Tucked in at the edge of the Matanuska Glacier, Alpenglow Luxury Glamping offers an unusual balance: real comfort, real beds, and real connection—paired with the bucket-list worthy experience of helicopter-accessed glacier and mountain landings for your elopement vows.
Choosing this way of eloping allows you to slow down, settle in, and really experience Alaska without rushing, wrapped in the cozy sounds of the forest.
As part of the Enchanted Canopy Collection™, this glacier elopement experience blends curated adventure with ease—so you can focus less on logistics and more on how it feels to be here.
This experience is designed for couples who want Alaska to feel approachable without losing its magic.
Why This mATANUSKA GLACIER ELOPEMENT EXPERIENCE Belongs in
the ENCHANTED CANOPY COLLECTION
Alpenglow earns its place in the Enchanted Canopy Collection packages because it honors one of Soul & Sky’s core beliefs: time creates access.
This elopement experience isn’t built around a single dramatic moment.
It is built around how Alaska feels when you’re allowed to slow down, stop rushing, and really experience it.
That rhythm—grounded, expansive, then grounded—is what makes this Matanuska Glamping & Heli elopement special.
Mornings begin slowly, tucked into the forest. With hot breakfast prepared for you in the glamping community space, the mountains catch the light and the glacier sits quietly in the valley below.
The adventure unfolds with wide views: Leaving the cozy forest, a private helicopter flight takes you deep on the Matanuska Glacier and the mountains that guard it, landing where few people ever stand,.
Adventure with ease follows... Hike, hit the hot tub, enjoy a favorite boardgame at your luxury glamping tent, or perhaps all three on Day 2.
You can have amenities AND adventure, without sacrifice. Perfectly adventure luxe.
1.5-Day Adventure Luxe Matanuska Glacier Elopement Experience
Here’s what makes this 1.5-day Alaska elopement package on the Matanuska Glacier extraordinary:
- A cozy, elevated glamping stay. Well-appointed canvas luxury tents with real beds, down comforters, wood-fired hot tub, running water and restrooms, and luxury canvas glamping tent with a porch as a perfect private space—set within a small, thoughtfully designed camp of just seven (7) tents.
- Backyard access to the Matanuska Glacier. At 27 miles long, and, the largest road-accessible glacier in Alaska (and the US!), the Matanuska offers the beautiful summer glacier melt blue pools and dramatic ice formations, all nestled in the stunning mountain valley.
- Private helicopter adventure. A two-hour custom heli experience with a glacier and mountain landing, led by an experienced local pilot who knows this terrain intimately.
- Community-forward comfort. With a max of about 14-16 total guests in the camp, shared spaces like the pavilion, "front yard" & camp fire area, and morning breakfast create a warm, intimate summer-camp-style atmosphere—without sacrificing privacy where it matters.
- Guided, flexible exploration. Beyond your heli flight, this experience adapts to your energy and interests allowing you to explore more with mountain hiking, or, optional glacier trekking or UTV excursions.
- Celebratory details. From a premium charcuterie board to a petite wedding cake or treat and a bottle of bubbly, the experience is layered with thoughtful touches in addition to simple, delicious meals that turn the wild into something quietly luxurious.
How It Works:
A Multi-Day Matanuska Glacier & Glamping Elopement Wedding Flow
DAY 1-- Arrival, Glacier Vows, & Midnight Sun
- You'll travel from Anchorage to Alpenglow in the morning, where we meet at camp. Getting ready happens onsite—hair and makeup artists can travel directly to the glamp, allowing the day to unfold easy and low stress.
- Arrive, settle in, and with help for your bags you’ll soon be comfortable your glacier view glamping tent, perched high on the hillside with sweeping views of the mountains and glacier.
- Relax and get ready. There’s time to explore, enjoy lunch, and then, to prepare for the celebration ahead. Whether you choose to get ready together or apart for a private first look, the anticipation builds.
- Lift off for your signature private helicopter experience in the afternoon. Vows take place on a glacier or mountaintop landing, surrounded by ice, peaks, and open sky. With up to 2 hours to explore, we move easily through portraits, exploration, and quiet moments—pausing for a light picnic and snacks in the field.
