why elope in acadia
Acadia is honestly one of my favorite National Parks because of the diverse landscape it offers. It also has great food, good vibes, and kind humans.
There are also plenty fun activities to do in and outside of the park for your elopement day. Basically, your elopement in Acadia will be nothing short of amazing.
Traveling to Acadia
Traveling to Acadia can be a bit tricky because of how far north in Maine it is. The closest largest airport is Bangor, which is a little over an hour from the park. Depending on where you are flying from, you can also fly into Portland Maine, or Boston Massachusetts. You will need a rental car, but the drive is absolutely beautiful along the coast.
I would also recommend to take the long coastal route through Belfast Maine to not drive on the highway so long!
Where to stay in Acadia
When looking for where to stay in Acadia, you have to know that getting around the park actually takes some time! It could take up to 45 minutes to get from one side of the park to the other, so where you stay depends on where you plan to be most of your time there. I'd look into Bar Harbor (main part of the park), or staying on the Southwest Harbor (the less popular part of the park).
There are plenty of hotels, B&Bs, Inns and short term rentals (airbnbs/vrbos) in each location.
Where to elope in Acadia
There are so many incredible places to elope in Acadia, as I've mentioned. Some are more popular areas than others, but it all depends on the type of scenery you want to be surrounded by. Depending on how many guests you have will also dictate where you can elope in the park.
Some of the best locations to elope are: Otter Cliff, Otter Point, Sand Beach, and Cadillac Mountain. There are also a lot of venues that are great options as well, especially for a reception. Click here to find amazing small wedding venues.
But I have some hidden gems up my sleeve for my couples!
acadia national park elopement
inspiration
hey, I'm Kelsey!
I'm an acadia elopement photographer with a whole lot of knowledge about this beautiful national park.
Born and raised in New England, I'm an adventurer at heart. I'm always on the go exploring new places constantly to update my elopement locations for amazing couples like you! Acadia is basically my second home, and one of the locations that I specialize in. I'm a real maple syrup addict, love all things Fall and obsessed with meeting new people.
The outdoors and exploring in new places is what makes me feel alive. So I truly believe I have the best job in the world. Because if you're here, I can imagine you feel the same. I can't wait to daydream up the most perfect day with you and make the dream come to reality. I have a good feeling we'll be good friends and have the best time together!
hear it from our couples
"On the day of our elopement, Kelsey delivered with her amazing energy. She’s not there to stiffly pose you, she’s there to document the real moments for you as a couple and while she’ll offer direction when you need it, she’ll awe you by catching all the beautiful, genuine, special, tearful, joyful moments you’ll remember forever."
"She helped us decide on Acadia National Park and not only showed us great spots for photographs but she really took charge in outlining the path we took to make sure no time was wasted. As someone from Maryland and no experience with Acadia whatsoever, this was such a godsend. She recommended salons for hair/makeup, bakeries, florists, etc. in the area. She was incredibly knowledgeable and I had to do very little thinking. On top of all of that, Kelsey is the most friendly person and we instantly connected, feeling comfortable showing our intimate relationship for the camera. I would recommend Kelsey 100x times over and know we made a lifelong friend."
"Kels made us feel like it was okay to be our awkward and quirky selves right from the start. From meeting her on our first zoom call I knew that we were in good hands. She is a phenomenal balance of organization (seen in her location guides, timelines, and vendor recommendations) and go with the flow (shown by her ability to adapt to any situation day of). It was an honor to work with her."
— cait + jim
— TIFF + KEVIN
— Katie + Tyler
For Acadia National Park Elopement inspiration + elopement tips, check out below.
Acadia National Park elopement packages
As an elopement photographer, I value the experience I provide my couples. I am so much more than just a photographer. Here's just a little insight of the experience and what's included in my packages.
unlimited guidance + ELOPEMENT EXPERIENCE RESOURCES
TIMELINE CREATION
Access to my incredible 90+ page elopement experience workbook, packing list, guest guide and more. My goal is to make your experience seamless and positive.
I'll help you create your perfect day, making sure you have a stress free day that you can stay present at. I have expertise in building true elopement timelines.
LOCATION SCOUTING + VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS
AN ELOPEMENT EXPERT
I do hours of research to find you the perfect locations for your day and will help you find vendors so you can get your time back.
Having documented 90+ elopements, I know all the ins and outs of things you wouldn't have thought of - like how to pack your dress, deal with weather, prepare your guests, and a lot more.
all travel included
ORDAINED OFFICIANT
As long as I can get there by 2WD, then you don't have to worry about extra fees! Yep that includes gas, rentals, accommodation, food. One less thing you have to worry about!
A lot of my couples want seclusion and privacy, so they are excited to find out I am ordained and can sign their marriage papers - fo' free!