’re a little bit limited in exactly where we can go based on the snow, but if you’re snow sport lovers there is lots of backcountry skiing and snowboarding. The cross country trails are fun and groomed regularly. There are also a lot of easy pull off the road locations that are stunning. There’s also a little lodge (the quintessential Hatcher Pass Lodge) that’s such an iconic Alaska destination. They are very cautious about photographers being onsite without permission, so if you’re curious about how to include this location in your elopement day please inquire with them directly and let them know what your plans are. Hatcher Pass is about an hour and a half to two hours outside of Anchorage. There are lots of airbnbs and cabins nearby!

3. Eklutna Lake

This beautiful lake is just about an hour outside of Anchorage and is sunning year round. In the winter the roads do get a little hairy so I recommend driving with extreme caution. BUT if you’re looking for romantic woodsy mountain frozen lake vibes, this is a great choice that’s not too far and is really pretty.

What to do for your Winter Elopement: Fun Winter Activity Ideas

Outdoor Elopement Activities:

1. XC Skiing or Downhill Skiing
2. Snowshoeing
3. Helicopter Tour
4. S’mores & Fires
5. Stargazing & Aurora Borealis
6. Hottub
7. Side by Side or Snowmachine Somewhere
8. Dog Sledding

Indoor Elopement Activities:

1. Puzzles
2. Board, video or card games
3. Cooking
4. Bubble bath/hottub moments
5. Coffee and snuggles
6. Aurora Winter Train
7. Anchorage Museum

Sample Full Day Winter Elopement Timeline

With the limited daylight available during winter months having a strategic timeline plays a big part into your day. Here is an example for an early January sunrise/set with a helicopter fly out for a full day(12 ish hours) elopement.

7:30 Hair & Makeup Start
8:30 Photographer Arrive, photograph details
10:00 Hair & Makeup Done (timing depends on your artist)
Buffer time to eat something, relax for a bit, maybe snuggle on the couch with coffee?
Partner 1 get dressed and ready
Partner 2 get dressed and ready
10:15 Sunrise
First look sometime after if applicable
More buffer time for food, or relaxing activities
11:30 Leave to Heli company
12:00-3:30 Helicopter Tour (sunset in here after 3)
4:00 Return to Airbnb for food and hangs(Private chef, pizza, go to a restaurant, etc)
*Insert any other fun activities here*
7:00 Stargazing/Aurora watching/Campfire
8:30 End Coverage (Or later if we are swept away in the stars and lights!)

Obviously this is SO flexible and doesn’t have to include a helicopter tour and could include any plethora of other fun things that feel like you and your partner.

Stays for Your Winter Elopement in Alaska

Depending on where you’re going, here are some cool stays I handpicked for you in each destination! You can break this section down a few different ways: you can organize it by types of lodging, and include places across the state, or break it down into different regions of the state. HOW TO CHOOSE AN AIRBNB

Where to Stay in/near Anchorage

Girdwood Cabin with Sauna

I’ve been to this airbnb a couple of times now and it’s seriously such a cute spot. Perfect for getting ready with so much natural light, plenty of space to stay apart if you’re wanting to get ready separately and centrally located to the Girdwood Airport for heli tours and sooo many drivable destinations as well. Also, so many little restaurants near by.

Luxe Mountainside Chalet

This looks like such a gorgeous stay just outside of Anchorage. All the views, all the light, all the amenities.

Modern Loft

Gorgeous mountainside loft in Chugiak, just outside of Anchorage. Perfect views, spacious, and perfect for a group stay!

Where to Stay in Palmer/Wasilla

If you’re using any of these areas for getting ready and will have a photography present please reach out and make sure that is allowed. I try to only include ones I know allow it but sometimes ownership changes so it’s great to double check!

VRBO’s:

Riverside AK

This sweet little A-Frame is in the Butte near Palmer, Alaska and is very close to a couple helicopter companies, hiking opportunities, and other fun places to explore while you’re visiting. The open space and big windows let in lots of natural light and it’s so cozy to come back to at the end of the day for fireside snuggles and hot tub hangs. The views out the window are super pretty and it’s pretty private as well.

The Eagle’s Nest

This is a beautiful stay near Hatcher Pass and very close to the Parks Highway. It’s well lit, spacious, cozy and perfect to come back to at the end of a chilly day for a private dinner and games by the fire. So much pretty light for getting ready and gorgeous mountain views!

