Here at Outbound Heli Adventures, all of our pilots are ordained, and we absolutely love helping couples get married in one of the world’s most amazing locations! The entire Outbound Heli team works hard to ensure each wedding experience is effortless, safe, and utterly unforgettable, so we’ve created a friendly step-by-step guide to planning a helicopter elopement that’s equal parts intimate and epic, from choosing a ceremony season to popping champagne where the ice meets the sky.
Pick your date.
Let the landscape decide the mood.
Alaska’s scenery changes like a movie set, so start by deciding the vibe you want:
- Want dramatic, monochrome romance? Aim for snow-covered vistas taking place from approximately December to March.
- Crave crystalline blue pools and icy textures? Glacier season delivers from May to mid-September.
- After waterfalls and wildflower meadows? Late spring and summer shine in the months between May and August.
- Dreaming of golden, wind-swept tones? Fall color can be spectacular from August to October.
Think seasonality plus location: A blue melt pool will read differently than a towering ice wall or an open tundra with sweeping mountain views. Pick a date that matches the backdrop you imagine, and at a temperature you’ll enjoy.
Pick your photographer.
Capture the day, without worry.
Outbound Heli partners with a roster of experienced local photographers skilled at working in conditions that come with glacier, helicopter, and adventure elopements. They know locations, light, timing, and how to make each landing location look like a cinematic sequence. You’re welcome to choose one of our photographers (recommended for logistical ease) or bring your own photographer. Either way, plan around intentional shoots: Locations, season, timing, lighting, helicopter access, and weather windows all matter.
Pick your helicopter.
Know your options and what each aircraft can carry.
Both helicopter options include seats for the wedding couple and the photographer.
- R44 Helicopter — seats 3 passengers + pilot, max weight 650 lbs. Typical elopement days with the R44 allow for the couple and photographer to spend about 4–5 hours total (flight time + landing/ceremony/photo time). The R44 has under-seat storage for small bags, coats, or small celebratory items like a bottle of champagne or a compact cake.
- R66 Helicopter — seats up to 4 passengers + pilot, max weight 900 lbs. Ideal if you want an extra passenger, a longer day, longer distances, or simply more room for celebratory items or extra layers and gear. The R66 also has an external cargo compartment for larger items (small table, picnic basket, larger cake, etc.).
Choosing the right aircraft is a combination of factors; passenger count and total weight of the party are the two most important. Total weight will designate how much “extra” you can bring along for this special day, and note that longer days, more flight time, and multiple landing locations also require larger aircraft so that an appropriate amount of fuel can be carried.
Guests or no guests.
Bring the people you love (if you want).
Want a handful of family or a couple of friends to witness your vows? Guests can be accommodated for $599 per person, with a 2-person minimum for guest attendance (ceremony only) at the first landing location. This option typically runs about 2 hours on site for ceremony + photos.
Or choose an ultra-private elopement, it’s just the two of you (plus the photographer and pilot), making the experience more like a personal expedition.
Decide about add-ons.
Pick little luxuries that elevate the moment.
To make the day even more special, choose from a selection of add-ons: chocolate-covered strawberries, champagne, packrafts, charcuterie boards, or fully custom food orders. Want a picnic spread after your “I do”? Want to float with prosecco and toast on a glacier pool? Let us know — we’ll help transport what’s allowed and practical for your elopement and helicopter choice.
Say I do, somewhere truly epic
On the day, you’ll board the helicopter, fly to pristine and untouched landing locations of your choice, exchange vows with mountains or ice as your witnesses, and take photos that look like magazine spreads. It’s intimate, adventurous, and framed by nature in a way no ballroom can match.
Quick tips before you book a heli elopement
- Pack layers and footwear suited to the landing terrain, as weather conditions can and do change quickly. Chances are you will be in multiple locations, with different types of terrain, from icy glacial slopes and rocky mountain ridgelines to snow-covered hills and iceberg beaches, so proper footwear is absolutely critical.
- Keep celebratory items compact for the R44; the R66 offers more cargo flexibility.
- Book the photographer early, since peak seasons fill quickly.
- Have a backup timeline for weather: Our pilots prioritize your safety and the best possible experience.
Ready to get started? Book online or give us a call at 907-351-6736 to check date availability, confirm helicopter choice, and reserve a photographer or add-ons. We’ll walk you through all your options, logistics, and everything needed to make your elopement seamless, so your focus can be on saying “I do.”