You’ve already decided to elope in Maine, so you can’t go wrong! There are so many beautiful places to elope in Maine and it can be difficult for some couples to narrow down to the exact location that they want to say their vows at.
It’s important that couples choose a location that speaks to them, that makes them excited, and sets their souls on fire. One exercise that couples can do is close their eyes, envision themselves in their wedding clothes on their wedding day and “look” around them; what environment do they each see? Mountains? Rocky coast lines? Sandy beaches? The forest? The bow of a white cloth sail boat? The charming city hall? A small coastal island? A location that speaks to you as a couple and feels the most “you” is the perfect location for your elopement.
Your elopement location can be a place that you know very well and love, or it can be an exciting and new location that you want to explore and come to know as your “spot”.
Some great locations in Maine:
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor
Newry
Literally ANY of the famous Maine Lighthouses
Portland (the Old Port)
Baxter State Park
One key thing to remember is that a lot of places in Maine will require a permit of some sort to hold a wedding ceremony there. If you pick a state or national park, check the park’s website to see if you need to apply for a permit to reserve/use a ceremony spot. These places will often require a photography permit too (as your photographer, I take care of the photography permit for you!).
This one will require a bit more soul searching and discovering what REALLY speaks to you as a couple and what you want from your wedding day experience.
Elopements can range from just the two of you committing your lives to each other in an intimate vow reading, to you and 20 of your closest family and friends celebrating your marriage together at a ceremony and celebration dinner.
A “just us” two person elopement is perfect for those who want an epic adventure, the freedom to go and do whatever they want on their wedding day, and for those who don’t like/want to be the center of attention.
Or, invite your parents, siblings, and best friends for an elopement with your favorite people that won’t limit your location choices or adventures during the day. Have them meet up with you after the ceremony and day of adventuring for a celebratory dinner or, have them join you for the ceremony and the celebration; the choice is yours. There’s SO many customizations you can do to make your elopement/wedding day feel just right to you.
Make your elopement just the way you want, with as many people as you want (or none at all) and don’t be afraid to “mix n’ match” your ceremony and celebration if you decide to have guests:
Just remember, it’s WAY easier to get to some of Maine’s epic locations with fewer people. A “just us” elopement allows couples to get to amazing places easier, be spontaneous on their wedding day, and be 100% authentic and vulnerable.
An elopement day with guests is a beautiful way to get married in an epic location, celebrate with your loved ones, and still have an intimate wedding day without all of the “stuff and fluff” and drama of a traditional wedding. There are many scenic locations in Maine that can accommodate your elopement’s guests and can be accessible for most. When you hire your elopement photographer, let them know what setting you would like to elope in and how many guests (if any) you plan on having. Your elopement photographer will be able to help you find the perfect location that speaks to you and can accommodate the number of guests you plan on having for your ceremony.
Once you’ve decided where you want your elopement and how many people you want to attend, it’s time to pick a date and book your vendors and accommodations!
Picking a date can be hard for some couples. Some couples want the actual date number to be something ~cool~ (hello 10/10/2020) and some don’t care at all what their number says, as long as they are married it’s a great date in their eyes.
So, when picking a date to have your wedding you’ll want to consider the time of year, what the conditions look like in that location for that time of year, if it’s tourist season, and if you want a weekend or weekday elopement.
If you are having a “just the two of us” adventurous elopement, I HIGHLY suggest having a weekday elopement. This often means fewer crowds at popular spots, your pick of in demand vendors, and a really flexible schedule. I truly believe that weekday elopements are the best choice for two person elopements and can offer the flexibility that weekend weddings can’t at times- you won’t have to worry if your favorite florist is already booked for a weekend you want AND there will be less people/crowds at your ceremony spot because, you know, Wednesday.
If you are dead set on having a weekend elopement or you would like it to be on a weekend so more of your guests are able to come, then I would suggest picking a weekend date early on in the planning process and booking your other vendors ASAP (at least 6-9 months in advance). You’ll be looking at the same vendors as the traditional big wedding couples are and, they usually book their vendors 9-12 months out. So, long story short, if you want a weekend elopement you’ll have to pick a date and start booking & planning earlier than a weekday elopement to secure your vendors.
