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AtlanticCityWeddings.com we receive a lot of inquiries
regarding wedding ceremonies on the beach. In response
to your requests we’ve tried to put together some
ideas and information for those "daring"
couples who may choose an outdoor wedding ceremony. I
say "daring" because having had an outdoor
wedding ceremony myself, I also know that you’ll be
worrying about the weather for weeks prior to the event.
In researching this article, the overwhelming majority
of professionals from our site recommended having a
backup plan in case of rain. In fact, one professional I
spoke with would never |
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recommend
an outdoor ceremony simply because you spend so much time and
money planning your wedding, to put all that on the line for
something as unpredictable as the weather could be more than
disappointing. Still want to give it a go? Check with your
reception site to see if a ceremony could be held on the
premises in case of rain.
Another option - instead of planning an outdoor wedding ceremony
you could chose a scenic site close to your home or reception
site for some additional wedding photographs. However, keep in
mind that you won’t want to go out of your way to get a scenic
shot. This would take valuable time away from your wedding day.
If your home or reception is not near the beach but you’ld
still really like a beach shot, consider a romantic engagement
portrait on the beach. Whatever plans you make, be sure to
discuss them with your photographer in advance.
Who can
perform an outdoor wedding ceremony?
For
those who are religiously affiliated with a church or synagogue
your minister, pastor, priest or rabbi may be able to
accommodate such a ceremony. For those unaffiliated, a justice
of the peace can perform the ceremony or you can look in the
yellow pages or bridal magazines for Interfaith Clergy for
wedding ceremonies.
Outdoor
Decorations:
If
you’re planning an outdoor wedding, just a few ideas for
decorations include, rose petals scattered in a circle around
the couple or elegantly arranged in aisles. Flowers and/or
garlands are a nice way to decorate a gazebo. Balloons are okay
as long as they are not released into the sky. Because of
wetland areas in South Jersey, the balloons (if released) can
pose a hazard to wildlife when they finally find their resting
place on the ground. Instead you may want to provide small
bottles of bubbles for those attending your wedding for a nice
effect following your ceremony.
Note:
Be sure to plan who will take down the decorations and clean up
following your ceremony.
Outdoor
Sites for Ceremonies or Scenic Photographs:
The
following is a list of scenic outdoor sites for wedding
ceremonies and/or photos and the associated requirements.
We’ve put this information together to save you (and the
various agencies involved) time and phone calls. Please
keep in mind that none of the public parks or beaches allow
alcohol of any kind.
Regarding
beach ceremonies - even though your ceremony may be only 15
minutes in length, for most towns, you will need to get the
proper permission for a ceremony on the beach.
Tips:
- Get
ideas from the information and photos below for a site that
interests you.
- Take
a drive to the site to see if it really appeals to you for a
ceremony and is close enough to your reception site to
consider.
- If
the site does interest you, contact in writing or by phone
one of the parks below for the necessary permission well in
advance of your event. While many parks and beaches
only require a few weeks to process your request, don't wait
until last minute to apply for permission.
- Editor’s
Opinion: For beach ceremonies - the best time of year would
be after Labor Day or before Memorial Day.
- All
Information is current as of April 2000 but may be subject
to change without notice by any of the towns, municipalities
or departments listed below.
- Sites
are listed alphabetically by town.
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Atlantic
City
Beaches |
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Reservations/Permits:
Beach Ceremonies:
Every beach town has their own requirements. In Atlantic City,
permits are now required to hold a ceremony on the beach even if
you have only two people and a minister. Additionally, you need
to insure the city for $1 million dollars for that day. (While
there is no fee for the permit, the insurance can run as much as
$200 or more) Another option, if you have homeowners, is to add
that to your homeowners. Call your insurance agent.
For
additional information:
To apply for a beach permit
and for more information contact Sheila Harvey, Special Events
Coordinator for Atlantic City at (609) 343-6326.
You can also apply for a permit
online via http://www.cityofatlanticcity.org/documents/spec_events_permit.pdf
Photos:
(click on link to view)
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Brigantine
Beaches |
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Reservations/Permits:
To get married on any of the beaches in Brigantine you will need
to send in a letter of request with the date, time, &
location (which beach - list avenue/street) of your event along
with any other details to:
City
Manager’s Office
Brigantine City Hall
1417 West Brigantine Ave.
Brigantine, NJ 08203
Send
your letter of request well in advance. If you want to use the
gazebo for the ceremony, it's first come, first serve
basis. No alcohol permitted on beaches.
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Cape
May Beaches |
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Reservations/Permits:
For just a wedding ceremony on the beach, no permit is required.
However, you must schedule the ceremony with the Mayor's Office.
Acoustic instruments on the beach okay. No electric.
Also, during the summer months beach tags are required during
the hours of 10am-5pm. Beach tags are not required before 10am
or after 5pm. Bring change for the parking meters - most
parking is on the side streets and they have meters.
For
additional information:
Call the Cape May Town Hall at 609-884-9525.
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Estell
Manor Park,
Estell Manor, New Jersey |
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Where:
Route 50, 4 miles south of Mays Landing. (Take Route 40 to Mays
Landing, At light by Spoony’s bear left (you’ll still be on
Route 40). Just after you pass a McDonalds on the left you’ll
come to a light. Go left at that light on Route 50. Go approx. 4
miles on Route 50 to Park Entrance.
About
the Park:
Estell Manor Park has a number of pavilions (no gazebo) that
could be used for an outdoor wedding ceremony. The Estellville
Glassworks, an historic site located within the park, has been
used for interesting wedding portraits in the past. Parking is
plentiful and restrooms are available. No alcohol allowed on
premises.
