Acadia Maine Elopement

Dan and Candice shared their vows and tied the knot in Acadia National Park alongside a few close friends and family with a larger wedding celebration back home. Acadia is a special place for Dan and Candice and I was so honored to be their photographer and capture the entire day. Scroll below to see more highlights from their wedding day and some tips for your own Acadia Maine elopement.

After spending time together in the morning photographing Dan and Candice getting ready, we went to Sand Beach for their first look and then followed the Park Loop Road to hit some of their favorite spots. We ended at Cadillac Mountain before going to the park where their ceremony was held. After their ceremony, they celebrated with dinner, dancing, and drinks at McKay’s Public House which was an awesome choice for an intimate reception in town.

Acadia Elopements and Weddings

Do you love wild places, rocky coastlines, and some of the best of the outdoors that New England has to offer? If so, I definitely recommend considering Acadia National Park if you’re looking for a place to elope or have a small wedding. The first step is applying for a permit with the park service here. Dan and Candice held their ceremony at Thompson Island, which is a beautiful park just outside of the town of Bar Harbor with stunning water views. You can also find more information about which locations are permitted for use within the park here.

September is typically one of the busiest times here in Acadia, but we somehow lucked out and had Sand Beach mostly to ourselves, no issues parking, and a very empty summit on Cadillac. This is definitely not always the norm—Acadia is a really popular place to elope, but I still think there are ways to dodge the crowds and plan your day to maximize the feeling of being in the great outdoors. Spring or late fall are both good times to consider, but if you want to enjoy summer’s warmth and sunshine (still always unpredicatable here), try planning your Acadia Maine elopement on a week day.

Are you looking to plan your own Acadia Maine elopement or wedding? As your photographer, I am here for more than just the day of your wedding to take photos. I know Acadia and Mt. Desert Island well and am always happy to help brainstorm, plan, and ensure that your day goes beyond what you envision. Get in touch here to let me know all about your plans and lock in your date! To see more of my wedding work throughout New England, head here. I’ve compiled some of my own tips for planning your Acadia Maine elopement or wedding below:

Tips for planning an Acadia Maine elopement

1. Be prepared for any weather, any time of the year. I’ve sweated my butt off and scrambled to put on every layer I had even during the middle of summer in Acadia. It typically stays pretty cool in the summer with foggy mornings turning to sunny days, but it can be both hot and freezing (especially at night) throughout the warmest season. Rain is also common, so I’d recommend being prepared for that with umbrellas/rain ponchos or contingency plans if the weather turns really nasty.
2. Opt for some of the lesser visited spots in the park for your photos. Dan and Candice really lucked out with the park being empty and we were able to shoot in the most popular locations (Sand Beach, Otter Cliffs, Cadillac Mountain) without feeling like we had to compete with the crowds. I think it’s certainly worth trying for these spots, but don’t forget that there are so many others and be prepared to shift if things look too crowded in one spot. For Sand Beach, you can usually find it empty in the early mornings since most people go up to Cadillac for sunrise. Jordan Pond or Eagle Lake, while popular, offer plenty of paths and trails to go for a walk in the woods and see the forested side of the park. If you want to take photos on Cadillac Mountain, consider the Blue Hills Overlook instead of the summit parking lot, which is on your left just before reaching the top of the mountain. Some of my other favorite, less popular spots include Seal Harbor, Little Long Pond, Bass Harbor, and Bar Island in town (need to check the tides closely for this one!)
3. Get off the ground or on the water. To really comprehend the beauty of Acadia, I suggest getting a vantage point that most people do not either by air or sea. Scenic Flights of Acadia offers flightseeing tours from the airport just outside of town and there are so many boat tour options from Bar Harbor, whether you want to go on a short tour around the island or out to see in search of whales.
4. Hunt on Airbnb within Mt. Desert Island for a place to stay/get ready. There are some really beautiful homes for rent on Airbnb in the Acadia area. Don’t be afraid of staying outside of town—if anything, I recommend searching outside of town for a place to stay. Acadia is a park that requires a car if you want to be nimble and explore on your own, so you’ll need to drive no matter where you stay. Places with big windows or scenic views/settings are great for getting ready, whether you’re alone with your significant other or joined by friends and family. Sometimes people overlook the getting ready location, but as a documentary-style photographer, I can tell you that these are some of the most beautiful and fun moments to capture in an unscripted way.
5. Consider the edge seasons. It gets really crowded in Acadia during the summer, especially in the somewhat rare event of a cruise ship being in town. Spring (late April, May, early June before school ends) is a really beautiful time as well as late fall (still popular with the leaf-peepers). If you do plan for summer, stay clear of the 4th of July and Labor Day as these are absolutely packed times to be in Bar Harbor.