In Juneau, weddings have been performed on boats, at cabins, in people's homes, at the end of the dock - even underwater! At their Taku Harbor wedding in 1996, Bryan and Tani Bell took the plunge in true Southeast style.

"We set up a tent because it was pouring rain," said Tani, laughing. "As soon as a little burst of sun came out, we said 'OK - it's time!' It was like all of a sudden it just stopped, just for us."

The bridal ensemble included Southeast sneakers and a garter belt, both of which came off before the newlyweds leapt into the water. A moment later the best man, Rex, joined the couple, thoroughly soaking the only formal attire in the wedding party - a bow tie attached to the Golden Retreiver's collar.

"We had a wonderful ceremony," Tani said. "It was the best time, and everybody just had so much fun. . . People kept saying for years, 'You guys had the best wedding ever.'"

Bryan and Tani loved the informality of their wedding, and they could not imagine having done it anywhere else.

"We wanted to be on our boat and away from the city," said Tani. "We spent so much of our pre-marriage out there with friends and family... It was just comfortable."

The Bells remember their wedding day as a crazy, happy time filled with laughter and good friends - exactly what they wanted. Every couple hopes to have a wedding they can look back on with smiles and a warm heart, and finding the right location is a big part of making those great memories.

Pastor Greg Lindsay of Northern Light United Church has noted that many couples these days look outside churches to find that perfect place.

"Grandma and Mom aren't going to scream at you [any more] if you don't get married in the church [building]," he said. "There has been a changing of tradition."

Lynne Clements, of Weddings Unlimited, agrees.

"About half of the weddings in Juneau don't take place in churches," she estimated.

But with all of the beautiful and romantic places around town, how does a person make a decision?

Diane Pearson of Pearson's Pond Luxury Inn and Garden Spa has been helping couples to the altar - wherever that altar might be located - for a decade. Pearson feels that good planning is especially important in the case of a non-traditional venue.

She has seen brides so tense that they could not enjoy their wedding day. Men are not immune to the pressure either; at one wedding Diane officiated, the stressed-out groom accidentally married her instead of the bride.

"Fortunately she didn't hold it against him," Pearson said.

"Getting to the wedding day [can be] so exhausting. But really, complicating it diminishes it. . . They need to trust the process."

Pearson recommends that couples getting married outside a church decide what is important to them about the ceremony and what atmosphere they want to create. "Consider the setting, the ambiance," she urged. "Remember that the ceremony is different from the wedding. . . You can have a very traditional ceremony in an otherwise untraditional, personal wedding."

Although she is not a professional wedding consultant or planner, Pearson is frequently asked for advice by her guests about how they should choose a wedding site. When it comes to location, she suggests that they think about mood and style before exploring specific places.

Once decisions are made about the level of formality and the size of the wedding - key elements in setting the tone of the event - the couple can begin to consider where to have it.

When evaluating potential wedding sites, Pearson recommends that the following practicalities be considered:

• access and parking
• the rain plan (for outdoor venues)
• the size of the event, and
• places to change (especially if there are many bridesmaids).

Stepping outside of a church does not necessarily mean foregoing all of the traditional touches. A little creativity, combined with careful planning, can overcome many logistical hurdles; it can even turn problems into advantages. "You have to be willing to make some choices about what's important to you," said Gwen Cornelius, who married her husband Jason at Adlersheim Wilderness Lodge.

For example, they decided that catering and flowers were not nearly as important to them as sharing the beauty of Southeast with their out-of-town guests. When their family found out that Gwen could not find a caterer that fit their criteria and was willing to work 33 miles from town, they all pitched in to help. To this day, Gwen and Jason cherish the way their family supported them.

"There's no way we could have done it without them," Gwen said. "They were absolutely fantastic."

As with any major effort, a sense of humor never goes to waste. At Stew and Mindy Rowland's wedding, which was held at the Mendenhall Glacier's outdoor pavilion, an uninvited guest became a favorite part of their wedding story.

"A mosquito bit me on the shoulder," said Mindy. "Everyone saw it but no one knew if they should say anything [since] it was during Stew's vows. . . I was afraid if I hit it, they would think I wasn't paying attention."

Other couples were happy to avoid some of the traditional burdens of wedding planning.

Mila and Tom Cosgrove kayaked out to Berner's Bay for what they refer to as their "stealth wedding." Their adventure was blessed by gorgeous weather, but they were prepared for anything.

"We would have gotten married in rain gear," said Mila.

The Cosgroves cheerfully abandoned the white gown and roses, the hors d'oeuvres and champagne. In return, they received a uniquely personal ceremony, surrounded by their closest friends, in a setting they loved. Mila feels especially fortunate.

"[Tom] was a very nervous groom; I don't think he would have done it any other way!"

Whether they plan to get married inside of a church or up a tree, Tani Bell has a piece of advice for couples. "Make sure you're in love."