Sailing Into Forever: A Sunset Sailboat Elopement in Acadia National Park

Rylee and Kyle had a magical sunset sailboat elopement in Southwest Harbor, Maine. They spent three hours sailing around Acadia National Park, enjoying breathtaking views and spotting wildlife. As the sun set, they exchanged private vows on the boat, making their day intimate, romantic, and unforgettable. Get all the details below.

Are you ready to elope? Explore our New England elopement packages. 

About This Elopement Inspiration

Photography by Bridget Stephenson Photography

“Rylee and Kyle took a 3-hour sunset sail around Acadia National Park visiting nearby islands and soaking in incredible coastal Maine views. They shared wine and a charcuterie board while taking in the windswept experience, noting the wildlife and getting close with rugged cliffs. The sunset was incredible, setting over the nearby islands.

Just as the sun was about to dip behind the horizon, they shared private vows on the stern of the boat. They sat down to read their vows so they could be close to one another (and also not worry about falling off with the waves!). This was a styled shoot in collaboration with Sail Acadia, a private charter company based out of Southwest Harbor.” [Bridget, the photographer]

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Permits and LNT

“Leave No Trace Information – Because this elopement took place entirely on the boat, this couple made sure no trash or other items came off the boat and into the ocean.

Permit Information – In this case, the entire elopement took place on the sailboat, so no permit was needed aside from permission from Sail Acadia. If they had chosen to have a ceremony inside the national park (before the boat tour), a permit would have been if more than 10 people were present.” [Bridget, the photographer]

Learn how to leave no trace during your elopement. 

Top Tips for Eloping on a Boat

“Choose a boat tour company or captain that is completely on board with your vision and is happy to make your wedding experience special!

Sail Acadia was excited to have an eloping couple on board and customized the entire experience to fit their vision and goals.

The captain took them to a quiet, and scenic spot on the water, and gave them privacy to share their vows on the front of the boat right at sunset.” [Bridget, the photographer]

Details We’re Loving

“Rylee and Kyle are so in love and it’s so clear in the way that they interact with each other! The entire afternoon was spent laughing, joking with each other, and soaking up this time prioritizing each other. They were so natural with each other, which made taking beautiful photos so easy to do!

Details? The uniqueness! This was something I had been dreaming up for a while, and I am so happy the vision was brought to life with such a great couple.” [Bridget, the photographer]

Vendors

Photography | Bridget Stephenson Photography

Sailboat Charter | Sail Acadia

Photos From This Styled Session