- Your heli returns you to the landing area; with farewells shared with the pilot, you head back to camp.
- After returning to camp, the evening eases into relaxation. A light reception might include a drink & some appetizers by the fire, and/or a private moment back at your luxury glamping tent.
- Evening unfolds with an easy going "wedding night dinner" of your specially made wood-fired pizza dinner. Served at your sweetheart table in the community pavilion overlooking the glacier and mountains, lantern-light and thoughtful touches set the atmosphere. While the meal itself is private, the shared space offers a celebratory, communal energy that feels both intimate and joyful.
- Top off the evening with bubbly and your petite wedding cake or treat, in the warmth of the wood-fired hottub and the glow of a campfire under the Alaskan sky.
- Sleep finds you as you slide into your real bed under twinkle lights and cozy blankets, tucked in your private glamping tent and wrapped in the rhythmic sounds of wind rustling the forest that surrounds you.
Thinking about building an amazing Alaska "summer camp-style" destination wedding with your most treasured few?
- Helicopter shuttles to bring family out to the glacier or mountain top ceremony location you choose. (a heli can hold three total passengers + the pilot)
- An intimate "camp-style" ceremony on the lawn at Alpenglow, with beautiful mountains and forest as your backdrop.
- An elevated open-space perch at a nature-forward event venue nearby to Alpenglow that gives sweeping glacier and mountain views
The family can then return to camp while you adventure onward for your private helicopter tour experience.
- Back at camp, they can hike, hot tub, or rest--simply enjoying the amazing views.
- Everyone gathers again for a light reception, preparing for when you return from your flight.
- The rest of evening unfolds to your fully tailored vision for experiences, decor, and more-- perhaps a private chef dinner prepared at camp, or, a private dinner served in a nearby greenhouse. If you can dream it, we can do it!
- Close around the campfire at the camp for celebration and sharing stories of this amazing day.
Whether it’s just the two of you or shared with your treasured few, Day One closes with connection, quiet, and the comfort of Alpenglow's adventure luxe lodging.
Day 2:
- Wake to soft morning light touching the mountains and head to a fresh made hot breakfast, just for you. Enjoy a slow, easy start and then head back to your glamping tent and prepare in your wedding attire — perhaps even a second look chosen just for this day.
- With no rush, we head out to a hike (with easy to hard trail options available) so you can enjoy the beauty of the environment in a new and different way. It’s a moment to continue your celebration in the landscape together and if Day 1 featured guests, here you can share private vows framed by the beauty of the scene you choose.
- Returning to camp, the afternoon is yours to wrap up the formal elopement experience. Rest in your comfortable tent, wander a new hike, adventure more with additional excursions, or simply soak in the stillness — just you two, or alongside your closest people.
- As evening falls, you enjoy another night in your adventure luxe glamping tent , with time to relax and reflect before the journey onward.
- The following morning brings a fond farewell to camp and its steward, heading back to Anchorage onward to adventures I am happy to help you design — carrying with you the memory of a one-and-a-half day wedding experience unlike any other.
Photography woven throughout
From s'mores over a campfire to glacier landings to slow mornings in your luxury glamping tent, these moments (big and little) are documented with care, based in movement, emotion, and your connection to this incredible place.
This is storytelling designed so you’ll always remember not just how it looked, but how it felt.
This is 1.5 day, adventure luxe elopement experience — not a single-day trip.
This 1.5‑day luxury Alaska glacier and glamping elopement is designed for cozy connections, romance, and immersion in an experience unlike any other.
Every element of this adventure luxe elopement package is designed to immerse you in Alaska’s wild beauty while keeping you comfortable, supported, and fully present.
Here's what luxuries and experiences you can expect:
Starting at $14,500 for 2026 elopements
—this package includes virtually everything you need to bring your wedding experience to life. Florals are typically the only element you’ll add.
Total. Transparent. AMAZING.
- Licensed officiant support to finalize your marriage license.
- Award‑winning luxury elopement photography coverage across both days, including sneak peeks, multi‑day documentation, and a full‑resolution final gallery delivery.
