If you’re thinking about eloping in Acadia National Park, yay! Acadia is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and is extra perfect for elopements. If you’re starting to think about your elopement experience and what kind of package you might want from your photographer, this blog post is for you! It can be overwhelming to decide what kind of coverage you need from your elopement photographer, especially in the beginning when you don’t have much of a plan. Hopefully seeing what’s possible with various Acadia elopement day packages and timelines will help you resonate with the type of day that is most aligned with your vision, and help you decide which elopement package is right for you and your Acadia National Park elopement!
For questions about your Acadia elopement, reach out below! Otherwise, keep reading for a great breakdown of which elopement + timeline ideas might be best for your Acadia National Park elopement!
Timeline Ideas for Your Acadia Elopement
When thinking about the elopement package you’ll need for your elopement, a great place to start is thinking about the type of experience you want to have. Are you bringing friends and family or will it just be the two of you? Are you wanting to explore lots of different places through the park, or just have a simple ceremony? Do you like adventurous activities or quiet walks along easy trails? The good news is, there are no right or wrong answers to those questions, but having an idea of the general experience you want to have will be really helpful in the beginning process of planning your elopement and choosing your elopement package.
To all couples, I recommend looking at your elopement day less as a “wedding day” (even though of course, that’s part of it!) and more so as the best vacation day you could ever imagine. When you do this, it takes away the structure of what a wedding day “should” look like, and instead, opens up creativity for creating a day that is truly reflective of you as a couple, the things you value, and the ways you feel most connected to each other. Thinking about questions like these:
How/when do we feel most connected to each other?
How/when do we feel like the most authentic versions of ourselves?
What are the things we want to feel on our day?
If we can include activities you love to do together, things you’ve always wanted to do together, locations that inspire you, accessibility + conditions that you’re comfortable with, a pace that feels right, and things that feel like you, it will help your day feel like a true reflection of your relationship and a day that is not only so much fun, but also so much more aligned with your values. And of course, we’ll include a ceremony and some portrait time in there as well!
So now that you’re brain storming some of the big questions, here are a look at few of the Elopement Day Packages that might be best for your Acadia National Park Elopement
2 Day Elopements in Acadia National Park
I personally love two day elopement packages because they allow you to spread your time out so that you can take it all in at a slower pace. For couples bringing friends and family to your elopement, my two day package is the perfect way to split up your time to have a day with family + friends, and a day to have just to yourselves. My two day collection includes 14 hours of coverage split however you’d like over those two days, which means you can have two 7 hour days, one bigger day and one shorter day, or any combination that feels right to you. With photographing two day elopements, I’ve noticed how much more my couples are able to relax into these days because we’re not in a rush to get it all in on a single day. And if something goes against the plan, we have the next day that we can always fall back on to as well.
Tip: If you’re worried about weather, a two day elopement is a great way to give yourself an extra day as a back up option if weather ended up being terrible. It’s always our goal to spread things out over both days, but it gives us the freedom and flexibility to move things around over two days if the weather plans otherwise!
Timeline Ideas for a 2 Day Acadia Elopement:
Example 1: 6.5 Hour Couple Day and 7.5 Hour Guest Day
Day 2: Celebration With Guests + Dinner (7.5 hours)
11:30 - Getting Ready at airbnb
1:00 - Leave for Ceremony Location
1:30 - Ceremony
2:30 - Leave for family photos
3:00 - Family photos at the Forest Location
3:30 - Leave Forest Location for Dinner Venue
4pm - Cocktail Hour
5:00 - Dinner
6:00 - First + Parent Dances
6:30 - Wrap up coverage
Day 1: Just the Couple (6.5 hours)
12:00 - Meet at Location 1
12:15 - First look
12:30 - Leave Location 1
12:45 - Vow reading + explore at Location 2
1:45 - Leave Location 2 for Location 3
2:00 - Stop at a Carriage Road Bridge
2:30 - Gift exchange at Location 3
3:20 - Leave Location 3 for Location 4
3:30 - Picnic at Location 4
4:00 - Leave Location 4 for Sunset Hike
4:30 - Hike
5:00 - Sunset portraits
6:00 - Sunset + hike back down
6:30 - Wrap up
Example 2: 10 Hour Guest Day / 4 Hour Couple Day
Day 1: Family Ceremony + Boat Ride (10 hours)
9:30 - Nicole meets with couple in Bar Harbor
10:30 - Getting ready + details
12:00 - Leave airbnb
12:30 - First look in the park
1:00 - Head to ceremony location
1:30 - Ceremony
2:00 - Family photos
3:00 - Check in at the boat
3:30 - Boat ride with family to an island for dinner
4:30 - Dinner on the island
6:00 - Back on the boat + sunset cruise around the bay
7:00 - Sunset
7:30 - Disembark the boat + wrap up
Day 2: Couple Adventures (4 hours)
3:30 - Meet at airport
4:00 - Aerial tour of Acadia
5:00 - Land + drive to sunset hike
5:30 - Hike to sunset location
6:00 - Sunset portraits
7:00 - Sunset + hike down
7:30 - Wrap up
Example 3: 2 Day Adventure | Just The Couple
Day 2: Adventure in Acadia
1:00 - Meet at Acadia Airport
1:30 - Aerial tour of Acadia
3:00 - Leave airport for boat dock
3:30 - Arrive at boat dock
4:00 - Sunset Sail
6:00 - Sunset
6:15 - Head to ocean cliffs
7:00 - Star photos
8:00 - Wrap up
Day 1: Vow Experience (7 hours)
1:00 - Getting ready + detail photos
2:15 - First look at airbnb
2:30 - Head to ceremony location
3:00 - Meet officiant at ceremony location
3:30 - Ceremony
4:00 - Read letters from family + friends
4:30 - Head to sunset hike
5:00 - Sunset Portraits
6:00 - Sunset
6:30 - Head to airbnb
7:00 - Hot tub
7:45 - Private chef dinner
8:00 - Nicole leaves
Check out Laura + Nathan’s Two Day Elopement in Acadia with a day for guests and a day for them!
