Adventure Elopement on Remote Island in Seward’s Resurrection Bay, Alaska. This unforgettable experience was beautifully captured by your truly, an Alaska elopement photographer.
If you’re dreaming of an unforgettable experience, working with me as your elopement photographer can help make your adventure truly memorable.
As far as adventure elopements go in Alaska, Seward is a top notch destination. If the seemingly endless Resurrection Bay filled with towering rock spires, animals, and glaciers is not enough, you can land on a remote island that is completely uninhabited. In that spot, you can be the only humans where you say “I do.” This adventurous Alaskan elopement with family checked all those boxes and more!
THE COUPLE
Meet Amber and Jake, first loves, they came all the way from Texas to make it forever. They had planned this special day nearly a year in advance. Jake, the lover of Alaska, was the one who decided most of the details for our shoot, like where to go. Seward was the unanimous decision. I agreed 100%, as it is one of my favorite Alaskan destinations to photograph, regardless of the weather. Every time I work as an Alaska elopement photographer in Seward, it feels like magic.
A SPECIAL PACKAGE AWAITS
Some things just aren’t calculated into the elopement plans, but a wonderful gift all the same, Amber was pregnant by the time their special day was previously scheduled. She definitely had that glow about her, but was also less involved in the planning and relaxed about the whole trip and letting Jake take over. However as the day approached, her excitement grew. She called me to add on a polaroid package. Every elopement photoshoot comes with a few polaroids, but she added on the full polaroid package. This is 40 shots that come in a custom box with your name. It’s a really special package if you’re looking for that little something extra on your big day!
MISTY MORNINGS
Going on a boat trip in Resurrection Bay is an all day affair so we started out early when the fog over the sea rolled in. Here I captured these stunning shots of Amber walking under the pier in her gown as the background was a milky white mist. We got ready and did first touch on the docks before hopping on board for the day.
RESURRECTION BAY
Once out to sea it’s a long, gorgeous boat trip taking in the various sights of the bay with hanging glaciers in far off peaks dusted with fog. Bird and sea life are so abundant in the area we were keeping our eyes out for whales and seals and sea lions on islands that we passed. Little sprigs of rocks jetting out of the water, often with just one or two trees sitting atop its harsh vast environment. Photographing a bride and groom onboard among these pillars and caverns is always a magical experience. If you hire an Alaska elopement photographer, they will know the best places and moments to capture during these unforgettable views.
WEATHER OR KNOT
Seward is one of those ecosystems where harsh weather rolls in and can stay a while, even weeks. It is important to note that Alaska is kind of like that and to take with the Irish expression that rain on your wedding means good luck. Well, so can mist and fog, or a more mellow overcast day. The filtered light sure makes the photos a bit more whimsical and for the sake of science, when the sky is muted and not a blistering sun, snowy peaks and the blue glacier ice truly puts on a chromatic show. I think some of the best days on the water in all of Alaska are just like this. Instead of wishing for a sunny warm day, this was quintessentially Alaskan with some of the most beautiful colors enhanced against a more dismal sky. It was perfect.
GLACIER AHOY!
One of the pit stops on this tour was to swing in next to a massive glacier and do an on board photoshoot! One of the main themes of adventure elopements is making sure to capture the epic scenery we set out to find, and getting the couple in front of it! After I climbed up above the cabin and took some shots looking down at Amber and Jake, we highlighted both them and the awesome glacier in this portion of their couples shoot. And here we did lots of pictures with the family, which was comprised of a small entourage of their immediate close family; parents and siblings.
PRIVATE CEREMONY
Talk about the seclusion of the last frontier, here we basically pointed to an island and once taking to land the entire vast place was ours alone. A perfect remote beach wedding for Amber and Jake to say their vows and announce to their family and to Mother Nature that they wish to be together forever. Amber even did a traditional walk up to the altar with her father and some touches of a traditional wedding ceremony details with happy emotions all around! An Alaska elopement photographer can document every moment in these unique locations.
We wrapped up with some couples photos on land and took in the scenery to spread out and enjoy the stoney beach. Not exactly what most people think of when explaining their dreamy beach elopement, but for Jake and the Alaska loving crew, this was exactly where they wanted to be. Eventually we all made our way back to civilization and Amber and Jake exited the vessel as husband and wife.
ELOPEMENT DO’S & DONT’S
Do… Have fun – Don’t… Stress! There’s no wrong way to elope, that’s the beauty of it. This is especially true when going on such a gorgeous adventure together in Alaska and in life. You can be boujee, you can be wild, you can bring family or be alone, you can be on a boat or remote island or the courthouse. There is no limit to how much you choose to plan and bring in traditional wedding offerings or do a simple photoshoot. You can even wear rubber boots!
CHELSA JAY | WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
I hope this inspires you to dream up your ideal elopement experience and to find a place that holds meaning to you both, near or far from home, keeping those personal touches while making new memories. I can’t wait to capture those for you to cherish for a lifetime. If you would like to know more about me and what I do, click here. Let’s plan your adventure elopement now, I would love to tag along!
