St Kilda is easily accesible, close to the city, a popular choice.
We are , as Australians, drawn to the beach. The sand under your feet, the salty air; they stay on your skin long after you’ve gone home. No surprise that many couples choose the beach setting for their ceremonies, really. There’s a purity and cleansing that takes place, a sense of the ancient, timelessness.
Practically speaking, there are usually no dramas in rocking up to a beach with a small party of guests and setting up for your ceremony, but some councils have specific rules or considerations which might help you in your planning.
The Gold Coast City Council has a restriction of 50 people for a beach wedding,like many other councils, and there is no fee to be paid. There is, however, a beach wedding application form on their website, which needs to be submitted.
In Victoria, the Surf Coast Shire Council allows a limited alcohol permit for weddings.The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee has to grant permission for the wedding first. Wedding parties of over 50+ incur fees. For a ceremony on one of the famous St Kilda beaches you may be required to purchase Public Liability Insurance.
If you are marrying in the NSW Byron Shire, an area blessed with a number of potential ceremonial spots, you may need a Wedding Photography Consent Form if you are planning on having your shots taken in a public place.
Timeless Byron Bay
It may seem like there are a lot of restrictions, but the sensitive ecology of our beaches means that we need to be sure to leave no mark after the ceremony, except in the memories of our couples and guests.
What have your experiences been of beach weddings? Any dramas? High tide shenanigans? We’d love to hear from you.