Full Day Coverage Elopement Package in Acadia
Full day coverage is a great option if you want the most flexibility in your elopement experience! My full day option comes with coverage over the entire day, and includes non consecutive time which gives you the option to split time up! For example, if you wanted to include sunrise + sunset in your coverage time but wanted to take a break in between, this gives you the freedom to do that! Sunrise + sunset are the best times of day to shoot lighting wise, so if we can take advantage of both while being able to take a break in between, it will give you the best of both worlds for lighting + good photos, while also giving you a chance to relax through the day so that you’re not totally pooped! Or, if you’re wanting to see a lot, do a lot, maybe split the day between family + friends, and a few hours for just yourselves, this is a great way to be able to have enough time to do it all. My favorite part about Full Day Coverage is that it takes away the boundary of time, and lets you enjoy the day at a slower pace. You don’t have to worry about shoving everything into a set amount of time, and feeling like your elopement experience is on the clock and ticking away. You know that you have coverage of everything you want coverage of, you can take breaks, split up the day, take advantage of the best light and so much more. If you’re sticking to a single day for your elopement, this is the best way to do it!
Timeline Ideas for a Full Day Acadia Elopement
Example: Just the Couple
11:00 - Nicole Arrives at the salon for getting ready photos
11:30 - Nicole heads hotel
11:50 - Getting ready at the hotel
12:45 - Leave for Location 1
1:30 - First look at Location 1
2:00 - Leave for Location 2
2:15 - Luxury Picnic at Location 2
3:00 - Leave Location 2 for Location 3
3:15 - Vows at Location 3
4:00 - Leave Location 3 for Hike
4:30 - Hike
5:00 - Sunset Portraits on mountain top
6:00 - Sunset
6:15 - Hike down
6:30 - Head to Bar Harbor
7:15 - Star Photos
8:00 - Dinner + drinks in Bar Harbor
9:30 - Wrap Up
Example: Couple with Guests
9:00 - Nicole arrives
9:00 - Getting ready + detail photos
10:00 - Bride getting in dress
10:30 - Leave hotel for location 1
10:45 - First look and private vows at Location 1
11:30 - Leave Location 1 for Location 2
11:40 - Photos with dogs at Location 2
12:05 - Leave Location 2 for Ceremony Location
12:15 - Ceremony
12:45 - Family/Friend Photos + Champagne toast
1:45 - Leave for Carriage Roads Ride at stables
2:00 - Arrive at Carriage Roads Ride
2:15 - Carriage Road Ride
3:30 - Leave for Beals Lobster Pier
4:00 - Dinner at Beals Lobster Pier
5:30 - Leave Beals for Location 3
6:15 - Portraits at Location 3
6:45 - Leave Location 3 for sunset spot
7:15 - Sunset portraits
8:11 - Sunset
8:30 - Wrap up
Example: Split Sunrise/Sunset Day
5:45 - Meet at trailhead + hike up
6:30 - Sunrise on the mountain
6:30 - Watch sunrise, make coffee
- journal together or play a card game
8:00 - Hike back down
8:30 - Head to Bar Harbor
9:00 - Breakfast Sammies
9:45 - Couple heads back to airbnb
—— Break ———
1:00 - Nicole arrives
1:00 - Getting ready + detail photos
2:00 - Head into the park for first look
2:30 - First look
3:00 - Head to Location 2
3:30 - Private vows
4:00 - Head to Location 3
4:30 - Luxury Picnic
5:15 - Head to boat dock
6:00 - Sunset sailing cruise
7:00 - Sunset
7:30 - Back from the boat + wrap up
Check out Jess + Rickeys Full Day Elopement in Acadia national park
8 Hours in Acadia for your Elopement Day
8 hours in Acadia National Park for your elopement day can be a great chunk of day, especially if it’s just the two of you! With an 8 hour package for your Acadia elopement, we can typically fit things like getting ready, a hike or two, maybe a fun activity like a boat ride or picnic, and not have to rush through things! I generally recommend a minimum of 8 hours for elopements with guests. Also, because Acadia is pretty concentrated on Mt. Desert Island, we don’t have to spend hours of your coverage time driving from spot to spot, which means we can make the most out of an 8 hour experience!
