Imagine getting a private helicopter rental on your wedding day and flying along the Amalfi Coast in Italy—or landing on a glacier in New Zealand—or getting to see the rugged inaccessible parts of the Hawaiian Islands. A wedding where you’re stepping out of a helicopter to exchange private vows on a secluded mountain top, bundling up to say ‘I do’ amongst glaciers, and taking in some once in a lifetime views. That could be you on your elopement day!
No, seriously! Planning an adventurous helicopter elopement is easier than you know!
You may think of a helicopter ride as a luxury experience with a luxury price tag, but what if I told you that it’s a wildly accessible way to go on an epic adventure during your elopement? I’m going to talk all about why you should consider taking in some amazing views and exploring untouched locations via a helicopter on your wedding day, how to plan, places to visit, and showing your real life couples that lived this dream!
Should I get a helicopter for my elopement?
Pros
Incredible views & a private experience
Duh! That’s the whole point right!? Take in some of the most incredible sights and explore new places all while hand in hand with the love of your life. Sounds like a dream, right? With a helicopter ride you’re looking at having an extra special and intimate experience.
Access remote locations
There are some areas that roads and trails simply can’t take you—insert heli rides! Whether you want to visit a volcano or a glacier or you simply want to be fully immersed in a beautiful hidden destination—there are countless possibilities.
No hiking required
This is a great way to experience and explore untouched backcountry without having to hike to it! No backpacks, elevation gain, or strenuous physical exertion. This is also an awesome option if you have any physical limitations that would otherwise prevent you from exploring a location off the beaten path.
See more in less time
Due to the logistics of driving to different locations and hiking, couples often have to sacrifice seeing different places or incorporating other activities into their elopement, but with helicopter rides you can see more and free up time!
Cons
Accessibility
Having shot elopements all around the world I can’t help but imagine what it would be like to see a beautiful destination from a bird’s-eye view and be able to land in secluded areas to explore—however the reality is that’s not possible everywhere as much as I wish it was! There is limited accessibility due to environmental factors such as weather, FAA regulations, and protected wildlife areas.
Don’t be discouraged though! If you’re eloping with me I’ll do some digging to get you answers and, if it is possible, I’ll help you find a reputable company!
Cost
Understandably, budgeting goes into planning an elopement of any kind and this is an extra cost at the end of the day. But despite a heli ride sounding like a luxury experience, it doesn’t come at a luxury price! The average price range for a helicopter tour is anywhere from $250-$600—considering all the pros it’s a no brainer if it’s something that you’d love to incorporate into your day and have been considering!
How to Plan a Helicopter Elopement in 4 Steps
1st: Find a Location
First things first, we have to figure out where you’re headed! Have you chosen your location already? If yes, then learn more about the area and what you can see/visit via helicopter. Google will be your best friend for this (or I will be if you’re eloping with Adventure Instead!). If no, then time to explore your imagination! Here are some of the best places in the world to elope!
If no, determine what you’re looking for… glaciers? waterfalls? somewhere super remote?
2nd: Research helicopter companies
It is wildly important to find a reputable company and pilot for your safety. Make sure that you’re looking into licensing and reading everything review available. Next, be sure that you can actually land at the location you’re wanting to see. There are so many locations you can enjoy from the air, but landing is prohibited.
3rd: Coordinate with your elopement photographer
In order to document this part of your adventure you’ll need to coordinate with your elopement photographer, double check permit requirements, and build it into your timeline. Be sure to confirm how long you have the helicopter for, how long you’ll have at each location, and the amount of time it will take to get to/from the airport. All of that will factor into your wedding day timeline!
Trust me, mapping out a manageable and fun timeline will be the key to having an extraordinary elopement where you can enjoy every aspect of the day without feeling rushed.
4th: Book and get ready for the ride of your life
After you have your permits and timeline confirmed it’s time to get you booked! Then, all that’s left to show up in your sweet wedding digs and have a once in a lifetime experience with your forever best friend! Seems almost too easy, right?
