When you think “Alaska,” you think glaciers, dogsledding, mountains, and the great outdoors. An Alaska helicopter and dogsledding elopement is the kind of experience that feels equal parts adventurous, joyful, and completely unforgettable. Combining a wedding day with a dogsledding adventure creates a story that is immersive, unique, and deeply connected to Alaska’s culture and landscape. It turns your wedding day into something you get to experience and participate in, not just something you attend.
Jess and Dan’s elopement blended an intimate ceremony, mountain scenery, a helicopter ride over a glacier (complete with a bear sighting!), and a once-in-a-lifetime dogsledding adventure. The day felt adventurous, personal, and so them. Jess and Dan, adventurers and pilots in their own right, are a fun couple who love Alaska’s scenery, aviation, and huskies (they have one of their own), so we designed an elopement experience that reflected what matters to them and how they wanted to celebrate their marriage.
Benefits of a Dogsledding Elopement in Alaska
Dogsledding is an iconic Alaskan experience. While many people associate it with winter, dog teams train year-round, which means couples can include dogsledding as part of a summer elopement too!
Dogsledding elopements are a great fit for couples who want:
- a truly unique and Alaska-specific experience
- an interactive adventure on their wedding day
- photos that feel playful, natural, and full of personality
Rather than feeling like a staged wedding day activity, dogsledding becomes part of the story, adding movement, laughter, and energy to the day.
A Relaxed Ceremony with Mountain Views
The day began with a private elopement ceremony surrounded by greenery and mountain views. Jess and Dan read their vows, exchanged rings, and took their time soaking in the moment. Intimacy was important to them, so they chose an elopement option without guests or distractions, allowing them to stay fully present and focus on what mattered most: celebrating their relationship with each other. As their photographer, I was able to blend into the background and capture their ceremony without interrupting the moment.
This is one of my favorite parts about elopements; the day can begin calmly and intentionally, without a packed schedule or pressure to perform. It creates room for emotion, connection, and quiet moments that don’t feel rushed.
After their vows and ring exchange, we spent time taking portraits with the mountains in the background while the two of them soaked in the fresh feeling of being married.
A Helicopter Ride to a Dogsledding Camp
After the ceremony, the adventure continued with a helicopter flight to a dogsled training camp. Seeing Alaska from the air adds another perspective to an elopement story. We took off from the greater Anchorage area and flew toward glacier terrain, with endless mountains stretching out below.
On the flight out, we spotted a bear roaming along the mountainside, which felt like the most Alaskan bonus moment possible! The dogsledding camp sits on top of a glacier, so a helicopter ride with glacial views was an epic necessity to reach camp.
Once the helicopter shut down, the happy barks of eager dogs and the anticipation of what was coming next brought a smile to Jess and Dan’s faces.
Jess and Dan wanted to incorporate one more personal detail into the day. Since they love Wes Anderson films, they wanted to bring his styling to some of their couples portraits. One of the perks of having an intimate adventure elopement is the ability and time to customize your day without following the traditional wedding mold. They shared their vision, and we captured a few Wes Anderson-inspired couples portraits with the dogsled, leaning into playful symmetry and intentional composition.
Dogsledding Together in Alaska
Before heading out on the sled, Jess and Dan spent time meeting the dogs and learning about the team. The excitement was contagious. Once they were ready, Dan took the role of musher, guiding the sled, while Jess rode along and took in the experience.
Dogsledding together added a sense of teamwork to the day. Instead of feeling like passive participants, Jess and Dan became part of the adventure, working with the dogs and moving through the landscape together.
There is nothing quite like hearing the dogs’ excitement, feeling the crisp wind on your face, and watching the scenery blur by as the team pulls you across the snow. The energy is pure joy, and it is impossible not to laugh. (If you have ever met sled dogs, you already know how impossible it is not to smile the entire time.)
We captured photos during the ride, which were some of my favorite images of the day. Instead of static portraits, these photos show the energy, spontaneity, and rush of movement as we raced across the snow in the dogsled.
Playing with the Puppies
After returning to camp, we spent time with our dogsled team, which included several Iditarod champions (the cutest celebrities I’ve ever met!). Meeting the dog team is often one of the most memorable parts of the dogsledding experience, and taking time for photos preserves that joy.
Jess and Dan then met the youngest litter at the camp, playing with husky puppies that had not even been named yet. It was a sweet Alaskan moment and fun bookend before helicoptering back to the Anchorage area.
An Experience-Driven Elopement Day
Jess and Dan’s elopement wasn’t about following a traditional wedding structure. We designed the day together around experiences that reflected who they are and what they love most.
Experience-driven elopements allow couples to:
- replace formal reception traditions with real adventure
- create shared memories through meaningful activities
- stay connected and present throughout the day
By centering the day around something they genuinely loved, this elopement felt less like a scripted event and more like an adventurous celebration of partnership.
Planning an Alaska Dogsledding Elopement
When planning a dogsledding elopement in Alaska, a few thoughtful considerations can help everything flow smoothly:
- choosing a reputable dogsledding operation
- planning transportation, including helicopter access if needed
- building flexibility into the timeline
Because dogsledding camps often operate in remote areas, working with experienced vendors (including an experienced photographer like me!) ensures the day feels relaxed, seamless, and well-supported.
Is a Dogsledding Elopement Right for You?
A dogsledding elopement is a great fit for couples who want their wedding day to feel playful, adventurous, and unforgettable. If you are drawn to hands-on experiences and want to incorporate something uniquely Alaskan into your wedding day, this style of elopement may be perfect for you.
If you love aviation-centered adventures, you might also enjoy Jess and Dan’s flying-in Alaska airplane proposal.
Ready to Start Planning?
If you’re considering an Alaska dogsledding elopement or exploring creative ways to make your elopement day more experience-driven, I’d love to be a part of something that feels true to you. Or, if you want to capture an Alaskan dogsledding adventure that is not part of a wedding (for example, couples portraits, a proposal, vow renewal, etc.), I can help you customize your day to meet your vision.
Get in touch to start dreaming up your Alaska dogsledding photo adventure.
About the Author
Becca Aronoff is an adventure elopement photographer with Aronoff Photography, serving couples who value connection, experience, and beautiful natural landscapes over tradition or expectations. Known for a calm, thoughtful approach, Becca helps couples plan elopements and proposals that feel both authentic and meaningful.
She specializes in documenting intimate, experience-driven elopements in epic locations like Alaska, helping couples create wedding days that feel intentional, relaxed, and deeply personal.
If you’re considering an Alaska elopement, dogsledding photo session, or helicopter adventure, get in touch to start planning something unforgettable together.
