How to Plan a Seward Alaska Elopement

Planning a Seward Alaska Elopement

Seward, Alaska is one of the best destinations for an adventure elopement. Surrounded by incredible mountain views, fjords, ocean, and glaciers. Full of wildlife you won’t see most anywhere else. The cozy town can provide a laidback day exploring the local beaches and boat harbor, or an epic adventure out into the Kenai Fjords National Park. If you want to know how to plan a Seward, Alaska elopement, then you’ll want this guide to know the best times to visit and what possibilities are in store for you depending on the time of year!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Permits + Leave No Trace
• Best elopement spots in Seward
• What to do Here
• Best Time of Year to Elope in Seward
• Where to Stay
• Where to Eat
• Getting Your Marriage License
• Finding Vendors in Seward

Permits + Leave No Trace

Keeping our lands clean and open to the public is important, so that couples like you can continue to enjoy the incredible outdoors of Alaska! The 7 principles of Leave No Trace will help guide you on how to ensure we’re all doing our part in protecting and caring for the lands we elope in. You can learn more about LNT here.

• Leave nothing, take nothing
• Stay on trail
• Respect wildlife

A permit is not required to elope in Seward. However, you will need a special usage permit to elope within the boundaries of Kenai Fjords National Park or Alaska State Park lands (if you fall under the requirements for one).

Best Spots for Your Seward Elopement

Seward is such a beautiful town, given that it’s surrounded by snow-capped mountains, glaciers, and Resurrection Bay. There’s many stunning spots to elope in Seward, including:

• Seward Boat Harbor
• The local beaches
• The local trails
• Kenai Fjords National Park

Your elopement specialized vendor, especially a photographer, can help recommend some more precise spots to begin planning your Seward elopement!

Nearest Airport to Seward

The closest airport to Seward is going to be the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Anchorage is a 2.5 hour drive to Seward. If your flight arrives late at night, stay in Anchorage for a night or so to catch some sleep before making the epic drive to town. You MUST see the incredible scenic views along the Seward Highway. There’s also no cell reception along a large portion of the route, and it’s very dark and desolate with large wildlife crossing the road. So it may bring peace of mind to do it during the day.

What to do During Your Seward Elopement

You’ll have plenty of options to choose from when it’s time to plan your Seward, Alaska elopement. Choose a laid back day in town or go epic out in the Kenai Fjords National Park. Whatever you choose, you’ll have stunning scenery and a magical day! Some options when you elope in Seward, Alaska:

• Hike Mt. Marathon for a view of the Bay from over 3,000ft up
• Walk the beaches of Resurrection Bay looking for marine life
• Have a picnic or campfire on the beach
• Walk around the boat harbor looking for marine life
• Hike through the forested trails around Seward
• Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center
• Go to one of the local bars for a celebratory drink
• Book a boat/heli tour out into the Kenai Fjords National Park

Kenai Fjords National Park Elopements

Eloping in the Kenai Fjords National Park means taking the adventurous route for eloping in Seward, Alaska. The Kenai Fjords is a very vast space of nearly 670,000 acres. Within the park, you’ll find glaciers, rainforests, the Harding Icefield, and a plethora of wildlife. Accessing a lot of the park requires a boat or helicopter tour. This is an unforgettable way to elope! If you want to learn more about eloping in the Kenai Fjords, read my Kenai Fjords National Park Elopement Guide.

Best Time to Elope in Seward

You want to pick the right time to visit when planning your Seward, Alaska elopement. Road, mountain, and sea conditions can be rough in the colder months, making it a less ideal time to visit. While the summer can be packed with tourists and cruisers. Available activities, wildlife sightings, and businesses being open around town are all dependent on the time of the year, too. Finding the sweet spot is the key.

Kenai Fjords National Park Accessibility; Boat + Heli Tours

• Late May to early September If you want to explore the Kenai Fjords by sea or air, which is required to see most of the park. This is when migratory whales are active, waters are calmer, and boat and heli tours are in full operation. Higher elevation areas will likely still have snow until late June/July, and fall colors usually set in around late August.

• October-April Closures: the waters are getting rough and snow is sticking by October. Boat and heli tours will cease until May. Some tours may still be running for a bit longer, but cancellations can be likely due to poor weather. Migratory marine life is leaving the Bay, and land life is beginning their hibernation. If you want an epic adventure in the Kenai Fjords National Park, May-September is your best timing.

Busy Crowds & Cruise Ships

• June-August are the busiest months of the year, with the population sometimes tripling on days cruise ships are in port. This is a fantastic timeframe to elope in due to wildlife activity and good weather, though! Checking cruise ship schedules is strongly recommended so that you can plan your elopement on a day ships won’t be in port (You can do this on sites like the CLIA).
• 4th of July week is crazy busy due to Seward’s Mt. Marathon race that brings in ~35,000 visitors. It gets extremely packed, but could be a fun thing to do if you’re up for the crowds!
• August crowds slow down just a bit due to it being cloudy/rainy ~50% of the month, so this can be a bit more of an ideal time to visit during the summer.
• September-May crowds are minimal and cruise ships are gone for the season by late September through early May.

