Acadia National Park Proposal - North Bubble Mountain
Codie Proposes to Peggi on North Bubble Mountain
Best Places To Propose in Acadia National Park
With so many great locations, Acadia National Park is one of the best locations to propose in Maine. With Sand Beach, The Bubbles, Cadillac Mountain, Jordon Pond House, Wild Gardens of Acadia, and more; I just love each time I get a new client seeking the perfect Acadia engagement. For this surprise proposal, I’m heading to North Bubble Mountain.
Planning a Surprise Proposal in Acadia National Park
Codie first reached out to me looking for a mountaintop engagement in Acadia. He had been eyeing a little hike called The North Bubble Trail. With some location research, we determined North Bubble Mountain would be the perfect place to spring the question on his partner, Peggi.
We discussed all of the important details over a series of calls and emails. After about a week, we had nailed down Codie’s vision for his proposal to Peggi. This included a beer toast after the proposal, and some cake jars from The Carmel Cake Barn; my favorite cake baker in the Bangor area! We also determined that a formal portrait session at Sand Beach and Otter Cliffs after the proposal would be important to Peggi.
When the big day arrived, I packed my gear, printed out the trail map and itinerary I prepared for Codie and myself, tossed the cake jars in my back pack, and began my trip to Bar Harbor.
My day started with a hold-up in Ellsworth. Summer traffic on your way to Mount Desert Island can be pretty hairy, so I advise you always leave well in advance of your arrival time. It’s almost guaranteed you’ll get held up somewhere along the ride. Fortunately for me I had built an extra hour into my schedule for the day, and Codie was flexible about stalling Peggi for another 15 minutes to give me plenty of time to summit.
The North Bubble Trail - Acadia National Park
Trail Marker at Bubble Divide - Acadia National Park
North Bubble Mountain has an elevation of 873 feet and the trail is approximately .09 miles long. The summit overlooks Jordon Pond and Cadillac Mountain. This hike takes about 30-40 minutes round-trip.
As I arrived at The North Bubble trailhead I realized there was going to be a big problem; the parking lot was full, and there is very little cell service in the area surrounding The Bubbles. So there I was, frantically attempting to get text messages to send to Codie without losing my spot in line. Finally the texts went through, and he gave the go-ahead to wait in line for hikers to leave, opening up parking spots. My wait time was about 25 minutes. I used that time to set up my camera, tidy up my bag, and prepare for my ascent before they arrived.
The trail for North Bubble is rather easy if you have any experience hiking in Acadia. With a tidy and wide trail, man-made steps, and a few rocky overlooks, The North Bubble Trail only took me about 20 minutes to summit; even with stopping for scenic shots of the landscape.
With sweeping views of Jordon Pond, Cadillac Mountain, and the Cranberry Isles, North Bubble Mountain is a spectacular Acadia experience. When I reached the summit I got everything in position for the surprise proposal. Now it was time to wait for Codie and Peggi to arrive.
After a whole lot of “Yes” and a heaping serving of surprise from Peggi, they were engaged! I introduced myself to Peggi and congratulated the couple, then Codie dug out their Michelob Ultra, and I handed over the Lemon Raspberry and Red Velvet Cake Jars from The Carmel Cake Barn. With the love-birds settled with their snack and drink, I took a walk up the trail to give them a few moments alone.
Cake Jars from The Carmel Cake Barn atop North Bubble Mountain
When the tears were wiped clear and bellies were full, we began our way down the mountain. I had a great time discussing each others interest’s and getting to know these two a bit better. I think the descent from these mountaintop sessions is my favorite. Everyone is always in such a good mood, and very chatty just like me!
Back at our vehicles, I sent the two of them to their motel to freshen up and change for a formal portrait session.
Should you book formal portraits after your proposal?
Codie and Peggi were quick to kick off their shoes at Sand Beach and get their toes in the water.
