“We now refer to them as our flower girls,” bride Kelly Baker tells PEOPLE
Credit: The Hearnes Adventure Photography
NEED TO KNOW
- Kelly Baker and Lauren Smajdor eloped in Alaska on Aug. 25
- A pair of orcas surfaced in Resurrection Bay just before their ceremony began
- The brides and their guests were “stunned,” and saw the whales as “a blessing and a good omen”
An Alaskan wedding took a magical turn as orcas joined the ceremony.
Kelly Baker, 36, and Lauren Smajdor, 35, met as college freshmen and have been in a relationship since 2013. Although they “promised each other forever a long time ago,” they decided to make it legal and eloped on Aug. 25 at Lowell Point near Seward, Alaska.
“Since we’ve been together so long, we figured, let’s go big and head to Alaska — what better place than the Last Frontier to embark on this new chapter together,” Baker tells PEOPLE.
Credit: The Hearnes Adventure Photography
The nature lovers said “I do” on the shore of Resurrection Bay. They were joined by their officiant, Erin Burns, their photographers, Abbi and Callen Hearne, and five guests — plus two orcas as “wedding crashers.”
“We saw two of them pop up from a distance and were so excited to see whales and were glad our family could leave Alaska having seen such iconic animals,” Baker says.
Credit: The Hearnes Adventure Photography
She explains that as the group headed to their scenic ceremony spot, a woman on the boat ramp gave them a heads up that a few orcas had been spotted nearby and to keep their eyes peeled. Minutes later, a pair of killer whales surfaced in the fjord just before the ceremony began.
“We figured the whales would continue straight on their path out of the bay and felt lucky to catch a glimpse!” Baker says.
The whales surfaced “a few times.”
“We couldn’t believe it! We were thrilled. It was beyond our wildest dreams,” Baker raves. “It felt like the whales were coming to wish us well and offer their congratulations.”
Credit: The Hearnes Adventure Photography
The group was “stunned,” with the photographers writing in a viral Instagram post, “We had full body chills.” They described the experience as “incredible” and “sacred.” Abbi informed the brides that orcas have strongly matrilineal social structures, which made the surprise extra meaningful to them.
“We now refer to them as our flower girls,” Baker says.
The group “stood in awe and soaked it in” before starting the ceremony.
“We all appreciated how special and meaningful it was,” Baker shares, adding, “It definitely felt like a blessing and a good omen for our marriage and life together.”
Credit: The Hearnes Adventure Photography
After the wedding, the newlyweds looked up what orcas represent and learned that they symbolize “lifelong devotion, protection, family, and unity.” The brides — whose bouquets and florals were created by Robyn Faris from Tundra Blossom, and whose hair and makeup were done by Lana Anderson — say the symbolism is “so fitting.”
“We will remember it forever,” Baker tells PEOPLE.
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Other animals spotted during the wedding include otters, seals, a bald eagle flying overhead, a pair of porpoises, and a moth that landed on Smajdor’s floral hairpiece.
“There has also been an outpouring of kind words of congratulations from complete strangers who are so happy for us and also see the orcas as an auspicious start to our marriage,” Baker says. “It was really touching reading them all.”
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