Wedding Expo Highlights Bar Harbor as Destination Wedding Location.

Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar

Mar 09, 2026

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry.

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BAR HARBOR—The ballroom at the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center is often filled with the sounds of clinking glasses, laughter, and wedding jitters, but on Saturday, the sounds were a bit different and a bit more preparatory as the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosted its first-ever Bar Harbor Wedding Expo on March 7.

“Our goal in hosting an event like this during this time of year is to help boost businesses during what can otherwise be a quieter season. With events like Beer Fest in January and the Wedding Expo in March, we hope people see these as opportunities to come into town and for local businesses to stay open a little longer,” said Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Events and Marketing Manager Jonathan Robles.

Eighteen vendors—from photographers and florists to caterers and venues—set up displays designed to inspire couples dreaming of saying “I do” on Mount Desert Island. Tables draped in white cloths and displays lined the room, while vendors chatted with other vendors, engaged couples, families, and curious locals who wandered through the showcase.

The event highlighted the role of Bar Harbor as a destination wedding location, where ocean views, historic inns, and nearby national park scenery draw couples from across the country. For many local businesses and organizations, the expo offered a chance not only to meet potential clients but also to collaborate with other wedding professionals in the region.

“We were incredibly happy with the turnout for our inaugural year, with 18 vendor booths and about 50 attendees. We’re excited to see the event grow in the coming years and hopefully become one of the community’s bigger seasonal events,” Robles said.

Chamber organizers have said the goal of the expo was simple: bring together the people who help create weddings on the island and make it easier for couples to imagine planning their celebrations here. The event was supported by Atlantic Oceanside Hotel & Event Center, Unforgettable Entertainment, Oli’s Trolley, Scenic Flights of Acadia, Ellsworth Jewelers, and Bangor Savings Bank.

“If anyone is interested in participating next year, we’re planning to host it annually on the first Saturday in March. It’s also not limited to businesses in Bar Harbor, so we’re excited to see who comes out to support the community,” Robles said.