A Scotland-Inspired Elopement in Hatcher Pass
Cassie and Jaffery had long dreamed of a romantic elopement in Scotland, imagining lush green hills, misty skies, and ancient traditions surrounding them on their special day. Unfortunately, international travel restrictions during the pandemic made that impossible, but they pivoted their plans and chose Alaska as the next best thing! When they reached out to me, I was thrilled to help them plan an experience that brought their moody vision to life. Hatcher Pass came to mind as a great alternative since it’s incredibly similar to Scotland's lush landscape and layered mountains. Here’s a little more about their story and some photo highlights from their Highland-inspired elopement!
Listen to a song from one of my favorite Scottish artists as you scroll through their gallery and read their story! I had it on repeat when driving through the Highlands during my trip to Scotland!
Preparing for the Day with Scottish Touches
Their day began at a cozy cabin nestled just down the road from Hatcher Pass at Meier Lake Resort. Cassie and Jaffery wanted to honor the tradition of getting ready separately before their first look, so Jaffery got ready first in their cabin, then Cassie. Each included pieces into their attire with meaningful nods to Scotland. Jaffery wore a special tartan plaid vest and stag tie pin, while Cassie brought a tartan plaid shawl that wore during parts of the day. These thoughtful touches tied their Alaskan elopement to the Scottish heritage they had originally planned to celebrate! They also wore hiking boots to add to the adventure and honestly, practicality for hiking through the mountains. Cassie wore the infamous Sinclair gown by BHLDN (Anthropology Weddings) and her custom bridal bouquet from Paper Peony was beyond colorful and classic. Years later, it’s still one of my favorite bouquets!
They had first look down by the lake at the resort while it sprinkled a little but I always have clear umbrellas on hand for moments like this! The drizzle of rain added to the atmosphere and was quite on brand for Scotland weather. Seeing their expressions as they laid eyes on each other for the first time was so precious and a moment of pure joy!
Above the Clouds for a Dreamy Ceremony
As we journeyed from Meier Lake, I was a little worried about how the weather was looking. It takes about 30 minutes to drive up the mountain to Summit Lake in Hatcher Pass. During the drive and as we got further up the mountain, the weather seemed to transform for us! When we rose above the clouds, the rays of sunlight reflected off the mist and literally illuminated the raindrops like glistening crystals. It was absolutely magical! It was a great lesson for myself and hopefully encouragement to other couples that you don’t know what the weather will be, especially in Alaska, until you physically get to the destination. And most of the time, it’s worth it and it actually more magical than what you thought it would be. If we would’ve been scared off by the rain clouds, we wouldn’t have kept driving and got above them to experience what we did. And a huge bonus, because of the intimidating weather, we were the only ones up there!
The couple had their ceremony on one of the high points, overlooking the valley and dirt haul road below. It was officiated by Celtic Ministries (quite fitting for their Scottish elopement) and was deeply personal and steeped in tradition. Along with exchanging personal vows and rings, they incorporated sharing a Quaich, or "love cup." This tradition involves the couple drinking from the same vessel, often filled with whisky or a mix of two drinks, symbolizing unity and trust. These meaningful rituals, paired with the stunning surroundings, made their ceremony an unforgettable celebration of their love. The talented Megan Rai was part of the adventure capturing everything on video for the couple as well!
Mountains Bridal Portraits: Glencoe or Hatcher Pass?
After the ceremony, we explored the rugged beauty of Hatcher Pass for photos of just the bride and groom together. With the jagged rocks around Summit Lake and the valley carved through the mountains, the setting felt crazy similar to the Scottish Highlands. I even heard a famous actor from the show Outlander (Graham McTavish) say that the views of Hatcher Pass felt like Scotland! The misty clouds, soft rain, and moody atmosphere added to the authenticity of the experience, making it feel as though Cassie and Jaffery were in Scotland like they originally planned! As they hiked through the landscape, their bridal portraits that showcased not only their love and the sweet moments they were enjoying together, but also the beauty of the environment around them. You can’t get married in Alaska without epic landscape photos!
A Cozy Picnic to Celebrate
To add a personal and celebratory touch, I prepared a cozy picnic for Cassie and Jaffery which is part of my elopement planning services. I help my couples plan and set up for a meal, snack, drink, and/ or a cozy little moment of celebrating while giving them space to take everything in a talk about their wedding day together. With fresh pastries and a thermos full of their favorite coffee, they took time to pause, reflect, and enjoy that moment as newlyweds. They were finally married after having to pivot and replan their entire wedding during a global pandemic!
A First Dance in the Mountains
As their elopement day to an end, Cassie and Jaffery embraced the mystery of the mountains literally running through the wildflowers laughing and dancing together. It was so cute! Having your first dance in the mountains, above the clouds is such an epic memory! Capturing these moments of pure happiness was an absolute honor. Even though they couldn’t physically be in Scotland, what we created in Hatcher Pass gave them an elopement day just as meaningful and magical as their original dream!
Turning their Scotland Plans into an Alaskan Adventure
Cassie and Jaffery’s Scotland-inspired elopement in Alaska is such a testament to the beauty of embracing the unexpected and creating amazing memories, despite the aftermath of a pandemic! The rain, the moody mountains, and the Scottish traditions came together to honor their love story in the most unforgettable way. It’s experiences like these that remind me why I’m so passionate about what I do: I love helping couples bring their dreams to life, no matter where their journey takes them!
If you’ve been inspired by Cassie and Jaffery’s story and dream of an elopement inspired by faraway lands, I’d love to work together. Whether it’s in Alaska, Scotland or beyond, we can create your own kind of adventure, memories, and heirlooms together!
If you need help with visualizing or planning a trip to Scotland, either for your elopement or even your honeymoon trip, check out my detailed blog sharing all the favorite places I visited during my trip in 2024! It’s a 2-week Scotland Itinerary that will help you see some of the most beautiful places in northern, western, and southern Scotland!
Vendors:
Photography: Sarah French Photo
Elopement Planning: Sarah French Photo
Film: Megan Rai Photo + Film // @meganrai
Florals: Paper Peony // @paper_peony
Gown: BHLDN // @bhldn / @anthropologyweddings
Officiant: Celtic Ministries Alaska // @celticministries
Accommodations: Meier Lake Resort // @meier_lake
