#AcadiaLove2018

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February 14th, 2018

Last week, we put a call out on social media for your stories of love in Acadia National Park. We received over 50 responses via Instagram, Facebook, and email. There were chance meetings that turned romantic, relationships restored through time spent together in the park, proposals, weddings, and many other sweet stories that unfolded right here, in Acadia. View some of our favorite stories and photos, below.

: “My husband and I fell in love with Acadia on our very first visit. We spent our honeymoon in 2002 exploring the park. We’ve been back almost every year since, visiting shortly before the birth of our first child, during cancer treatments, for a marathon, and many other times. We love sharing with our children the feeling you get at the top of Cadillac Mountain at sunrise. Our kids say, ‘Acadia is the prettiest place in the world.’ It is an overwhelmingly beautiful and restorative place that we always look forward to returning to.” –Kelly, New Jersey

: “Bryan and I met because we both work at the park. Bryan is a Wildland firefighter and I met him in June of 2015 when I started my season here. I chose to come to Acadia over Sequoia because it was closer to my home state of New York. The moment I met Bryan, I knew it was going to be special. We spent the summer together, and decided to over winter here in Maine. We had an apartment in Southwest Harbor, then bought a house in Mariaville. Currently, we have 10 acres of land, 8 ducks, and a whole lot of love! In December, Bryan proposed to me using our dog, Jager. If it were not for Acadia, we would of never have met. This place has been so special to us and I cannot imagine a better place on earth! We get married in June, but had to switch it up a little and get married at Glacier National Park.”–Katie, Maine

: “Russell and I spent our honeymoon in Acadia in June of 1986. I never imagined being lucky enough to return in 2005 to work as a Park Ranger at Blackwoods Campground, and Russell a year later to drive in the park for Island Explorer. We have spent 13 years working and/or volunteering at the park! –Carol, Florida

: “Rob and I met December 2, 1989. We lived nearby and hiked Acadia almost every weekend. He told me he loved me for the first time up on the point of Beech Cliffs. For our first overnight trip to Bar Harbor we stayed at the Ullikana B&B on July 4th week of 1991 (the first week of new owners of B&B). That became our go-to place a few times a year up until 2000 when our family bought a house in Bar Harbor! The July 4th week 1995 at the Ullikana was a set up for me. Rob and I were sitting on the steps near the Bar Harbor Inn when a massive firework went off, I suddenly saw a massive sparkle in front of me and heard the words, ‘Will you marry me! ‘ I looked at him and said, ‘Are you serious?’ He popped the box closed and said ‘nope, just kidding’…….then laughed. It was magical. When the fireworks were over we walked back up the lawn to the Ullikana and everyone was standing with huge grins on their faces. Rob said, “She said yes!” and the party began. The Inn owners and all the guests knew what was going on and they had a cake and champagne ready for us. Needless to say, we had our wedding ceremony at the Ullikana with the entire Inn booked for the long weekend with family and friends. and We had our reception at the Bar Harbor Inn next door in the upstairs balcony room. Hurricane Hortense came through on our special day in 1996 (I didn’t notice !) and the Inn owners shuttled everyone back and forth in their car. Kudo’s to Roy and Helene of the Ullikana who have become our dearest friends through the years. Acadia is our special place……….always !” –Debra

: “In September of 2015, I brought my now-wife to the top of Cadillac to watch the sunrise with our dog, Wilson. As I used my camera on a tripod with a remote to take some photos of us, I asked for one last shot and dropped to one knee. As the sun rose on a new day and we embraced, I could not imagine a better place to begin the rest our lives together.” –August, Connecticut

: “We got married on top of Cadillac on June 2 2012. We took pictures at Otter Cliffs, Thuya and Asticou Gardens and dined at the Jordan Pond House. We finished the evening with a fire at the Bar Harbor Campground. A quiet wedding with family and close friends only. Bar Harbor is my home away from home so I couldn’t think of anywhere else to marry my best friend. It was a cold and misty day but it was perfect! –Catherine, New Brunswick, Canada

: “This was taken on our honeymoon in 2011 and our first visit to Acadia National Park. We took this photo after hiking Penobscot and ending at Jordon Pond. We fell in love with the park and have visited every year since. ” — Diana, New York

: “My now-husband, Derrick, and I had visited Acadia five times before we decided to get married there. We fell in love with the beauty of Acadia and the New England charm of Bar Harbor. We loved biking on the carriage roads to see the spectacular views. The park had become our special summer getaway, and we tried to make a trip every summer. We loved it so much that we wanted to share it with our family and friends on our special day. Our wedding was Columbus Day weekend of 2016, just in time for peak foliage. Our family and friends all made the journey from Cape Cod to share our day. Our original plan was to have the ceremony in Acadia, but because we knew it was a going to be a busy holiday weekend it the park that turned out not to be feasible. We had our ceremony at Thuya Gardens, which was beautiful. But we made sure to have a photo shoot in Acadia. My groom and I met before the ceremony at Eagle Lake bridge. We were surrounded by cyclists and hikers as we had our ‘first look.’ It was so nice to hear the congratulatory comments from all of the onlookers. We spent a few hours, just the two of us (and our amazing photographer/officiant Jen McWain) driving around the park and taking photos. It was amazing. Needless to say, several of our guests were amazed by the beauty of Acadia and have sworn to make another visit. It was an amazing weekend and Acadia will always be a special place to us.” — Adrean, Massachusetts