Reservations:
To reserve a pavilion in Estell Manor Park for a wedding
ceremony you need to complete a basic reservation form - Cost
(as of March 2000) is $35. Reservations for areas in the
Atlantic County Park System must be completed at least 7 days
before your event. Apply well in advance, however, to be sure
you get the date you have in mind. Exclusive use of a facility
does not exclude the public from using restrooms and
playgrounds.
For
Additional Information:
Visit the Atlantic County Division of Parks & Recreation web
site at www.aclink.org/parks/
To Apply
For a Permit:
Contact
Jessica Wear at 609-625-1897.
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Longport
Beaches |
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Popular
locations for wedding ceremonies along the beach in Longport
include the Gazebo at 36th Ave., 11th
Avenue, The Jetty and the foot of the bridge in Longport.
Parking is always difficult during the summer months so plan
ahead and be advised that there is no parking allowed at 11th
Ave. even for 2 minutes.
Reservations/Permits:
To get married on any of the beaches in Longport you will need
to send in a letter of request with the date, time &
location (which beach - include Avenue) of your event along with
the number of people who will be attending the event to:
Longport
Borough Hall
2305 Atlantic Ave.
Longport, NJ 08403
Attn: Mayor's Office
Photos:
(click on link to view)
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Margate
Beaches |
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One
popular spot along the Margate Beaches is by Lucy The Elephant.
During the summer months the Margate beaches are always packed
and parking is a problem. There is no beach block parking
until after 5pm during the summer months and even then parking
is scarce.
Reservations/Permits:
To get married on any of the beaches in Margate you will need to
send in a letter of request with the date, time & location
(which beach - include Avenue) of your event along with the
number of people who will be attending the event to:
Commissioner
Rimm
1 South Washington Ave.
Margate, NJ 08402
Send
your letter of request well in advance. No food or drink of any
kind allowed on the beaches. No chairs or equipment
allowed. |
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Ocean
City Beaches |
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Just
over the bridge in Cape May County, Ocean City is close enough
to consider for a beach wedding ceremony. Parking is
always difficult during the summer months. Early fall
would be a nice time for a ceremony on the beach in Ocean City.
Reservations/Permits:
You need to fill out an application form with The Ocean City
Community Services Dept. It will take a few weeks for
approval once you complete the form but apply well in advance.
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To
apply for an application write:
Ocean
City Community Services Dept.
901 Asbury Ave.
Ocean City, NJ 08226
To
request an application by phone:
Call 609-525-9296
Photos:
(click on link to view)
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Gaskill
Park,
Mays Landing, New Jersey |
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Where:
Located just off Route 40 in Mays Landing, behind the Mays
Landing Library.
About
the Park:
Gaskill Park is a popular site for wedding ceremonies with an
outdoor gazebo and scenic views of the Egg Harbor River and some
of the picturesque Victorian homes of Mays Landing. Restrooms
are available. Parking, however, isn’t always easy to find. No
alcohol allowed on premises.
Reservations:
To reserve the gazebo in Gaskill Park for a wedding ceremony you
need to complete a basic reservation form - Cost (as of March
2000) is $35. Reservations for areas in the Atlantic County Park
System must be completed at least 7 days before your event.
Apply well in advance, however, to be sure you get the date you
have in mind. Exclusive use of a facility does not exclude the
public from using restrooms and playgrounds.
For
Additional Information:
Visit the Atlantic County Division of Parks & Recreation web
site at www.aclink.org/parks/
To Apply
For a Permit:
Contact Jessica Wear at 609-625-8219.
Photos:
(click on link to view)
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John
F. Kennedy Park,
Somers Point, NJ |
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Where:
Just off the Somers Point Circle,
next to The Crab Trap
About
the Park:
Because this park overlooks the bay it would be a nice site for
an early evening sunset wedding.
Reservations/Permits:
For a wedding ceremony at either John F. Kennedy Park or the
Municipal Beach in Somers Point, you will need to get a permit.
It takes at least 1 week to get a permit, but apply much sooner.
Any equipment such as tents would need to be cleared with the
Somers Point Department of Parks and Recreation. No alcohol
permitted. There are some restrooms in a small pavilion in the
park, however they were locked when we checked the park.
To apply
for a permit:
Call the Somers Point Dept. of Recreation (609) 927-5253 |
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Ventnor
Beaches |
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Ventnor
does not allow wedding ceremonies on the beach. |
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Weymouth
Furnace Park,
Weymouth, New Jersey |
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Where:
Route 559 & Black Horse Pike (From Atlantic City or Hamilton
Mall, take the Black Horse Pike to Hammonton all the way to Rt.
559 on your right. Go right on 559 and park entrance is almost
immediate).
About
the Park:
A scenic park with a small wooden bridge over water as well as
the historic remains of an old paper mill, this is probably a
better site for photos than a ceremony since the park does not
have a pavilion or gazebo. Plus, traffic from Black Horse Pike
could be a noise distraction. Restrooms available (I couldn’t
find them). No alcohol allowed on premises.
For
Additional Information:
Visit the Atlantic County Division of Parks & Recreation web
site at www.aclink.org/parks/ |
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Wildwood
Beaches |
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Reservations/Permits:
To get married on any of the beaches in Wildwood no permit is
required. The beach is free so no beach tags are required
either. One or two acoustical instruments would be allowed
for a ceremony on the beach.
For
Additional Information:
Call the Wildwood Town Hall - (609) 522-2444. |
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