Even if you’re eloping—you still might want to hire some other professionals to help you complete your wedding day vision. A few common vendors couples hire for their elopements are hair & makeup artists, florists, officiants, private chefs & caterers, and videographers. So, if you’re thinking about hiring a vendor or two, here’s my best advice:
Pick something relatively close to where you will be having your ceremony and adventuring (and your after party/celebration dinner with friends if you’re having one). You’ll want somewhere close that you can get ready at and then retire to after a long day of adventuring with your new spouse. Trust me, after a long day of galavanting around the beautiful landscapes of Maine, you won’t want to drive more than 30 minutes to get to your bed!
Pick an accommodation that has plenty of natural light for getting ready and can accommodate guests if you want to have family and friends over at any point during your wedding day.
Some things to consider:
I’ve found in the past that a lot, if not most, of a couples needs can be met with an AirBnb versus a traditional hotel or condo. AirBnbs can range from a small one bedroom cabin in the woods to a large 5 bedroom chalet for you and your guests to gather at and enjoy a meal together. AirBnbs offer a lot of flexibility and options compared to a standard hotel room.
If you find an accommodation that you are interested in, give the location/owner a call and get some questions answered so you know all the information you need to make an informed choice: can we have our dog? Is there a fire pit out back? Does the kitchen come with the basics? How many parking spaces are there? Are you ok with us hosting a family dinner/gathering? Etc…
You’ll need to apply for your marriage license in person at a town/city hall. Which city hall depends on where each of you are from/residence of. Check out below for the details:
Your marriage license is valid for 90 days and can only be used within the State of Maine. There is no waiting period from the time your marriage license is issued until your wedding can take place (so, you could fill it out the same day you got it to get the paperwork portion of your elopement out of the way if you wanted to). The person performing the ceremony (an officiant) is responsible for filing the marriage certificate with the town office that issued the marriage license.
Here are the marriage law requirements for Maine marriage licenses:
So, who can officiate the ceremony to make it legal?
The following individuals are authorized to perform marriages in Maine:
Maine does not have Justices of the Peace. Out-of-state Notaries and Justices of the Peace cannot officiate weddings in Maine.
Marriage Witnesses Maine:
(Information regarding Maine marriage licenses is from https://www.maine.gov/portal/residents/marriage.html)
Wow, the day is finally here! You and your fiancé put a lot of thought and care into how the two of you want to get married. You created a wedding day with the focus being on the two of you and your love and it’s authentically YOU. Congrats on being brave and choosing to ditch the traditional wedding route; that’s pretty bad-ass.
You took the time to pick your beautiful and totally “you” ceremony spot and what you would like to do on your wedding day. You picked some awesome and adventurous activities to do throughout the day and are going to have an amazing, fun, and authentic wedding day.
You’ve decided on how many guests you want present, if any at all, and are more than ready to get this love-fest celebration going! (If you chose to have a “just us” elopement day, check out (THIS) post on how to include your family & friends in your elopement so you can still feel ALL the love.)
Your vendors are amazing and have helped you create your dreamy wedding day vision. The florals, the food, the attire, the hair & makeup, oh my! The accommodations you booked suit your needs perfectly AND you have an awesome place to rest your heads after a long day of adventuring.
All the legal “stuff” (permits, marriage license, etc.) are taken care of correctly and you can rest easy knowing that everything you are doing is legit.
You spend the day outdoors, enjoying the fresh air & sunshine. You are in a beautiful place with epic scenery with the one person you love most in this world. Vows are read, rings and kisses are exchanged, you take your first photos as newlyweds.
A champagne pop on a summit to celebrate, an adventurous session of exploring and epic photos, a celebratory catered dinner, and s’mores by the campfire help round off the perfect day.
You two did it. Congrats! I’m rooting for you.
Cheers,
Jenna Richmond