: “We spent our honeymoon in Bar Harbor and Acadia. August of 1993, as we headed home my husband commented that he now understood why I had pushed so hard for this location. He had no concept before of how special this park is. We have returned every other year, now with our kids in tow. Acadia National Park is our home away from home – our touchstone”–Trisha

: “My now-fiance and I have been coming to Acadia every year since 2013. We got engaged on Cadillac Mountain at sunrise this past August. We’ll be returning to Acadia this October for our elopement!”–Britney, Ohio

: “On July 15,2014 we got married at Otter Cliffs. It had rained all day and just stopped for the ceremony. I at the time was 5 months pregnant. We decided to have a small ceremony with close family. We love Bar Harbor and usually take our summer vacations there, so it was very fitting for us to have our wedding in Acadia!” — Sandy, New Hampshire

: “Last summer, my then boyfriend and I went to Acadia. It was the first trip we’d taken just the two of us, and also the first trip I ever planned and executed myself. The idea was to take a road trip from Maryland to Maine and camp for a few days, then drive home. The drive ended up taking 17 hours, compared to the original 12, and we had to set up camp in the dark… so it wasn’t the easiest way to kick off the trip. In the end though, it was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken because we got to explore somewhere new together. As it turned out, he was planning a proposal and had talked to my dad prior to the trip- he was hoping to do it in Acadia. My dad told him to “see how the week went” first. I guess he figured we’d be okay if we could get through that kind of a drive together. We got engaged three weeks later.” — Brittainy, Maryland

: “On a rock jutting out into the Atlantic with the tide coming in and and waves crashing all around. She was climbing around on the rocks, trying to get a better look. He, realizing an opportunity, gave the camera to her father and joined her so he could ask her the most important question of their lives. They spent the rest of the day celebrating with lobster and champagne with her parents. It was a perfect day.” –Shannon, Wisconsin

: “We fell in love with Acadia the first time we visited in 2001 and have been back every year. When we decided to get married, we knew we wanted to do it our own way, and Vegas would never do. Acadia seemed like the natural choice for us. In September of 2005 we were surrounded by family and friends at Seawall for our wedding and we had our reception at the Atlantic Brewery. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day or location, and we celebrate every September by visiting the spot where we were married. Whenever we cross the bridge onto the island, my heart is full. I married my best friend in Acadia National Park and it will always be a part of us.”– Amber

: “Since 2012, my now-husband and I have gone to Acadia every year to hike, camp, whale watch, and insist that ‘this is the year we’ll watch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain.’ (It never is.) On September 19, 2015, we got engaged atop Champlain Mountain after hiking the Precipice Trail. To me, the hike was almost as exhausting as listening to him complain about work the whole time, which he did intentionally to ‘throw me off’ about a proposal. Risky move. When we reached the summit, he asked a woman (who was sitting alone, peacefully reading a book) to snap photos of us while he proposed. After a mild panic attack (‘What if she says no!?’), she reluctantly agreed. Much like I did moments later. Minus the panic attack and reluctant parts. 🙂 After the ‘YES!’ bit, he pulled a bottle of champagne out of his backpack and we cheers-ed to a lifetime of happiness. And to the woman whose vacation we may have ruined with the stress of photography!” –Kassidy

: “We were married at Blue Hill Overlook on Cadillac Mountain on 9/25/2010. I had been coming to Acadia all of my life (my parents have now retired to MDI) and knew that would be where I’d get married since I was a teen. It didn’t take much convincing for my husband to agree. It was incredibly windy, foggy, and rainy the night before during the rehearsal but the skies opened up to a beautiful sunny day the next day. It was perfect in every way.” — Merrilee, Maine

: “My husband proposed to me at sunrise on Cadillac Mountain in 2003, he was so nervous he kept making us move anytime anyone sat near us. We’ve been married 14 years and go back to Cadillac every summer.” –Angie

: “We were married 20 years ago in August. We were married at the Maine Seacoast Mission and had our reception at the Bar Harbor Inn. We stayed at the Mt. Desert Campground for our honeymoon. We had to hang my wedding dress and his suit in the middle of the tent so they wouldn’t get ruined by the rain! –Elizabeth

: “My husband and I were married on Sand Beach! It was so beautiful! Perfect for wedding pictures with both the ocean and mountains in the background.” –Melissa, Connecticut

#AcadiaLove2018

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