Weather & Off-Season Closures

• May is during snowmelt, so greenery usually hasn’t quite come back and the trails are muddy (but crowds are minimal so that’s a big plus).
• June and July will have the best weather – Warmest temps in the upper 50s to 60s, occasionally 70s °F, lush green landscape, and highest probability of clear skies.
• August and September are wet and cloudy months with slightly cooler temps. Late August is generally when fall colors begin, bringing in vibrant reds and yellows. The rain here usually is light drizzles throughout the day, making it more manageable – it also means you are more likely to see all of the bonus waterfalls cascading down the mountainsides!
• Late June is usually when snow melts away from the higher elevations, so keep in mind that until then, snow may impact mountain plans.

• October-April, Off-Season: A less ideal time to elope in Seward. October/November brings storms to the Bay, and lots of snow. Road conditions can get rough from Anchorage to Seward in the peak of winter. Boat and heli tours usually aren’t running due to poor weather conditions. Many of the seasonal local businesses like shops, lodging, and restaurants will be closed until late May. Town is quiet, which is nice, but options are pretty limited.

Wildlife Sightings: Marine + Land Animals

• May-September will be your best chances to see the migratory whales, like humpbacks, in the Bay – especially right in the middle of that timeframe. Local marine life, like otters, sea lions, and harbor seals are generally visible year-round, but can be more frequently spotted May-September.
• Mid-May to mid-June Orcas are most active, but can be seen through September.
• April-October Bears will be more likely to see, with best times being during summer and the salmon runs (which usually peak in July and August).
• June-October Moose are most active, but can be spotted year-round.

Aurora Sightings

Late-August to mid-April is usually the best time to try catching the Northern Lights. August and September may not be as favorable due to the increase in cloud coverage and rain, though. Seward is a small town and pretty isolated from other towns, so light pollution is relatively minimal. It’s great to go out to the local beaches and watch from there, or right at your lodging!

Where to Stay During Your Seward Elopement

During your Alaska elopement, you can stay in downtown Seward (which is located right beside Resurrection Bay and the Boat Harbor), at a cabin on the beach, secluded in the Alaskan rainforests, or even out in the ocean at private cabins only accessed by boat! Lodging can book quickly in the busier months, so I recommend securing your lodging as soon as you can. Some of my favorites:

• Orca Island Cabins (accessed by boat tender)
• Salted Roots
• Millers Landing

Where to Eat After Your Seward Elopement

Seward has some great eats right in Downtown or just down the road, which makes it close and convenient to grab a bite when you get back in from your day of adventuring. Some local favorites:

• Apollo (Greek)
• The Cookery (Seafood, American)
• Ray’s Waterfront (Seafood, American)
• Flamingo Lounge (Steakhouse, American)
• The Highliner (Seafood, American)
• Resurrection Roadhouse (American, Bar)
• Seward Brewing Company (American, Bar)

Getting Your Alaska Marriage License

If you’re coming from out of state, be sure to apply for your Alaska marriage license in advance of your Seward elopement. The process takes multiple days, but can be done through mail to assist those whom are visiting from out of state and don’t have time to do it while in town. You can download the application form at the Alaska Dept. of Health website. Here’s additional Alaska marriage license info:

• Two witnesses are required to marry in Alaska. These witnesses could be random hikers or fishsermen from town, your vendors, or anyone you bring with you.
• Cost is $60 ($70 if Priority Mail is required because you cannot pick up locally)
• Submit the completed application WITH payment to the records office closest to your ceremony location (Alaska Vital Records in Anchorage or the Seward Court location)
• Must be 18 years or older to marry without parental consent.
• Form of identification, like drivers license or passport, required.
• Both parties must be sworn in by a Licensing Officer or Notary and sign the application IN PERSON, in their presence. This can be done at the Anchorage Vital Records Office, at any Alaska Courthouse, by an Alaska postmaster, or by a notary in your home jurisdiction.
• Once issued, the license is valid for only 90 days. You must get married before expiration, or re-apply and pay again.
• After the marriage has taken place and all parties have signed, you must turn it back into the Vital Records Office, or mail it to them for registration once you get home.
  

Finding Vendors For a Seward Elopement

There are definitely more favorable times of the year to visit Seward to get the most out of your experience here. Planning a Seward elopement doesn’t have to be stressful – hire someone who knows the area that can guide you into how to plan your Alaska elopement in Seward!

My in-laws own a home in Seward, so it’s a place I visit every year. All my expertise from this area comes from firsthand experience and the knowledge of my family and neighbors that stay in town year-round. It’s an absolutely stunning place I’m fortunate to spend my time at. I’d love to help you plan your elopement in Seward, and photograph the big adventure!

Wanna elope in Seward? Reach out!

I’d love to chat with you about how to elope in Seward! It’s my favorite place in the world. I just know you’d have the perfect day here, and I’d love to be your guide to make it extra special.