This Enchanting Alaskan Wedding Had Two Different Ceremonies

Glaciers. Meadows. Mountains. Snow + ice in late June. Laura + Jordan’s multi-event Alaskan wedding has us dreaming of an adventure up north to see all of this spectacular natural beauty.

“We choose to have the best of both worlds: an elopement and a big wedding in one week,” says the couple of their unique wedding timeline. Laura + Jordan’s “first” wedding day was a remote ceremony atop a glacier with only a handful of their very nearest and dearest in attendace. Their “second” wedding day was a big celebration with a larger guest list that took place in the airpark where the couple lives, surrounded by stunning Alaskan mountain views.

Laura’s an event planner, and Jordan’s a hunting + fishing guide, so—with the help of planners from AKhappenings—the couple used their expertise to make beautifully designed, adventurous events of both occasions.

And these pictures from Megan Rai? So glorious. We can’t wait to show you!

Chapter I: The Intimate Ceremony

Okay. We are completely obsessed with the sheer floral open back of Laura’s long sleeved wedding dress.

“We wanted to incorporate Alaskan beauty on our day and something different,” Laura + Jordan say. “What better way to do so than on a glacier and then exploring in a helicopter after saying I do?”

Planners AKhappenings have done so many of our favorite weddings to come our of Alaska, including this Barbie-inspired Alaskan elopement shoot and this beautiful Halloween-inspired wedding!

Laura’s bridal party leaned into the wedding’s Alaskan wildflower-inspired green + gold color world with these gorgeous emerald green bridesmaid dresses.

Laura’s favorite memory of their elopement day? “Sharing vows with each other with our closest people surrounding us. Jordan’s vows were beautiful. I loved hearing how aligned we both were, how vulnerable and open to each other we were through our vows.”

Jordan’s favorite memory of the day came from an early, private moment: “Waiting to see Laura for our first look before walking out to our closest people for the ceremony.”

Exploring On The Glacier

Our Advice
Find a wedding planner asap to take off the stress of the day! It’s so much to plan a wedding, find an amazing wedding planner that will help see through your day! Laura’s an event planner and now project manager. To manage it all is a full time job. Hire a great planner like Jordan with AK Happenings. Enjoy the process and stick to what you as a couple want and make the process fun. Don’t regret anything and have the day you as a couple envision and want. Celebrate with an incredible wedding to kick off your marriage! Marriage is forever, the wedding is a very short moment in time. Don’t lose sight of the goal – an epic marriage.

We love to see a bride that pairs her gown with some wedding boots! And some sturdy women’s hiking boots like Laura’s are called for when your wedding is on a literal glacier.

Like the idea of saying “I do” surrounded by only your very closest loved ones like Laura + Jordan did? Check out our guide to how to plan an intimate wedding!

And don’t miss our roundup of the 25 best places to elope for jaw dropping photos if these absolutely mind-blowing pics have you inspired to make an adventure of your own Big Day.

“I went with two looks for the two day celebration,” says Jordan. “Not being a real formal person, I wanted to be true to myself with choosing looks that I felt my best in. I opted for charcoal grey sports coat, black pants, and had two button up shirts—white with a pattern for the elopement and black for the big wedding.”

We love a bridal jacket moment! Especially when it means cute, personalized custom bridal denim!

Chapter II: The Big Wedding Day

“I went with a couple of my bridesmaids to pick out my dress in Anchorage,” remembers Laura of her path to this gorgeous puff sleeve wedding look. “After trying on many dresses the final choice was made at Bateau Bridal. My ‘something borrowed’ was my mom’s own wedding jewelry: a pearl necklace and earring set.”

In love with this romantic low pony wedding hairstyle by Liz Embry from Honey + Sage.

How cute is that white + emerald green flower girl dress!!

“Weddings are a LOT of stress,” Laura reflects. “Surround yourself with the best support system. Do a lot of self care and prioritize what’s most important.”

A Scenic Ceremony

Can you believe it: the bride’s mom created all of the beyond beautiful wildflower-inspired floral arrangements for both weddings!

Our Musical Choices
Processional
“The Ludlows” By James Horner
First Dance
“Forever and Ever, Amen” by Randy Travis

Is there anything better than a billowy wedding veil shot?

A Dreamy Reception

Fun fact: groom Jordan helped build the airplane hangar where the reception was held!

Specialty rentals from Special Events Alaska brought the bright + romantic reception space to life, and On Da Go DJ kept guests on that beautiful light wood dance floor all night long.

Our Favorite Memory
Laura: "Two moments really stick out. Sneaking off to sign our marriage certificate on the back end of Jordan’s plane. Second would have to be bringing out the wigs at the reception. My maid of honors came up with the idea for my bachelorette trip to do a wig night. We had so much fun with them that we busted them out again at the wedding. It was a blast to see everyone go into fun celebration mode at the reception."
Jordan: "Laura and I went to go cut our wedding cake, our favorite ice cream cake from a local restaurant, with Laura’s parents’ wedding’s knife and serving set. We went to push the handle down together through the ice cream cake but we both didn’t realize how hard the ice cream cake was… we ended up breaking the knife handle drawing blood from each other. We both looked at each other and laughed."

Congratulations, Laura + Jordan! We’ll be daydreaming about your adventurous Alaskan wedding(s) for a while! All the best from GWS!