The Most Jaw-Dropping Helicopter Elopement Locations
Before we get into some of my favorite spots… did you know I have a map that’s going to make your life 10x easier? It’s a searchable location database that will let you filter not only by what great activities you want (like a helicopter ride!) but also by season and scenery so that you can get personalized results just for you. Click here to be taken to the map!
Santorini, Greece
Because Santorini sits on a caldera, you can get really beautiful views from pretty much any spot on the island… so imagine how incredible those sights get when you have an aerial view! Santorini is naturally such a romantic place to be. Trust me when I say that it would be hard to top sunset in the sky here.
Best for: Cliffs, Beach, Coast, Cities, Vineyards, Hot Springs
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Sailboat, Paddleboarding, Wine tasting
Chugach National Forest, Alaska
This massive area covers everything from Anchorage to Prince William Sound, and it is easily one of the most impressive places to take a helicopter out in the US. There’s a ton of really dramatic, beautiful scenery types to be found here—from glaciers to mountaintops and everything in between—and a helicopter ensures that you don’t waste a minute trying to get from point A to point B. You just hop in and go!
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Waterfall, Lake, Icebergs, Wildflowers and Glaciers
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Paddleboarding
Napali Coast, Kaua’i, Hawaii
This stretch of rugged coast line takes up 17 miles on Kaua’i is genuinely so beautiful and the only way to see it in all its splendor is by boat or helicopter. I happen to think that Kaua’i is one of the most stunning islands to tour via helicopter anyway (as mentioned previously), so I’m team helicopter! Picture towering ridged cliffs, bright green earth, and turquoise water.
Best for: Mountains, Rainforest, Beach, Coast, Canyons
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Boating
New York City, New York
I don’t need to sell you on why New York is an incredible place. But have you considered that one of the best ways to see the iconic skylines and skyscrapers of The City That Never Sleeps is from a helicopter? Fly over New York Harbor to get a look at the tallest buildings in Manhattan and iconic sights like the Statue of Liberty. From quick but affordable 20-minute flights to longer luxury tours, there’s a fit for everyone here.
Best for: City
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Boating, Broadway
Interlaken, Switzerland
If your favorite part of the Alps is thinking about the beautiful rocky peaks, this is going to be a huge hit on your elopement day. There are three mountains in this area that are super easy to tour all at the same time and that bring a ton of wow-factor to your ride. You can also see lakes and stop off on glaciers depending on what tour you choose!
Best for: Glacier, Mountain, Lakes
Best months to get married here: May to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating, Paddleboarding
Milford Sound, New Zealand
Flying over Milford Sound will take you through some truly breathtaking scenery unlike anywhere else in the world. From fjords to incredible steep peaks rising out of the sea to glaciers and more, this is a natural wonderland filled with jaw-dropping sight after sight. Seeing it from a bird’s eye view gives you a whole new perspective on just how close together everything is and how beautifully it blends together!
Best for: Mountains, Forest, Waterfall, Coast, Wildflowers
Best months to get married here: November to February
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating
Las Vegas, Nevada
Seeing Las Vegas at night from a helicopter is one of the most unique and stunning ways to see Sin City. When you’re down on the strip and everything is built to specific scales and casinos don’t have windows, it can be hard to get a sense of scale… this gives you perspective in a big way! And in true Vegas fashion, you can go all out here—pair it with tasting tours, VIP pick-up from your hotel, or excursions out to the Grand Canyon.
Best for: City, Desert and Canyon
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Hot Air Balloon
Queenstown, New Zealand
This city is known for its proximity to adventure, so naturally, there’s no shortage of options to see the scenery from above! Lakes, peaks, glaciers, and even Lord of the Rings filming location tours are all available. You can even hop on wine tasting flight tours or snag a specific elopement package! This is perfect for people who want lots of options.