Timeline Ideas for an 8 hour Acadia Elopement
Example: Just the couple
1:00 - Meet at Location 1
- Hike in + share vows
2:00 - Leave ceremony location for picnic location
2:30 - Luxury Picnic
3:15 - Leave picnic location for boat dock
3:45 - Arrive at dock
4:00 - Boat adventure (champagne + cake for boat)
6:00 - Boat back at dock
6:15 - Leave for Mountain Hike
6:45 - Arrive at trailhead + hike
7:00 - Sunset portraits on the mountain
8:15 - Sunset
8:30 - Hike back down
9:00 - Wrap up coverage
Example: Couple with 2 guests
11:45 - Nicole arrives for getting ready / details
1:00 - Leave Airbnb for first look location
1:20 - Location 1 first look + vows
1:50 - Head to Location 2
2:00 - Location 2 gift exchange
2:30 - Leave location 2 for ceremony location
2:45 - Arrive at ceremony location
3:00 - Ceremony
- friend photos + cake
4:00 - Head to brewery
6:00 - Leave brewery
6:20 - Photos at location 3
6:50 - Leave location 3 for location 4
7:00 - Sunset photos at location 4
7:45- Wrap up
Example: Couple with 20 Guests
12:00 - Nicole arrives at airbnb
12:00 - Getting ready photos
1:20 - Leave Airbnb
1:40 - First look at location 1
2:10 - Leave location 1
2:20 - Location 2 with dogs
2:50 - Leave Location 2 + head to ceremony location
3:00 - Arrive at ceremony location
3:15 - Ceremony with family
3:45 - Family Photos
4:15 - Split from family, couple leaves for hike
4:50 - Hike
5:20 - Portraits on summit
6:20 - Sunset
6:30 - Hike back down
7:00 - Drive to airbnb
7:30 - Smores + campfire with family
8:00 - Wrap up coverage
Check out Mariah + Austins 8 hour Elopement in Acadia national park
6 Hour Acadia Elopement Package
A 6 hour package for your Acadia elopement can be perfect if you’re wanting something more minimal but still want to be able to enjoy the park and not rush through things! With a 6 hour elopement, we generally have time for getting ready, a hike or two, or a few easily accessible locations. I generally only recommend 6 hours for elopements with just the couple, as including family with a 6 hour elopement can make things feel a little rushed!
Timeline Ideas for a 6 Hour Acadia Elopement
Example: Sunrise | Just the couple
6:00 - Meet at trailhead
6:00 - Hike to summit
6:31 - Sunrise
6:30 - Portraits at summit
7:30 - Hike back down
8:00 - Head to beach
8:20 - Portraits at the beach
9:00 - Leave for ceremony location
9:15 - Ceremony
10:15 - Head to final beach
11:00 - Picnic + swim at the Beach
12:00 - Wrap up coverage
Example: Sunset | Just the couple
1:00 - Getting ready at airbnb
2:00 - First look at airbnb
2:30 - Head to ceremony location
3:15 - Ceremony
4:00 - Head to sunset hike
4:30 - Hike + sunset portraits
6:30 - Hike back down
7:00 - Wrap up coverage
Check out Hannah + Melina’s 6 hour Elopement in Acadia national park
Choosing the right package for your Acadia National Park elopement
As you can see, there are endless ways to structure the timeline + layout for your elopement experience with Acadia National Park. While these are all great timelines, there are countless other ways that we can structure your day and make it come to life. The first things to think about are generally how you want to feel (stressed, rushed, crunched for time vs calm, peaceful, present), what you want to do (explore several different locations? Hike 1-2 things? Other activities like a boat ride, plane, ride, picnic, or campfire?), and who you plan on including (bringing family + including them in certain things, just the two of you?). If you’re not sure about any of those things, I always recommend the more time the better. We can always come up with fun things to do, see, and explore - that’s not hard in a place like Acadia :) However, it is much harder to fit several things into a short amount of time in a way that’s not stressed or rushed. With my collections, you can always add hours on a la carte, so fret not if you decide down the road that you need some extra time!
I hope that these examples of timelines and reasons why I’d recommend each one, gave you some clarity of which package might be best for your elopement in Acadia National Park. If you’re ready to start planning your elopement, get in touch below and let’s get the conversation started! I’m already so excited for you to experience the magic of elopements, and of Acadia - yay!!
