Helicopter + Packrafting Elopement in Alaska
the hearnes » adventure elopement photographers
Ruchi + Zach’s Helicopter Packrafting Elopement on a Glacier Lake in Alaska
Part of what is so fun about our lifestyle and job is how often we’ll go somewhere amazing, or plan up some adventure, and think “hold up, this would make an epic elopement!” And to be completely candid, Ruchi and Zach’s adventure elopement plan in Alaska was one of those pipe-dream ideas we’d had for a few years before everything lined up for it to work and be intriguing to one of our couples! We are always full of ideas, and we customize elopement days to each couple to work within their vision, budget, and timing of everything so it’s always fun to play match-maker with our unique couples and the ideas we have in mind. When Ruchi and Zach initially reached out to us, they were super flexible with their location but mentioned a dream of visiting Alaska (if COVID hadn’t ruined their original plans for 2020, it would’ve been their 50th state!) so we knew this was the place for them.
They didn’t invite any guests, but did bring their dog Pony who joins on all of their adventures!! We honestly thought having Pony along might limit some of what we could do, but boy did he prove us wrong 😉 And it helps that Alaska is super dog-friendly, the helicopter company we hired didn’t even bat an eye when we asked if he could join! We threw out a few ideas and locations to Ruchi and Zach, but they fell in love with what was also secretly our top choice — chartering a helicopter to a remote glacier lake. Some of the plans were a bit compromised because of COVID but honestly the day could not have turned out more perfectly. One of the tough things about Alaska is how unpredictable the weather can be, and helicopter flights depend on good weather! The whole week leading up to their elopement was rainy, but the day-of, the sun came out and it ended up being truly one of the prettiest days we had all month!! When we met up at the helicopter office, we were all so excited. We’d put so much planning and research into the logistics of this day, it was surreal to finally be there!
Because the helicopters we were using hold four people including the pilot, and we had a good amount of gear (four boats, paddles, pumps, blankets, food, cameras, spare camera gear, and a DOG), we needed to do two trips with the helicopter to shuttle everyone and everything over there. Callen went first with a majority of the gear, then on the second load I rode with Ruchi, Zach, and Pony over to the remote lake! It was such a stunning flight and our pilot even brought us out over the glacier so we really got to soak it all in. We’ve hiked and flown and driven to some epic locations for elopements, and when we’re the ones suggestion the locations I always love that “reveal” moment when the couple sees the place we’ve been talking about for the first time. I have to say, coming over a high mountain pass and seeing the sprawling tongue of the glacier extending out from the Harding Icefield, the giant blue lake full of icebergs (some over 100 feet tall!), all flowing out into the bay and surrounded by mountains on every side…it was pretty freaking incredible. We hovered at the glacier face and soaked in the 200 foot ice cliffs rising from the water, and then flew over to our own private little beach where Callen was waiting with our boats already inflated and ready to go!! Hero!
One thing that is super important to us when planning elopement days is giving plenty of time for our couples to really soak in and enjoy the places and each other, as well as time to capture the activities and get the unique photos that draw people to us in the first place. With this elopement, it was a balance knowing it could be cold, windy, even a bit rainy, so we had to choose an amount of time that would feel plenty long, but not be grueling if conditions were less than perfect! Thankfully, we had phenomenal conditions, and the timing felt just right. When we first got out of the helicopter, we walked over to our base camp and started sorting gear, and Pony immediately ran up to an idyllic little meadow where he got his signature zoomies, running in circles and rolling in the grass. It was pure joy, and the perfect introduction to the place for all of us 😂 We decided to paddle first knowing the wind could always pick up, and it was so much fun!!! Ruchi and Zach had never paddled anything like this before, so we gave them a little intro, coaxed Pony into Ruchi’s boat, and spent the next hour exploring the floating icebergs (from a safe distance, and never too far from shore! glacier lakes can be VERY dangerous, so please do research before exploring them and hire a guide if you have any hesitations). We were all so mesmerized by the crystal clear lake you could even see the icebergs extending underwater! After plenty of exploring, a rad ski plane fly-by, and some fun photos, we decided to paddle back to our base camp for snacks and to get ready for their ceremony.
