Leif & Denna planned this spectacular wedding in just a couple months. They were able to get the covid vaccine quickly along with their family and friends early this spring so they reached out to the Orca Adventure Lodge for fall wedding dates. They didn’t have any availability but they asked about June and that worked out! Many of their family and friends were  able to travel in from all over the country for the wedding.

Leif and Denna met more than 10 years ago at Concordia College in Moorhead and have been inseparable ever since. They moved to Leif’s hometown of Cordova, Alaska after college and have been building a life together filled with hiking, fishing, bonfires with friends, delicious meals, working on house projects and enjoying the gorgeous mountain views in their backyard.

Cordova, Alaska

Surrounded by Prince William Sound, glaciers and mountains, this secluded fishing town is only a 40 minute plane ride or 7 hour ferry ride from Anchorage. There are 4 roads that all come to an end outside of town so the only ways in or out are by air or sea. There are tons of places to hike and so much wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see bears, eagles, moose and otters in the area.

 

This photo is an aerial view of the town from the top of the ski hill in town.

The Wedding 

The day before the wedding was overcast and chilly and the view of the mountains at Orca Adventure Lodge, while still beautiful, was super foggy. I kept thinking, “I hope their wedding day is clear so we can see the mountains.”

We woke up to vibrant blue skies and a forecast of 65 degrees. Perfect. Denna, her sister and I went into town to get breakfast and when people saw Denna they exclaimed how happy they were that she and Leif got such a beautiful day for their wedding.

Leif and the guys started the day by driving out to the end of one of the roads and having some beers on the bridge while the girls got ready. The ceremony took place on the lawn overlooking the water and the mountains with a small group of their family and friends. It was a simple and sweet time for Leif and Denna to exchange vows and rings led by a friend from town who did a great job personalizing the ceremony to Leif  and Denna.

Afterwards, they popped some bubbly in their unique fashion with a champagne saber to get the party started. Friends and neighbors from town all came together to celebrate their marriage with drinks and delicious food under a tent overlooking the mountains. Leif and Denna loved spending the night dancing and visiting with friends and family, many of whom they were seeing for the first time since the pandemic.

 

Orca Adventure Lodge

The Orca Adventure Lodge is at the end of one of the roads in Cordova. The secluded location overlooks Prince William Sound with breathtaking views of the mountains. Tony and I would look at the water from our balcony and see otters swimming lazily past and eagles flying overhead in this picturesque spot. The lodge staff was incredibly hospitable and made sure the wedding went smoothly and everything was taken care of. It was the perfect spot for Leif and Denna to get married.