Seward Windsong Lodge | Alaska Intimate Wedding Photographer

Man oh man this was a DAY for the books!! This intimate wedding at Seward Windsong Lodge was long awaited!!

So, backstory: we took Bao and Bianca's engagement photos in February of 2020. YEP. Riiiight before COVID started, and then their wedding was rescheduled TWICE. They were such good sports about it, but I felt bad for them (and all my COVID couples!)

But these two finally made it up to Alaska in their van with their two pups! And their friends and family joined them too. It was so much fun to FINALLY get to celebrate with them. And it was all the more meaningful knowing how much they had been through to make this day happen!

On the wedding day itself, Seward completely surprised us with a HOT sunny Summer day as opposed to the usually cloudy/rainy/pnw vibe weather and we embraced it. Their ceremony was bright and cheerful, and matched their happy vibe so well to be honest.

They had an amazing vendor team and wedding party - everything came off so beautifully and it was so special and fun to watch them finally celebrate each other with their loved ones. And the Seward Windsong Lodge was literally the perfect venue for their big day. After the outdoor ceremony, the spent the afternoon dancing with their friends and family. And it was so freaking joyful to watch!

Keep your eyes peeled for their glacier adventure session the day after!! Bao & Bianca, thank you for choosing me to be your intimate Alaska wedding photographer.

Vendors:
HMUA: @hairbyjennak
Planner: I Do Events
Video: Jake Elko
Venue: Seward Windsong Lodge
Rentals: Classy Elegant Events
Florals: Bloomsbury Blooms
Cake: Ardy Cakes
DJ: APE
Stationary: Little Green Paper Shop
Gown: Essence of Australia

Cooper Landing Alaska Wedding Day | Elijah + Olivia

Nestled in the heart of Alaska, Cooper Landing is a hidden gem that offers some of the most breathtaking backdrops for a wedding. When Elijah and Olivia decided to tie the knot, this pristine location was their number one choice. Cooper Landing, situated along the banks of the Kenai River, is a picturesque paradise surrounded by lush forests, glistening waters, and towering mountains. As their photographer, capturing their wedding was both an honor and an adventure. Here’s a peek into their sweet fall wedding day.

The day began with Olivia and her bridesmaids getting ready in a cozy A-frame cabin with large windows letting in soft, natural light. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and excitement, real life moments. Olivia’s wedding dress, an ethereal lace gown with intricate detailing, hung perfectly against the backdrop of pine trees outside. Elijah and his groomsmen got ready in a rustic log cabin elsewhere on the property. The groom wore a navy blue suit, complemented by a boutonniere featuring native wildflowers!

Elijah and Olivia had their first look in front of the river and took the moment to read each other private vows. This is always one of my favorite things that couples do; taking a moment for themselves without an audience to soak in the day and their promises.

Friends and family watched with joy as Elijah and Olivia became husband and wife in front of the mountains and the river. We frolicked around the venue taking photos, swinging from a tree, walking out onto the dock on the river, and making the most of Cooper Landing, AK in the fall.

After the portrait session it was time for the party! The reception was full of personal touches, heartfelt speeches from loved ones, and really good cake.

Congratulations to Elijah and Olivia!

If you’re liking what you’re seeing and are looking for a photographer to capture your day in all its glory, click here!

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Kind Words

“She’s amazing to work with, so talented, and a genuinely great human being. I’m so glad that I found her and had the opportunity to work with her. I can honestly say we found a friend through her and can’t wait until we get to visit Alaska again so we can catch up with her!” — Bao & Bianca

Miller's Landing Wedding in Alaska | Lizi and Anthony

Anthony and Lizi’s Miller’s Landing wedding in Seward, AK was such a dream come true. These two hold such a special place in my heart! If you’re planning a wedding or elopement in Alaska and are looking for some inspiration, keep on reading. 

