Chris & Nicole’s Southwest Harbor Elopement in Acadia

Did you know that you can get married on Zoom? I didn’t until I first chatted with Nicole and Chris, who did just so last May! As both of them were in the Navy and stationed in different locations, a wedding on Zoom was the best choice for them at the time, but they’d always wanted to have an in person ceremony, so they scheduled a vow renewal to take place one year after their Zoom wedding. So, yes, Nicole and Chris’ elopement was technically a vow renewal, but they thought of it as an elopement regardless.

Nicole and Chris opted to have an easy, slow-paced day, which I greatly appreciated- it was so nice to take our time over our almost six hours together. I met Nicole and Chris at the Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor, where Nicole was having her makeup and hair done by the ever-awesome Caitlin Wooters of Bar Harbor Beauty. Once Nicole was fully dressed, we headed out to Claremont Hotel’s dock, where Chris was awaiting Nicole. Once the two of them shared a moment to themselves, we took a few portraits around the property, avoiding the wind where we could (it was a breezy day!), and then headed out to a trail in Acadia that’s one of my favorites. There, we met up with their wonderful officiant, Malen Hsu, and we trekked to the cliffy area of the trail. Once we arrived, Nicole traded her sneakers for heels, and the pair shared a lovely, emotional ceremony overlooking a scenic vista. And, believe it or not, the sun broke through the clouds, ever so briefly, when the two shared a kiss at the end of their ceremony. What an omen, right?

After taking more portraits along the trail, we headed over to Otter Point, a popular location in Acadia National Park for elopements, and while we didn’t get to witness a sunset, we had moody clouds and beautifully textured skies that provided an epic backdrop.

Last, but not least, we finished the night off at Bar Harbor Inn, where Chris and Nicole shared a first dance and cut their cake before I departed.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our time together. Enjoy!