Best for: Mountains, City, Lakes
Best months to get married here: November to February
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating, Paddleboarding
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of those places that’s impossible to imagine the scope of if you’ve never been. It’s 18 miles wide at its largest and would take four hours just to drive around the outermost perimeter. That magnitude is precisely why it’s such a great elopement location. There’s no better way to take in all of this incredible place at once than this!
Best for: Desert and Canyon
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Stargazing
Manawaiopuna Falls / Jurassic Falls, Kauaʻi, Hawaii
This privately owned waterfall is most well known for being in the first Jurassic Park movie! This is another one that you can only visit via helicopter, giving you a rare chance at having a waterfall in Hawai’i all to yourself. And it’s a great one—it drops 400 feet through stunning tropical greenery down a wide cliff face. As a bonus, helicoptering over Kaua’i is one of the most stunning ways to see the island in a shortened timeframe.
Best for: Mountains, Rainforest and Waterfall
Best months to get married here: Year round
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand
This national park is most known for its popular Coast Track, one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. But you don’t have to walk at all to take in some of the best sights. Helicopter tours of this area show off some of the untouched and secluded beach areas that are usually only accessible by boat or on foot. This is a great pick for people who love color—bright greens, blues, and golden sand all in one place.
Best for: Beach, Forest, Coast
Best months to get married here: November to February
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Camping, Boating
Tower Butte, Arizona
This is one of the coolest natural landing pads I’ve ever seen. Picture a 5,000 foot tall red rock tower that you land on by yourself, giving you 360 views of the entire canyon and striated rocks all around you. A helicopter is the only way to reach the top of this spire, which adds to the exclusivity and thrill of coming here!
Best for: Desert, Lake
Best months to get married here: April to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Tofino, Canada
Seeing Tofino from a helicopter is a distinctly different way to experience this corner of Vancouver Island, but it’s so worth it. Take a tour at sunset and get the best view in the house of the sun sinking down over the horizon. Nature has a reputation for being pristine and untouched here, and helicopter tours are an awesome way to take it all in. Not to mention it’s ridiculously romantic.
Best for: Forest, Coast, Mountains and Beaches
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Boating
Roy’s Peak, New Zealand
While you can hike to the top of Roy’s Peak/Coromandel Peak or take a 4X4, a helicopter straight to the top is one of the most scenic and sweepingly romantic options of all! Go at sunrise or sunset and get the best view off the mountain overlooking Lake Wānaka. The view from this peak will have you feeling like you’re at the edge of the world, overlooking everything else.
Best for: Mountains, Lakes
Best months to get married here: November to February
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking
Amalfi Coast, Italy
In a region so renowned for its beauty, the 34 miles of the Amalfi Coast pack a lot of sights to see into their towns! Helicopter tours here offer a two-for-one utility—it gives you an awesome way to see everything at once or tour the coastline while also getting you from one point to another in a timely fashion so that you can make the most of your time.
Best for: City, Coast, Beach, Cliffs, Forest
Best months to get married here: May to October
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating, Helicopter
Juneau, Alaska
There’s so much you can see from Alaska’s state capital, but one of the main attractions via helicopter is the Mendenhall Glacier. This is only about 12 miles from town, so it’s a breeze to get there from the air! If you’re looking to get foot-to-ice time on a beautiful bright blue glacier, this is one of the most stunning ways to do it.
Best for: Mountains, Coast, Glaciers, Wildflowers, City
Best months to get married here: June to September
My favorite activities to do here: Hiking, Kayaking, Boating, Float/Seaplane, Camping
I’m not going to lie, I think you can find a great place to take a helicopter tour pretty much anywhere in the world. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed by my list, you should definitely check out my interactive location database—it’ll let you place additional filters on nearly 600 locations all over the world, so that you only see what applies to you.
I have dozens of epic helicopter elopement locations in my mind, and I would love to help you figure out which one is best for you! I’ll listen to what you want and need from your wedding day and pair it with my decade of travel and wedding photography experience to produce a bespoke location list made just for you.
Ready to stop stressing and start enjoying the process of planning your elopement? Click here to reach out to me!
