An invitation to an Alaskan outdoor wedding sounds like a nightmare for everyone from the South who is not an outdoor or winter sports fan. It’s a cold place and the Last Frontier. Most people associate the 49th state as the homeland of the worst-dressed; not the place where you would tie the knot when your style is glamor, classic, preppy, Southern Belle, or anything fancy. You are lucky. This post is about Alaska outdoor wedding outfit ideas and covers what to wear to an outdoor wedding in Alaska.
First, think of an Alaskan outdoor wedding as the Last Frontier’s equivalent of the Southern beach wedding. Therefore, shopping for gear you can wear later in your everyday life is best. This advice also means staying true to your style because otherwise, these garments would become closet monsters. Read how you can dress for thermal comfort, how to even wear a fancy typical wedding guest look except for the footwear, and learn what Alaskan wedding guests most likely wear.
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What to Consider When Picking Your Outfit for an Alaskan Outdoor Wedding?
Winter outdoor weddings are typically in an ice church for the ceremony. Thereafter, the reception or dinner takes place indoors. In the ice church, a thick winter coat that you would wear to church is in order. Indoors, the time of the day gives you a good guideline.
But what do you wear at an outdoor wedding party in Alaska in spring, summer or fall? Let’s start with the fact that …
You Are Not Acclimatized to the Thermal Environmental Conditions
The weather strongly differs from what you are used to. Even in summer, the temperatures remain cool along the coasts, and the farther North the location it may barely reach 50F on a sunny day. Only in the Eastern Interior in the Tanana Flats and the Yukon Flats, warm summers may occur. When a couple, for instance, invites you to their outdoor wedding in September, they can have a beautiful Indian Summer in Central Alaska. However, the weather is usually rainy with temperatures between 40 and 50F. At night, the first frosts are likely. Towards mid- and end of September, you may even get the first flurries. However, they won’t last long on the ground.
Therefore, when you live in the Lower 48 – far away from the Canadian border -, your body metabolism is acclimated to the hot, muggy summers. The weather you would face in Alaska on a cloudy or rainy day, would feel like your cold winter days with temperatures just above freezing during the day. Consequently, center your Alaska outdoor wedding outfit ideas around heavy fabrics like wool. Furthermore, layering is key for thermal comfort, and to not fly back with a cold.
You can’t go wrong with a wool LBD, wool tights, black boots, and a faux fur jacket.
In contrast to you, Alaskans are used to their climate. Hence, you still will see people wearing shorts and flip flops at 40 to 50F.
Outdoor Weddings Are in the Pure Wilderness
It is a typical thing (and always upsetting for everyone from the Lower 48 that Alaskans – and even the bride wear sneakers, combat boots, Xtra-tuffs, or other rubber boots at an outdoor wedding under her white gown. That footgear is part of their wedding plan. Therefore, wear waterproof footwear, best with an insulating insole and thick wool socks.
Note I wear golden rain rubber booties to the symphony with an evening gown or party dress during the breakup season (April) and in September.
If you want to look fancy, this slide show has fancy “Alaska-suitable” shoes that work great on muddy, gravel, meadow, lawn, and dirt ground. I wouldn’t recommend high heels because they are difficult to walk in on gravel.
Yes, You Can Wear Fancy Wedding Guest Attire, …
… but be aware that you will be in the minority. When you want to wear a fancy (cocktail) dress or even an evening gown, go for tea-length. Everything longer would look ridiculous because it would collect dirt from the ground and might even get a wet hem on muddy ground or wet grass. Go for velvet because it is thicker than any other “fancy” fabric. Long sleeves are best. As the outdoor wedding outfit ideas in the photos show, fancy can be paired with rubber boots, sneakers and alike.
However, you need a matching jacket, cardigan, or faux fur jacket in the evening also in case of an Indian summer. When it is a rainy day, but doesn’t rain, a light shiny or metallic waterproof down jacket is what I would wear. When it is windy, leather is your good friend to keep the wind out. As I explained in detail in my new book, wind and high humidity (which you can both expect close to the coast) feel much colder than the actual temperature suggests.
While the minority of female guests would wear the above attire, it is appropriate and ok when you are on the fancy side and don’t want to invest in “Alaska” gear. There is no need to wear what Alaskans wear year-round.
What Do Alaskans Wear at an Outdoor Wedding in Fall?
The fact that the couple invites you to an outdoor wedding means that many guests are also “outdoorsy”. So expect hiking boots, duck boots, Xtra-tuffs, sneakers, combat boots (see the photos of the couples below), Buffalo plaid shackets, dark jeans (this is what Alaskans consider as dress-up as compared to washed-out jeans or Carhartt’s. In the Interior, it is called Fairbanks Formel: a sweatshirt, or wool sweater. Women might add a scarf. Typical “Alaskan-approved brands” are LL Beans, Landsend, Carhartt, NorthFace, Xtra-tuff, just to mention a few. Things you could get for men at Orvis would be all considered as dressed-up. Note that I am not affiliated with these brands.
The following slide show presents pieces that Alaskans wear. These pieces may inspire you to get some Alaska outdoor wedding outfit ideas.
Alaska Outdoor Wedding Outfit Ideas in a Nutshell
Alaska Outdoor Wedding Outfit Ideas center around dressing for thermal comfort in layers using posh, casual clothing. When you want to wear a cocktail dress or evening gown look for heavy fabrics like velvet, cuts in tea-length with long sleeves. Pair the
dress with nude opaque tights, wool socks and sturdy waterproof, well-insulated footwear.
Tip: Have mosquito repellent handy.
After all, it’s your decision whether you want to fit in or stand out. But stay to the courtesy, not to out-dress the bride.
References
Mölders, N., 2023. Discover the Relation between Fashion, Fabric, Weather, and Comfort. Amazon Publishing Pros.
Photos of me: G. Kramm
Featured photo from: DepositPhotos.
© 2013-2025 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved
