Alaska Covid Wedding Regulations

ONLINE WEDDING CEREMONIES

Online weddings are not allowed in Alaska. All parties must be physically present.

COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR COUPLES & MINISTERS

Alaska is fully reopened, however, masks may still be required in indoor spaces. Proof of vaccination is not required.

MARRIAGE LICENSES & THE VITAL RECORDS OFFICE

At the moment, many Vital Records Offices in Alaska may still be operating in a limited capacity or short-staffed. Please plan accordingly, as hours may have changed or an appointment may be necessary.

Couples can temporarily apply for a marriage license by mail or in-person in Alaska. The Juneau and Anchorage Health Analytics & Vital Records Offices are now processing marriage license applications by mail. Application forms and instructions are available online, and for more information, we recommend contacting a local Health Analytics & Vital Records Office.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, contact your Vital Records Office. Additional information is available from Alaska Health Analytics & Vital Records here:

Alaska Health Analytics & Vital Records

COVID-19, social distancing, travel bans, lockdowns… Many couples are being forced to downsize their wedding plans and for many guests, the only way to attend is with their computers and mobile phones.

If your guest list is shrinking to just the couple and officiant, or maybe just the couple, Alaska marriage laws regulate who must be in attendance, and how the ceremony is conducted. Here are some options to help adapt your wedding plans in Alaska to celebrate a COVID safe wedding.

Virtual Weddings vs. Livestream Ceremonies in Alaska

For the sake of clarity, we differentiate virtual wedding ceremonies (or Zoom/Skype ceremonies) from livestream ceremonies by who is in attendance. If the officiant is officiating the vows from another place via video, then we call that a virtual or Zoom ceremony, since the people involved in the ceremony are interacting over whatever video platform is chosen.

However, if the couple and the officiant are present, but guests are watching remotely, we call that a livestream wedding since the ceremony itself is happening in one physical place. You can read more about what distinguishes each option here.

How can we celebrate a legally valid live streamed ceremony in Alaska

You can livestream any activity or event, and it doesn't matter where you are in Alaska, what you're doing or how many people are physically present with you. Some of the most popular platforms include Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facebook Live, and Instagram Live.

As long as you have a tripod and a phone with a good camera on it, your guests will be able to participate remotely. Many of these platforms even allow guests to comment, chat, and interact in other ways.

We realize that this is not always ideal, but ultimately, if couples choose to move forward with scaled down weddings and smaller guests lists, these communications platforms let friends and family around the world know that they are still being thought of.

For folks planning on livestreaming their nuptials, Here's How to Livestream Your Wedding.