Acadia National Park Elopement Guide

Elopements

Thinking about planning an Acadia National Park elopement? This guide is for you! Maine is basically a second home for me because my family lives out there and I love going to Acadia every time I’m there. Acadia is one of my favorite elopement locations not only in Maine but the east coast in general. It is the perfect location to elope for couples that love unique landscapes. Acadia has mountains, beaches, ponds and cliffs. In this guide I go over how to plan your elopement in Maine and where to actually have your ceremony in Acadia.

Quick Look At: Acadia National Park Elopement

  • How to plan an Acadia National Park Elopement
  • Where to elope in Acadia
  • Where to stay and eat
  • Best activities to do in Acadia
  • Planning your Acadia elopement | Next Steps
acadia national park elopement
acadia national park elopement
acadia national park elopement

How to plan an Acadia National Park elopement

1)Choose Your Date/Season

Choosing your date and season helps to narrow down which locations to choose and even what activities to plan. Maine is very busy in the summer but in the fall season the drive to Acadia is a breeze. The trails are less crowded. My recommendations for the best time to elope in Acadia is in June then September through November.

2)Get Marriage License

To legally elope in Maine you need a marriage license, an officiant and two witnesses. You get you marriage license from a local Maine County Clerk’s office. You have to provide a form of photo ID. Even if you are coming from out of state, you still go to a local County’s office to apply.

3)Book your photographer + vendors

Next you want to book your photographer and vendors. Not all photographers but most do help couples with some of the planning and choosing your location. As an Acadia elopement photographer, I do help couples with choosing a location that fits their needs.

4)Choose your location + plan your timeline/activities

You finally got to the fun part! Now, you get to choose your location and plan your elopement timeline and activities. When it comes to choosing your location consider if a location really resonates with you, has a deep meaning or it’s a location you both really want to explore. Also, think of what type of scenery you like, your guest count and if there’s any hiking involved. In Acadia you get to choose from cliffs, mountains and lakes. What truly resonates with you?

As your Acadia National Park elopement photographer, I will give you location recommendations and I also will co-create your elopement timeline with you. We will figure out together what type of activities you enjoy and you want to do on your elopement day. If you prefer something more laid-back, we’ll plan around that and if you want to be more adventure(ish), we can do that as well.

Truly, it is your day and my goal is to make it a customized experience for you. You decide what feel more authentic to you and reflects your story as a couple.

5) You Get Married

Finally, this is the best part of all when you actually tie the knot! You get married to your partner and enjoy all the beauty of Maine.

Where to elope in Acadia

Depending on what scenery you like, Acadia has woodsy locations mountains, cliffs and forests. Some of my favorite elopement locations in Acadia National Park include,

  • Cadillac Mountain ( guest count 30)
  • Schoodic Peninsula (guest count 25)
  • Bubble Mountain
  • Bubble Pond
  • Bass Harbor
  • Otter Cliffs (guest count 20)
  • Echo Lake

For most of these locations, you don’t need a permit if your guest count is less than 20. For Cadillac mountain, ceremonies are not allowed at sunrise or sunset. Cadillac is perfect for portraits and it is an easy drive up to the summit. It’s one of the best locations to elope in Acadia.

acadia national park elopement
acadia national park elopement
acadia national park elopement

Where to eat and stay

Maine is known for their seafood but there are also other food options. Some of my favorite locations include,

As for places to stay, I recommend staying in Bar Harbor. It is a charming small town with lots of shops and local restaurants. Here are some of the locations you can stay in Bar Harbor,

There are also Airbnb and verbo options especially if you are celebrating with a group.

Another great place to stay that is within an hour from Acadia is Bangor. They have a small airport as well. This is a perfect option to stay near the park without staying in a touristy area.

Best activities to do in Acadia

Acadia National park is a great spot for hiking elopement. But, you can also do other activities for your elopement. Whether you want a relaxed activity or more adventurous, when you elope you get to choose what activities feel like you. Here are a few ideas things you can do for your elopement in Acadia National Park,

Get more elopement activity ideas.

Planning Your Acadia Elopement | Next Steps

It’s no secret that I absolutely love Acadia national Park for elopements. If you’re ready to start planning your elopement in Acadia National Park, let’s get in touch! I would love to help you with planning your elopement day experience in Maine.

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