Eloping in Alaska is a beautiful option. Our 49th state is filled with some of the most mind blowing views. Any adventurous couple who loves luxury, one-of-a-kind-experiences (like L + E), who dream of Aurora Borealis and endless forests abound with wildlife and unique flora and fauna would pounce at the idea of eloping in Alaska. If you’re dreaming of glaciers and rain forests, here’s how you can elope in Alaska.
Legalities
Obtaining a marriage certificate in Alaska is fairly easy. You can get full details and find the application here, but the highlights are as stated below
- It costs $60.
- You’ll need to provide forms of ID when picking up your marriage license.
- There is a 3 business day waiting period before you can pick it up.
- The certificate only requires 1 witness.
- You have 90 days to perform the ceremony. After 90 days it is no longer valid.
- Any minister or even a family or friend can marry you and sign your marriage certificate.
Where to Elope in Juneau, Alaska
There are so many options when you’re considering eloping in Juneau. You could go rogue and choose a scenic location at the top of a mountain at the apex of your hike. You can get to secluded natural spots fairly easily and do it there. The options are endless, but check out our favorite options here.
- Mendenhall Glacier and surrounding falls
Drive to the Mendenhall Glacier. There you’ll find many trails that will lead you to waterfalls and many beautiful views of the Mendenhall Glacier. The visitor’s center is gorgeous and has the perfect viewing point for the glacier.
- Auke Lake
You can see about 6 snow capped mountains from this lake and there’s a paved trail that you could traverse pretty easily, even for people who don’t hike. - Gastineau Channel
You can access views of the Gastineau Channel from all over Juneau-hit the beach and be right on the water or head up the Goldbelt Tram and elope on one of the trails from the Mountain House. Honestly, you can get married on the street in Juneau and have the most amazing views from everywhere.
- Herbert Glacier is a short helicopter ride from the airport where you can have your ceremony all by yourselves.
- Go whale watching by kayak or on a boat and elope on the water.
- Say your vows under the Aurora Borealis.
When to Elope in Juneau
June – August are the warmest months. Highs are in the 60s and lows are in the 40s. This is also high season for tourism.
April – May are cool but doable (even for a Las Vegas local like me). The weather is so lovely I didn’t really need much on the glacier but a sweater and light jacket.
September – October have the most days of precipitation, but with an average of 230 days of precipitation you’ll likely experience a little rain during your visit outside of these months.
November – March are the coldest months averaging lows of 29 to 40 degrees. January is the coldest month.
Summers days get an average of 17 hours of sunlight.
Winters days get an average of 6 hours of sunlight.
The best times to experience Aurora Borealis are late August to late April and peaks in March. Of course, that will depend on weather conditions.
“Reception” Activities in Juneau
- Hiking – there are so many different places to hike in Juneau and as you can imagine, every trail is beautiful. Find one at your level using apps like AllTrails and you’ll have the perfect activity for your elopement. You can chase waterfalls,
- Mountain Biking – With approximately 7 biking trails in Juneau, you can see waterfalls, lakes, and creeks.
- 4×4 – Take a private tour of over 100 miles of beautiful Alaskan land where you’ll see plenty of scenery and maybe catch some wildlife.
- Whale Watching – Imagine getting married while observing Mother Nature’s most majestic animals.
- Ice Caves – Take a private ice cave tour with your guests and get married in a magical ice cave.
- Helicopter Ride – Take a helicopter ride to the rain forest or a glacier and do a glacier trek and dog sledding in the middle of what feels and looks like space.
- Kayak, Canoe, or Raft – If you love the water, these options are good for a “just us” experience or for your entire group.
- A Walk Through the Rainforest – Explore the rainforest and get married under the canopy of trees.
Planning For Your Juneau Trip
- You can only access Juneau by flight or ship. While you can book a cruise with a stop in Juneau, a flight will afford you the time to explore on your own time.
- Air BnB and VRBO provide the best options for comfortable stays in Juneau with beautiful views. You can find a quaint cabin for just two or an entire lodge to accommodate up to 12.
- Hotels, of course, are always options as well. You can even find a haunted one in downtown, The Alaskan Hotel & Bar.
- Turo is the best place to rent vehicles. You’ll be supporting the locals and having your pick at many different vehicles. You can find rugged vehicles like Subarus and Jeeps, or luxurious vehicles like Range Rovers and Teslas.
