Bar Harbor Club Maine Wedding Photographer : Chelsae + Drew

Mount Desert Island, how I love thee – and I’m definitely not alone in those sentiments! Chelsae + Drew are outdoorsy travellers who live in Florida and after a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine they knew that with it’s beauty, abundance of things to see and do, and tons of wildlife (Chelsae is an animal lover like me – hiiiiii Ralphie!) they decided it was the perfect place for a destination wedding with their close family and friends. I feel Chelsae and Drew on their love of all that is Acadia/Mount Desert Island/Bar Harbor so I understood their sheer excitement at calling this location the spot they make a forever promise to one another and couldn’t contain myself when I was chosen to photograph these two lovelies up there.

And oh how lovely they are! We met up for coffee in Bar Harbor the day before their wedding so we could say hi in person and in doing so I got even more pumped for their day. Chelsae has a big personality and you can tell within seconds of speaking with her that she’s as smart as can be. She also has this cute way of saying Drew’s full name when she talks about him or is calling to him (she even did it in her vows – love it) and Drew is soft spoken, kind, and increibly loving to her so even after a few short 30 minutes, I knew this day was going to be a good one!

Plus, I love that they grew up a short 45 minutes away from each other in Florida but it wasn’t until they both were living in Nashville for law school that they actually met – it’s crazy how life works sometimes! And one of my favorite things about them is their joint love in the show Jeopardy. I can just imagine them sitting on the couch side by side with their kitty planted firmly on the cushion next to Chelsae as they try to get the correct answer before the other one. I imagine shouts of “I knew it!!” and victory dances as well…or maybe that’s just what I do when I watch the show ;)

The wedding was fantastic and The Bar Harbor Club did not disappoint with the waterfront views. Chelsae + Drew didn’t want to compete with the natural beauty of the location and since they love all things nautical, they went with decorations in dark blues, golds and whites with bridesmaid dresses bringing in a bright pop of pink – but my favorite touch were the large driftwood pieces leading her down the aisle. Oh and Chelsae’s dress did NOT disappoint! The fit, the style, the way that it flowed just so made for a perfect classic dress; she said it reminded her of the one her mom wore to her wedding which made me love it even more.

Their guests had a great time joining them for a vacation in Acadia – I heard lots of talking about hikes, canoe trips, star gazing, porpoise sitings and more so I definitely know that their choice in places to be married was enjoyed and loved by all. And to top it all off, their families were both so warm and sweet that I felt like a guest in their part of the country instead of the other way around!

Thank you for inviting me along, I can’t wait to see what other adventures life brings you three (kitty!) and I wish you all the best!

Ceremony + Reception: The Bar Harbor Club
Bar Harbor Club Maine Wedding Photographers: I AM SARAH V Photography (Oscar was my second shooter)
Chelsae’s Dress: Anne Barge
Drew’s Suit: Joseph A. Bank
Bridesmaid Dresses: Lilly Pulizer
Makeup: The Spa at Bar Harbor Club
Hair: Hal Bloss (her tousled ballerina bun with a gold bow on top? YES, PLEASE!)
Flowers: Fluerish
Band: The Time Pilots

Quite the view to take in for your first look, right?

Loved that the flower girl was in nautical blue + white stripes – so unique! Here she is getting a practice run in (literally) for her flower girl duties :)

This is one beautiful bride!

New Hampshire and Maine wedding photographer, I AM SARAH V Photography, photographs events for wildly in love couples seeking a NH + Maine wedding photographer with a photojournalism + fine art approach. You can see more of my work online at www.iamsarahv.com or on Facebook. I photograph in many locations including the Bar Harbor Club in Bar Harbor, Maine. If you’d like to contact me directly, please email me at hello@iamsarahv.com