City of Santa Cruz parks
Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz County
City-run parks and beachfront in Santa Cruz. The ceremony and the paid photographer are permitted separately, through the same office.
This is one of the clearest statements of the two-permit structure found anywhere in this region: the ceremony and the paid photographer are handled as separate approvals.
The site
The practical details
Commercial photography
The city runs two clearly separate permits: a private reservation for the ceremony, and a film, video and photography permit for commercial-purpose photography, with its own application, insurance and fees.
Lead time
Applications must be received no later than one month before the date.
Permit authority
City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Reservation Office, 323 Church Street. (831) 420-5270, parksandrec@santacruzca.gov.
Pricing
Rates are set in the city's Parks and Recreation fee schedule, which is adopted annually and is not reproduced on the reservation page. The reservation office quotes the current rate.
See it on your wedding date
Set your date and this page fills in with the tides, what the weather is usually like, sunset, and where the sun will be.
Checked against the agency's own page on September 7, 2026
Sunrise, sunset, and twilight computed for this location. The marine layer rating reflects the time of year on this coast. Orientation and cover recorded for this spot.