Nicole Daacke Photography

View Original

Fall Elopement at Acadia National Park

Kristen & Ryan planned their Fall Elopement at Acadia National Park at the peak time for fall foliage, making for some incredibly special Maine Elopement Photography. 

They say that when you know, you know, and that was definitely the case for Kristen & Ryan… well, for Kristen at least! This beautiful pair met through mutual friends, and Kristen was so sure she would marry Ryan that she went home and created a Gmail address with his last name while it was still available. Obviously, Kristen was right because here we are, sharing their beautiful Fall Elopement at Acadia National Park. 

ELOPING IN ACADIA DURING THE FALL MONTHS

Kristen & Ryan eloped in mid-October, which is the peak time of year for fall foliage at Acadia National Park. Of course, Maine is famous for its spectacular fall views, as the trees change from green to so many delightful shades of orange, red and yellow, so it was a really special time to explore the Park for their Maine Elopement Photography. Because Kristen & Ryan decided to have a more classic elopement, just the two of them, their timeline was really relaxed. This meant we had time to explore all the incredible angles of Acadia National Park, from the wild Atlantic coastline to Jordan Pond and more. Plus, we weren’t limited just to the Park! 

Deciding how to get ready is a really personal decision on your elopement day – Kristen & Ryan decided to get ready separately, so that they could have a first look. Instead of booking separate accommodation though, Ryan got ready in their Bar Harbor hotel room while Kristen went to a local salon to have her hair and makeup done. Once she was ready to use the room, Ryan headed off to their first look location – a nearby natural spring – while Kristen prepared for the day. 

They planned a relaxed day for their Maine Elopement Photography, which meant they could take their time and truly savor every moment. At their first look, they read letters to each other while standing back-to-back, which was incredibly sweet. We then went on a little adventure to explore everything Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park have to offer, from the wild Atlantic coast to one of my favorite Acadia spots, surrounded by immense boulders with dreamy cliffs in the background. Their ceremony, conducted by the lovely Officially Yours, included stories about them and their time together, before we meandered across to Jordan Pond for some sunset portraits. 

Of course, you could just scroll down and see all of this in the photos – plus their beautiful charcuterie board and time spent relaxing around a firepit back at the hotel – but I’m sharing the details to help you imagine what your elopement could be! Perhaps the most beautiful thing about choosing to elope over having a traditional wedding is that you can make the most of your day, however you decide. There’s no timeline to stick to or urgency to check another item off a list. Instead, you can relax and make the most of this incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience.                         

Something truly special about Kristen & Ryan’s elopement was how many details they included. Often, people assume that an elopement has to be super minimal because there’s no big ceremony or reception, but that’s absolutely not true! If you love the idea of having beautiful, personalized stationery, quirky socks, or photos of your carefully chosen wedding shoes, then you can absolutely have that for your elopement as well! 

Kristen & Ryan were excited to make their elopement day their own, and they did it in style! They have two beautiful pets at home, a beagle and a cat, that couldn’t be there, so Ryan had their faces printed onto a pair of socks and he even had dog cufflinks. Meanwhile, Kristen had all her details beautifully laid out when I arrived, including everything from their printed vows to her shoes and perfume. They even had a just married sticker for the back of their truck, and the sweetest cake toppers for their little wedding cake! 

So, if you’re wondering if you can have special details for your elopement, the answer is absolutely yes! And if you’d like to know How to Include Details in Your Elopement? Well, that’s simple. Just choose things you love and bring them along!! And if you have any ideas you’re not sure about, feel free to let me know. I’d love to help you decide how to incorporate any details you love to make your elopement experience that much more special. 

Are you planning your own elopement in Maine during the fall months? I’d love to document it all for you and help you to make the absolute most of your day. Just reach out for more info and to check availability. 

Did you love Kristen & Ryan’s Fall Elopement at Acadia National Park? Let them know by sharing a comment below.