WEDDING BLOG

Kelsa and Wolf knew from the start they wanted something small and meaningful for their big day. Kelsa, a fourth-generation Alaskan with saltwater in her veins—her great-grandfather ran the mailboat in the ’50s—has spent her life on boats, deeply connected to the ocean. When they got engaged in the spring of 2023, their shared love for Southeast Alaska made a Japanese Creek wedding the perfect choice. Surrounded by nature and the people they love most, they embraced earthy tones of blue and brown to create an intimate and unforgettable celebration.

Their day began with an exciting ferry ride to the ceremony location. With the stunning coastline and a rustic arch as their backdrop, they exchanged vows in a scene straight out of a dream. Afterward, they took breathtaking portraits surrounded by nature’s beauty. That evening, they celebrated with an intimate reception at a cozy lodge. The bride’s brothers and sister-in-law played live music for the guests, creating a warm and personal atmosphere. To top it all off, a family friend made a beautiful traditional Norwegian wedding cake and shared it with everyone at the end of a truly magical day.

The vibe was off the charts, and the fashion was on point. The bride turned heads in a velvet blue dress, while the groom looked dashing in his earthy-toned suit. And their wedding party perfectly matched their stylish flair. If you’re envisioning a cozy, romantic celebration with salty air and a burst of personality, let the stunning details captured by Junebug vendor The Hitched Hiker inspire you!

The Couple:

Kelsa and Wolf

The Wedding:

Japanese Creek, Alaska, United States

Tying the Knot at a Place Close to Grandpa’s Heart

We got married near a creek that my grandpa used as a reference point for shrimp. He passed away right after we announced our engagement, so it meant a lot to be able to get married at a place he knew so well. My uncle was our officiant, and we both wrote our own personal vows and read them to each other in front of our loved ones.

Mixing Nordic Charm with Alaskan Blues at Their Intimate Japanese Creek Wedding

Living on a small island of 3,500 people in Southeast Alaska, I was limited when it came to vendors. But with the help of friends and family, the whole day came together beautifully and, indeed, it was the fairytale wedding of our dreams. If I had to describe the style for the wedding, I would say it was Nordic/Viking-inspired while incorporating Alaskan blues and textures. My inspiration was mixing a bunch of different things that I loved. I wanted to have the feel of a vintage wedding out in the wild but with a modern twist. I also knew that I wanted a unique dress, so I chose blue. The ocean and mountains near Petersburg are so beautiful I wanted colors that could pair and blend with them. Having Alaskan colors incorporated into my wedding day was very important to me.

A Low-Tide Japanese Creek Wedding Ceremony and Cozy Reception with Live Music

The ceremony was the main highlight, as everything worked out perfectly. The groom and guests left early on a boat to the beach where we were getting married. They set up the benches and arch before my boat arrived. The tide worked perfectly in our favor (we had planned for low tide but hadn’t actually seen this particular beach at low tide, so we crossed our fingers it wasn’t too muddy), and the beach created the perfect natural ‘aisle’ to walk up. The second highlight would have to be the intimate reception later in the evening. My brothers and I, along with my sister-in-law, played live music for the guests and my husband. A family friend made us a beautiful traditional Norwegian wedding cake to share at the end of the evening.

How Colors and Textures Came Together on Their Japanese Creek Wedding Day

I was most proud of how well everything came together. Most of the wedding planning was done while I was working on a commercial fishing boat, so seeing everything together didn’t happen until the wedding day. My wedding dress was a mermaid cut (being that I call myself a mermaid because of how much time I spend on the water, this was a must), and the style/color of the dress and its surroundings were epic. I will always be proud of how well our ceremony’s colors and textures came together. One of my main focuses was choosing colors and locations that would look beautiful when photographed. From the start, I knew I wanted timeless-looking wedding photos on my wall, so I set out to make that happen. Choosing my bridesmaid dresses, men’s turtlenecks (instead of suits), and flowers all played a significant role in the overall look and feel of the day. I also had a dress code for the guests in attendance, which helped everyone blend well together when it came to group and family photos.

Prioritizing a Photographer and Personal Touches on a Small Budget

Our wedding budget was small, but the most important thing to me was hiring a photographer who could capture the true essence of our wedding. Because of this, I knew I wanted Alexa to capture our big day, and we planned everything around her availability. Living in a small rural community, I had to order almost everything online. Etsy was amazing; all the flowers, wedding dresses, and bridesmaids’ dresses came from there. By keeping the wedding small, we could cut back on many costs, which allowed us to invest more in things like a professional photographer, boats to shuttle us to our ceremony location, and a caterer for the reception. Our budget was under $15,000, which included the wedding dress, photographer, shuttle boats, food, and decorations. Finding a custom wedding dress for under $1,000 is difficult but not impossible. After reaching out to many seamstresses via Etsy, I finally found one who was willing and able to make my dream dress come to life. We used all disposable place settings for the reception to cut costs and provide our own protein (Halibut), which my family caught on our family boat, the Saga. Because of that, we only had to pay for the caterer’s time and the side dishes. By doing all our planning and decorating, we were able to cut a decent amount of costs. We also used all dried flowers, which substantially helped lower the cost.

Transforming the Old Cannery into a Dream Wedding Venue

Petersburg is extremely limited in venue locations, but I knew I wanted something for the ceremony that worked with our theme for the day. I wanted a rustic and intimate setting, and the Beachcomber Lodge was perfect for that, as it used to be a cannery years ago. In the past 20 years, it has been used as a restaurant on and off, so a working kitchen was perfect for our caterer. Though the establishment is currently unused, we reached out to Amber Burrell (the owner) and asked if we could rent it for the day. She said yes, so we set up tables and decorated them to emphasize the rustic qualities.

The Importance of a Timeline: Essential Advice for Brides on Their Wedding Day

We recommend having  a timeline (even a rough one) to follow for the day. As a bride and a photographer myself, this would be at the top of my advice list. Referring to a timeline was helpful throughout the day, especially when you have pre-wedding nerves, and your brain has many other things to consider. That being said, being flexible and understanding that life happens is just as vital. Sometimes, you won’t always be able to follow the timeline to a T, which is perfectly okay, too! Being able to be flexible is huge.

Congratulations to Kelsa and Wolf on their intimate Japanese Creek wedding inspired by the sea. A special thank you to Junebug vendor The Hitched Hiker for capturing all the unforgettable moments beautifully. To see more beautiful celebrations like this one, check out their profile in our curated directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.

Whether you envision a stunning waterfront, a peaceful beach, or a charming city view, the perfect and meaningful location can make your celebration unforgettable. If you’re unsure where to start, our wedding planning and budget guides are here to support you as you prepare to say “I do.”