Alaska

Department of Tourism website:  www.travelalaska.com

The natural beauty of the 49^th state is unsurpassed and will provide the perfect backdrop for a destination wedding that is anything but ordinary.  Alaska is equal to one fifth of the rest of the United States, so it offers a wide range of settings including glaciers, lakes and mountains.  What all of these potential locations have in common is their unspoiled scenery and wildlife that most have only glimpsed in National Geographic.

Romance, fun and adventure await you and your wedding guests in Alaska.  Helicopter to the top of a mountain, explore historic towns from the gold mining era, go whale-watching or cruise through the inside passage to watch huge chunks of glacier calve into the sea…Alaska is truly the last frontier.

Quick Facts

• Language:                   English
• Passport:                    No
• Currency:                    US $
• Time Zone:                   Alaska Time Zone
• Major Airports:           Juneau, Anchorage, Fairbanks & others
• Weather:                     Anchorage summer Daytime temperatures range from 60°F - 80°F and nighttime temperatures range between 40°F - 50°F.  Winter daytime temperatures average 22° as a high and 9° average low temperature.  The warmest month is July and the coolest is January.  The wettest month is August and the driest is April.

 Marriage Requirements:

The first step to being legally married in Alaska is to apply for a marriage license at the county clerk’s office in the county you wish to be wed.  The cost for a marriage license is $25, which may be paid in cash.  There are no residency or citizenship requirements to be wed in Alaska.  There is a mandatory 3-day wait for license issuance, but there is no waiting period necessary for marriage once you have received your license.  Both parties must be over the age of 18 to wed without parental consent; if either party is under the age of 18 but over the age of 16, a parent or legal guardian must be present at the wedding ceremony.  No blood tests or physical exams are required.  Your marriage license will expire 90 days from its issuance.  If previously married, a proof of divorce or certified copy of a death certificate is required.  For more detailed information go to: http://www.hss.state.ak.us

Articles:          Fall Winter 2006 & Spring Summer 2007