Weddings and Celebrations

Separate Application Processes

Effective June 5th, 2024: There are separate application processes depending on whether the location is on State Park or National Park land. Please follow the appropriate process below.

 

 

Photo: David Walker

Congrats on your upcoming day!

All weddings, elopements, and vow-exchanges require a permit.

Permits are non-exclusive, access to locations for all visitors must be maintained at all times.

Please follow the process below for your specific location.

 

Not Sure?

Not sure if your location is on state or national park land? See this map for reference. Light green is state park land; dark green is national park land.

 

Application Process

 

To apply to a State Park location:

1. Choose a location within Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, or Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park

Pre-approved locations:

• Templeman Grove - 20 participants
• Organ Donor’s Grove - 20 participants
• River Trail - 8 participants
• Merriman Grove - 8 participants
• Zig Zag #2 - 10 participants
• Schmidt Grove - 20 participants
• Prairie Creek Amphitheater - 20 participants [available Oct 25th – May 1]

Other locations within these parks may be selected but availability is subject to review.

2. Once a location has been selected, please follow the steps listed here to apply: Special Event Permits (ca.gov)

To apply to a National Park location:

1. Choose a location within Redwood National Park

Pre-approved locations [$100 application fee]:

• Crescent Beach Day Use - 20 participants [available Oct 25th – May 1]
• Crescent Beach Overlook - 20 participants [available Oct 25th – May 1]
• High Bluff Overlook - 20 participants
• Lost Man Creek Gate - 20 participants
• Berry Glen - 6 participants

Other locations can be chosen within Redwood National Park but require a $200 application fee, staff review, and are subject to peak hour blackouts

2. Fill out the form: Special Use Application
   • Complete applications need to include a specific location, date and time, group size, and number of vehicles
3. Email to [e-mail]
   • Mailed copies will experience significant delays due to the geographic layout of our park
4. An email from Pay.gov to pay the application fee will be sent after receiving your application

Additional costs may be charged in the event of:

• Event monitoring - cost calculated per hour of monitoring per employee salary
• Resource damage, site cleanup, etc. will be billed according to cost recovery

What is allowed and prohibited in Redwood National Park?

An example list of conditions can be found here.

Time and Date:

• Permits will be issued for day use hours only
• Permits are not generally issued around major holidays due to high visitation numbers

Flowers and Decorations:

• Live or dried natural plant/flower material is prohibited. This includes cut flowers for bouquets and potted plants. Live plant materials may contain insects or unwanted pests that could be introduced into the park. Silk, wood, or paper flowers are allowed
• The releasing of doves, butterflies, balloons, or other types of items is prohibited
• The throwing of birdseed, rice, flower petals, confetti, or other items is prohibited.
• Feeding wildlife is prohibited (36 CFR 2.2(a)(2)).
• The use of arbors, arches, stands, risers, or other similar props is prohibited
• The attaching of ribbons, flowers, balloons or signs to vegetation, rocks, or existing NPS signs within the park is prohibited
• The placement of signs or other event notifications along roads or on signs is prohibited
• Food service and alcohol are not permitted

Photography

• Photographers and videographers are not required to obtain additional permits as long as they are providing a service to your wedding in Redwood National Park. Any commercial vendors should be listed as support personnel on your application.
• The use of drones is not permitted

Music

• The use of music under 60 dB may be permitted - please include any music on your application

 

Nearby Airports

San Francisco (SFO) and Portland, Oregon (PDX) are the closest major airports, both are a 6-8 hour drive from the respective ends of the parks.

Medford, OR (MFR) is a 2-hour drive east of Jedediah Smith Redwoods.

Eureka/Arcata, CA (ACV) airport is 1-hour drive south of Prairie Creek Redwoods.

Redding, CA airport (RDD) is about 4-hours east of Prairie Creek Redwoods.

There is also an airport in Crescent City (CEC) that is 15-minutes from Jedediah Smith Redwoods, but flights are very limited.

Photographers/Officiants/Other Wedding Locations

Chambers of Commerce can assist you in finding local vendors and other venues.

Humboldt County Visitors Bureau
Crescent City - Del Norte County
Greater Eureka Chamber of Commerce
City of Arcata

 

Photo: David Walker

 

Click here to return to other Special Use Permits page.