It was going to take more than a wildfire to stop these two from getting married and having the epic day they wanted. Grace and Andrew married in Cooper Landing during the height of the Swan Lake Fire, but it was as if they didn’t even notice. Even in the days leading up to the wedding, they were so calm and hopeful.

When I arrived in Cooper Landing the morning of their wedding, the air advisory was nearing 800!!! Grace’s sister was monitoring the air quality apps while she sipped champagne and had her makeup done. Grace and her girls would cheer each time it dropped sizably, and there was hope that the wind would shift in the afternoon. Some wondered why they hadn’t changed locations, but there was something about the river that needed to be part of their day. Grace and Andrew fell in love over countless fishing trips, got engaged on an epic float trip, and even the morning of the wedding, Andrew calmed his nerves with some fly fishing — so it felt right that Alaska got to take center stage on their day.

The other thing that really stood out to me was that these two would’ve gone through anything and everything Mother Nature could throw at them to get married. I’ve never seen vows crafted with such care and importance as I did with these two. When I first arrived at the cabin where the ladies were getting ready, Grace was in a room by herself putting the finishing touches on her vows. She poured over them again and again that morning, and practiced them out loud through tears, laughter, and champagne. Andrew practiced his standing next to his truck, tying flies, and bouncing ideas off his brother. They are also the only couple I’ve ever worked with who wanted to use their first-look not as a chance to see each other in their wedding attire, but instead to say their vows privately to each other before the ceremony. It was intimate and powerful, and was a great reminder that these promises are really what it is all about.

They had an epic party, and certainly have surrounded themselves with loved ones who are as easygoing and adventurous as they are!

Vendors:
Flowers and Boutonnieres: Tanya Val
Venue: Cooper Landing Community Hall
Dress: Arctic Rose
Suit: Nordstrom
Catering: Sacketts
Music: Jared Woods
Makeup: Kierra Manion
Hair: Chelsea Miller