Welcome to Seward Heli and Alaska’s Beauty
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Good morning, good afternoon, or wherever you’re tuning in from, hello, and welcome to Soul and Sky’s Field Notes, The Alaska Tapes. My name is Kate, and I am Soul and Sky Weddings, the owner. And today we are going to be chatting with Elise Cevetello from Seward Heli, because in this series we are focused on conversations with amazing [vendors] across Alaska who can help couples just like you create an amazing intimate elopement, wedding, or romantic travel across the wild and incredible state of Alaska.
So with that in mind, we are going to chat with Elise. Elise, I cannot wait to hear about all the magic around Seward and Kenai Fjords and everything that you’ve got going on. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about Seward Heli and what you do?
Elise – Seward Heli:
Sure. We are a summer operation in Seward. The helicopters are there from early May through early September. That is when you want to fly in Alaska—summer—especially when you’re planning a trip for a special day. There are a lot of things that go into that. You want to be there for the best weather window in Alaska so that things run as smooth as possible.
So that’s when we’re open. Seward’s an amazing place to fly. With the water and the mountains, it’s really beautiful. There’s a lot of glaciers there to see. Kenai Fjords, with the Tidewater Glaciers, is a very special and unique place.
Another great thing about Seward is that you have access to so many other places as well. Unlike Southeast Alaska, where I also lived for several years—and where it’s very hard to travel logistically—you go to this one amazing place, but then it’s all small towns and it’s hard to go anywhere else. In Seward, you can go, have an amazing experience, and then you can drive in a couple of hours to experience a different part of Alaska.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Right. Yeah.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Seward is this beautiful coastal, mountainous town that’s also connected to other places. I’ve been in Alaska tourism almost 10 years.
Exploring Seward: A Unique Coastal Experience
Elise – Seward Heli:
That is honestly one of the differences people don’t always understand—the size of Alaska and how long it takes to get places. Seward is beautiful and lively, and to have this combination of mountains and sea, plus a town, plus the ability to get to other places… it’s actually really unique. I can’t think of another place in Alaska that’s like that.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Mm-hmm. Yeah. Because when you go up to Matanuska, sure, technically you’re kind of close to Anchorage—kind of—but it’s a couple of hours, and it’s out in the middle of… I mean there’s not a whole lot there.
Elise – Seward Heli:
There’s no town there. There’s not going to be anything going on. You’re not going to be able to go out to a restaurant, you’re not going to be able to hike a big trail. You’re really just there for the Matanuska. That is it. And you’re far from everything else.
Then think of the Knik. The Knik is great, but then you’re in a city. I love Palmer in the winter—I’ve spent quite a lot of time in Palmer. I was based there last winter. It’s awesome in the winter when the little towns are very quiet. I don’t mind doing city life. But you are in a city. You are not in a charming small Alaska town.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yeah. Palmer on the north and then Girdwood on the south—Girdwood has a totally different vibe because of the ski resort that’s there. So yes, it’s very different. I would fully agree. Seward is a little bit of a unicorn, which is absolutely why I love it so, so much.
The city is very cool. The experiences are diverse. So let’s talk a little bit about the experiences that are available through you guys at Seward Heli, or just around Seward in general. Because I think when people think of Alaska, they think glaciers. But glaciers in Seward are very different than they are in other places in the state.
Glaciers and Their Unique Characteristics
Elise – Seward Heli:
That’s another thing people have to wrap their heads around when coming to Alaska. They see a photo of a glacier and think they’re all like that. There are tens of thousands of glaciers up here, and they’re all very different.
In Seward specifically, one of the great things about the area is Kenai Fjords National Park. But it also poses some restrictions because it is a national park—it’s there to be preserved. So no helicopter company can land within the national park. We cannot land on any glaciers in the national park. And a lot of those glaciers are the only ones in the area where you would be able to do an ice landing safely or land next to a blue pool like you might see in a photo.
I always encourage people—not to go somewhere with a particular picture in their mind and try to force the landscape to match it—but to find what’s best for that place. Don’t try to make a photo you saw on Google happen here. Instead: Is this where you want to go? What makes this place special? Do that.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yeah.
Elise – Seward Heli:
With Seward, some of the things that make it special are the Tidewater Glaciers you can view from the air. You can kayak around icebergs in the Bear Glacier Lagoon. That’s one of the most special things I’ve done in almost 10 years of Alaska tourism. I’ve done ATV tours, canoe tours—I’ve guided so many of them and managed them—and I’ve had access to a lot of really cool stuff. And I will say: kayaking around those icebergs is really amazing and really special, and not something you can do everywhere.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
I will second that. I’m going to interject because—do you remember the experience that you said yes to for me? Do you remember what we created?