The Mountain View Chalet @ Abby’s Place

I haven’t personally stayed here but from the photos it looks AMAZING. Would be a perfect little getting ready spot with beautiful views and also for getting back to at the end of the day for cozy dinner vibes.

Where to Stay in Fairbanks

Borealis Basecamp

If you want a SUPER unique stay, then this place is for you! You’ll be staying in luxury igloos or cubes depending on your vibe and will have optimal views of starry skies and hopefully some EPIC northern lights! Truly such a cool destination outside of Fairbanks. Do keep in mind it’s a little ways out of town on winter driving roads.

Aurora Villa

This is another unique luxury stay that is perfect for aurora viewing. Beautiful accommodations for just the two of you or with a small group.

Treehouse Airbnb

I cannot get over how much I LOVE the looks of this place. It is on my personal list to visit some day but it would be PURE MAGIC for a getting ready location and elopement. Ahhh!!

How to Choose a Place to Stay for Your Winter Elopement

1. Prioritize Natural Light & Consider Indoor Lighting

Since daylight is scarce this time of year, look for large windows that let in plenty of natural light! South facing windows and less outside obstructions like trees, etc. outside help maximize daylight. Open indoor spaces with bright neutral walls are amazing at bouncing light around a space too. With the indoor lighting be sure there are well-lit areas for getting ready with soft warm light for a cozy ambiance.

2. Opt for Scenic Surroundings

Choose a location with nice outdoor views directly from the property. Whether that’s a sweeping landscape, cozy forest or something else, make sure it’s a view you want to see when you look out your window. This also helps avoid distracting outside spaces that might be visible through windows in your photos.

3. Look for Unique Architectural Features

Choose a property with unique elements like lofts, A-frame cabins, treehouses, fireplaces, or other similar things adds to the aesthetic and overall feel of your day. These features provide interesting backdrops for your photos! High ceilings and open floor plans are really nice as well.

4. Check Distance from other Destinations

You don’t want a ton of drive time bogging down your trip or your elopement day,so make sure that the place you’re considering is within 20-30 minutes of your other destination if not closer(especially if multiple destinations).

5. Think About Nighttime Photography

Choose a location with minimal light pollution for capturing the Northern Lights or starry skies if that’s important to you. We can totally go offsite for these, but there is nothing quite like just being able to step outside for the photos and warming up inside in-between shots.

6. Make Sure You Have Permission to Have Vendors Onsite

A lot of stays are very picky about this so it’s SUPER important to be on the same page and let them know what you have planned. Ensuring you have permission to have your vendors there is crucial to making sure you don’t have any surprises on the day of with hosts showing up or asking questions.

Your Local Alaska Photographer

As a born and raised Alaska I’m very familiar with Alaskan winters and walking my couples through the process. I’m a open book for recommendations, am always prioritizing safety and watching the weather like a hawk!

If this is sounding up your alley, you can see some of my elopement packages here! I would be THRILLED to chat with you about maing this a reality!

Final Alaska Winter Travel and Elopement Tips

This article from Alaska Travel has a TON of great tips and I don’t want to repeat a ton of what they’ve got, so definitely take a look at it!

Dress in Layers: Wear moisture-wicking base layers, insulated mid-layers, and a waterproof, windproof outer layer to stay warm. If you’re going from building to car to building you don’t need quite as much, but if you’re recreating outside, then def some variation of those layers. ALSO super important to have warm layers in your car incase of a breakdown or accident.

Plan for Limited Daylight: Winter days are short, so plan activities and travel around available daylight hours. Our shortest days are around 4 hours (in places where you’d likely be traveling).

Check Road Conditions: Be aware of icy roads and potential closures. I definitely recommend renting a 4WD vehicle. You can join several traffic groups like Seward Highway Report, Glenn Highway Report and Parks Highway Reports to keep an eye on any accidents. Also, even if you know how to get to where you’re going, it doesn’t hurt to check maps because sometimes it updates realtime if there are road closures.

Prepare for Delays: Weather can be unpredictable, so allow extra time for flights or driving. Also, cancellations and reschedules due to weather can be common, but most tour places are very accommodating.

Pack Winter Essentials: Bring hand warmers, traction cleats, and a headlamp for outdoor activities.