A Seward, Alaska Wedding at Miller’s Landing

If I could give you [someone getting married] one piece of advice, it would be to trust your photographer. Anthony and Lizi expressed that they typically tend to love how they look in photos -  but ended up being obsessed with their wedding photos! A lot of couples tend to feel this way! But when you’re having fun being in love with your person (and you have an experienced wedding photographer), you have nothing to worry about. In fact, when I showed Lizi a few photos right off the back of the camera, she said “I was excited to get married, but possibly even more excited for you to photograph us!” That comment stayed with me for the rest of the day (and honestly quite some time after!) because I love nothing more than making you feel your absolute BEST on such an important day.  When you put complete trust in your photographer, you’re able to focus on and enjoy your wedding day so much more. 

Along with that, Anthony and Lizi’s wedding day values totally lined up with mine, which was a great indicator that we were the perfect fit. Their overall love for Alaska and its beauty was something I could deeply resonate with, and their desire for storytelling-type photos was perfectly in line with what I excel at creating for my couples. They were willing to make time and space for their wedding portraits which resulted in the authentic, intimate moments I captured for them! You don’t have to have an elopement or even an intimate wedding to have those seemingly small, slow, meaningful moments on your day. As long as you prioritize intentionality and trust your photographer to document, you’ll end up with the exact type of photos you dream of!

Miller’s Landing - an epic Alaskan wedding location 

When I found out that Anthony and Lizi were hosting their wedding at Miller’s Landing in Seward, I could not have been more excited. This location shows off the natural beauty of Alaska and offers countless opportunities for epic wedding portraits! A + L snuck out to take portraits with me not once, but TWICE during their day which shows in the amazing variety and feelings in the photos we were able to create together. You can rent out the entire north campground at Miller’s if you’re hosting a larger wedding, or you can take one of their custom charters to any nearby beach or other location for your elopement! There are tons of activities to partake in onsite as well (think: kayaking, camping, water taxis, etc!) so you and your people can create more memories before and after your wedding. 

It was so awesome to see all of A + L’s family and friends work together to make their dream wedding day come true. They truly had the time of their lives with their loved ones, which should be what the day you get married is all about! 

Are you looking for an Alaska elopement photographer?

I’d love to connect with you about your wedding or elopement in Alaska! To get in touch with me, you can head over to my contact page and inquire with me there. After that, I’ll get back to you ASAP with details on my packages and what the next steps are! In the meantime, don’t forget to come hang out with me on Instagram where I share more of my work and you can get a glimpse into my personal life here in Alaska. Can’t wait to see you there!

From Engagement Photos to to Wedding Photos | Alaska Wedding Photographer

Have you ever thought about the importance of having the same photographer from engagements to wedding?

I recommend an engagement shoot to ALL of my elopement and wedding clients. Not only do you get special, unique to you photos of the engagement season without the timeline pressure of the wedding day, but it allows US to get to know each other.

Engagement sessions give you the opportunity to get comfortable in front of my camera BEFORE the wedding. You will spend more time with your photographer on your wedding day than any other vendor, so it really helps if you’re not meeting for the first time ON your wedding day, ya know? I much prefer having already made memories with my couples heading into it!!

Let me introduce you to Caleb & Kenzie! They hired me as their photographer from their engagement to wedding, and I wanted to share their experience here so you get an idea of what it’s like!

When I chatted with Caleb and Kenzie on the phone for their initial planning call, after we talked through all of the wedding details, they asked "can we be friends?" to which I promptly replied YES.
This is how you should feel right off the bat! Please please please, click with your photographer. “Can we be friends!?” should be a question you want to ask them!

Even if you only get to hang out while shooting, it should feel organic and natural and fun to hang out together!

You can see their full engagement session on the blog HERE.

For their engagement session we shot in winter on the frozen Eklutna lake. We attempted to start a fire, unsuccessfully because of the wind, but it was a good story for later lol.

Their wedding was the exact opposite - full sun in the middle of June and we were all TOASTY. We took full advantage of the noon sun and created dreamy frolic-through-the-field-of-flowers photos! I love their unique alaskan boho vibe - their whole look and the wedding decor came together perfectly.

Shout out to The Teal Door AK for the amazing florals!

Caleb and Kenzie are BEST. FRIENDS.

