beach wedding permit?

**Illinoisian** · 01-17-2006, 07:51 PM

My daughter is hoping to get married on the beach in Santa Rosa Beach this fall. Our extended family is planning to rent several beach houses in the Sunrise Beach community. Does anyone know if we will need to obtain a special permit to hold the ceremony on the beach that's accessible from the Sunrise Beach neighborhood? Also, is there a wedding planner/coordinator you could recommend? She wants a simple wedding, bareoot in the sand. We have vacationed here a few times over the years and love the area. Thanks for any help you can give!

**Smiling JOe** · 01-17-2006, 08:04 PM

From Walton County's Code of Ordinances:

Chapter 22
ARTICLE IV. REGULATION OF RECREATIONAL BEACH AND WATER ACTIVITIES

Definitions:
Special events means:

(1) Any use, activity, or event conducted or promoted on the beach that would constitute a violation of any provision of this article or any rule or regulation issued under the authority of this article;

(2) Any activity or event that is organized and promoted to attract, and is likely to attract, a crowd of more than 50 persons to a certain place on the beach at a certain time under circumstances that are likely to interfere with the public's right of access and use of the beach or create a need for additional police, lifesaving, or other services; or

(3) Any activity or event on the beach that is promoted or sponsored by commercial interests and will advertise or promote private commercial interests.

(4) Special events does not include private parties on private property unless they are of such a nature to create a need for additional police, lifesaving, or other services.

Sec. 22-59. Temporary use for special events. (a) Policy and objective. This article is intended to ensure broad beach usage by allowing temporary uses of the beach for purposes which otherwise would be prohibited. These special uses would be allowed by a permit that waives certain restrictions under specific conditions which still protect the public health, safety, and welfare. The permitting process is intended to provide a convenient procedure to be followed by beach users.

(b) Permit required. No person shall organize, promote, or conduct a special event, except as provided in a special event permit issued pursuant to this section.

(c) Permits for special events.

(1) Such a permit shall according to its terms may constitute a temporary waiver of one or more provisions of this chapter.

(2) Permits are required for special events with 50 or more people expected.

(3) The beach activities coordinator shall create an application for the permit that requires the applicant to provide, at a minimum, the following information:

a. Date and time of the special event;

b. Location of the special event;

c. Description of the special event;

d. Anticipated crowd size;

e. Sponsor of the special event;

f. Written consent from the property owner; and

g. Any other information required by the beach activity coordinator.

(4) Special events over 100 people will require the special event sponsor to provide security and adequate parking.

(5) Special event sponsors are required to clean the beach immediately after the event has been completed.

(6) The fee for the special event permit shall initially be $50.00.

(Ord. No. 2003-07, � 9, 4-8-03)

**kurt** · 01-17-2006, 08:08 PM

There is some info here - http://graytonbeach.com/weddings-events.html

**thompsebby** · 01-18-2006, 10:46 AM

Okay, I'm no longer lurking...

I've heard wonderful things about It's a "Shore" Thing, Inc. They are located on 30A in Santa Rosa Beach right next to Goatfeathers. Good luck and best wishes to your daughter.

**ShallowsNole** · 01-19-2006, 10:00 AM

For the permit, call (850) 267-1955 and ask for Leslie Campbell.

**Miss Kitty** · 01-19-2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by thompsebby

Okay, I'm no longer lurking...

I've heard wonderful things about It's a "Shore" Thing, Inc. They are located on 30A in Santa Rosa Beach right next to Goatfeathers. Good luck and best wishes to your daughter.

You must like weddings! See, it wasn't that hard!!! Where is josebby these days?

**thompsebby** · 01-19-2006, 10:43 AM

josebby is physically lurking in SoWal. too busy enjoying the sights and weather during a short week's visit to be on the computer.

**josebby** · 01-20-2006, 11:10 AM

Have to check in with SoWal even at the Beach! I'm down to get our place ready for rental guests. Working with Kurt for our website and a graphic designer, Laura Granberry, in Seaside, for our printed materials. We are related to the owners of It's A "Shore" Thing wedding and event planners. I can tell you they do a fabulous job with even the most simple weddings. There's an art to making smaller weddings elegant and memorable and they do that very well.
They also excel at top end weddings. I snooped in (from the beach walkover) on a wedding at WaterColor they did a couple years ago. The wedding was featured in Southern Living Weddings Summer 2003 and it was just so beautiful.

**kurt** · 01-20-2006, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by josebby

Have to check in with SoWal even at the Beach! I'm down to get our place ready for rental guests. Working with Kurt for our website and a graphic designer, Laura Granberry, in Seaside, for our printed materials. We are related to the owners of It's A "Shore" Thing wedding and event planners. I can tell you they do a fabulous job with even the most simple weddings. There's an art to making smaller weddings elegant and memorable and they do that very well.
They also excel at top end weddings. I snooped in (from the beach walkover) on a wedding at WaterColor they did a couple years ago. The wedding was featured in Southern Living Weddings Summer 2003 and it was just so beautiful.

Tell them to get on here and help us answer some wedding questions.