Alaska Glacier Elopement Guide
Alaska has this way of making you feel impossibly small and completely alive at the same time. And nowhere does that feeling hit harder than when you’re standing on a glacier — blue ice stretching out in every direction, the whole world quiet except for the creak and drip of something ancient melting beneath your feet.
If you’ve been dreaming of eloping somewhere that doesn’t look like anything you’ve seen on Pinterest before, a glacier elopement in Alaska might be exactly what you’re after. This Alaska glacier elopement guide covers the six best glaciers to elope on, what you actually need to do legally, which helicopter and float plane companies operate where, and a few bonus locations if you want glacier views without the ice boots.
If you want the bigger-picture Alaska elopement overview first, start here — or check out the best places to elope in Alaska for more location inspiration.
The Six Best Glaciers for an Alaska Elopement
1. Mendenhall Glacier — Juneau, Southeast Alaska
Mendenhall is probably the most-photographed glacier in Alaska, and for good reason. You can see it from the road, which makes it uniquely accessible — but couples who want to get on it book a helicopter flight out to the ice. The combination of cerulean-blue melt pools, dramatic crevasses, and the towering face of the glacier visible from the lakeshore makes for images that are genuinely hard to replicate anywhere else.
I live 15 minutes from the Mendenhall Glacier, and I’ve photographed elopements out here more times than I can count, and it never gets old! See what a Mendenhall glacier helicopter elopement actually looks like.
Best for: Couples who want classic Alaska glacier vibes with reliable access and a full range of ceremony backdrops, or couples looking to elope during their Alaska cruise. Season: Late April through early October (helicopter companies are seasonal — see operators below). Access: Helicopter from Juneau. Walk-up access to the lakeshore is available year-round, but helicopter landings on the glacier are seasonal. Permits: Tongass National Forest — coordinate through your helicopter operator or an elopement planner who holds a glacier elopement permit.
Helicopter operators:
- Coastal Helicopters (My top pick – They are the primary company that offers glacier weddings in Juneau, and they always go above and beyond)
- TEMSCO Helicopters
- NorthStar Trekking
Elopement Planners and Coordinators:
- Alaska Weddings on Ice Owned by Melissa McCormick
- I Do Alaska Weddings Owned by Linda Wendeborn
2. Herbert Glacier — Juneau, Southeast Alaska
Herbert is Mendenhall’s less-crowded sister glacier, accessible only by helicopter. When you land on Herbert, you’re not sharing it with a cruise ship crowd — it’s just you, your pilot, and a glacier that feels like it belongs entirely to you for the next hour.
The exposed blue ice here is stunning, and I love shooting here in the soft morning light of early summer. Here’s a real Herbert glacier elopement so you can see what the day actually feels like.
Best for: Couples who want more privacy and a raw, unpolished glacier feel. Season: Late April through early October (seasonal, same as Mendenhall operators). Access: Helicopter from Juneau only. Permits: Tongass National Forest — coordinate through your operator.
Helicopter operators: Same Juneau companies as above.
Planners and Coordinators: Same companies as above.
3. Matanuska Glacier — Glacier View, Southcentral Alaska
At 27 miles long, Matanuska is the largest road-accessible glacier in the United States, and the fact that you can drive right up to the edge of it is honestly kind of wild. It sits about 2.5 hours northeast of Anchorage, which makes it very doable as a day trip, or you can base yourself in the Matanuska-Susitna valley for a slower, more immersive experience.
Access is through licensed operators and tour guides only — the surrounding land is privately managed, and that’s what keeps it from being overrun and what keeps the landscape safe and clean.
Best for: Couples who want a dramatic, large-scale glacier without the big helicopter price tag (though heli options are available too), or those who want to build a multi-day elopement in the Matanuska Valley. Season: Year-round, though summer (May–September) offers the best conditions for exploring on foot. Access: Drive from Anchorage + licensed operator access. Helicopter tours and charters are also available.
