Into the Wild Blue: An Alaskan Elopement in a Glacier Lagoon

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

You, me, and a glacier in Alaska. They’ve been long distance their entire relationship, bouncing back and forth between Australia and Seattle. After a million goodbyes, Athena + Camron were more than ready to say hello to marriage and a life no longer apart. To celebrate, A + C said their vows no less than three times! In front of family, friends, loved ones, and then alone, in the open Alaskan wilderness. Athena says:

When Camron asked me to marry him, knee deep in powdered snow near a frozen waterfall outside of Seattle, everything changed. We faced a decision: where would we get married? And how would we honor our family and friends split across the globe? Our decision was both beautiful and difficult. We would have a reception in Sydney and a reception in Seattle with all of our family and friends, and elope in between. When I dreamed of my wedding day, I never expected it would be split across three events, 12,000 km and four months!

India Earl traveled with the couple to ancient glacial lagoons, through wild forests, and across rocky shores to document their special moments. We pick up here, between the trees…

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

The Ring

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

How gorgeous is that ring?? We chose the most gorgeous, huge, one-of-a kind oval rutilated quartz stone by Natalie Marie Jewellery and wanted it set on a simple, thin rose gold band. We added two more thin rose gold bands and plan to continue stacking little rings until no matter how far away from me you are you know I’m married!

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

Two words: Bridal. Hats. Loving this one from Lack of Color!

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

The Dress

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

As a wedding photographer, I’ve seen dozens of brides wear Karen Willis Holmes gowns and I was always drawn to their simplicity and elegant beauty. I always wanted a long-sleeved lace top with a silk or tulle skirt, so when I saw KWH’s Wild Hearts collection had that style, I was overjoyed to wear a brand I’d loved and respected for years!

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

Alaskan Wilderness Elopement

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

So in love with the colors here!

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

 

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

We knew wedding days were incredible because we photograph them for a living, but I don’t think anything could have prepared us for the unspeakable joy the moment we were pronounced husband and wife. Making a covenant with your best friend like that, an unbreakable promise to love each other for the rest of our lives, is beautiful beyond belief.

Those moments on the glacier held the kind of love we were designed for, a tenderness that we’d tasted in part but not yet in full, a feeling of coming home to a home half-remembered where we were fully known yet deeply loved. Sometimes there are moments that don’t have words. For once, this inability to write is a good thing. Because these moments mattered in a way that words insufficiently declare, and thankfully it all doesn’t have to be constrained to a paragraph — my joy wouldn’t fit anyway!

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

So sweet, you guys!

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

STUNNING. How good is India Earl?!

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

Every choice we made about our wedding was in light of our marriage. If we were only thinking about our wedding, I think we would have collapsed under the weight of it all, because you can only have one wedding and not everyone from Sydney could have made it to Seattle, and vice versa. Instead, we focused on our marriage - where we wanted it to begin and the quietness and intimacy we wanted it to begin with. Alone on the glacier, a week into marriage, was the greatest gift we gave ourselves. If you have a dream, fight for it. Honor your family and friends, but don’t allow that to usurp the dreams you have together for the beginning of your marriage!

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Literally, into the wild blue yonder…

Alaskan Elopement on a Glacier

Raised by Woods captured the sweet, sweet romance of the day — you’re going to want to see this:

Aren’t they just the best?! Here’s to no more goodbyes and the happiest marriage — congrats, Athena + Camron!

photography: India Earl // wedding dress: Karen Willis Holmes // bride's shoes: Wittner // bride's ring: Natalie Marie Jewellery // getting ready robes: Homebodii // groom attire: ASOS // groom's shoes: Timberland // groom's ring: Hodina // videography: Raised by Woods // brides hat: Lack of Color // grooms hat: Brixton

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