Beach weddings in Laguna Beach

The permit comes first

The city’s Recreation Division issues wedding permits for beaches and city parks. The permit gives you a two-hour block that covers decorating, the ceremony, photographs and clean-up. It does not reserve the place: the city says the site must stay open to the public at all times, and you may not rope it off or block a path.

Dates go first come, first served, once the city has your application and its non-refundable fee. The application sets a minimum of two business days before the date. The city does not post a maximum, so apply as soon as your date is set. Permits are not issued around high tide or after sunset, and the city asks beach couples to schedule for low tide. Changes to the date, time or place may cost $10, and there are no refunds for cancellation or weather.

Where weddings are allowed

From Labor Day weekend to Memorial Day weekend, the city allows weddings at most of its parks and beaches. From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, only four beaches below Heisler Park qualify: North Main Beach, Rockpile Beach, Picnic Beach and Divers Cove. Read about the bluff above them on the Heisler Park page.

The city does not permit weddings at Treasure Island Beach or Park, Christmas Cove, Goff Cove, Browns Park, the Heisler Park Grass Amphitheater or any beach south of Aliso Beach. Crescent Bay Point Park takes no weddings on Sundays or holidays. The application’s checklist also names Crescent Bay, Shaw’s Cove, Fisherman’s Cove, the Heisler Park gazebo, Monument Point and several other bench and lawn spots, Main Beach, Alta Laguna Park and Aliso Beach.

Fees and group size

As of October 2026, the city’s fiscal 2026-27 fees and limits are:

• Crescent Bay Point Park: $599, up to 50 people.
• Heisler Park gazebo and Monument Point: $483, up to 50 people.
• All other beaches and parks: $483, up to 95 people.

The limits count everyone: wedding party, officiant, photographer and guests. The beach and park application lists no insurance requirement and has the applicant agree to indemnify the city. The indoor chapel, covered on the wedding venues page, does require insurance.

Rules for a ceremony

The city describes the permit as allowing a “simple ceremony.” Its application bars:

• Tables, chairs (medical exceptions allowed), archways and structures, including large letters and balloons.
• Amplified sound and battery or electronic music devices.
• Alcohol, including champagne toasts, and glass of any kind.
• Open flames, such as candles, lanterns and tiki torches.
• Rice, birdseed, confetti and petals, real or artificial.
• Smoking.

Decorations are allowed if hung with string or ribbon only, with no nails, staples or tape, and removed before the permit ends. The city arranges no special parking or cleaning. See the parking guide for lots and rates.

Marine reserve rules on the sand

Most of the coast is a state marine protected area. The state says it is unlawful to injure, damage, take or possess any living, geological or cultural marine resource in the Laguna Beach reserve and the no-take area south of Goff Island. City code adds live or dead intertidal animals and plants. For a ceremony, that means no shells, rocks or tide pool animals as decorations or keepsakes, on top of the city’s petals and rice ban. Swimmers and kayakers may not go onto Seal Rock off Crescent Bay. The marine reserves page and the tide pools page give boundaries and etiquette, and beach rules covers drones and shade.

Photographers

The city’s film page requires a Professional Still Photo Permit for professional photography on city property and lists wedding photos among its uses. As of October 2026 it is $100 for two hours plus $50 for each added hour. From Memorial Day through Labor Day weekend the city issues it only for 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. or 6:00 p.m. to sunset. It is a separate permit from the wedding permit, so ask the Recreation Division how the two fit together. The city issues no permit for proposal set-ups.

Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park, at 8471 N Coast Hwy, runs its own special event process through State Parks. The park says to call 949-497-1582 to check date and location before applying or paying a deposit, that all special events need liability insurance and that a park monitor may be required. Its undated venue sheet lists ceremonies on the Historic District beaches for up to 100 guests, after Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend, depending on the tides. State Parks reported on October 15, 2026 that parts of that beach remained closed after storm damage, and on October 28, 2026 its park page listed the park as open with restrictions, so confirm what is open.

City Hall and the marriage license

The City Clerk performs civil ceremonies outside City Hall by appointment, for a $100 fee as of October 2026, per the city. You bring the original license. In Orange County the license comes from the Clerk-Recorder: both people complete an application online before visiting an office, each shows a government photo ID, and a public license needs a witness at the ceremony to sign it. As of October 2026, the county lists $61 for a public license and $66 for a confidential one, good for 90 days and valid anywhere in California.