Meghan & Marc are a fun-loving couple from Boise, ID who were expecting their first child when they contacted me about photographing their intimate fall wedding in Acadia. Meghan had never been to Maine before! Their celebration was more of a tiny wedding than a true elopement, as they planned to bring their closest family members too. The fact that Marc’s parents live near the park helped them decide to travel to Acadia to get married there. With the help of Rachel Sisson’s incredible event planning, Lauren Crowley’s beautiful officiating, and a perfectly-timed sunset trip to the top of Cadillac Mountain, their intimate autumn wedding celebration really could not have been better.
These two describe themselves as very relaxed and easy-going, which typically translates for me as very easy to photograph! As a former theater major, Marc was relaxed in front of the camera. And Meghan (as cheesy as this sounds) was glowing and happy to show off her little baby bump.
They’d originally hoped to elope in Scotland because of ancestral ties there. When that didn’t work out due to covid, they celebrated their Scottish heritage by incorporating little details like the tartan plaid of his vest and a matching plaid bow in her hair. Meghan was wise to wear a long-sleeved dress and bring a warm fur along, because even warm sunny days in Maine can get chilly as the sun goes down.
Meghan and Marc hired for me 4 hours of photography coverage, and our time began by meeting at the trailhead for Hunter’s Beach, just outside of the park on Cooksey Drive. After their few guests made their way down the 1/4 mile path to the beach, I met Marc and got him situated in the woods down the trail while we waited for Meghan to arrive for their “first look.” Their ceremony was sweet and emotional - filled with laughter and tears - and an awkwardly-placed grandpa who decided to watch from the opposite side of the beach. I tried to capture photos of Megan & Marc exchanging rings and vows without grandpa in the background, and we just shrugged and laughed it off. There’s always at least one thing that goes “wrong” at every wedding, and I honestly kind of welcome those quirks because they just add to and enrich a couple’s wedding story and memories.
After the ceremony, a beautifully catered meal (prepared by Sweet Pea’s) and lovely table setting (by Rachel and Floret) was waiting for them. By the time we hiked back out of the woods from their ceremony spot at Hunter’s Beach, we hoped to stop in one more location for a few more photos. Cadillac Mountain was a bit out of our way, but we decided it would be worth the drive even if we’d have just 5 minutes up there to check out the sunset. We made it just in time! It almost killed me to leave before the sky got even more lovely and colorful, but I am not the kind of photographer who makes a couple’s day about the photos, above all else. We were on a schedule, and dinner was waiting! We were lucky to get a few gorgeous photos and enjoy the magical views before heading back to their cozy family gathering at an Airbnb in Seal Harbor.
As a photographer, I’m excited about the trend toward more intimate, simple weddings in Maine like this one - where couples still get to enjoy the company of loved ones and delicious food, but on a much more manageable (and affordable) scale. I hope their photos can be inspiration to other couples planning to have a tiny wedding or elopement in Acadia or elsewhere in Maine!