They are so excited about life together it, made you feel SO excited for them. Their wedding was such a fun celebration of both of their journeys to each other and the beginning of their journey together. Apparently all their friends saw it coming for YEARS so there were a lot of cheers of "FINALLY."

Being able to walk with them from their engagement season to their wedding day was amazing and brought so much depth and happy feelings to the day of the wedding. I would call them friends to this day.

The better you know your photographer, the more comfortable you'll be with them and it creates an intimacy and comfortable feeling in photos that's hard to create otherwise.

If you’re ready to book your engagement session and start the process for your Alaska wedding, inquire HERE.

Taylor + Amber's Intimate Girdwood Alaska Wedding

Guys. This day had everything. Gorgeous venue. Beautiful weather. SWEETEST couple. Most supportive friends and family. You’re going to want to scroll through these photos for the cliff notes story of Taylor and Amber’s intimate wedding at Crow Creek Mine!

I met Amber at the wedding fair in January of 2020 and I like to think that we connected because we value kindness and beauty. Their wedding day (and the photos we took) was full of those two things. From the fun morning with their wedding party, to an emotional walk down the aisle and ceremony, a special portrait time with just the two of them and a reception that felt like one big family hanging out - they went for quality over quantity and nailed it.

See if you can find the photo of them hydrating - I documented it because I was proud of them 😂

Trenton + Kayla's Girdwood Alaska Elopement Day

What a FUN day. And so beautiful. Kayla messaged me on instagram and said that basically, she and her fiancé had decided to get married sometime in the couple weeks and they hoped I was available 😂 luckily, because it was November, I was.

They didn’t have a plan really set so I shared a couple location ideas and they settled on Moose Meadows in Girdwood! We traveled out to the field, they repeated their vows (they got married at the courthouse before to sign papers! always an option), shotgunned PBRs and then headed back to their Airbnb to eat pizza, drink beer and relax with their pups.

An absolutely perfect, special, relaxed day all about the two of them and their relationship ♡ and Alaska showed OFF with a hazy sunset. Felt like we were in a storybook!

sound like a dream come true for your wedding? let’s make it happen.

message me on instagram or inquire here!

Garrett + Madeline :: Anchorage Alaska Intimate Wedding

Everything with Garrett and Maddy just clicked - from the first phone call, to the wedding day. These two had already rescheduled and replanned their wedding twice so as Maddy said, at this point in the process they were just going with the flow 😂 and it worked out perfectly.

They had an intimate wedding in Anchorage, Alaska with their closest friends and fam, and a laid back attitude about everything. I’m convinced that’s why there were so many sweet moments throughout the day. I was able to photograph their relaxed morning getting ready, the windy but awesome first look and photo time at Beluga Point, their emotional ceremony at the Airmen’s Association in Anchorage (with planes flying by in the background haha), and a beautifully fun and sentimental reception at 49th State Brewing Co.

See if you can find the photo of the bride’s veil deciding to blow away 😂 their day was so perfect and I am so honored to have been their photographer! They have a baby girl on the way now and I get emotional thinking about them showing her these photos in the future ♡

If this is what you’re hoping for your wedding day photos, send me an inquiry here! Or if you just want to hangout and see more pretty photos like this + occasional videos of my dogs and coffee, follow along on instagram ♡

Caleb + Makenzie :: Eklutna Lake Winter Engagement Session

Ahh what a fun day! We planned a fun little adventure activity for these two’s engagement session.

I met them at Eklutna Lake where we took some fun photos on the ice, slid around a bit more than we anticipated, did a little dance by the frozen lake and then headed to make a little campfire!

We were so close to getting it started, but the combination of the wind and both lighters freezing prevented the flames from getting going enough 😂 so we pivoted and they drank some coffee to warm up the fingers that were frozen at that point and cuddled in a blanket. The end of the session was half photo ideas and the other half just keeping warm haha!

