Acadia National Park Adventurous Elopement | Styled Shoot

About seven years ago I dreamed up an adventurous wedding styled photo shoot in a spiral bound notebook that took place in Acadia National Park. I pictured rocky cliffs at sunset, gorgeous mountain views, and a couple that had magnificent chemistry. A few weeks ago I was able to turn that vision into a reality and it turned out so much more than I could have imagined. Truc and Mike are a beautiful couple and their confidence in front of the camera and their love for one another was a true gift to photograph. Without them and their determination to join me (a complete stranger to them) nearly eight hours north of home to work in Acadia National Park in Maine, then this photo shoot would never have happened. I am very grateful for their belief in my work and their excitement to make this photo shoot a reality! I am also incredibly thankful for my husband, Matthew, who joined me on this trip and was absolutely essential to making everything come out the way it did. He is a true visionary and I am looking forward to teaming up with him for a wedding next summer in Tuscany.

Most of all, I am especially grateful to the very talented local wedding vendors that devoted their creativity and talents to making this photo shoot truly spectacular. Jacqueline of Affectionate Confections made this extraordinary cake (almond and raspberry!) for the style shoot. The beautiful bouquet and boutonniere were created by the talented Beth of Floret. I told Beth and Jacqueline my ideas for the photo shoot, the colors, and the theme, and they invented these incredible designs with their amazing imaginations. If you are looking for a florist or wedding cake baker near Bar Harbor or Acadia, I could not recommend working with these two ladies enough. They will take your vision for your special day and turn it into more than you ever dreamed of.

Our first stop for the Acadia photo shoot was Jordan’s Pond. Because we had to be at our second location in time for golden hour, we had to arrive at the pond earlier in the day when it was quite bright and sunny. The two mountains in the back are known as “the bubbles.” We ended up with the most incredible early autumn day. After Jordan’s Pond, we made our way to Boulder Beach overlooking Otter Cliff. From the cliffs we set up the loveliest table for two using an old lobster cage (borrowed from my Aunt Tammy’s porch) as the table. It was very fitting for a romantic waterfront setting in Maine. We placed an oriental rug underneath for comfort and style and Matthew and I decorated the settings with chiffon fabric, black candlesticks, black plates, and napkins with napkin rings that matched beautifully with Jacqueline’s cake design. It was the perfect place to celebrate and take in the beauty of Acadia.

The final location was photographed the next morning at Cadillac Mountain. Truc brought her wedding dress and veil as a beautiful way to celebrate one year of marriage with Mike. I love when brides make use of their wedding gowns again to commemorate a beautiful memory with photographs. I tend to call these photo shoots “Glam-the-gown” sessions and they’re included in my Charlotte wedding collection.

I plan on doing a few styled photo shoots every year from now on because it is a wonderful way to share my creativity, try new photography techniques (like the double exposure photo at the end of this post), and showcase the work of talented wedding vendors such as Beth and Jacqueline. Please comment at the bottom of this post and follow the wonderful vendors who dedicated their time and talents to this photo shoot.