Capturing Dream Weddings in the Last Frontier
After filming over 200 weddings across Alaska’s breathtaking landscapes, I have a few things to share with future Alaska Bride and Grooms. Firstly, congrats on deciding to swap your vows in this amazing landscape – that in itself is a testament to your adventurous spirit and resolve – all good things for a successful marriage. Secondly, there are no two Alaska Weddings alike – but each is spectalucar and each Alaska Bride and Groom takes with them stories to relive for a lifetime. With our Videography, we help those moments come to life for you over time and also for friends and family. From intimate elopements on glaciers to grand celebrations under the Midnight Sun, each wedding I film tells a unique story of couples brave enough to embrace Alaska’s wild beauty for their special day.
Here’s what I’ve learned about planning your perfect Alaskan wedding:
Choosing Your Perfect Alaskan Venue Let me tell you about some of my favorite spots to film.
Last summer, I captured a wedding at a rustic lodge near Denali for a bride and groom from California. The way the evening light filtered through the tall windows, casting a golden glow on their first dance – pure magic. Another breathtaking wedding took place at a waterfront venue in Seward. Just as the bride and groom said their vows, a pod of orcas surfaced in the background. You can’t script moments like that! (Josiah to insert whatever experiences spring to mind that are real)
From my experience filming in every corner of this state, I’ve noticed that each type of venue offers something special:
- Rustic Lodges: When I’m filming at places like Talkeetna Lodge or Alyeska Resort, I love capturing those cozy moments – guests gathered around roaring fireplaces, the warm wooden interiors creating this intimate atmosphere that just glows on camera. One of my favorite shots is when the couple steals a quiet moment on a lodge balcony, surrounded by towering mountains.
- Waterfront Venues: Nothing beats the natural soundtrack of gentle waves and the drama of mountain backdrops.
- Intimate Small Town Settings: Some of my most memorable weddings have been in places like Girdwood or Hope. These small communities have this authentic Alaskan charm that adds such character to wedding films.
Planning Around Alaska’s Unique Seasons
After filming weddings here year-round for the past decade, I’ve learned that each season offers its own cinematic magic. Let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like capturing those endless summer evenings or the ethereal dance of the Northern Lights.
Summer Midnight Sun Celebrations:
As a videographer, the Midnight Sun is both a gift and a challenge. That golden light seems to last forever, giving me incredible opportunities for dreamy footage. Pro tip: I always tell my couples to schedule their ceremony for around 6 PM in summer. The light is pure magic then, and we have hours of perfect filming conditions for portraits afterward.
Winter Weddings Under the Northern Lights:
These are some of my most requested bookings, and for good reason. I’ve captured some absolutely breathtaking moments with the aurora dancing overhead during late-night celebrations. Though I have to tell you – filming in -20°F requires some serious gear preparation! I remember one February wedding where I had to keep swapping camera batteries every 30 minutes because of the cold. But when you get that perfect shot of a couple’s first dance with the Northern Lights swirling above them? Worth every frozen finger.
Spring and Fall Transitions:
These seasons keep me on my toes! Alaska’s weather is always changeable but never more so than during Spring and Fall. I recommend to Alaska Brides to bring layers and in the same way I always pack multiple camera setups because the weather can change in minutes. Last September, I started filming a ceremony under blue skies, and within an hour, we had a magical soft snowfall during the portraits. Those unexpected moments often make for the most stunning footage.
Outdoor Activities and Adventure Sessions:
One of my favorite parts of being an Alaska wedding videographer is capturing the adventurous spirit of our couples. I’ve filmed helicopter landings on glaciers, dog sledding first looks, and even a surprise proposal during a whale watching tour.
Let me tell you about this incredible session from last summer: The couple wanted to do their engagement video at Portage Glacier. We took a boat across the lake at sunrise, and as we approached the ice cave, the morning light was creating these incredible blue reflections. The look on their faces when they first saw it – that’s the kind of authentic moment I live to capture.
Wildlife encounters make for amazing footage too, though they definitely keep me alert! I’ve had to pause filming for moose crossing the ceremony site and once had a curious fox photobomb the couple’s first look. These unplanned moments often become the highlights of their wedding films.
Stories From Behind the Lens
When couples ask me about the challenges of Alaskan weddings, I have to chuckle – because after filming hundreds of them, I’ve seen just about everything! Let me share some stories that might help you plan your own celebration.
Be Flexible to Overcome Wedding Day Adventures:
Last July, I was filming a wedding at a remote lodge accessible only by floatplane. The morning of the ceremony, fog rolled in thick. I’ll never forget huddling with the couple and their planner, watching weather reports while guests waited at the seaplane base. But here’s what I love about Alaska couples – they just rolled with it. We shifted the timeline, I captured some incredibly intimate getting-ready moments, and when the fog lifted three hours later, we got the most dramatic arrival footage I’ve ever shot. The delayed start actually gave us perfect golden hour lighting for the ceremony.
Venues That Take Your Breath Away:
There was this one wedding in a glacier ice cave that still gives me goosebumps when I watch the footage. The blue ice created this natural cathedral effect, and the acoustics were incredible – you could hear the glacier creek running underneath during their vows.
My favorite venues to film aren’t always the most obvious choices. There’s this historic cannery in Cordova where I shot last summer – the weathered wood and industrial architecture created this amazing contrast with the bride’s flowing dress. The editing practically did itself.
Capturing Those Perfect Moments:
Here’s something most people don’t realize about filming in Alaska – you have to be ready for anything, anytime. I always pack backup gear because you never know when a rainbow might appear or a bald eagle might soar overhead during the vows. I’ve learned to keep rolling even between formal shots because those spontaneous moments often become the heart of the wedding film.
Pro Tips From Years of Experience: After filming in every kind of Alaskan weather imaginable, here’s what I tell my couples:
- Always have a backup indoor location, even if you’re dead-set on outdoors. I’ve seen too many couples stress about rain when they could be enjoying their day.
- Consider your guests’ comfort. That glacier backdrop might be stunning, but your grandmother might not enjoy standing on ice for 45 minutes.
- Trust your vendors’ experience with the local environment. When a couple from Texas wanted to do sunset photos at 11 PM in June, I helped them understand our unique lighting conditions and suggested a better timeline.
- Be flexible with your shot list. Some of my most magical footage has come from embracing unexpected moments rather than sticking to a rigid plan.
And remember – while Pinterest might show you perfectly posed photos, I believe the real beauty of Alaska weddings comes from embracing their wild, unpredictable nature. Those authentic moments – a surprise moose appearance, sudden rainbow, or impromptu dance in the rain – those are what make your wedding film truly unforgettable.