Operators:
4. Knik Glacier — Palmer, Southcentral Alaska
Knik is one of the most jaw-dropping glacier landscapes in Southcentral Alaska. It’s helicopter-access only, departing from Palmer (about 45 minutes from Anchorage), and what you find when you land is this otherworldly combination of towering ice walls, impossibly blue melt pools, and iceberg-dotted Lake George in the distance.
Fangzhou and Jinsong chose Knik for their elopement, and we had the whole glacier to ourselves. if you’ve seen images floating around of a glacier with those incredible cerulean blue pools, there’s a good chance it was shot on the Knik Glacier.
Best for: Couples who want a true remote, untouched-feeling glacier with dramatic formations and beautiful blue ice pools. Season: Year-round helicopter access, though summer offers the most blue ice and accessible terrain. Access: Helicopter from Palmer area. Operators:
- Outbound Heli Adventures (My personal recommendation. They’re specialists in Knik, offer glacier paddleboarding and custom multi-landing adventures)
- Alaska Helicopter Tours
- Greatland Adventures
- HeliAlaska
5. Spencer Glacier — Chugach National Forest, Southcentral Alaska
Spencer doesn’t get nearly enough credit. You used to be able to reach it by taking the Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery Train out of Anchorage or Girdwood to the iceburg-filled lake and then going on a guided hike. However, Ground-level access to walk directly onto Spencer Glacier changed in 2024. helicopter access is now the primary way to actually get on the ice. On Spencer, you can request to land close to the glacier’s face, and you’ll get epic views of the lake and the icebergs from the glacier itself, like the views from Mary and Samuel’s Alyeska Wedding.
Best for: Couples who want a truly remote elopement with a truly cinematic view, or couples who are pairing an epic adventure with a luxury stay at Alyeska Resort. Season: Late spring through early fall. Access: Helicopter from Girdwood.
Operators:
- Alpine Air Alaska — helicopter access to Spencer; based in Girdwood
- Chugach Adventures — partners with Alpine Air for heli-glacier packages, including kayaking and rafting
6. Ruth Glacier — Alaska Range, Interior Alaska
Ruth is in a category of its own. Located deep in the Alaska Range near Denali, you fly in by ski plane from Talkeetna. When the plane crests the ridge, and you see the Great Gorge spread out below you, nothing in your life will have prepared you for it. Ruth is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve left Earth.
This one requires more planning, a higher budget, and a special use permit from the National Park Service (~$200). But for the couples who want the most remote, untouched, grandest glacier experience in Alaska, it’s no competition.
Best for: Couples who want once-in-a-lifetime, ultra-remote, truly unforgettable. The kind of elopement people will talk about for decades. Season: Year-round, though May–September offers the best weather windows. Access: Ski plane from Talkeetna. Permits: Denali National Park special use permit required — apply at least 10 days in advance via NPS.gov. Operators:
- Sheldon Air Service
- K2 Aviation
- Bonus luxury option: Sheldon Chalet — a remote mountain hut on the glacier available by exclusive booking
The Legal Stuff (Simplified)
Alaska marriage laws are actually pretty straightforward, which is one more reason it’s a great place to elope.
Marriage license: $60, issued by the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics. You can apply in person at a Vital Statistics office or by mail with notarized signatures. The license has a 3-day mandatory waiting period from the time of application, and it’s valid for 90 days, so you’ll want to arrive in Alaska at least 4 days before your ceremony date, or hire a planner or coordinator who knows what they’re doing.
Officiant options: You need someone legally authorized to perform the ceremony. Your options include ordained ministers, judges and magistrates, or (and this is the one most couples use for elopements) a marriage commissioner. Anyone 18+ can be appointed as a marriage commissioner by an Alaska court for a $25 fee, for a specific date and location. (Important 2025 update: officiant ordainment documentation is now required when applying for your license, so confirm this is sorted before you arrive.)
Witnesses: You only need one witness. That can be your photographer (oh, hey there!) or whoever you’ve brought along, but not your officiant.
Paperwork: Your officiant is responsible for returning your signed marriage certificate to Vital Records within 7 days of the ceremony.