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yes.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yes. I mean, for me, that is like…
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yes, you guys did the best—the highlights.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
We did. It was incredible. It was incredible.
Adventure Activities: Kayaking and Dog Sledding
Elise – Seward Heli:
That’s an amazing highlight. You guys did a lot of the great things to do in Seward. You did the dog sledding tour, which very few places in the state offer. There’s a ton of work that goes into being able to do that tour—there’s a lot of setup involved and a lot of overhead costs. You find very few places in the state that do that, and Seward is one of them. So that’s another special thing to do in the area.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
And if I can pause there again—I think one thing I’d want couples to know when they’re exploring dog sledding as an option is: yes, there are places that do summer dog sledding, but if you’re not on a glacier, it’s going to be on a wheeled cart in the woods. Which is equally beautiful—it’s just different.
But if you want the true dogsledding experience, to your point, there are very few places to do it. And through you guys is definitely one of the best.
Creating Intimate Experiences for Couples
And then one of the benefits of working closely with you is that we were able to do a semi-private tour. When we landed on the glacier, there were a few people wrapping up their tour and heading out—but we were the last one of the day. So we had the benefit of this intensely private camp experience, and then the trail ride where they ended up saying their vows. Shelby came out on the snowmobile and everything.
Being able to make it feel private is incredibly unique. A lot of places can’t do that because of the way they schedule tours—the number of people, the rotation. So if you want that private experience, it’s essential to talk to the vendor, like you, and really ask those questions—or work with your photographer to organize that.
Being able to make it private is a huge differentiator.
Elise – Seward Heli:
And not just the private experience—the semi-private you keyed in on. Because going fully private can blow a lot of people’s budgets. We really try to work with people to give them the experience they want while staying within budget.
We already do small group tours. So the question becomes: how can we make this as special as possible so that you can focus on your moment, but still have others sharing the cost, so you’re not holding the entire bill? That’s the trickier part. It’s easy to block off seats and hand someone a very large bill. It’s harder to do the semi-private experience—and that’s what we’re willing to do.
Glacier Landings and Scenic Views
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
You mentioned earlier that because of the blessing and the curse of Kenai Fjords National Park, landing on certain glaciers isn’t possible. You’ll see different materials in different places. But is it possible to land on Bear Glacier? Do the rules allow you to land next to it if conditions are perfect? Can you see the glacier from the ground? I’ve gotten that question before.
Elise – Seward Heli:
The best way to see Bear Glacier is from the air. A lot of people talk about boat tours going there, but they can’t get you into the lagoon with the icebergs—they stay on the far side. Where the glacier has receded, it’s created this huge lagoon. The special part is that when the glacier calves—because it’s a tidewater glacier—the icebergs get trapped in that lagoon. They don’t float out to sea like at Aialik Glacier nearby.
With a helicopter, we can fly right up the face. We can usually go up some of it. It connects back to the Harding Icefield, which a lot of people have heard of. But we’re not able to land on it. It’s between two mountains, and even without the national park restriction, there aren’t many conducive landing areas.
We can land in view of the glacier, depending on the year. Every year is different since it’s receding pretty quickly. You’ll definitely be able to view it. And we have other glaciers where we can land. If someone’s goal is to touch ice, we can get them that. But I wouldn’t count on landing with the helicopter’s skids directly on ice.
Most likely, if you’re on top of a glacier, you’re on snow on the glacier because we land at a high enough elevation that there’s snowpack. So you’re either on snow or we land at around 2,500 feet in the mountains where you’re at the base of a glacier and can walk up to touch it.
The thing I caution people about—as a photographer you can speak to this—is that at those lower levels where you can touch the ice, you’re more limited visually. It’s a one-direction kind of landscape. The glacier’s retreat exposes bare earth. So you’ve got dirt, rocks, and the edge of the glacier—and that’s it. It doesn’t give you a whole lot.
If people want glacier landing photos, I always encourage doing another landing as well.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I agree wholeheartedly. Where you’re at the toe of a glacier, yes—you have moraine, rocks, dirt. The edge isn’t always pretty. Sometimes it’s amazing and blue; sometimes it’s slopey, rocky, muddy—because it’s the edge. It depends on the season.
