Here is a look at Hannah & Matt’s Adventure elopement with a flight over one of Alaska’s most beautiful lakes, nestled in the Chugach Mountain Range. These mountains are breathtakingly rugged, and their untouched beauty creates the perfect backdrop for such a unique Alaskan elopement experience.
A True Alaskan Adventure
Have you ever found yourself fresh off a private bush plane in Alaska’s rural Chugach Mountains alongside a turquoise glacial lake, drinking a $1000 bottle of whiskey and kissing your lover while saying wedding vows? Let me introduce Hannah and Matt; the fun-loving power couple who invited me along to photograph their Alaskan adventure elopement.
Where it all began…
Both the bride and the groom had admitted to me on separate occasions about their time in Colorado when they each felt like they had retired from the idea of a chance at romance. She figured she would live out her days alone and loveless as a salty old sea witch (she is a commercial fisherman by trade) until Matt walked into the bar where she was working and she handed him her number. The rest was history.
They both said it was love at first sight, and the instant connection blazed a flame through their aforementioned ideals of retiring love. In fact, in that short time, they had decided this hot burning new love was intense and passionate enough to uproot their lives and head to Alaska, just the two of them and their dog. This is where I come in. I got the call from Hannah, who announced her and Matt’s exciting plans to do an adventure elopement. I was honored and thrilled that she chose me to come along on this epic adventure!
They booked a private bush plane chartered through Nick’s Air Service out of Chugiak and flew over Eklutna Lake to land on the back airstrip of a remote and private beach. This location is set in the Chugach Mountain Range at the shores of an alpine lake with high precipices towering above in all directions as far as the eye can see. It is absolutely breathtaking.
Alaska: The perfect backdrop for an autumn elopement
The day of the flight was glorious, a crisp September day in perfect timing for the autumn leaves to turn without blowing away as they sometimes can this time of year. The yellow, orange, and evergreen tones were abundant through the season-changing landscape, with the slightest dusting of snow in the tallest far-off peaks. The lake was, as always, a rare silt-colored turquoise that resonates well with a warm palette. The sky was dusky, with a thin layer of fog hanging near us that came and went throughout the day, enough to titillate the autumn scenery in Alaska but not obscure the breathtaking surroundings.
It’s all in the details
The couple came prepared for a day dedicated to them and what matters most for this special Alaskan elopement, including a dapper, almost vintage ensemble that perfectly matched their personality and the landscape. Hannah wore an elegant long cream dress with bell sleeves and a pearl necklace. Accessorizing with 1920’s style explorers’ boots and a fur shawl that matched perfectly with Matt’s all brown suit and leather shoes. The forget-me-not (Alaska state flower) pin on the shawl was a piece very sentimental to Hannah thus an essential part of their elopement and important to capture in the images for her to remember in the future.
Something I highly recommend all brides and couples do; is to find clothing, jewelry, props, and other unique items that they want to have memorialized in the photos of their special day. This gorgeous brown fur wrap was that piece for our elopement bride, and she clasped it together with a forget-me-knot broach to match the clips in her hair. I couldn’t help but think how comfortable they looked in the landscape since just recently moving to the 49th state, but this adventure elopement had autumn in Alaska vibes, and they matched it.
I was swooning over the eucalyptus leaf and sunflower bouquet arrangement, which came from Anchorage florist Natasha Price with Paper Peony, complimented the fall hues surrounding us. The bright pops of color brought a freshness to the landscape, which was slowly receding into a sleepy hibernation.
Your Elopement can be however you want it to be!
Even more warmth was brought to the table, aka the aircraft’s tail fin, from that high-end and sentimental bottle of whisky that had come with them and was sipped throughout the shoot. I think it is important for the bride and groom to be as authentic as possible during any photography session. You need to keep the day true to you so when you look back at your images they feel authentic and real! Sometimes, that can be hard with the distractions of a large group, which is why I adore my remote Alaska elopements but also the type of people it attracts. If you want more tips on how to make your elopement more “true to you,” feel free to reach out, and we can make it happen!
Hannah and Matt were sipping whisky the entire afternoon, which loosened up any inhibitions. When the champagne popped, it really felt like a party for the two of them, with just the pilot and me to admire the celebration. They ended up getting a little, appropriately, tipsy, and this led to us really seeing into their love a bit more intimately. Cheers to doing what you want on your wedding day!
Just hire me: Your professional third wheel that will watch you makeout
Of course, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Smitten, kissing, and hugging which made for several great elopement photos but it was palpable and incredibly obvious how deeply in love they are. Their inspiring, fresh romance had a buzzing energy that was fun to capture and incredibly cute to watch while Matt fawned over his bride. He had the most sentimental look in his eyes as he said the vows and hung on Hannah’s every word when she said hers. Meanwhile, just as genuine and loving, Hannah was a bit more of a jokester, and as the drinks kept flowing, we all kept laughing, and they kept kissing. Definitely my kind of party.
The gallery, which I was delighted to capture as their wedding photographer, contains all the love, sentiment, jokes, and everything else that summed up Matt and Hannah’s Alaskan elopement. Some of my favorites were pictures down on the lake of them being playful and others when I captured their embrace through the plane windows.
The highlight was likely after it was all said and done. As bride and groom, we flew off from the beach where they had said, “I do.” Their love was the most apparent as Matt held his now-wife, and we called it a wrap.
Thanks again Hannah and Matt for sharing your special day and all the laughs that went along with it. This was indeed an epic adventure and an autumn Alaskan elopement to remember!
Chelsa Jay | Alaska Wedding Photographer
I hope these tips help you when planning your dream destination wedding! Want me to capture your day? I would be more than happy to help you create memories that you will cherish for many years to come. If you want to learn more about me and what I do, click here! CAN’T wait to hear from you and the ideas you have for your dream wedding!
