Thinking of eloping in Acadia National Park? Well you've come to the right blog to get inspiration because we hit four popular spots in the park for Sarah & Nate's GORGEOUS wedding day.
Use this handy dandy legend below to skip to parts of the day you'd like to read/see about:
Getting ready photos at their Bar Harbor Airbnb
We started the day off at their super chic, modern airbnb in Bar Harbor. Most airbnbs in Bar Harbor are cozy and old school so I was pretty stunned to walk into their Manhattan-esque place, but I loved it!! It was a perfect spot for their detail and getting ready photos with a great location right near downtown with just a 20 minute drive to Acadia National Park. While I photographed the wedding details that were important to them, they hung out and drank some local beer from Atlantic Brewing Company. I'm seriously in love with the photo I got below of the beer with Nate's ring and boutonniere. The light pouring through the window was perfect!
After they each got ready separately, they had the cutest first look in their airbnb. I love love love the photo below where Sarah can see Nate for the first time as he walks down the stairs, but he doesn't know she's there yet. They shared a sweet moment, Sarah pinned Nate's boutonniere on, and then we headed out to Gorham Mountain Trail.
Gorham Mountain Trailhead Ceremony
We drove together to go to Gorham Mountain for their ceremony and thank goodness because we nabbed the very last parking spot at the trailhead!! If you're considering eloping in Acadia, one thing you'll definitely want to keep in mind is peak park times; both time of day, day of the week, and month in the year! You may also consider alternative transportation to pick you up and drop you off so you don't have to worry about parking. While the park has public buses, I would recommend reserving something private, like through At Your Service Tours.
Thankfully, even though the parking lot was full, when we crossed the street from Gorham Mountain Trailhead to explore the rocky coast, not a person was in the area. Nate and Sarah explored the coast until they landed upon an area that felt right to them to say their private vows. They conducted their own ceremony, sharing their vows, exchanging rings, and sealing it all with a kiss. I am ordained, so I was able to sign off on their marriage license without anyone else having to be involved in their private ceremony. After they said their "I do's", we explored more of the coast.
Check out another Acadia National Park Elopement Ceremony at Gorham Mountain Trailhead here.
Portraits near Otter Cliffs
After their ceremony we explored the beautiful coast of Maine a little more and ended up at one of my new favorite portrait locations where you can see Otter Cliffs in the background! Otter Cliffs is over 100 feet high and is a huge draw to the park for rock climbers. Even if you don't rock climb seeing the cliffs is a marvel to behold!
Related Blog: Planning an elopement in Acadia National Park
Gotta have the traditional wedding portrait! And look at this light! Just gorgeous.
Fun fact: I was legit leaning on their car while taking these photos haha. We had just gotten back to their car to head to Seal Beach for their mid-day picnic and I couldn't NOT take advantage of this gorgeous light.
Seal Beach Picnic
We got to Seal Beach where Luxury Picnics Acadia had already set up a super cute picnic for them. The setup includes everything you need, including the food, refreshments, candles, blanket, pillows, utensils - everything for the best little break on your elopement day. While I'm sure they would be able to include a cake, Sarah & Nate picked out their own that morning from A Slice of Eden. They have so many yummy bakes AND cater to those with dietary restrictions or are vegan!
After snacking, cutting their cake, and saying "thank you!" to anyone who passed by, we took it easy and goofed around running around the beach and enjoying the sunshine on this unusually warm October day before heading to North Bubble for golden hour photos.
North Bubble
North Bubble is one of my favorite hikes in Acadia National Park. With less than a half mile hike up and under 400 feet of elevation gain, the view is one of the best you can get with little effort! For the majority of the hike the trail is shrouded in trees, so when you reach the summit it really does feel like a reward. I also personally think it's one of the best spots you can go for golden hour portraits.
Right when Sarah, Nate, and I summited, it was prime time. We popped open their bottle of champagne and sprayed away, catching such beautiful sunlight in the droplets. After drinking some champagne they took in the view and cozied up on the rock to watch the last of the rays soak into the landscape while the sun set on their wedding day.
Related Blog: Mountaintop Inn Small Wedding in Vermont
Sarah's Review
Sarah left such a nice review for me on my Google Business Page. Thank you so much Sarah!!!
"My husband and I were so glad we chose Tammy to photograph our elopement. Being from out of state and never having been to our elopement location we knew the right photographer would be crucial. Tammy helped us come up with the perfect schedule and worked with some of our vendors directly to make sure our day would flow perfectly. On the day of the wedding she was right on time and we immediately felt at ease. My husband and I were a bit nervous that the day would feel like a photo shoot since we chose to do a private elopement but we never felt that way with Tammy. The whole day flew by with ease and was the perfect day we had hoped for. She gave us a few tips but for the most part we were just ourselves while she captured all the little moments we will remember forever. The photos were available right on schedule and were stunning. She captured so many moments and memories looking through the gallery took us right back to our wedding day. She was so easy to communicate with and the system she uses to track planning, payment, share, and print the photos were so organized and easy to use. The quality of the prints was also excellent. I would recommend Tammy to anyone looking to capture their day!"
Inquire for your elopement now
Are you considering to elope in Acadia National Park? Contact me today and let's chat about your vision!
xo,
Tam
Tamara Merri Photography
www.tamaramerriphotography.com
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