If a couple really wants Seward and they want a glacier, I 100% encourage Godwin. It’s a snowfield glacier, but it is stunning. That expanse, the mountains rising out of it, the flight in and out—just incredible. It’s different, but beautiful.
To your point earlier: pick the place where you want to be, and love it for what it is, not what you desire it to be.
Mountain Landing Experiences
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
So let’s talk about mountain landings, because I know that’s something you offer, and you have some really unique mountain landing views. Tell me a little bit about mountain landings and some of the excursions that go with them. What does that feel like?
Elise – Seward Heli:
That’s one of my favorite things. We have a heli-hiking tour. It’s a short amount of flight time—basically what you incorporated into your two-day trip. It’s a landing spot in a mountain range where you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. You can have a picnic, you can hike around for a little bit.
That’s one of the things that makes Seward so special—those mountains. And you can get such a variety: 360-degree mountains, alpine lakes, mountain-and-water views, depending on where we land.
One thing I caution about is that coastal Alaska is naturally very overcast. We usually have clouds covering the tops of the mountains. That is very typical—our average weather. So I always recommend people have flexibility in their schedule.
When you guys came, there were specific activities you wanted, and you were flexible about the order. It was: “Okay, the weather’s great for this right now—we’re doing this first.” That was a last-minute decision. But we stayed flexible. We did high-elevation first when we had the weather window, and then worked our way down to the less weather-dependent activities.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yeah, absolutely. Flexibility is key.
Travel Recommendations for Couples in Alaska
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Thinking about flexibility: if a couple is doing a single-day elopement—maybe a couple of hours going on a tour—but they also want to travel afterward… you’re going all this way. You should experience this amazing place. How long would you suggest couples spend in Alaska to honeymoon or travel after their elopement days?
Elise – Seward Heli:
It depends on where they’re trying to go and what they’re trying to do. You can think of it both ways. If you’re trying to do certain activities, you need to go to certain places. Like we talked about—things are far in Alaska.
If you’re down in Seward doing your elopement and then you want to do something up in Fairbanks, you need to allow time for that. So the length of time I recommend—or vice versa, the length of time you have—dictates what I recommend. You don’t want to feel like you’re in the car the whole time.
It’s great to wing it on some level, but having a structure to your trip is really important because it takes a lot to understand where things are and how to get there. There isn’t one set amount of time I recommend. My first question is always: What are you looking to do? Based on those mental images you have for your vacation, I might say:
“That’s here, and here, and here… and to really enjoy that, you need two weeks.”
Or:
“You can do all of that on the Kenai Peninsula. You’re fine with a few days.”
Planning Your Alaskan Elopement
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Speaking of that weather window—Alaska is notorious for weather. Flexibility is so important. What can couples expect to experience in Seward during that summer window?
Elise – Seward Heli:
Seward is naturally a very overcast place—typical of many coastal Alaska towns. We usually have clouds covering the mountain peaks. It’s beautiful in that way, but it’s important to love Alaska for what it is.
I think it’s tough when people come with an expectation of California skies. We don’t have big blue skies most of the time. And when we do have them, a lot of times it comes with wind—because that’s what pushes the clouds out of this naturally overcast area. It’s not always the best time to fly when you see blue skies and sunshine. It can actually be a very windy day.
I think there’s a lot of magic in the different cloud layers, and they can look really cool in photos.
I always tell people: if there are certain things you really want to do, prioritize them at the front of your trip and leave flexibility afterward to adjust.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I would say that having a longer elopement helps with that. If you book only a four-hour session, that’s it—you have to pivot within that tight window. My elopements tend to be a day and a half or longer. This particular one we’re talking about was actually a two-day experience, which gave us the flexibility to pivot, move things, restack things, reorganize.
If couples only book a very short experience, you have to come in with an absolute flexibility mindset: Whatever the weather gives us is perfect. We’re happy to do whatever we can.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Alaska is so different because it’s not a place that’s super developed—and that’s what I love about it. The helicopter lets you see so much more of it in an untouched way.
Maximizing Your Alaskan Experience
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I definitely want to come back to the Bear Glacier glamping because that is an amazing experience by itself. But to your point about the vastness and the expanse—when you come over the ridgeline and approach across the lagoon, and you look down and see all of these icebergs and the water and the mountains, and the richness of the colors… and then you see this ridgeline on the side of the lagoon, and when you look closely, you see the itty-bitty yurts, and you’re like: My gosh… you get to stay there.
