Nubble Lighthouse Wedding

by Brenda
(Connecticut)

My fiance and I visit Maine all the time, it's our favorite place in the world. On our last trip, we went to the Nubble Lighthouse. We loved the area and would love to get married there - just the two of us.

What can you tell us about getting married at the Nubble Lighthouse, and what do we have to do to make this happen? We are not kids - we are 50 and 60 years old. We are looking at a fall wedding in October.

All information you can give me will be a help, including a list of people who perform weddings.

Thank you so much of your time.

Liz's Reply...

Thanks for your question, Brenda. With all the gorgeous scenery around, weddings in Maine can be wonderful. A Nubble Lighthouse wedding is certainly a great way to remember this special place on the southern Maine coast.

The piece of land on which Nubble Light (also known as the Cape Neddick Light Station) and its adjacent buildings sit, is not open to the public. However, the abutting park which is owned by the Town of York, Maine - Sohier Park - is a public area, and the good news is...

...Sohier Park weddings are allowed. I just spoke with a woman from the Town of York Parks and Recreation Department to confirm this.

A few things to note...

Parking at Sohier Park cannot be reserved, or blocked off. Since you said it would be just the two of you, this doesn't sound as though it will be an issue.

Spots within the park cannot be reserved or cordoned off, nor can anything such as arches, chairs, or any other props or equipment be brought into the park.

And, since people are free to get married in Sohier Park at any time during posted park hours, it is conceivable that another wedding party might be there at the same time as you.

Regardless of any rules and regulations for having a wedding at the Nubble Lighthouse location, you will have a magnificent backdrop for your wedding pictures.

As for someone to officiate your York Beach, Maine wedding...

The Maine.gov website has a page on Getting Married in Maine. In part, they say...

The following individuals are authorized to perform marriages in Maine:

1) Ordained ministers of the gospel
2) A person licensed to preach by an association of ministers, religious seminary or ecclesiastical body
3) Judges or justices (residents of Maine only)
4) Lawyers admitted to the Maine Bar (residents of Maine only)
5) Maine Notaries

You can visit the Maine.gov link above to Search for Maine Notaries by location (town or city), or by name

Maine does not have Justices of the Peace. Out-of-state Notaries and Justices of the Peace cannot officiate weddings in Maine.

The Maine Government website also contains other useful information about a Maine wedding, as does the Town of York, Maine website, on their FAQ page (see How do I Obtain a License to be Married in the State of Maine?), at:

...www.yorkmaine.org/Default.aspx?tabid=54

There is good information there on how to get a Maine marriage license for nonresidents and residents.

I hope I have been able to help, and wish you and your fiance a wonderful York Beach, Maine wedding at the Nubble Lighthouse!

You may also be interested in:
Maine Coastal Rentals
York Beach Maine
York Beach Maine Lodging

Best regards,
Liz