- Comprehensive elopement design & concierge‑level planning support — from permits and timelines to curated activity options and seamless coordination with my trusted expert partners in Anchorage, Glacier View, and beyond.
- Complementary album layout design to bring your wedding story to life in a beautiful heirloom album.
- Two nights of Adventure Luxe lodging at Alpenglow in a Glacier View luxury glamping tent for the couple, with amenities onsite like wood-fired hot tub, hot showers and running water restrooms, and relaxation spaces, games, etc. Guest lodging is available across 6 additional yurts and can be customized for groups of up to ~16.
- Helicopter flightseeing tour — includes up to two hours of private adventure with two stops included (typically one glacier, one mountain)
- Hiking excursion from camp with mountain views, and the option to share the experience with your treasured few.
- Custom prepared dinner featuring wood-fired pizza on Day One at Alpenglow. Set with candles, real china, silverware, and glassware at your sweetheart table for a romantic presentation.
- Premium charcuterie presentation for your Day 2 hiking picnic.
- Petite wedding cake or celebratory treat.
- A bottle of bubbly or NA substitute to toast the adventure.
- Private chef experience with an elevated, fully custom multi‑course menu prepared directly at camp, or, at a nearby event location— an unforgettable option any time, but especially well‑suited for celebrations with your treasured few.
- Florals + fully customized styled sweetheart table with enhanced styling, florals, and bespoke decor for your vision.
- Bespoke ceremony decor — a refined “stage in the wild” created with Leave No Trace principles.
- Additional helicopter time for a custom tour and exploration.
- Additional or customized excursions for Day 2 (and beyond!), such as UTV tours, scenic river float, white water rafting, glacier trekking, ice climbing and more.
- Extended photography coverage across additional experiences before or after the elopement.
- Luxury destination wedding or celebration setups in Matanuska Glacier area, Hatcher Pass or beyond for additional guest‑inclusive moments.
- Booking support for flights, car rentals, lodging, or honeymoon extensions via personalized white‑glove travel concierge service.
Customizations for your Elopement Package
When is the best time of year to get married on Matanuska Glacier?
If you are interested in ice caves and chasing the Aurora Borealis (aka Northern Lights), there are winter lodging and heli options available for the Matanuska Glacier! Reach out, and I can help you create something special.
Can family or friends join us at Alpenglow for an intimate wedding?
Your Glacier View yurt is reserved exclusively for you, while additional yurts tucked along the hillside and into the forest create shared space for your treasured few. Meals & specialized catering/chef options, glacier helicopter excursions, scenic river floats and other experiences, etc can all be tailored for groups, ensuring celebration without losing intimacy.
If you are looking to include guests, inquire 12+ months out for the best options to secure a full camp buy‑out for an exclusive experience.
What happens if the weather changes During Our Matanuska Glacier Elopement?
With an elopement that covers more than a few hours (and even across more than one day!), flexibility is automatically built in to your plan so your story unfolds in the best possible way, no matter what.
How can we personalize our Matanuska Glacier Heli & glamping luxury elopement Package?
- Private chef service for an elevated, fully custom multi‑course menu prepared at camp or at a nearby nature-forward event space.
- A fully styled sweetheart table for your first meal as a married couple.
- Customized, luxe decor or styling to further enhance your luxury glamping tent and the luxury glamping experience.
- Bespoke ceremony decor, luxe florals, and guest seating as applicable — an inspired “ceremony stage” in the wild.
- Luxury picnic tablescape to elevate your kayaking picnic.
- Additional helicopter time for more landings, trekking, or exploration.
- Additional unique excursions, amenities, and meals to enhance an adventure luxe experience for you and/or your guests.
- Extended multi‑day photography coverage to capture not only your elopement but also the adventures, beauty, and joy that surround it.
- Fully bespoke, white-glove travel concierge support to help you (and/or your treasured few) with flights, car rentals, lodging, or honeymoon extensions so your Alaska journey stays seamless from start to finish.
See this luxury destination wedding in Alaska that included a glacier vows experience, and get ideas and inspiration from other Luxury Adventure Elopement Itineraries with Family.