It’s mind-blowing when you think about the remoteness and the uniqueness of that access—and those three little buildings. It’s incredible. And it’s such a great way to experience Seward and the beautiful area you have. You get the mountains, the water, the glacier, the icebergs, the kayaking.
But if you don’t want to do any of that, you don’t have to. You can just sit and listen to the icebergs in the water. It’s magical. Amazing.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yes. I would say that overnight stay is—personally—the most special experience we do. It allows time to do beach walks, kayaking, and really immerse yourself in this place.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I would agree. And I think for couples who may be nervous or apprehensive about staying overnight—it’s guided. You’re not by yourself back in this yurt. There’s the mountain butler, if you call it that. You’re not there fending for yourself.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yes. We’re not leaving people alone in the wilderness. We definitely try to make this possible.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
It’s not Survivor. It’s pretty amazing. But even for couples who still aren’t sure if the glamping aspect is for them—doing one of the day excursions to kayak, or take time to picnic—like my couple did—can be just as special.
On day two of their adventure, we went kayaking through the lagoon—amazing. And we went to a far shore and had a picnic lunch in the lupines. It was beautiful.
Fun fact: one of the images from day two of their kayaking experience was awarded an Honorable Mention for Junebug’s Best of Destination Weddings. It’s a huge deal.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yeah, that’s amazing. I love that.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
It’s fun because it’s novel. It’s a wedding photo competition—but they weren’t even in wedding clothes. And for me, that just speaks to the power of the experience eloping in Alaska creates. It’s so much more than just the ceremony. It’s the celebration you create in this immense and amazing place.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Well, you’re recognizing that time together—and what a wedding really is. You can clearly see their bond. It’s a really great photo—doing something incredibly cool that you’ll talk about forever.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yes. And I think that’s super fun about Alaska as well. When else are you going to go on a helicopter and perch on a mountaintop?
Elise – Seward Heli:
Right? There’s just no better place to do it.
Weather in Seward: Embracing the Elements
Elise – Seward Heli:
Seward is naturally a very overcast place—that’s typical for coastal Alaska. We usually have clouds covering the mountain peaks. It is beautiful that way, but it’s important for people to love Alaska for what it is.
It can be tough when people come expecting big California blue skies. We don’t get a lot of those. And when we do get them, it’s often because strong winds pushed the clouds out—which means it may not actually be a great day to fly. Sunny skies can be very windy.
There’s a lot of magic with the different kinds of cloud cover, and it can look really cool in photos. But it’s really important that when you plan anything in Alaska, especially if there are certain things you want to do, that you prioritize them at the front of your trip and leave flexibility after that to adjust.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I agree. And I’d add: having a longer elopement day really helps. If you book just a four-hour session, you have to pivot within that tight window. My elopements tend to be a day and a half or longer—this particular one we’ve been talking about was actually a two-day experience. Because of that, we had the flexibility to pivot, reorder things, restack, reorganize.
So if couples only want a very short experience, they have to come in with the mindset that whatever the weather gives us is absolutely perfect, and we’ll go do whatever we can within that window.
Bear Glacier Glamping – A Unique Experience
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yes — and circling back to Bear Glacier glamping. When you come over the ridgeline and approach the lagoon, and you look down to see all the icebergs, and the water, and the mountains… the richness of the colors is breathtaking. And then you notice this ridgeline on the side of the lagoon — and when you look closer, you see the little yurts.
You think: My gosh… you get to stay there.
It is mind-blowing when you think about the remoteness and uniqueness of that access — those three little buildings out there. It’s incredible.
And I think it’s such a great way to experience Seward because you get the mountains, the water, the glacier, the icebergs, the kayaking. And if you don’t want to do any of that, you don’t have to. You can just sit and listen to the icebergs shifting in the water. It’s magical.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yes. I would say that overnight stay is, to me personally, the most special experience we do. It allows time to do beach walks, kayak, and really immerse yourself in this place.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I agree. And for couples who may feel nervous or unsure about staying overnight — it’s guided. You’re not by yourself back in a yurt. There’s the mountain butler, if you will. You’re not fending for yourselves.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Right. We’re not leaving people alone in the wilderness. We definitely try to make this possible.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
It’s not Survivor.
And even for couples who say, “Still not sure if the glamping aspect is for us,” the day excursions are incredible. Like my couple — on day two we went kayaking through the lagoon, which was amazing. We kayaked to a far shore, and had a picnic lunch in the lupines. It was beautiful.
