Thinking of getting married or eloping on Mount Desert Island? We love helping couples plan their special day! We live on Mount Desert Island year-round and are in Acadia almost every day. We love helping couples select exactly the right location for their day, whether it be a 2 person elopement, a big bash, or an intimate micro wedding. We will not only capture beautiful photos of your ceremony, but we’ll help you plan all the details from timeline to permits to locations to finding an officiant.
Here are five factors we help couples consider when planning a wedding in or near Acadia!
1) Weather
The weather on Mount Desert Island is notoriously hard to predict! The mountains and proximity of the ocean make forecasts very difficult, so we highly recommend having a plan B (and C…?). We always work with couples to select their preferred location in the best case scenario, and we talk through whether or not their selected location will also work in rain or windy conditions. Some locations do! The carriage roads are perfectly safe for walking when wet, and some of them have bridges to duck under, depending on the wedding party size.
There are also a few beautiful covered structures around Acadia that we can use for smaller ceremonies, and clear umbrellas can make for adorable photos.
Some locations do involve moving up and down rocks or through trails with uneven footing and roots. For those locations, we work with our couples to select an alternate time or location to make sure everyone can get to the ceremony without injury!
If you find yourselves facing down a rainy wedding day, don’t panic! Rain often drives others out of the park, so you’ll likely have your ceremony location to yourself. The lighting is also beautiful on rainy days, so we don’t have to wrestle with unflattering shadows or avoid certain angles.
2) Know that the size of your guestlist might dictate your location
Acadia is full of small corners and cozy nooks that can beautifully frame an intimate ceremony of 10 or fewer people.
If you’ll have a guestlist of more than 10, you’ll need a permit, and your ceremony location choices are a bit more limited. That said, there are eleven beautiful locations for a wedding party of more than 10 people (and under 20, 25, 30, or 50 depending on the location).
There are also beautiful locations near Acadia where a permit isn’t required. Some locations in and around downtown are available for larger weddings as well as intimate elopements.
If you need a venue for a larger group, you can always travel into Acadia for photos before or after the ceremony. No permit is required for couples wedding photos in the park, and we often work with couples to help them select locations that are convenient to their ceremony.
3) Roots and Rocks
Acadia is so beautiful in part due to the pink granite, trails covered in tangles of roots, and the conifers that drop their needles and cones. It’s also the granite, roots, and pine needles that can make the footing so tricky and slippery!
The terrain can pose a challenge to anyone with mobility concerns, so we always work with our couples to select locations that will best fit the needs of their group. In our Zoom consultation, we look at photos and videos together to make sure their ceremony spot is easily accessible to guests.
4) Consider Multiple Locations
Part of the magic and allure of Acadia is the variety of settings that are all so close together! In just a few hours you can go from epic cliffs to pastoral lakes to mossy paths to summit views. We often work with couples to select an easily accessible ceremony location and then one or two locations for couples photos afterwards. Often these second or third locations are more private and less accessible, which also helps offer a variety of settings in their final gallery.
A private location for the ceremony:
A mountaintop with sunset views for photos after:
An oceanside celebration:
A wooded path for photos after:
Near the cliffside wedding ceremony:
Lakeside post-ceremony couples photos (same morning, different weather!):
5) Privacy
Some Acadia ceremony locations are tucked away and private, and others are in view of passersby. We always look at maps together with our couples when we help them select a location to make sure they’re comfortable with the privacy level. Most people are very excited to see a wedding and often shout a hearty “congratulations!” as they pass by. For some couples, this adds to the merriment of the day.
Other couples are in search of something more intimate.
Whenever possible, we’re always happy to meet with couples at their location ahead of time to make sure it feels like the best spot for them!
5) Consider How Far You Want To Travel
For some, the magic of a small wedding or elopement on Mount Desert Island or in Acadia National Park is in the adventure of it. These couples are looking for spots off the beaten path and over brooks and up trails.
Other couples are looking for proximity to where they’re staying or eating after the ceremony. For those who want something closer to amenities, there are lots of wonderful locations in and near downtown Bar Harbor that can work well and still highlight the Maine coastline and natural beauty.
For those who want adventure, there are dozens of options for both ceremony and lodging that are tucked away and private; we’ve even had couples stay on the outer island and hitch a ride to the ceremony on the local mail boat for an authentic Downeast adventure!
Because Acadia offers so many beautiful locations, it’s easy to tailor your choice to the specific kind of ceremony and celebration you’re looking for! We know that so many beautiful choices can also be overwhelming, which is why we talk our couples through every step of the way. Find us at aquadrophotography.com to start planning your perfect Acadia wedding day!
