Mountain Elopement in Anchorage | Rogan + Simiyah

Welcome to the adventure that was Rogan and Simiyah’s oceanside elopement in Anchorage! Anchored in their shared love for the outdoors, the couple took the offbeat path, literally and figuratively, for their wedding ceremony. It was a very intimate setting, focused just on the two of them and their love - exactly like they wanted.

The day kicked off on the rocks of beluga point, with mountains in the distance and a blizzard raging around us. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen more incredible winter wedding attire! They shared their vows using the evergreens for shelter from the wind, exchanged rings and made it official.

Rogan and Simiyah braved the elements for a few photos that practically shouted “WE ELOPED IN ALASKA IN A BLIZZARD” (absolutely worth it) before we retreated to a less blustery are of anchorage for some more magical snowy bride and groom portraits.

Following the ceremony, the couple returned to their hotel downtown Anchorage to continue the celebration. A cozy cake-cutting session followed by some champagne popping completed our time together but definitely was not the end of the warm fuzzy feelings!! I literally miss these two.

This unconventional elopement was a true testament to their love for each other and the outdoors. While far from traditional, Rogan and Simiyah’s mountain elopement in Anchorage was very much them.

Keep scrolling to see highlights from the gallery!

To see more of my work, click here. To book with me, click here!

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Kind Words

“Rachel was wonderful to work with! She was the only professional vendor we booked and are so thrilled we did. Not only are the photos of our intimate elopement wedding in the Prince William Sound gorgeous, but she fit in seamlessly with our tiny 10-person wedding party. She was climbing ship stacks and into zodiacs in the rain without batting an eye. So happy we got to work with her!” -Mariah

how to elope in alaska

Okay guys, tell me if this speaks to you:

You’re engaged, and you’ve jumped headfirst into wedding planning. It’s becoming clear that there is way more to planning a wedding than you’ve thought. What’s more, you’re beginning to wonder if it’s worth it to plan a big party for people you don’t know super well (that’s a lot of people watching you walk down the aisle). You’ve heard someone mention eloping and the idea sounds fun but like -

where do you start? how do you elope? where should you elope? what do you do on an elopement day? how much does it cost to elope?

- valid questions. You’re going to want to keep reading.

A photographer friend and I were talking about how there are a lot of epic portraits from elopements swimming around the internet, but wouldn’t it be so cool if we could create something to give engaged couples an idea of what the start to finish of an elopement day would look like?

So we teamed up with some incredible vendors to not only give you an idea of what an elopement ceremony in Alaska in the winter could look like, but ALSO what vendors you could book, how much it would cost, what details you could include, and how the day could flow.

THAT BEING SAID. Scroll through the photos of Stephen & Alexa’s (9 year anniversary) elopement day 😉 and then check out the team and the details toward the end!

the day

getting ready

hair, makeup, the works! you can get ready with your fiancé if you like, or do it separately and preserve the element of surprise! there are no rules here (:

there are lots of incredible venues in alaska but if you’re looking to keep it super simple, finding yourself a cozy airbnb will NOT disappoint (and I can help you find one!). that’s what these two did! it was perfect for getting ready in the morning and then for their private dinner later!

details

writing vows

ceremony

the sky is the limit when you keep it simple. there are SO many beautiful places in alaska where you and your person can say your vows to each other! fields, oceans, mountains, rivers, streams, cabins - take your pick!

the ceremony set up for these two was so simple but stunning - the floral pieces and a blanket/rug to stand on! easy to transport but made it special.

portrait time

these two took shots off a hockey stick because that’s how they met in college 😉 how did you meet? when did you know you loved your person? include it in your day!

afternoon alyeska tram adventure

take your newly wedded selves on an adventure! take a tram to an amazing view, cozy up by the fire and play cards, take a drive to your favorite view, spend time with close family members if that’s how your day rolls, sing songs - take both of your favorite things to do together and make it happen. what better way to spend the afternoon?

dinner reception

there are so many options for your evening after the ceremony and photos! go out to a nice dinner, order your favorite takeout, have your wedding planner set you up with an Alaskan charcuterie board and magical candles, cut the cake (if you want one!), get pizza and go out for beers after - whatever makes your heart happy!

the team

The incredible team that made this day happen! (links are in italics):

Models: Stephen & Lex of The Hitched Hiker

Florist: Natasha of Paper Peony

HMUA: Liz of EBA907

Wedding Planner: Yvette of Wedding Creative Design

Cake: Anita of Midnight Sun Cakery

Gown: ASOS

Invitation Suite: Christine of Grey Meets Gold

Earrings: Akimbo

Photographer/organizers: Me & Theresa of Theresa McDonald Photography

Videographer (yes, there’s a video coming!!): Ben Struve of Rachel Struve Photography

Location/Venue: Airbnb in Girdwood, AK

“Reception” : Girdwood Brewing Co

the cost

I know that one of the reasons some couples choose to elope is because they have a smaller budget. If that’s you, great! A smaller budget CAN go a longer way with a smaller celebration, without losing out on the details that you’ve always dreamed of. (If you haven’t thought through your budget priorities, check out this blog post). If you’re looking for an idea of what an elopement like the one featured in this post could cost, look no further! (JK obviously, reach out to the vendors you want to work with because everyone’s prices are different).

Florals $400-$900

HMUA $140-$200

Wedding Planner $600-$1500 (depends on customization of services!)

Cake $170-$245

Gown: $300-$1200 (I know this is a wide range - everyone has different priorities! If you’re looking for gowns on the lower end, check my blog next week 😉)

Earrings $30-$50

Photography $2400-$3800

Videography $1400-$1900

Invitation Suite $300-$600

Location/Venue (Airbnb) $600-800

Pizza & Beer $50-$100

Overall, you could pull off a day like the one you just scrolled through for around 5-7k, depending on what you want included! Compare that to the cost of the average wedding folks - you are in GOOD shape for such an incredible and personal adventure.

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So there you have it! A full elopement DAY.

Now you can let your imagination run wild!

If this information was helpful for you, I would LOVE to hear from you. Shoot me a message on instagram! Or if you know someone that it could help, send it their way!

Thankful for you! Hope this rocks your socks off!

-Rachel