Despite the foiled campfire attempt, we had sooo much fun and also ran into a cute puppy 😍 so all is well that ends well. Also, I just want to appreciate their awesome outfits. It is not an easy task to be warm and this fashionable at the same time so I applaud them 👏🏼

if you’re looking to have a little adventure for your engagement session, send me a message HERE or on instagram (click the photos below!)

Jack + Allie :: Denali National Park Engagement

When Jack first contacted me saying that he and his girlfriend were flying to Alaska from New York and he was going to propose, I was SO excited. We hopped on the phone to discuss their travel plans and their destination engagement session in her dream location, Denali National Park! I knew exactly the spot to take them to - Savage River.

The weather pushed proposal plans but we made it work! Ben and I got up at 3am to drive to Denali to meet them for a 7am session before they drove straight to the airport to fly out of AK.

Denali was foggy and gorgeous - we felt like we were walking around in middle earth 😍 Her red dress was such an incredible pop of color in the moody mountain landscape.

Jack and Allie were infectiously happy, newly engaged, and an absolute delight to work with. I wish we would’ve had more time, but I am in LOVE with the images we created together! Scroll to the end to see what Jack and Allie had to say about their photos ♡

When I sent them their gallery, Jack texted back:

“Allie and I looked at these photos and they are just amazing!

We are blown away!

Thank you so much for the care and detailed work you do. The shoot was so much fun and and will always be in our memories.”

If you’re looking for this kind of experience for your destination engagement session, alaska engagement session, elopement, wedding - inquire here or send me a message on instagram!

Brittany + Brandon :: Intimate Hatcher Pass Wedding

These two! Their joy was so contagious on their wedding day, it was incredible to witness.

Brittany and Brandon had initially planned for a big wedding, but experienced a change of plans due to COVID. However, that did NOT stop the happy couple from having the best day ever. Not only did the bride feel as though it was less stressful, but she also got to experience an intimate wedding at one of their favorite places… Hatcher Pass! The rain held off just long enough to capture the wedding day portraits they dreamed of.

Oh, and just wait until you see their send-off, in true Alaska style!

Chance + Caitlyn :: Intimate Whittier Alaska Beach Wedding

Personal opinion: rainy days wedding days make the best memories, and incredibly beautiful photos.

On a blustery Saturday in June, Chase and Caitlyn eloped on the beach in Whittier! We hiked out to a little cove for their gorgeous first look - Caitlyn changed into her gown in a little makeshift closet in the rocks - before heading back to their ceremony. If you want to hike on your day - the answer is always yes, and always worth it.

They celebrated with their family, a few close friends, and even their cute pup (if you’re wondering, yes, you should include your dogs in your wedding day).

Caitlyn chose The Teal Door AK to create her florals, including the most lovely and intricate flower crown. Keep scrolling to see the sweet and special moments of their day!

Looking to elope in Alaska and have photos like these?

Send me an inquiry and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours!

Grant + Mary :: Alaska Styled Elopement

if you like alaska, mountains, gorgeous boho bridal gowns, and couples who are on top of the world when they’re together, you’re going to love these photos.

I’d been wanting to shoot something simple at blue hour for a while so I reached out to Mary and Grant (two humans dating each other) to see if they were down to do some elopement style photos with me! they were great sports and we had so much fun! (see photos, none of these were fake laughter).

they so kind at the end of the shoot - they told me that they usually feel super awkward in photos, but that I was good at directing and explaining what to do! I’m so pumped that they felt confident in my direction because it shows in these photos, doesn’t it?! like I said, so much fun.

huge thank you to Rachel at Bateau Bridal Boutique for fitting us into her busy schedule, helping us pick out the gown and the gorgeous hair accessory!

looking for a photographer you can trust to direct you so you can enjoy getting your photo taken? or hoping for a simple elopement in a setting like the one above? I can help with BOTH of those things.

click the button below to reach out!

