Chelsea & Ryan's Adventure Elopement in Acadia National Park | Bar Harbor, Maine
Acadia National Park had been on my list for a long time — not just as a place I wanted to visit, but as a place I desperately wanted to photograph. When Chelsea and Ryan reached out about eloping there in October, I wanted to be their photographer immediately. I drove four hours from Manchester to Bar Harbor, settled into a converted tea house at their AirBnB — which was all mine for the next two nights — and headed out to explore downtown. I found a bar with incredible fresh fish tacos, fell into easy conversation with strangers from all over the country about weddings and photography and life, and went to bed early knowing I needed to be up long before sunrise. The next morning Ryan appeared at my door with fresh hot coffee and the news that pumpkin pancakes were on the way — and just like that, one of the best days of my career had officially begun. What followed were the best twelve hours of my photography career, starting off with thick morning fog, peak fall foliage, rocky Maine coastline, a rescue dog named Milo, a first dance in the middle of the road, and two people who chose to spend the most important day of their lives exactly as themselves — adventurous, intimate, and completely free.
Hunter’s Beach | Morning Fog, Cliff Climbing in a Wedding Dress, and Private Vows with a Stunning View
Our plans for a sunrise ceremony at the top of Cadillac Mountain were quickly replaced by something even better — heavy fog had settled over the entire park overnight and wasn't going anywhere. Rather than fight it we embraced it completely, loaded into the car with Milo, and made our way to Hunter's Beach. The short hike from the road to the beach winds through ancient forest before opening onto one of the most dramatic and intimate stretches of Maine coastline I have ever seen — and on a foggy October morning with peak fall foliage on either side of the path, every single step was a photo opportunity. Who knows the amount of times I must have said, “Oh this is a good spot” or “Let’s go over there.” We spent nearly two hours at Hunter's Beach alone. Chelsea and Ryan climbed up onto the rocks, Milo by their side, and privately exchanged their vows with nothing around them but fog, ocean, and each other. Then — still in her wedding dress — Chelsea started scaling the cliffs. I have photographed a lot of adventurous couples but watching her climb those rocks in that floral gown, completely fearless and completely happy, is something I will never forget. By the time we left Hunter's Beach I already had some of the best photos of my career. And we had only just begun.
Sand Beach | Peak Fall Foliage, Golden Grass, and one of the Best Shots of My Career
From Hunter's Beach we made our way to Sand Beach — the only sandy beach in Acadia National Park and one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in all of Maine. We were technically just past peak foliage but you wouldn't have known it — the colors surrounding the beach were still extraordinary, deep golds and oranges covering every hillside in every direction. We explored all around the area and at some point I looked through my viewfinder at Chelsea and Ryan standing together in a field of tall golden grass, Ryan gazing down at Chelsea's hand just before bringing it to his lips, a fog-covered mountain rising dramatically behind them and fall foliage blazing across the hillside — and I said out loud "I'm pretty sure I just got the best shot of my career."
Thunder Hole and Beyond | The Part of the Day Where We Wandered and They Shared a Special First Dance, In the Middle of the Road
By the time we reached Thunder Hole the fog was beginning to lift and the ocean was opening up in a way that felt like the park was revealing itself to us gradually, one location at a time. Chelsea and Ryan are naturally shy but that didn't stop them from sharing a kiss right there at Thunder Hole — and the strangers around them erupted into cheers. It was one of those spontaneous moments that made everyone smile, including me. Afterward we just wandered — stopping whenever something caught our eye, turning down paths that looked interesting, letting the day unfold completely on its own terms. At some point we rounded a bend and Chelsea and Ryan just started dancing together in the middle of the road. No music, no audience, no reason except that they felt like it. I photographed their first dance as a married couple right there on an empty road in Acadia National Park.
Lunch with Luxury Picnics Acadia | A Secluded Lakeside Picnic, a Short Nap, and a Well Earned Break
By midday the light had gotten harsh enough that we welcomed a break — and Tabitha from Luxury Picnics Acadia had been quietly working behind the scenes to make sure that break was something special. She had found us a secluded spot on a lake somewhere deep in the park — I genuinely couldn't tell you exactly where it was and I think that's part of the magic. Just a beautifully set picnic in a hidden corner of Acadia that felt like it belonged only to us. And Tabitha hadn't forgotten about Milo either — he had his own special treats waiting for him, which I'm fairly certain made him the happiest dog in Acadia National Park that afternoon. We ate, we relaxed, we let the day breathe for a little while. Chelsea curled up with Milo and took a short nap in the October air, and I sat there reviewing photos, drinking coffee with Ryan, and thinking about how lucky I was to be there. When you're planning an elopement in Acadia, I can't recommend Luxury Picnics Acadia enough — Tabitha takes care of everything and somehow always finds the most perfect spot.
Asticou Azalea Garden and Downtown Bar Harbor | The Last Few Hours of a Perfect Day
With full stomachs and rested legs we made our way to the Asticou Azalea Garden — and even just past peak foliage the garden was extraordinary, the kind of place that seems almost too beautiful to be real. Winding paths, still water, ancient trees, and color absolutely everywhere — it was the perfect setting for the final portraits of the day and Chelsea and Ryan were total naturals at this point. We wandered through every corner of the garden taking our time, finding new backdrops around every turn, and letting the late afternoon light do what it does best. From there we made our way into downtown Bar Harbor — Chelsea and Ryan ducked into a small bookstore and we found a quiet park just as the golden hour light was settling over the town for a few final portraits before hunger and exhaustion won out. By the time we made our way back the sun was low, the day was winding down, and I couldn’t wait look through all the photos. But first, I needed a shower.
The End of the Day | A Hot Shower, Backing Up the Photos, and One More Thing Before Bed
I made my way back to the tea house, showered off twelve hours of Maine coastline, and sat down with my laptop to back up every single photo from the day — a ritual I take very seriously, especially after a day like this one. I reviewed image after image, reliving every moment from the foggy rocks at Hunter's Beach to the golden grass at Sand Beach to the first dance in the middle of the road, and I couldn't stop smiling. Before I finally called it a night there was one more thing — Chelsea and Ryan asked me to sign their marriage certificate as a witness. It was a small and quiet moment at the end of an extraordinary day, but it meant more than I expected.
If Chelsea and Ryan's day made you want to pack your bags and elope in Acadia — I completely understand. I'd love nothing more than to do it all over again with you.
Thinking about eloping somewhere else in New England? Visit my Acadia National Park Elopement Photographer page to learn more about what a full day elopement there looks and feels like.
