How to Elope in Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is where the mountains meet the sea. Dramatic cliffs spill into the wild coastline of Downeast Maine. Mountains rise out of nowhere creating an incredibly diverse landscape and eco system unlike anything else in the world.
Why Elope in Acadia?
Diverse landscape
Acadia is home to magical forests opening up to mountain lakes, peaks with otherworldly views, and surrounded on all side by beautiful north Atlantic cliffs. There is something in Acadia for every nature lover.
Easily accessible views
In Acadia you are always close by a great scenic view with little to no effort. That means you can get married without having to hike to a location. This option is especially popular with couples who want to invite a handful of guests to their elopement.
nearby to quintessential new england seaside towns
Maine in particular is home to some of the best and most adorable seaside towns and villages. Acadia in particular is home to some of the cutest towns in Maine, including Bar Harbor, which is home to some of the best hotels and restaurants in the state. It’s a great place for your honeymoon and elopement all in one!
Eloping in Maine & acadia is easy!
In Maine the only requirements for getting married are two witnesses and your officiant. Otherwise obtaining a marriage certificate can be done in any town or city hall, or in the town or city hall of your residence if you live within Maine. If your total group size (including elopement vendors) is under 10 people you can get married most places within Acadia. If you are other 10 people in your group you do need a permit and will be more limited as to where you can hold your ceremony, but the permit is easy to obtain and only $50. You can even have an intimate wedding of up to 50 guests in Acadia! See the NPS website for more details!
Dog friendly national Park
Most National Parks are not very dog friendly, but in Acadia many trails and areas allow you to bring your fur babies on leash. If you’re looking for a dog friendly National Park, Acadia is one of the best in the country!
What is there to do besides hiking?
Rock climbing
sailing - you can get a private charter
ocean Kayaking or canoeing in the lake
Star gazing - Acadia is an international dark sky park
Maine’s foodie paradise
Biking
Swimming in one of the mountain lakes or at sand beach
Exploring tide pools during Low Tide
Check out the museums & island’s Botanical Gardens
Camping
Drive the park loop road and explore the towns on Mount Desert Island
Drive or hike up Cadillac Mountain for Sunset
And SO much more! There is no lack of things to do in Acadia
Locations
There are three different areas of Acadia which you can visit. These areas all have unique features and are some distance apart from each other.
Mount Desert Island
Most people go to Mount Desert Island when they visit Acadia, this is a great central base and houses most of the park and hiking on the island which is completely accessible by road. All of the most famous features of the park are here, but it can be crowded from Memorial Day-Columbus Day, even during the week with vacationers travels from all over the world to take in the park’s beauty. If you wish to elope on Mount Desert Island during peak season as most do, we recommend a weekday elopement to limit crowding.
Schoodic Peninsula
In our opinion Schoodic Peninsula houses some of the Acadia’s most dramatic scenery. Just 45 minutes north of MDI, you can find some of the most beautiful cliffs in Schoodic. There are also adorable, and quieter seaside towns, without the crowds in this special part of Acadia.
Isle Au Haut
Isle au Haut has all of the beauty of MDI & Schoodic, but with true peace and quiet. This is the least visited part of the park. Why? Drive an hour and a half south of MDI to Stonington, Maine on Deer Isle. You haven’t arrived yet. Next you need to take the ferry to Isle au Haut from Stonington. That’s not all, you also cannot take a car on the ferry. This island is accessible by bike only. If you don’t have one, bikes are easy enough to rent for the day. We know it is a lot to do in order to see this part of the park, but we think it is well worth it! You can even get a private charter to the island and back for your intimate wedding or elopement.
When should we elope in Acadia?
winter (Mid November-March)
Much of the area’s businesses are shut down for the season, but if you elope in Acadia in the winter you will be greeted by a seaside winter wonderland and nearly complete solitude minus some locals and a very few visitors. Winters in this part of the north Atlantic are damp and harsh, but filled with natural beauty.
spring (April-Mid June)
Spring is host to all sorts of variety in Acadia! In April through mid May you will find temperate sunny days and days filled with heavy fog and cool drizzle. By mid May-mid June lupine wildflower season is in full bloom and the trees leafed out with the beautiful lime green leaves New England is known for in the springtime. There are fewer crowds and warmer temperatures making it perfect for day hikes.
Summer (mid june-Mid September)
Summer in Maine is the most special thing in the entire world. Maybe I am just saying that because it is so nostalgic for me, as I grew up visiting the coast of Maine with my family. The smell of spruce trees, wild blueberries, and salty oceanic air is the best thing in the world. Most days are between 70-80 degrees with a cooling sea breeze. This also makes Acadia a very popular summer vacation destination.
Fall (mid september-mid november)
Before Columbus Day weekend fall in Acadia can be very crowded and a popular time to visit, but after mid October things quiet down significantly. The mountain are dotted with what almost looks like a variety of skittles. Fall foliage and spruce trees make for one of the dreamiest landscapes. Temperatures and weather conditions can vary dramatically this time of year so come prepared with clothing for warm or cool days, it has also been known to snow in the late fall.
We’re ready to plan our Acadia elopement! How do we begin?
If you’re ready to get your adventure off the ground that’s amazing! Eloping in Acadia is always a great idea no matter the time of year. We would love to help make your dream elopement happen.
we’re not just photographers
We help you plan your elopement day! From scouting out the perfect ceremony to finding the best experiences and accomadations for your visit. We also can help you find your elopement or intimate wedding day dream vendor team with a ton of local recommendations for other vendors in the area.
Natalie is ordained! Now you can hit the trails and elope almost anywhere. She will craft the perfect elopement ceremony for you as a couple, there is nothing cookie cutter about what we do.
We cover permit fees and even fill out the permit form for you if you need a permit for your day.
We capture you and your partner in your element. Your day should be about you. We’re obsessed with documenting your day in a natural, candid style so your story unfolds as you look back at your photos.