Ragen & Cole | Married!

As we’re well aware, Alaska’s primary wedding season typically takes place during the summer months. However, this year was a bit different for me, as I had three weddings in the spring. Springtime in Alaska is often associated with winter conditions, and this was the case for Ragen and Cole’s wedding. These two are avid adventure enthusiasts, embracing the great outdoors, especially during the winter. It was only natural that they chose to tie the knot in April, hosting a weekend celebration centered around their favorite winter pastime: skiing! Let’s take a glimpse into some of my favorite moments from this beautiful winter wedding held at Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Alaska, back in April.

CEREMONY

When I first had a conversation with Ragen and Cole, they mentioned their plan to hold their ceremony outdoors. It was quite a daring choice for April, a time when we often refer to the thawing season as “break-up,” with melting snow and slushy ground. However, on that particular weekend, the “Weather Gods” were looking out for us and granted them the ideal winter wedding day. The sun was out, and the temperature was just right. Because of the considerable snowfall from the previous months, the usual ceremony site at Alyeska was not available so the ceremony was moved to a charming alcove, perfectly suited for an intimate ceremony, creating a cozy and picturesque setting. To ensure everyone stayed comfortably warm, we rented wooden benches, and we placed blankets on the benches for the guests. It was simply perfect!

THE CAKE

Ahhhhhhhh the cake! Their wedding cake was not your typical, conventional tiered design and instead took the form of a Ski Cake, perfectly mirroring their personalities. The cake was served along with iced cookies and to keep the wintry Alaskan theme, it was accompanied by iced cookies shaped like trees and polar bears!

THE BATHROOM BASKETS

As noted in my previous diary entry, I will always say yes to this little enhancement! We placed his and her bathroom baskets, using these adorable little tubs they had purchased. If you’re interested in creating your own for your wedding day, be sure to explore my diary post for suggestions on what to place in them!

FAMILY TRADITIONS

This family tradition was unique, and we were fortunate that Ragen’s aunt and uncle stepped up to serve as the MCs for this tradition known as the Davey Bobsled competition. In essence, the women formed a line on one side of the dance floor, while the men lined up on the other. The entire group then reenacts a bobsledding descent down a mountain, with the “bobsled” accommodating up to 15 people or so. This playful competition included mimicking all the elements, from the running start to jumping into the “bobsled” and racing down the mountain. The winner of this contest was the one who executed it with the most flair and finesse.

POST-WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT

I love it when couples opt for post-wedding photoshoots. In this particular instance, they took it up a notch by embarking on an adventure to Artic Valley, skiing in their wedding attire! Take a look at these snapshots captured on that day, and don’t miss the Instagram video they put together!