A big question many guys have asked me is whether they should do a formal portrait session after their proposal. My answer is always yes. More often than not, your partner is not expecting such a formal occasion, and will not be dressed how they wished they had been, or had their hair and makeup the way they like it for photos. That’s where formal portraits come in. I like to give my clients an hour to go shower, change their outfits, do their makeup, and prepare for a really fun, much more relaxed version of their session. I like to find ways to make my couples connect physically and emotionally for these sessions through play, flirtation, dance, and many other tricks.
Sand Beach and Otter Cliffs on the Park Loop Road in Acadia was our portrait location of choice. Sand Beach is great. With soft sand, crashing waves, and dramatic landscape surrounding the cove, you can’t go wrong with this beach. However, you want to be aware of the time of day. On hot, sunny days in Bar Harbor, this beach is swarmed with visitors and near impossible to photograph a couples session without background interruptions from beach-goers.
Lucky for us, the day had been overcast and by the time we met at the beach the fog was rolling in. With the exception of a few visitors, we had a whole section of the beach to ourselves. We took full advantage of the opportunity. Let it be known that I will always go the extra mile to get the shots I want, that’s why I ended up waist deep in the ocean on this foggy evening. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous carrying my brand new Canon R5 so deep into the water with the cold Atlantic waves rolling into my back continuously. Pause for all you photographers gasping at this….. Ok let’s continue.
After a bunch of splashing about in the water and dancing across the beach, we made our way to the changing rooms so Codie and Peggi could get dressed in dry outfits for our portraits at Otter Cliffs. The Cliff’s were rather fogged in when we arrived, but that still made for some great shots!
All said and done, we had a magical day based on love, and that gives this engagement photographer a very full heart each and every time!
Hiring an Engagement Photographer
When hiring an engagement photographer for your proposal, it is important to consider a few things first:
Codie and Peggi take in the views from the top of North Bubble in Acadia National Park
Are they insured? An insured photographer takes their craft seriously, and understands the risks and dangers that can come with these types of sessions, especially with hiking involved. I take my clients, my gear, and my own safety very seriously. Yes, I am fully insured.
Your engagement photographer should have experience with proposals, engagements, and weddings. These photographers have honed their craft specifically for capturing love and special moments like yours. Think of your engagement session as the interview for your wedding photographer. Often times you can get a discount from your photographer if you also book your wedding with them.
Are they familiar with your dream location? Your photographer should know the area or location scout prior to your session. Otherwise you will go in blind and that can quickly spoil a surprise proposal. If your photographer is lazy on the front end, that could translate into poor images or missed shots of your big moment.
Know you and your partner’s ability level when selecting a location. Don’t select a location that requires a lot of heavy hiking if your partner doesn’t like to hike, or could have difficulties. You want to have fun on this day. Additionally, you are responsible for your own safety while we are in-session or traveling to/from the session location. I will always provide recommendations and point out any hazards I may see along our travels, but in the end it is up to your own decision making whether it is safe for you or not. If you have concerns with a particular location, it’s best we address them and decide if that spot is a good fit or not in advance.
Leave your photographer a review after you receive your images. Include information such as what it was like working with this photographer, what they did to prepare you, what they did to make your session special, and what you think of your images. These reviews help other clients like you gain trust in their photographer, and make the right decision for their session. Don’t feel like typing out a review? Record a quick 15-30 second video testimonial with your smartphone and send it to your photographer. I know I would gladly transcribe it for use on my webpage, or even include the video (with your permission) in a future client review video compilation.
With this engagement in the books, I can’t wait to see where Codie and Peggi’s journey together will take them.
Congratulations from your Photographer,
Shaun Crockett - The Bearded Mainer
Check out more engagements with The Bearded Mainer
With so many unique ways to get engaged in Bar Harbor, Maine it’s no wonder that couples flock here during the summer months to pronounce their love for one another. The scenery is gorgeous, the trails are exciting and fun, and nostalgia abounds.