Ruchi and Zach knew they wanted their ceremony to be just the two of them, not to mention we didn’t have any room for an officiant to join! So they conducted their own ceremony, just the two of them and Pony and all the icebergs as their guests. To make things legally official, I signed their marriage license as the officiant (did you know we’re both certified??), Callen signed as a witness, and the helicopter pilot as the other witness. It was perfectly intimate and truly fit them as a couple so well. After, we popped champagne (that Zach had placed in some rocks on the shore with an iceberg on top to chill it) and then spent the next hour taking portraits all around our little beach, in the beautiful meadows, and with the epic icebergs! The sunlight was so stunning, often reflecting off the lake and giving us the most beautiful golden light. As the sun dipped behind the horizon, the mountains behind us lit up with golden alpenglow, and just as we were starting to get chilly our helicopter came over the pass to pick us up! We took some final portraits with the helicopter, packed everything up, and then Ruchi, Zach, Pony, and I flew back with the most beautiful views of sunset on the glaciers, mountains, and endless river valleys. It was the perfect way to soak in the final moments of their wedding day, and as we landed we saw the giant moon coming up over the ocean. We all collapsed into the couch in the helicopter office and marveled at how perfect the day was while our pilot flew back to scoop Callen and our gear!
It was truly one of the most epic days we’ve had, and I can’t thank Ruchi and Zach enough for trusting us and believing in our harebrained ideas. We had so much fun with these two (three!!) and feel so lucky to know them and now call them friends.
A note on safety: There were two major factors in this elopement day that I feel are important to discuss. Firstly, being dropped in the Alaskan wilderness by a helicopter with a planned pick up time is inherently a risky endeavor. Even with a great weather forecast, we packed lots of extra jackets, entire changes of clothes, and much more food than we needed just for the afternoon. We also both carried bear spray on us at all times, and brought our InReach satellite phone which allowed us to be in text contact with our helicopter company as well as give us the option of an SOS call to the nearest search and rescue operation should we have an emergency. We would absolutely never take a couple into the Alaskan wilderness without these things. We also made a plan for what we would do if our pick up did not come, if weather turned, and so on. There were structures nearby we were aware of and could have used in an emergency. Secondly, paddling in Alaska can be very dangerous because of the water temperature and how quickly people can succumb to hypothermia. We talked with Ruchi and Zach through emergency scenarios, what to do if a boat flipped, what to do if Pony jumped out, and so on. We also all wore life jackets and stayed within 50 feet of the shore, often closer. And lastly, related to the second point, paddling around icebergs can be very unpredictable and has potential to be disastrous. Callen and I stayed very aware of our surroundings, often erring on the side of caution if we noticed anything sketchy. This is not a beginner-friendly situation for an experienced group. People have died in this lake doing this activity. If there is any hesitation, we reccomend hiring a guide.
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The Hearnes Adventure Photography is run by Abbi and Callen Hearne, a husband & wife elopement wedding photography (and planning!) team with a major emphasis on adventure. Unless stated otherwise, all blog and social media posts are written from the perspective of Abbi!
We’ve completely built our life around adventures in beautiful places, and one of our greatest joys is sharing the adventure with our couples. We lived on the road full time for a few years and then fell in love with a little house in the desert of Moab, Utah; our favorite place throughout all of our travels. We still spend about half of the year living on the road, traveling to more favorites like Alaska, Yosemite National Park, and beyond.
We use our extensive experience and expertise in the outdoors to plan unforgettable custom elopement days for every couple. We usually work with couples to plan everything from their elopement location down to the vendors they’ll work with and the timeline of the day(s) we’ll spend together. We always shoot together and we have kept things intentionally small, working with a limited amount of couples each year such that we can bring our full value to every single planning email, phone call, and of course, elopement day!
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