Aragosta Deer Isle Maine Wedding for Dakota and Mark

Maine, you’ve done it again with beautiful Deer Isle and Aragosta. Deer Isle is such a cool place full of small coastal towns that are miles and miles away from the hustle of the world and views that never ever quit. Since I didn’t grow up on the east coast, the new places I find seem to be neverending and when Dakota and Mark asked me to photograph their wedding up on Deer Isle, which was a place I’d heard of and have been wanting to visit, I was so excited to venture up and celebrate the day with them.

Their initial plans were to be married in 2020, but the pandemic put a major damper on that especially since most of their guests – including themselves – would be traveling great distances to join them. So like many others, they rescheduled for 2021 and secured a new date at Aragosta so guests could be vaccinated and they made sure that the day could be celebrated outdoors as much as possible – thankfully the weather held up and their outdoor beach ceremony and reception on the deck all came to fruition.

Dakota and Mark, as well as their families, know each other so well since the two of them have been a couple since high school and with one another by their side, they weathered so many life changes and have been able to celebrate incredible achievements together and see goal after goal being met.

The stories of their prom, the many times he would sneak into her window late at night (and be caught by neighbors), and the trick to getting Mark to recite the Declaration of Independence verbatim were so fun to hear and then to witness the comfort they have being in one another’s arms makes the whole world melt away and draws you into their story.

With personalities that can be wildly different from one another at times, and then at other points, they perfectly mirror one another (seriously, it was so cool to look through the photos and see how much they mirrored one another during the day) I just fell into their orbit and loved seeing these two people who complement each other so well together finally marry with their nearest and dearest in attendance.

Mark’s family spent summers up on Deer Isle Maine and while the two have most of their families based in Atlanta where they grew up, this spot was the perfect retreat to get away from the stress of this year and a half and allow for the fresh Maine air and cool ocean breezes to give them their own quiet world to celebrate in. And Aragosta is a tucked-away world within the tucked-away world of Deer Isle Maine!

You take a winding tree-lined drive with pops of coastal views that lead to small bridges over the water and then finally dirt roads taking you right up to the beach Aragosta gets to call their own. There are cabins dotting the woods-filled land where family and friends stayed and got ready and then the most delicious dinner from a top-of-the-class restaurant while looking at the islands right off the coast – does it get any better?! It’s a spot perfectly suited for the two of them.

Dakota was so reserved while getting ready and then they both just lit up when they finally saw each other, and then there were spots where it got teary during the ceremony, and then laughing in one another’s arms while we crept out onto the rocks and listened to toasts – this was a place they got to just be and it was so wonderful.

And Dakota’s smile when Mark was playing around with her and her freckles that dance so perfectly across her nose and cheeks? UGH, I love it!

Dakota and Mark, thank you for inviting me to your Deer Isle Maine wedding day, it was just as magical as the two of you!

Deer Isle Maine Wedding Photographer: I AM SARAH V Photography
Ceremony and Reception: Aragosta
Officiant: Amy Vaughn
DJ: Breezy Day Productions
Dress: BHLDN
Suit: Liles Clothing Studio
Flowers: Dan’s Flower Farm
Hair & Makeup: Charlotte Phinney & Company