And actually, one of the images from that kayaking day was awarded an Honorable Mention for Junebug’s Best of Destination Weddings — which is wild because they weren’t even in wedding clothes.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yeah, that’s amazing. I love that.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
To me, it speaks to the power of the experience. Eloping in Alaska is so much more than the ceremony — it’s the celebration you create in this immense, amazing place.
Dog Sledding: A Unique Summer Experience
Elise – Seward Heli:
We do the tour — it’s always an amazing experience. You mush with a team on a small sled, get to meet the dogs, and we often have puppies. It’s a really fun intro to the sport. It’s a great way to do something that feels iconically Alaska.
We’ve had a camp up on Godwin Glacier for — I think we’re going on 15 years now. I don’t know anyone else who has such a long track record on the glacier. Maybe some of the camps in Juneau, but I’m not sure how long they’ve been running.
We know that glacier really well, which is so important. Over all these years, we’ve honed in on the best spot for the camp and really understand the weather up there. Everything we do is small groups. There’s something for every budget, and I really want to work with people within their budget.
Why Seward Is a Unicorn Elopement Location
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
We talked about this a little bit, but as people are considering where in Alaska they want to go for the overall experience, I think this is one of the things that makes Seward such a unicorn.
You’ve got the cute little coffee shops, the restaurants, the trinket shops, cool parks, and all kinds of lodging opportunities. But to your point — there are things to do there.
Versus some places in Alaska where you’re going purely for the adventure — and sometimes that is enough, that is the reason you’re there. But Seward is such a beautiful blend for couples who want an immersive adventure and a fuller experience around it without having to travel a huge distance to get to the next thing.
How to Build an Elopement by Feeling
So: say the things you really want, and don’t be tied to an idea — be tied to the feeling.
Maybe you think you want a picture by a glacier, but what you actually want is the beautiful ice, the colors, the textures. Which might mean Elise tells you that you don’t want to be by the glacier — you want to be by the icebergs, because that’s way cooler.
Communicating what you want helps us as vendors help you as a couple better. Is that fair?
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yeah. I think the icebergs in particular may not sound as exciting as being able to touch a glacier — but when you think about what the photo will look like, it’s really helpful to explain that.
With the icebergs, you have greenery, mountains behind you, water — there’s a lot more going on, versus just ice and earth.
So it’s talking to couples about the reality, because I want to not only meet people’s expectations — I want to exceed them.
I really want to talk to people and show example photos. I find that really helpful: “This is what this actually looks like. Is this what you’re going for?”
Get to Know Elise
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I love it. OK, so I’m going to wrap us up here. This has been amazing. Thank you so much. I actually have a random question for you personally.
What is an experience or a place on your bucket list? So many couples coming to Alaska are checking off their bucket list by coming here. If you were leaving Alaska for a bucket-list experience — where are you going, Elise?
Elise – Seward Heli:
There are so many places and experiences I want to have in this state, and I don’t necessarily want to advertise any particular one because I think they’re all so cool.
But — I mean — I work for a helicopter company. I love to fly. I love seeing these untouched places from the air, where you really get the sense of how huge everything is.
An experience I haven’t done before but want to do? I’ve been working with the helicopter company for going on six years — so maybe one of my goals is to try flying myself.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Mm-hmm.
Elise – Seward Heli:
If you haven’t been working for a helicopter company for six years, then I recommend just taking a flightseeing trip — because I think that’s the best way to experience the state.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yes! Roo-roo! Thank you.
Well, I look forward to the day when you’re my pilot taking a couple around to see all of your favorite sites. I’m going to check in on you — I’ll give it two years. That seems like an appropriate amount of time to push it.
Elise – Seward Heli:
(laughs) OK, great. I should have said perfect.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
I love it. OK — so we’re going to close with some rapid fire here. Elise: describe Alaska in three words.
Elise – Seward Heli:
I would say, to me, Alaska is vast. I love the endless landscape of nature.
And it’s wilderness — in the sense that it’s so wild. That’s one thing I love about it and want to help preserve.
And I would say — for me — it’s home. I’ve been here going on ten years, and it’s a place I really love.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Aww. My heart. I love that so much.
OK — next one. What’s a moment in nature that lives rent-free in your brain?
Elise – Seward Heli:
I have so many being up here that it’s hard to pick one. More recently — Seward is a rainforest. That’s something we didn’t hit on and should definitely be noted. You are in a rainforest.
