How to Get Married in Acadia National Park: Permits, Marriage Licenses + the Legal Stuff
So you’ve decided to get married in Acadia National Park - yayyyyy! Now for the less exciting part: what do you actually have to do to make it legal?
The good news is that getting legally married in Acadia is pretty straightforward. There are really two separate things to think about: whether you need a permit to hold your ceremony inside Acadia National Park and getting your Maine marriage license.
Here’s what you need to know.
Last updated: August 2026. Rules and fees can change, so I always recommend double-checking current requirements with the National Park Service and the Bar Harbor Town Hall while planning your elopement.
Do You Need a Permit to Get Married in Acadia National Park?
Sometimes!
Acadia National Park generally requires a Special Use Permit for weddings and commitment ceremonies, but there is an important exception for small elopements.
If your ceremony has 10 people or fewer, including your officiant/photographer/other vendors, you do not need a wedding permit as long as your ceremony follows the park's requirements.
For a permit-free ceremony, that means:
No chairs, arches or other decorations
No amplified music or speakers
No signs
No throwing flower petals, rice, birdseed or other materials
Everyone needs to stay on durable surfaces like trails, rocks or sand
Your ceremony can't interfere with other visitors or block normal pedestrian or vehicle traffic
Basically: keep it small, simple and respectful of the park.
For most of the elopements I photograph, that's exactly what couples are already planning to do anyway.
What if we're having more than 10 people?
If your ceremony includes more than 10 people, you'll need to apply for an Acadia National Park wedding permit.
As of August 2026, the nonrefundable application fee is $125. Applications can be submitted up to one year before your ceremony and must be received at least 72 hours beforehand.
Different locations within the park also have different maximum group sizes. For example, Otter Cliff allows up to 20 people, Sand Beach up to 30 and Schoodic Point up to 25. Cadillac Mountain allows up to 30 people, but ceremonies aren't allowed there during sunrise or sunset.
You can find the current requirements and wedding permit application directly through the Acadia National Park wedding page.
Does an Acadia Wedding Permit Reserve Your Ceremony Location?
No, and this is an important distinction.
Even with a wedding permit, your ceremony location is still open to the public. A permit allows you to hold your ceremony there, but it doesn't give you exclusive access to the location or allow you to ask other visitors to leave.
If having a little privacy is important to you, your choice of location and timing can make a huge difference.
This is one of the reasons I spend so much time helping my couples choose their ceremony locations. Sometimes the famous spot you've seen all over Instagram is perfect. Other times, a lesser-known location, an early ceremony or a spot that requires a little walking can give you a completely different experience.
Do We Need a Separate Photography Permit?
Usually, no.
The National Park Service currently says permits generally aren't required for still photography involving eight or fewer people when you're using hand-carried equipment, staying in areas normally open to the public and aren't impacting park resources or other visitors. Photography associated with an event already authorized under a written permit, such as a permitted wedding, also doesn't require an additional photography permit.
Your photographer should be familiar with the current NPS rules and know when a photography permit might be necessary.
How Do You Get a Marriage License for an Acadia Elopement?
Your Acadia permit and your marriage license are two completely separate things.
The National Park Service determines whether you're allowed to hold your ceremony in the park (if you’ll have more than 10 people in your group).
The State of Maine determines whether you're legally married.
If neither of you lives in Maine, you can get your marriage license from any town or city in Maine. It does not have to be the town where you're actually getting married.
So if you're traveling to Mount Desert Island from another state, you don't have to get married in Bar Harbor just because you picked up your marriage license there, or vice versa. Most of my couples choose to get there marriage license in Bar Harbor just to make things easy (since I’m very familiar with how Bar Harbor does things).
If one of you is a Maine resident, you'll need to apply in the municipality where that person lives. If you're both Maine residents, there are slightly different residency rules, which you can find on the state's website.
You can read the current requirements on the State of Maine's marriage information page.
Can We Get Our Marriage License in Our Home State Instead?
Yes, but only if your legal marriage is happening there.
A marriage license is issued by the state where the marriage is legally taking place. So if you want your Acadia ceremony to be the moment you are legally married, you’ll need a Maine marriage license.
That said, some couples choose to handle the legal part at home before or after their trip and treat their Acadia ceremony as their personal wedding ceremony rather than the legal one.
For example, you might sign your legal marriage paperwork at your local courthouse before traveling to Maine, then exchange vows, rings and celebrate your marriage in Acadia without worrying about an officiant, witnesses or marriage-license logistics on your elopement day.
There’s nothing wrong with doing it that way. For some couples, especially those traveling from farther away or planning a very private ceremony, it can make the whole experience feel simpler.
The important distinction is this: if you want the ceremony in Acadia to be your legal marriage ceremony, you’ll need a Maine marriage license. If you legally marry at home, your Acadia ceremony can be whatever you want it to be.
