Permits, not venues
Where you stand decides who permits it
Three different agencies permit ceremonies on beaches within a few miles of each other, with different rules, and which one applies depends on which stretch of sand you stand on.
The fee and guest cap most often quoted for these beaches come from a 2023 guidelines document, not from the application form. Confirm both with the district office.
State Parks issues no permits on holidays or holiday weekends — that removes Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day
County Parks beach bookings are Fridays to Sundays, April to October only
Alcohol is prohibited on the Pajaro Coast beaches. In the mountain parks it is permitted by waiver only, and a waiver is not guaranteed.
Amplified sound is prohibited outright in redwood parks, to protect nesting marbled murrelets.
Where do you want the ceremony?
Pick a location to see its rules.
California State Parks, Santa Cruz District
Sites: Seacliff, Sunset, Manresa, New Brighton, Twin Lakes, Seabright
Capacity limit
A 2023 district guidelines document capped Pajaro sector ceremonies at 50 people. The application form gives no number and states only that attendance may be limited at the state's discretion.
Checked 2026-09-07
Fee
State Parks does not print a fee table on its special event application. A 2023 district guidelines document listed a $25 filing fee, a permit fee of $300 to $625 by headcount and a $250 deposit; those figures are widely repeated online but are not carried on the form. The district office quotes the current fee: (831) 400-8519, SCD.specialevents@parks.ca.gov.
Checked 2026-09-07
Alcohol
Prohibited
Amplified sound
Generally prohibited
Hours
8:00am to half an hour before sunset (day use only)
Season / blackout dates
No permits on holidays or holiday weekends — removes Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day
The current guidelines cap a Pajaro Coast beach wedding at 50 people and prohibit alcohol on those beaches.
Mountain parks
Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
Alcohol waiver
From a 2023 district guidelines document: Permitted by waiver only - $50 (to 50 people), $100 (51-150), $250 (151-250), $300 (251+), plus $350 security deposit. Beer or wine only, no spirits. Four-hour window, service ends one hour before the event does. A ranger monitor is required. State Parks states a waiver is not guaranteed.
Checked 2026-09-07
Amplified sound
PROHIBITED outright in redwood parks, to protect nesting marbled murrelets. Not negotiable.
Permit fee
From a 2023 district guidelines document: a $25 filing fee, a permit fee of $300 up to 50 people, $400 for 51 to 100 and $500 for 101 to 150, a $250 security deposit and a $100 rush fee inside 30 days. These are not carried on the current application form. The Santa Cruz Mountains sector office quotes the current fee.
Checked 2026-09-07
Checked against the State Parks special-event guidelines on 2026-09-07
Read the elopement permits guide on jasonabrahamphotography.com