It’s a temperate rainforest. People don’t realize you can have rainforest in Alaska — but you can. And it’s beautiful. I’ve gone on a lot of walks in the past few weeks in the rainforest, because when it’s raining, go to the rainforest — at least you have a canopy.
The amount of moss is incredible. I loved my nature walks with my dog — I took pictures of the fungus, mushrooms, moss, lichen. It was like a magical fairy land. And that’s so accessible — it’s a large part of Seward’s beauty. A reminder that yes, it’s raining — you are in a temperate rainforest in coastal Alaska. Go to the rainforest and check out the greens and whites and reds and browns — how special that area is.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
A temperate rainforest. Yes.
And I think that connects to our conversation about time — giving yourself time to slow down, whether in your elopement days or the adventure you build around them. Time to walk slowly, to sit, to observe, to just be. There is such beauty in that here.
THE Item to Pack for Seward Travel
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
OK — last question for all the marbles. So many couples who will be listening to this will be traveling.
What is the one thing you never travel without? What’s in your go-bag?
Elise – Seward Heli:
Well — let’s assume it’s summer, because that’s when I’m encouraging people to come.
Alaska in the summer… different areas are very different. But if you’re doing Seward in the summer, I would say: you’re going to want to really enjoy the place — dress for the occasion.
Have your waterproof boots. Even if it’s not raining, it’s probably going to be soft, squishy, moist moss. It might be muddy. Bring a rain jacket. Bring stuff that’s going to allow you to enjoy the outdoors.
Do not show up in suede heeled booties.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Practical! Yes.
In our world, it’s function and then form. Yes, it can look good — but we always ask: will it perform in the conditions? That’s the first benchmark. Then: is it cute?
I will say amen to that. You’re going to have a better time with the right gear.
Elise – Seward Heli:
You’re going to have a better time if you’re comfortable.
If you’re protected from the elements in this wonderful wilderness we’re talking about, you’re going to want to stay out there longer and enjoy it more. So definitely come prepared for the outdoors.
Planning for Success with Alaska Travel
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Well, Elise, this has been so fabulous. Is there anything else you’d want to share with couples who are thinking about eloping to Alaska — Seward or otherwise? Any last thoughts?
Elise – Seward Heli:
Yes. I can’t stress enough how important it is to really take the time to plan the trip in advance — at least in terms of having some sort of structure.
I’m the type of person who does so much planning in my work life that I don’t tend to do it in my personal life. And Alaska is not a good place to figure it out as you go.
Leave flexibility, leave room to pivot, leave room to add things you didn’t know about — but take the time before you come to develop a structure to your trip.
Whether you’re talking to somebody like me — the operator of what you’re trying to do — or someone like you, Kate, who knows the area well and has planned these types of things… talking to people who have really been there firsthand is super helpful.
Alaska is big. It’s a tough place to plan on your own.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yeah. I agree. I don’t know how many conversations I’ve had where folks say, “So if we’re in Seward, but we also want to go to Fairbanks…” Or they’re thinking of going to Wrangell–St. Elias.
ChatGPT will give you an itinerary that, 90% of the time, is not actually an obtainable itinerary — unless you have like a month in Alaska.
Without talking to someone who has driven it, who has flown it, who understands it, it can be very touch and go.
Elise – Seward Heli:
That’s part of the spice of it, right? It’s part of the adventure.
But some things… like people booking a tour in Seward when they’re actually staying in Ketchikan or Juneau. Or booking a flight out of Kenai because they think “Kenai Peninsula” means the town of Kenai — when they’re actually in Seward.
These things can run so much more smoothly if you talk to someone.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Definitely. Talk to folks like you and your team. Folks like me — elopement planners, photographers. We’ve seen a lot. Information is power here.
Elise – Seward Heli:
Right. Especially because Alaska is such a big undertaking to understand.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Elise, thank you for your time and expertise — sharing all these juicy little tidbits. Thank you to you and your team for taking such good care of my Soul & Sky couples. I can’t wait to explore more with you all.
Elise – Seward Heli:
I would love that. The weddings, the elopements — it’s my favorite thing that we do for sure. Creating these custom events, finding things that fit what people are looking for… it’s a really special part of the company.
Kate – Soul & Sky Weddings:
Yes. It’s beautiful. Cheers to many more. Thank you.
Elise – Seward Heli:
All right — I hope to see you again soon, Kate.
