Elope in Acadia National Park
A bucket list elopement dream come true.
I got an inquiry back in October asking if I did elopements and if I was interested in photographing one in June. I had always said to myself I didn’t want to photograph weddings because of the pressure, but I had never even thought about elopements, which is funny because I have always wanted to elope when the time came. As the fall turned to winter, I had forgotten about this inquiry until they reached back out at the end of March to let me know they had decided to take the leap! I knew that this was the creative pivot I wanted to make in my photography career. The amount of research I did to plan for this elopement was way more than any other session in the past. That’s how I knew this was the right choice for me. I wanted them to be relaxed and just show up and be themselves.
Do you need permits?
If you are getting married in a park or public land, always check to see if you need a permit for photography, filming, or even to get married. This couple was just the two of them, and her brother was officiating for them. In Acadia, you only need a permit for photographs if you have more than 10 people in your party or you need a space to be private. Anything under 10 people and you are not disrupting people’s time in the park, photography and filming are allowed without a permit. This couple had already obtained the paperwork to get married in Maine, so they eloped right at the top of Cadillac Mountain at Sunrise. They just needed two witnesses to sign the marriage certificate. My friend and I, whom I had brought along to help with behind-the-scenes filming, were their witnesses.
Do you need an itinerary?
With access to almost 40,000 acres in the national park, I recommend an itinerary for your elopement day, whether it’s a couple of hours or a whole day. It also shows your clients that you are organized and that you have done this a few times, even if you haven’t. There were a few spots that my clients wanted to have pictures taken at, so I looked up the best times for each spot and created a little guide for the day.
A few spots I recommended are Jordan Pond around 2 pm-3 pm. The reflections on the pond are beautiful, with the mountains in the back creating a nice backdrop for your photos!
Sand beach, which I had never been to before, was amazing. The cliffs meet the ocean with these insane teal blue waves crashing down, and they create some dramatic images that you will love!
Thunder Hole / Otter Cliff was a favorite of mine. It has some of the same cliffs without the beach. Great for sunset or late afternoon with the beautiful ocean in the background.
Of course, getting up to Cadillac Mountain for sunrise is a must. The original plan was for them to elope at the house they rent each summer, but last minute decided that they wanted to elope at the top of the mountain (I was very excited about this decision). You must get a reservation pass to drive up to the top. Two days before you want to go up to the top, you’ll need to log on to recreation.gov at 10 am to grab a pass. Heads up, these go quick, like within the first two minutes! It is still very chilly at the top, so bring layers.
Best time of the year to visit Acadia
Between June and September is peak season at the park. If you are looking for times of the year when it is less busy to elope, I would suggest the cooler months between October and May. This elopement happened to be on a Monday at the beginning of June. The crowds weren't too bad, and the weather was perfect. There are so many views and land to explore; we had a few spots to ourselves during the day. Everyone usually leaves as soon as the sun rises on Cadillac Mountain, which meant we had the whole mountain to ourselves while they said I do.
What to wear to your elopement!
Anything you want! This couple wore what felt like them. She wore a beautiful long sage green sleeveless dress that was absolutely stunning, and he wore dark blue jeans and a button-up white long-sleeve shirt. During the ceremony, they both wore Vans sneakers.
Your elopement is literally all about the two of you. If you want to wear a wedding gown or a sage green dress, you can. All that matters is that this is your day, and it can be anything you want it to be.
