The Best time

What are the crowds like?

What is the best time of day?

The seasons have a big impact on outdoor activities in the Norhteast. Typically, for the Northeast, the high peaks start getting snow mid November, and in the valley around the beginning of December depending on the location.

The Northeast is known for the intense, bitter cold winters with early sunsets, cloudy days, and chilly nights. During the early spring months of April and May the ground begins to defrost and become muddy, the snow in the high peaks begin to melt. In late May, the White Mountains and Maine, begin getting green, the air is cool and moist with the rainfall. In the U.S, June is the best time for wildflowers, and the lupines are in full bloom usually the first week of this month.

In July and August the Northeast receives a lot of visitors coming for camping trips or for family vacations. Trails in the White Mountains, Baxter, and the Bigelows are busy as avid hikers check the rugged peaks off their list. Acadia and Bar Harbor are bustling as visitors rush around soaking up every minute of their time in Maine. The coastal air is cool and damp. The smell of the pine carries a sweet smell as the needles are crushed on the damp mossy ground. In July and August, Iceland receives a large amount of tourists traveling to the continent to experience the jagged coast, large waterfalls, and thermal waters. 

In September and October the leaves on the trees start to change to golden shades of yellow, orange, and bright red. In Northern Maine and Northern New Hampshire peak fall is usually around the first week in October. On the Coast of Maine Peak fall is usually around the second to third week of October. During this time Iceland is still bustling but as winter quickly approaches the tourists return to their homeland before the winter frost. 

As you can expect, the Northeast can get crowded during the peak seasons of July-September because of it's raw untouched beauty. This means that popular spots and hikes can get over crowded with tourists and hikers. 

Good thing that the Northeast (while considered small) has beauty extends way beyond Acadia National Park. Do not be deceived into thinking the only option for eloping is in the National Park. The Northeast has so many state parks, preserves, and national forests that can make any elopement day an absolute vibe. Iceland has many tourist locations along the Ring Road, however, going deeper into the wilderness will reduce the amount of people seen. 

The best advice to avoid the crowds in the Northeast is to get married during the week, Monday-Thursday & get married late in the off season. (May & September)  This is when most families and vacationers are getting back into routines of work and school which usually lends to the parks and preserves being less crowded. Another option is to go to a lesser known area and do a hike longer than 4 miles. 

The Northeast is pretty wooded but anywhere above the tree line or along the coast has the potential for harsh sunny days. This not only causes harsh direct light on the mountains but also causes those unwanted nose and eyebrow shadows that are less than flattering. That means that the best times for pictures is at sunrise or sunset when the sun is low, soft, and warm. 

If you are worried about crowds in Acadia, sunrise in a place other than Cadillac Mountain would be a good time to elope because not too many people are out at 3am.  Cadillac Mountain is one of the first places to see the sunrise, but elopement ceremonies are not allowed there at sunrise. There are many other places in the park that are awesome sunrise locations. 

One thing to note is that the coast is often very foggy. Rain and wind is very common in the Northeast especially on the coast. If you want the mood of a foggy day for your elopement, the Northeast Coast might be the perfect place for you!