Acadia Adventure Elopement in Bar Harbor, Maine

C + J were living in Massachusetts when they reached out to us about their Acadia adventure elopement. Originally from Pennsylvania, they planned to marry privately in Acadia just the two of them, and hold a reception a few weeks later for their friends and family in Pittsburg, PA. 

They were set on eloping in May and thankfully we were able to make it work with our schedule for an early May adventure elopement. Our Acadia season typically starts in May and ends mid to late October. Anything before and after that can be tricky weather-wise. While you’ll find things to do in Bar Harbor in the winter and spring, nothing beats that awesome town in late spring through early fall. All the restaurants and shops are open and there is a fun energy throughout town. In the park, trees are green, wildflowers are blossoming and the weather is perfect for hikes. 

So once we had a date, we got to planning. The first thing C & J did was book a place to stay and book vendors. They chose to stay at the cutest little Acadia cottage that they booked through Airbnb. This was just perfect for the two of them. The cottage is surrounded by nature, which was perfect for photos outside where they had their first look and then read letters from loved ones. 

Because it was just the two of them, they did not have to worry about securing a permit. Acadia National Park requires you to secure a permit if you’re having 10 or more guests. With over 10 guests, there are also restrictions to be aware of, such as group size allowed in certain places within the park. So with that out of the way, all they had to worry about was applying for a marriage license (out-of-state residents may apply in any town/city in the state of Maine). They worked with Corinne from CC Ceremonies to officiate their wedding. And we were their witnesses (you’ll need two witnesses to sign your marriage certificate, and we’re happy to do so!) 🙂 

We often ask our couples to think about unique ways to make their elopement day feel like them. Whether it’s a fun way to incorporate loved ones who won’t be there or activities that will bring intention to the day. Let’s be real, the last thing we want is for your elopement album to look like a photoshoot from Pinterest. C + J asked loved ones to write them letters that they could read on the morning of their elopement. This added such an emotional touch to their day and it felt like their loved ones were there with them. 

C + J’s Acadia adventure elopement felt truly unique to them. C did her own make-up. They spent the morning together relaxing at their Airbnb, they popped champagne, they ate delicious cake, and they ended the night with a special dinner at a restaurant in Bar Harbor. Check out below for some beautiful moments we captured! Congrats C + J on your elopement… We feel so honored to have been a part of it.