A blissful, beautiful, and breathtaking wedding venue in a national park is the dream of all avid nature lovers. It may seem daunting to plan a national park wedding because you’re not sure where to start, but we’ve got some tips for you to help you start planning your dream wedding.
Things to consider:
Permits
When planning your wedding in a national park it is very important to obtain a special use permit. The cost of permits and application fees varies between parks, so make sure to check out National Park Service and look over how much your special use permit will cost. You can usually find the information by searching “national park” in the search bar. Then, go to the top left drop down menu that says “Plan Your Visit,” scroll down to “Basic Information,” and finally click “Permits & Reservations.” There it will tell you everything you need to know about getting a permit and other rules and regulations specific to that park.
Number of Guests
It’s important to preserve national parks and the wildlife that inhabits it, hence a limit on the number of guests that may be allowed at your wedding (see permit information). Because of this, you want to make sure that you only invite family and your closest friends to the wedding ceremony. After that, you can decide on having a big party at the reception with as many people as you like or you can stick with it being small and intimate.
Accessibility
Within the park there are specific sites where they allow wedding ceremonies. Make sure to consider how accessible those sites are for you and your guests- do your research on how you’ll be able to reach the site of your ceremony. Wouldn’t want anyone to hike in a wedding dress!
Miscellaneous
The National Park Service will give you more information about other possible restrictions. Some may include restrictions on music, chairs, props, confetti, etc. Make sure to also keep in mind that there will be a park entrance fee, so consider telling your guests to carpool.
We hope that this helps you get a good idea of how to start your dream national park wedding. Our glamping locations are open for wedding venues! Check out our site for locations at Wander Camp or the list below for other ideas!
Wedding Venues & Permit Info:
West Coast
Glacier National Park, MT
Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Yellowstone National Park, ID; MT; WY
East Coast
Acadia National Park, ME
Shenandoah National Park, VA
Congaree National Park, SC
Dry Tortugas National Park, FL
Post written by: Marie Barroca