Planning a state park wedding? What should you consider when it comes to planning for, setting up, breaking down and having your ceremony at a remote location? Photo credit

Pick A Remote LocationYou Know

When it comes to wedding logistics, simply put: planning a remote wedding in a place you know is a lot easier than somewhere you have never been. If you don’t have this luxury, become friends with someone who works in the park and be sure to ask any and all questions you can think of before the ceremony. Things like:

• What is the best spot in which we can say “I do”?
• Is there a gazebo or shelter in case it rains?
• Will the area in which we are getting married be mowed and weeded?
• Will trash be picked up in our wedding area?
• Where is the closest place to park to reach the exact spot we are getting married?
• Can you send me a map of the park with the best route to our parking area?
• Are there any wildlife we should be conscious of, or park pests that could be active this time of year?
• Is this area private? Or open to the public?
• Can we post signs for arriving guests?
• Are there rules to our exit? Can we use bird seed or bubbles?

Anything you plan to do for your wedding, just ask if it’s okay. Nothing could be worse than being mid “mazel tov” and having a ranger tell you you can’t break glass even if it’s wrapped.

Know Ceremony Rules

State Parks and places on the National Historic Registry often have a whole different set of rules when it comes to throwing a wedding in said venue. For instance, you might have to pay extra for a completely private venue because they can’t just “shut down” the entirety of say The Grand Canyon for your big day with 25 guests. Some parks offer permits right on their website. While other parks require a state permit that you may have to travel to the state capital for…so, be sure to read up on everything you can. Most parks offer all of this information on their website.

Things To Keep In Mind

There are a few things you might want to keep in mind when planning a remote wedding:

• Keep the remote location ceremony only; otherwise it may get uber pricey.
• Ask guests to please only bring gifts to the reception venue.
• Create a wedding website with interactive maps that help guests find your exact location just in case they don’t have GPS.
• Remind guests of any details they should know before attending associated with a remote outdoor venue, ie: best attire, shoes, keep food at home or in the car, etc.