Jared + Faith :: Sweet Pennsylvania Wedding

these guys, they’re just meant to be. beautiful inside and out.

one of the things I loved about Jared and Faith is they’re passionate about all the important things, and then some. I loved getting to know them during their engagement session and had been looking forward to their wedding day for months! these two are full of depth and genuine care for others - and each other. such a joy to be around!

on the vendor side of things, there was a lot of planning and preparation leading up to the day, and a LOT of running around and we loved every minute of it! we were fortunate to work alongside their incredible planner Anita Hatch, and we gave every phase of the day our 100% to give them the wedding day of their dreams AND the photos of their dreams. despite everything on the schedule the feel of the day was FUN and RELAXED. I’m so pumped to deliver these two their photos knowing that we were able to come alongside the rest of their team and give them the wedding day experience they deserved.

to the new Mr. & Mrs. Feister!

David + Deanna :: Simple Mountain Styled Elopement

David and Deanna spent the day with me back in April. We drove around getting ready for the shoot and then drove up to Flattop Mountain in Anchorage, where we entered into an unexpected blizzard that only added to the magic of the session. It was a collaboration between me and a few other vendors (listed at the end of the blog post) and I can’t thank everyone enough for contributing to this beauty!

These two weren’t able to have a professional photographer at their wedding, so I was honored to be able to take bride and groom style photos for them TEN YEARS and three children later. I can only hope to be as in love and good looking as they are after ten years married! We had so many beautiful moments where I could see them making eyes at each other, and it was a deep kind of best friendship and love that can only come from having weathered many years and adventures together.

So without further adieu, David and Deanna!

Gown and Hair Accessories: Anderson’s Bride https://www.andersonsbride.com

Florals: Tanya Val http://www.tanyaval.com

Hair: Crystal at Opal Hair https://www.instagram.com/opalhair_/

Makeup: Rachelle Enters

interested in your own anniversary session or elopement?

I’d love to help you make it a reality!

Alex + Jessie - Intimate Fall Wedding

Intimate Autumn Camp Wedding

I’m going to steal an instagram caption from one of the bridesmaids of this wedding to describe it.

Alex and Jessie: “We don’t really care about perfection.”

Alex and Jessie: *have literally perfect wedding*

these two had a simple but emotion filled wedding at Lacawac Sanctuary up near the Poconos Mountains. we carved out time for an intimate first look for them before heading down to their ceremony on the lake. everyone spent the rest of the evening enjoying incredible food (and CAKE, oh my) and incredible company. Alex and Jessie are intentional, kind, and above-and-beyond individuals - which makes them an incredible pair, and I am so honored to have been their photographer.

enjoy: the Padron wedding.

(p.s. see how they felt about their photos at the end of this post!)

“Rachel was everything we hoped for in a photographer. She was professional, calming, and super easy to get along with. She is amazing at working with the vibe you’re going for in the photos, while also imbedding her creative vision for each shot.

We wholeheartedly recommend her for anyone looking for a photographer!

-thank you for everything, these photos mean so much to us.”

if you are also looking for a professional, calming, creative photographer, message me here!

Josh & Kilina - Alyeska Resort Girdwood, Alaska First Look

Earlier this year, Kilina sent me a message saying that although she and her fiancé Josh were getting married out in Anchor Point, AK later that summer, she had always dreamed of doing a first look up the tram at Alyeska. I love first looks and I love Alyeska, so I was all in.

Josh is from New Jersey, and Kilina is from Alaska. The two of them met at school in South Carolina where they returned after their wedding as Josh pursues a medical career!

I can tell from their interactions during our session that these two are going to be amazing life partners for each other. They’re a wonderful mix of laughter, confidence, and tenderness. Thanks for riding the tram with me you two!

we were trying to catch the run of the tram so we got ready on the way!

we also had no blindfold so we improvised with Kilina’s leggings. LOL. so good.

Josh had written Kilina a letter to read to her as a surprise. I didn’t hear what it said, but it made me emotional watching them.

when I asked them to dip, they started laughing and said “we just practiced this yesterday!”

Alyeska is so beautiful, and I love it even more in the rain to be honest.

I could NOT get over her skirt draped the bench!

I’ve never done a first look session before, but obviously, I loved it. If you want to do a first look, day before, or day after your wedding session, contact me! I also love riding the tram at Alyeska, so hit me up for that too. (: