Seward is one of my favorite places to visit during the summer in Alaska, and with good reason. Between all the cute shops and restaurants that make up downtown and the many nature filled trails that are just begging to be explored there is so much to see and do in this city. Which makes it the perfect place for an elopement. In this guide I’ll be sharing with you tips and tricks on how you too can elope in Seward, Alaska!
A quick breakdown on what I will be covering inside this guide.
- The best time of year to elope in Seward, Alaska
- What to bring with you for your elopement
- Places you can stay
- Different elopement locations in Seward
- How to make sure your ceremony is legal
- Fun activities you can do when you elope in Alaska
- Ways to include your family and friends in your elopement
- How to maximize your time and create a timeline for your day
Best time of year to elope in Seward, Alaska
Like many places in Alaska, Seward is easiest to explore during the summer months. (May- September) This is when temperatures are in the mid to upper 60’s keeping it cool yet comfortable for all of your outdoor adventures. Most of the time you won’t even need to wear a jacket until the sun goes down!
What to pack
Heres a list of items I recommend bringing with you for your elopement in Seward, Alaska
- Bug spray and sunscreen
- light jacket
- sunglasses
- waterproof boots or shoes
- elopement attire
- hygiene products
- backpack
- invitations and or vow books
- rings and jewelry
Places to stay
Since summer tends to be the most popular time of year for people to visit Seward so you’ll want to make sure you book your stay ahead of time. Some places will book 6-12 months in advance so the sooner you plan your adventure the more options you’ll have to choose from. Some of my favorite places to stay in Seward are; Salted Roots Cabins, Resurrection Lodge, Shearwater cove, and the Seward Windsong Lodge.
Elopement locations in Seward Alaska
There is no shortage of beautiful scenery to see and explore when you elope in Seward, Alaska. Whether your looking to say I do while out sea or up on a glacier theres a magical place here for you. Some of my favorite locations include; Millers Landing, Resurrection Bay, Exit Glacier and Salted Roots Cabins.
How to have a legal elopement ceremony in Seward, Alaska
The process for getting a marriage license is pretty simple. You can either apply in person or online. Once you’ve finished your application you’ll need to pay the $60 fee and then wait the required 3 days. After that you’ll be able to pick up your license which is good for 90 days once in hand.
During your ceremony you’ll need to have an officiant and one witness present. If this doesn’t quite fit right into your plans you can always do a mock style ceremony after going through the legal portion elsewhere.
Unique activities you can do to celebrate
Remember that eloping is a celebration and that the celebration is all about the two of you! When you decide to elope you can completely customize how you want your day to look and how you want it to feel. So if you want a day filled with adventures made just for you I think that you are going to love eloping in Seward.
Some of my favorite activities that my couples have taken during their elopements are; helicopter tours, sailboat charters, horse back riding adventures, sea planes, hiking, and kayak tours.
Ways to include your family and friends in your elopement
Whether you decide to celebrate this day with just one another or while surrounded by family and friends that decision remains completely up to you. There are many different reasons why you may or may not want other present on your day and that’s completely okay. My job as your photographer is to not only to take photos but to also support you through your entire elopement journey.
But if you do decide that you want your people to be present with you during your elopement here is a list of ways you can include them.
- Bring them on a unique adventure
- Party with them after
- Make it a family vacation
- Have them apart of your ceremony
How to maximize time during your elopement
Creating a timeline is a great way to maximize your time during your elopement. This will allow you to set aside chunks of time throughout your day so that you ensure that you get to experience the whole day from start to finish. This step is typically done with either an elopement planner or photographer and is finalized about a month before your elopement.
Example timelines you can use!
6 hour elopement timeline
4pm – Photographer arrives at airbnb for finishing touches on getting ready photos
5pm – First look photos at airbnb overlooking the coast
5:30pm – Head to ceremony location at a beach location nearby
6pm- Begin ceremony and take couples portraits after
6:30pm – Couples portraits around the beach + forest nearby
8:30 pm – Wrap up sunset photos + pizza dinner on the beach
10pm – Party wraps up
8 Hour elopement timeline
1:30 pm – Photographer arrives at airbnb for finishing touches on getting ready photos
3:30pm – First look photos at airbnb overlooking the coast
3:30pm – Head to ceremony location at a beach location nearby
4pm – Begin ceremony 5:00pm- Family photos + Toasts with family
5:30pm – Couples portraits around the beach + forest nearby
7:00 pm – Wrap up portraits at beach
7:30pm – Dinner with family back at the airbnb
9:30pm – Party wraps up
You too can elope in Seward, Alaska!
No matter how you decide to elope in Seward, Alaska I just hope that your day is all that you’re dreaming of and more. If your need a little bit of assistance while planning your special day I am more than happy to be a sounding board for you.
As a photographer I love inspiring, educating and supporting my couples throughout their entire elopement experience. If you’ve decided that eloping in Alaska is something you’d like to learn more about then take a look at some more resources on my blog.