What to Wear on a Glacier
Glaciers are usually about 10–20°F colder than the surrounding area. In Juneau that might mean 45°F on the ice in July. In the Alaska Range in May, it might mean well below freezing. Layer intentionally.
The practical stuff: all helicopter and ski plane operators will outfit you with either glacier boots (overboots that go on top of your shoes) or crampons.
- Wear flat-soled shoes or boots that fit easily under overboots. The glacier is uneven, and you do not want to twist your ankle and miss out on exploring the glacier.
- Bring sunglasses (especially on sunny days).
- Pack warm layers, regardless of what the forecast says. I suggest hand and foot warmers, and skin-colored fleece-lined leggings.
For the aesthetic: I help all my couples think through what to wear during our planning process, and I promise it’s more doable than it sounds.
- flowy dresses work beautifully for hiking and jumping over glacier streams.
- Add a coat, a cape, or a shawl for warmth.
- Suits photograph beautifully on ice, you can even find wool and lined suits to help keep warm.
When to Go
Peak season (May–September) is when all the glaciers are accessible and helicopter companies are running. However, helicopter companies book up fast during peak season, so I suggest calling as far in advance as possible.
Shoulder season (April and early October) can be beautiful if you have flexibility around weather. Glacier access starts late April with some helicopter companies, and things wind down in October. Matanuska and Knik are accessible year-round.
Winter (November–March): Juneau glacier helicopter tours are not operating during this season. Helicopter companies close for the winter, and some only pause tourism and switch gears to focus on partnerships with emergency medical or research organizations. Matanuska Glacier stays accessible through licensed operators and is genuinely stunning under snow. Ruth and Knik have winter possibilities depending on conditions and operators.
Why You Need a Local Photographer Who Knows This Terrain
Glacier elopements aren’t like venue weddings. The logistics involve weight limits (every person on your flight gets weighed), weather windows, pilot judgment calls, permit timing, and backup plans for when the clouds roll in (and in Alaska, they often do).
A photographer who has done this before, who knows the operators, understands the landscape, and has a real backup plan, makes the whole thing possible without it being stressful.
I’ve been photographing glacier elopements in Alaska for years. I know which operators are great to work with, which wedding vendors work with glacier elopements, and how to build a day that still feels wild and spontaneous even when there’s a lot of logistics running quietly in the background.
If a glacier elopement is calling your name —let’s talk.
Planning an Alaska glacier elopement and not sure where to start? I’d love to help you figure out which glacier makes sense for you, what time of year fits your vision, and how to make the whole thing feel easy.
Send me a message here — I’m always happy to talk through ideas before you’re ready to book.
Frequently Asked Questions
For summer dates, especially in Juneau where helicopter spots fill quickly, 6–12 months out is ideal. For shoulder season, 3–6 months is often workable.
Yes, with some limits. Helicopter capacity is typically 4–6 passengers per aircraft, so larger groups require multiple helicopters. Knik Glacier operators can accommodate groups up to about 50.
The weather is the one thing nobody can control in Alaska. Glacier days get rescheduled or pivoted, and having a backup location you actually love is an essential part of the planning.
Most glacier elopement packages run 2–3 hours total including ground transportation, safety briefing, flight, and time on the glacier. Custom packages can be longer. However, only 20 minutes of this are usually spent on the ice. I highly, HIGHLY recommend booking additional time if you have the option. 20 minutes go by in the blink of an eye.
It depends on the glacier. Tongass and Chugach National Forest locations typically have permits managed through your operator. Denali (Ruth Glacier) requires a separate NPS permit (~$200). Ask your photographer and operator — this shouldn’t fall through the cracks.
Considering Eloping in Alaska?
I’d love to be considered as your Alaska elopement photographer! Simply fill out the contact form to get started!
Hey there, I’m Sierra! I’m your photographer, travel guide, and biggest fangirl. When you work with me, you can expect to dance, run, piggyback, motorboat, swear, laugh, and get messy. So what I’m saying is: wear comfortable shoes, throw the rulebook away, and don’t take life too seriously (none of us get out alive).
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