How Long Is a Maine Marriage License Valid?
A Maine marriage license is valid for 90 days from the date you file your intentions to marry.
There's also no waiting period in Maine, so you don't have to get your license a certain number of days before your ceremony.
That makes things relatively easy for couples traveling to Maine for their elopement.
I would still avoid leaving this until the absolute last minute. Town office hours vary, and it's worth contacting the municipal clerk where you plan to get your license before your trip to confirm their current process, hours and exactly what you'll need to bring (if you’ve been married before, this is especially important!).
Do We Need Witnesses to Get Married in Maine?
Yes. You need two witnesses.
Maine requires your ceremony to take place with both people getting married, the officiant and two witnesses physically present. Afterward, both witnesses sign the marriage license.
This is especially important to know if you're dreaming about a true just-the-two-of-us elopement.
The good news? Your witnesses don't have to be wedding guests. Depending on your plans, you may be able to ask people who are already involved in your day to serve as witnesses. We also can often ask other hikers in the area to serve as witnesses - most who are asked are absolutely delighted to!
Witnesses also don't have to be 18 years old, although they need to understand that they're witnessing a marriage and be able to sign their names.
Who Can Officiate a Wedding in Maine?
Maine recognizes several different types of wedding officiants, including ordained ministers and licensed Maine marriage officiants. Certain Maine judges and attorneys can also perform marriages.
If you're hoping to have a friend or family member perform your ceremony, make sure you confirm that they're legally authorized to solemnize a marriage in Maine well before your wedding day rather than assuming that authorization from another state automatically transfers. Many photographers, myself included, are ordained and can sign your marriage license.
The Maine Secretary of State has more information about marriage officiant requirements.
What Happens to Our Marriage License After the Ceremony?
After your ceremony, your officiant completes the appropriate portion of the marriage license and your two witnesses sign it.
The completed license is then returned to the municipality or issuing authority that issued it so the marriage can be officially recorded. Your officiant is responsible for returning the filled-out marriage license.
Your officiant should be familiar with this process, but it's always worth talking through it ahead of time, especially if your officiant is a friend or family member rather than someone who performs weddings regularly.
Your Acadia Elopement Legal Checklist
The paperwork really isn't too bad. If you're planning to legally get married in Acadia, you'll generally need to:
Figure out whether your ceremony requires an Acadia wedding permit. If you're having more than 10 people, or your plans fall outside the requirements for a simple ceremony, start with the National Park Service.
Choose where you'll get your Maine marriage license. If you're coming from out of state, you can apply at any Maine municipal office. If you’re working with me as your photographer/officiant, go with Bar Harbor - it’ll make all of our lives easier!
File your intent to marry within 90 days of your wedding.
Pick up your marriage license from the Town Hall prior to your elopement (bring cash because they often don’t accept credit cards).
Make sure you have an authorized officiant.
Have two witnesses physically present for your ceremony.
Sign everything and make sure the completed license gets returned to the issuing office.
And that's it, you can officially get married in Acadia!
Planning an Elopement in Acadia National Park?
The legal side is only one tiny piece of planning an Acadia elopement.
There's also figuring out where to have your ceremony, what time of day makes sense, how to avoid spending your wedding day looking for parking, which locations work for your group and accessibility needs, where to stay, what to do afterward, and how to turn all of those pieces into a day that actually feels relaxed.
That's where I come in.
I'm an Acadia elopement photographer who lives here year-round, and planning is a big part of what I offer my couples. I help with everything from choosing ceremony locations and building timelines to vendor recommendations and figuring out what to actually do with the rest of your wedding day.
Because getting married in Acadia can be pretty simple.
Figuring out how to make the most of it is the fun part!
Need help planning your Acadia National Park elopement?
I have lots of resources to help you plan your Acadia elopement, and I always recommend starting with my Local’s Ultimate Guide to Eloping in Acadia National Park. Planning an elopement or intimate wedding in Acadia can feel overwhelming - trust me, I know because I eloped here before moving here! - but with thoughtful planning you can enjoy a relaxed and intentional wedding day in the most beautiful location with the people you love most.
If you’re ready to start planning your own Acadia elopement, I’d love to help! Reach out below for a free planning call.
Your Local Acadia Elopement Photographer
Hi, I'm Gina, a local Acadia elopement photographer, mom of two, and former out-of-state bride who fell in love with Acadia and now calls Mount Desert Island home. I specialize in family-friendly, adventure-forward elopements that prioritize meaningful experiences over strict timelines and traditions.
Whether your day includes hiking, canoeing, your kids, your dog, or simply quiet moments together on the coast, I'll help you create an experience that feels true to you while documenting it honestly and beautifully.
Planning an elopement in Acadia National Park? I'd love to help. Reach out here to get started.