Book Activities in Advance: Popular winter activities like dog sledding and northern lights tours may fill up quickly.

Know Your Limitations: Plan activities that match your cold tolerance and experience with winter conditions. Also, don’t be afraid to call it if a drive is feeling particularly sketchy and you need to turn back.

Don’t forget you need an officiant and one witness! I can be your officiant or your witness if you already have one. I do a super simple legal ceremony and include it in my package free of charge!

FAQ’s About Winter Elopements

What month is best for a winter wedding?

Alaska’s winter lasts from usually November-early April and the ideal months to come will depend on what all you want to do. February and March tend to be popular months with the more ‘temperate’ weather and the high potential for really good Northern Lights (granted this is a factor all year round) and later winter from March to April is more break-up feeling. So I would say aiming for mid winter is a great place to start!

What do we wear for a winter elopement/how do we stay warm?

First off, your attire is really important to consider. If you’re wearing a really tight dress or suit, it’s going to be hard to wear warm base layers underneath, so take that into consideration when you’re choosing what style. Also, avoid cotton if at all possible because cotton is not a great winter layer at all. If you want more details on why you should avoid cotton when possible, check out this blog.

To put together your perfect winter elopement outfit you will need:

Under your attire: Merino wool base layers
Over your attire: Fur shawl, wool sweaters/cardigans, faux or fur coats, neutral puffy coats with wind breakers, heavy wool coats
Accessories: Winter Gloves (these’ Give’r gloves are my GO TO favorites, I have the frontier mittens, you can even customize them and add your initials or even reach out and have them add your wedding date too! Use code DONNAMARIE for 15% off) ear muffs, wool or polyester hats
Footwear: Socks & boots, I really like Smart Wool, WigWam and Darn Tough for socks, and Sorel, Kodiak and Danners for boots. But definitely opt for something that offers support, warmth and if it’s a concern: that photographs well
Extras: Hand and body warmers

Ororo has some nifty heated attire too that I think would be sooo nice for a winter elopement. Especially if you live in an area that gets wintery at all so that you can still wear it after Alaska, haha!

Giver Glove in Action! These are the Frontier Mittens!

How much does it cost to Elope in Alaska?
Travel and Transportation: Ranges between $1,000–$2,500 for both roundtrip flights from the lower 48 and a 4WD vehicle for a week.

Accommodation: Winter accommodations range $1,000–$3,000 for a week, from cozy cabins ($150/night) to luxury stays ($400+/night), depending on location and amenities.

Photography: There are photographers in all budgets, but a top of the line super experienced elopement photographer will fall within the $6,000-15,000 range.

Activities and Adventures: Tour costs and activities range drastically from $150 for a dog sled tour to $3000+ for a helicopter tour, so budget your activities in accordingly. $500–$7,000

Attire and Accessories: The range for this is so drastic I don’t think I can give realistic numbers. Men’s suits often range up from $300 and wedding dresses from Lulu’s can be $150+ or from a designer $1000-3000+.

Hair and Makeup: An experienced hair and makeup artist with travel fees often ranges betwen $300–$700 for both hair and makeup.

Florals: A bouquet + boutonniere or pocket square is often between $550-800ish dollars depending on what kinds of flowers you’re really wanted.

Officiant or Permits: If you’re hiring an officiant then between $300–$600 usually. Most helicopter pilots perform ceremonies for their tours and I can also sign as your officiant and perform are very simple ceremony free of charge.

Food and Drink: For your elopement day itself it really depends on what you want to eat. If you’re hiring a private chef likely $14000 minimum, if you’re going out to eat or picking up a meal then $200–400 depending on your taste.

Meals for a week: $300–$500 for groceries or takeout.

Alaska Winter Elopement Inspiration and More Elopement Planning Resources

Long story short, Alaska in the winter can be truly magical, it just takes a little elbow grease to properly plan and prepare. I highly recommend a solid local vendor team who is familiar with the weather and a 4WD vehicle and you’ll be in good hands and rolling on good wheels!

Winter not it for ya? Here’s a fall elopement if that’s more your vibe!

Want some more in-depth information on How to Elope in Alaska in general? I’ve gotchu!

Winter Elopement Packing List

If you want the ultimate elopement packing list, sign up below for the deets!

And, here are some of my travel favorites to make your life easier.

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