FAQs About
Matanuska Glacier Elopements
Matanuska Glacier is one of the most accessible places in Alaska where summer glacier blue pools can form, typically from late June through August.
Conditions vary each year, but when they form, the Matanuska offers multiple ways to experience these pools and melt water streams, either by guided glacier trekking or by a private helicopter tour.
The Knik Glacier can also develop blue pools, though access there is more limited and requires helicopter travel. Because glacier conditions change constantly, choosing the right location depends on timing, access preferences, and how you want to experience the landscape as a whole.
A summer camp–style wedding in Alaska is about shared time and immersion—not just rustic decor or outdated accommodations. Experiences like Alpenglow glamping near the Matanuska Glacier allow couples and guests to stay together in modern, well-appointed tents, gather for meals, and explore at an easy pace, while still offering private moments like helicopter-accessed glacier vows.
Experiences like Alpenglow glamping near the Matanuska Glacier create that cozy, fun feeling naturally.
Couples and their guests stay onsite together, gather for meals, explore at an unhurried pace, and reconnect each evening around the fire. Some moments—like private vows on a glacier accessed by helicopter—remain intentionally intimate, while others are shared back at camp.
Importantly, this style of celebration doesn’t mean sacrificing comfort. Modern glamping offers thoughtfully designed accommodations with real beds, warmth, and inviting communal spaces—without relying on outdated cabins or dorm-style lodging that you may think of with traditional "camps."
Unlike coastal lodge or boat-based venues, a glacier-and-mountain setting offers something rare: easy access to ice, alpine landscapes, and forest trails. It eases logistics of programming activities and is more about creating space for connection to happen naturally.
Matanuska Glacier is ideal for couples who want accessibility paired with immersion. It’s reachable by road, offers walkable glacier experience (no helicopter required) and summer blue pools. And, Matanuska-area offers experiences like luxury glamping, shared meals, and multi-day elopements—all without sacrificing glacier access.
Knik Glacier tends to feel more remote and rugged, requiring helicopters to access its surface. It’s a strong choice for couples eloping alone, but with intimate weddings, choosing the Knik typically involves more logistics for group access and into more traditional Airbnb cabin or hotel type lodging.
For couples drawn to comfort, flexibility, and community-focused guest-inclusive possibilities, Matanuska offers meaningful options.
Glamping-based locations like Alpenglow near the Matanuska Glacier —and remote retreat-style experiences like Shearwater Cove in Kenai Fjords— allow couples to host intimate celebrations that feel more like a shared journey than a single-day event. Guests stay together, meals become gathering points, super unique excursions can be done together, and the landscape becomes part of the story.
These types of small wedding venues are especially well-suited for couples who want a wedding that feels playful, immersive, and deeply personal, without the limitations of a traditional wedding venue or lodge.
Most Alaska glacier elopement packages focus on a single moment—often a helicopter flight to a scenic landing with minimal time on the ground.
At Soul & Sky, glacier elopements are designed as multi-day experiences. Packages typically include photography, location and experience design, helicopter access, and concierge planning support—but more importantly, they create space before and after the vows. Time to settle in, to explore more, to celebrate, and to rest.
Experiences like the Matanuska Glacier Helicopter & Glamping Elopement combine glacier access with comfortable lodging, shared meals, and flexible adventure options—shifting your elopement from a photo opportunity into a fully lived experience.
MEET KATE
Principal Designer & Photographer
I design -then photograph- luxury destination elopements that are neither preceded nor replicated.
Search these remarkable landscapes, and you won’t see a parade of identical wedding photos.
I believe the world is too extraordinary for a borrowed plan.
My passion for unique global travel, belief that anything is possible, and mantra that meaningful experiences can’t be rushed are the foundation of how I support you.
Share how you want your wedding to feel, and as your luxury elopement photographer I’ll create options as original as your love story—capturing images of every unforgettable moment.
Kate's not just a photographer... She seamlessly shifts between being a creative director, a local concierge, and your biggest cheerleader...
-Ryan Monahan
Us Two International Lifestyle Adventure
