Between two musical performances on a sunny Saturday afternoon on the festival’s Ocean Stage, lovers Nathan “Nate” Lockwood and Jo-Anna Daly look into each other’s eyes, holding hands and dressed to the nines in their best wedding outfits.

Airbrushed depictions of salmon swim overhead as the August air fills bubbles. The party chatter from a nearby beer garden dies down, and strolling festivalgoers stop to watch the ceremony, presided over by Daly’s great-uncle Bob.

The unique ceremony is the first official wedding Salmonfest has hosted since it opened in 2011. The couple have attended the music festival every year they have been together and say it has always given them fond memories.

Daly spontaneously came up with the idea of ​​a Salmonfest wedding.

“Nate and I have family all over the country,” she said. “Most of my folks live on the East Coast, and we were trying to find a place that was convenient for everyone, but that doesn’t really exist. So I half-jokingly said, ‘What if we just got married at Salmonfest?'”

Originally from New Jersey, Daly moved to Alaska in 2020 to work on the environment. She met her future husband on her first day on the job. Lockwood, who grew up in Alaska, says that day changed his life.

“I remember the first day Jo-Anna came into the office. She was shown around and introduced,” Lockwood said. “It was the first time I saw her and it was like I was struck by lightning. I was just overwhelmed and knew I wanted to meet her and I was lucky enough to do that.”

Soon after, the two went on their first date and realized almost immediately that they were meant for each other. Lockwood says he fell in love with Daly’s kindness, while Daly fell in love with Lockwood’s charisma. The two moved in together and their love only grew stronger.

Two years later, on a trip to Alyeska Resort in Girdwood, Lockwood popped the big question under a gazebo. The couple spent the day taking snowboarding lessons and riding the tram while Lockwood planned his big proposal.

“I was very nervous,” he said. “I was very excited all day, I was constantly planning different locations for the proposal and the gazebo kind of came together at the last minute. We had this family that went down in the gondola with us and they secretly filmed the whole thing and I kind of rushed through the whole thing because I was so nervous, but it was still a beautiful moment.”

The couple was excited about the Salmonfest wedding because it gives their friends and family a reason to visit Alaska. Lockwood says the festival showcases the best of the state, including the importance of salmon conservation.

“I hope it’s all about love. That’s the vibe I feel every time I come here,” Lockwood said. “Love for everyone who’s here. See our love on stage, but also love for our state. I think that’s one of the main messages of this festival.”

The newlyweds say one of the best things about having a Salmonfest wedding is that the music-driven atmosphere makes for an unforgettable after-party. And all the people who came to the wedding seemed to agree.