Adventurous Alaska Elopement: Alaska Helicopter Elopement

This adventure elopement in Alaska was definitely one for the books! Gabby and Nels planned a multi-day adventure elopement in their home state of Alaska, and on the final day of their adventure, they planned a helicopter elopement in Palmer, Alaska. It was an epic adventure and the views that day were some that none of us will ever forget. 

How Gabby & Nels Decided on an Alaska Helicopter Elopement

Two days after Gabby and Nels's adventure elopement and celebration with their friends, we planned to go on a helicopter tour in Palmer, Alaska. 

The idea for a helicopter elopement came about after they hired me and started the planning process. When they had initially inquired, Nels and Gabby had mentioned the idea of a Floatplane but due to the limitation in where a floatplane can properly go and land, we decided on a helicopter tour so we can maximize our time taking photos in two different locations that are only accessible by Helicopter. It was also everyone’s first time experiencing these types of locations and this just amped up our excitement for the day! 

We ended up finding an amazing helicopter tour company to work with, Alaska Helicopter Tours. These guys were so awesome to work with and they were super flexible with everything. They even gave us the option for both a summit landing and a glacier landing. It really was the best of both worlds! Not only did they help us with the tour but they completely understood what we were after to where we mapped out our tour to capture the best lighting in both locations. We honestly couldn’t be happier with our experience! 

Make sure to check out Part 1 of this Adventurous Alaska Elopement

Nels & Gabby’s Epic Alaska Adventure Elopement

On the morning of the helicopter tour, Gabby and Nels got back into their wedding attire and we headed down to the helipad to prepare for the tour. 

The helicopter tour lasted about 3 hours and we got to experience two different locations. The first stop was Mt. Gannett Summit. It was so cool to look out and see nothing but snow-capped mountains all around us! We spent about an hour enjoying the beauty, stillness, and remote Alaska from above while taking some epic photos!!

Our second stop was to one of Alaska’s many glaciers - Knik Glacier. After landing on a frozen lake, and walking to the bluest ice we’ve ever seen, we couldn’t believe where we were!! This was such an incredible experience that none of us will ever forget. Something that we remember vividly is the sound of the glaciers moving when we were walking in them. It definitely did not sounds safe at all as glacier hiking can be one of the most dangerous and unpredictable adventures out there, but the way the ice sounded and echoed, was so eerie yet so amazing to hear!! 

This was the first time any of us had ridden in a helicopter and the first time we had gotten to see and stand on glaciers as well. The entire day was such a cool experience and our pilot, Connor made the whole tour so fun and memorable.

Even though this helicopter elopement day would be considered a post-wedding session, it was something fun for Gabby and Nels to do on their wedding week. I like to tell my clients that an elopement doesn't have to just be a 1-day event or just a few hours. You can spread elopement activities out over the course of a couple of days or even a week. What matters is that you create memories and experiences that are true to you and your partner!

What to Consider for your Helicopter Elopement

If you’re thinking about planning a helicopter adventure for your elopement, my first piece of advice would be to DO IT! Helicopter elopements are so much fun and they make for some of the best elopement activities. 

When planning a helicopter elopement though, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind: 

• Time of year

It is really ideal to consider the time of year you’d like the go on a helicopter tour for your elopement as this can change the scenery and the possibility of where you can land. Winter and spring are great for snowcovered summit landings, frozen lakes, and glacier landings. While in the summer, are great for rocky mountain landings & glacial pools landing options. So before you decide on anything, consider the look you’re after, then decide on the time of year that works best.

• Weight limit

Helicopters are limited in the amount of weight they can carry as weight can affect the hovering, takeoff, climb, and landing performance. Your helicopter will be balanced based on the weight and number of passengers so be prepared to provide this information when booking. 

• How many people can go

Depending on how many guests you plan to bring, will determine what size helicopter you will need. Most tour helicopters can seat 4-6 people including the pilot so while space is limited, this almost always means that everyone on the helicopter will have a great seat with a view.
Multi-trips can also be possible to “shuttle” a few guests back and forth, but that’s something that’s specific to who you hire for your helicopter elopement, as well as the amount of time you have. 

• What to bring

What to bring can depend on the time of year you are traveling. Generally, it’s best to bring a backpack with your wedding gear, hiking essentials, an empty water bottle to fill up with Glacier water, and of course, a camera to capture this experience (unless I’m there then you’re set).

• What to wear

As mentioned above, what you wear will change depending on the time of year you are flying. 

In summer, be sure to bring layered clothing so you can add or remove it as needed (jackets, leggings, etc.) You’ll also want to wear sturdy shoes like tennis shoes or hiking boots.

In the winter, it’s best to wear a warm winter coat with gloves and snow pants. You’ll also want to wear snow boots or thick socks and hiking boots as there will be lots of snow. Snow Cleats (like these) might also be needed depending on the landing location and conditions that day. Pack them to be ready for anything.

• Be on the lookout for weather changes

No matter where you fly in a helicopter, flights are always dependent on the weather. If it is rainy or too windy, the helicopter company is likely going to cancel the flight for everyone’s safety. It’s best to keep an eye on the weather up until the day of your departure. This is also important if you’re planning a helicopter tour on your elopement day. I’d say, plan around the helicopter tour and also have a plan B & Plan C just in case of any unexpected weather change. 

• Account for travel and flight time

When we start working on your wedding day timeline, we’ll need to account for the time it takes to arrive, check in, get prepped, and travel from one location to another. If you’re planning a helicopter tour on your elopement day, I’d highly suggest planning around the flight’s schedule. Of course, when we’re planning together, I’ll be there to guide you with all of it and help you create a timeline that’s flexible and relaxed to have the best experience possible.

For more Helicopter Elopement information check out
Alaska Helicopter Tours tips!

That’s it! Gabby and Nels’ Alaska Elopement was filled with adventure and epic scenery. These two are the ultimate adventurers and it was a huge honor to be there and capture their adventure elopement! I seriously had the best time hanging out with them and exploring their beautiful home state. If you haven’t yet, go check out my blog post on Gabby and Nels’ adventurous Alaska Elopement, or if you’re ready to start planning an adventure elopement, shoot me a message through my contact page and let’s do this!! I seriously can’t wait to connect! 

Enjoy this Alaska Adventure Helicopter Elopement

Are You Ready to Start Planning Your Alaska Helicopter Elopement?

Elopement Vendors

Photography | Will Khoury Photography

Photography Editing Presets | WKpresets

Helicopter Tour | Connor Buzzel at Alaska Helicopter Tours x Alpha Aviation LLC

Cufflinks | Tunngat Trade

More Awesome Elopement Stories

Helpful Information for Photographers

Editing:

This elopement was edited using WKpresets from start to finish. WKpresets are designed to work in every lighting situation you can think of so that you don’t have to go back and forth between different looks, lots of options to edit from, and mainly, to finish your editing as quickly as possible.

If you enjoy the look of these photos and would like to have the same tones and editing style on your photos, check out WKpresets

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Photography Gear:

Scouting day photographed on Fuji X100v
Elopement Day Photographed on Canon 5d mark 3 & 4 using Canon 24mm, 35mm, 50mm & 85mm
Drone photos: DJI Mavic 2 Pro
Check out my full gear list here