Monterey and Carmel Beach Weddings
Monterey County is known for having some of the most picturesque beaches in the country. Although no beaches that allow weddings in our area are private, they all have their own charm and a variety of settings.
Carmel Beach. Beautiful, deep white sand and views of the Pebble Beach Golf Course, a seemingly endless ocean, and hints of Pt. Lobos. This is a very long beach, so a wedding setup typically won't be crowded with other people. A permit is required for any wedding that has over 50 people OR one that has any professional assistance (other than a local photographer with a business license in town and officiant - which we have). If fewer than 50 people are present with no professional assistance (other than a local photographer and/or officiant), no permit is needed (but if someone else has a full permit, you can't have your wedding on the same day). Located in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. View Photos.
Carmel River State Beach (Stewarts Cove). This beach is a bit tucked away from the tourist traffic as it is accessible via a narrow, one-lane road. Because of the beach's angle, it tends to have the best weather of all the beaches (e.g., it's not windy). Operated by the California State Parks, the fees to use the beach vary based on the number of people and how many chairs you utilize. Permit fee required based on the number of people/props (we provide insurance). Located in Carmel, about a 3-minute drive from downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. One quick note about State Parks: Our company does have a permit that allows us to accommodate weddings with 10 or fewer people with no props (no chairs, arch, etc) with a highly reduced, minimal permit fee (call for information). With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Carmel River State Beach (River Mouth). Huge, wide beach that adjoins Stewarts Cove. Accessible via a small parking lot area (with restrooms adjacent). Very pretty with views of the river mouth/lagoon off to the left and the ocean straight ahead (with views of another section of the beach off in the distance). Getting to the edge of the water is a little bit of a hike -- about 100 steps -- but it's flat. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Carmel River State Beach (Monastery). With easy access directly off Highway 1, Monastery Beach is named after the Monastery that sits on the other side of the highway. This crescent-shaped beach has some pretty views and very dramatic surf (the loudest crashing waves in the area). The sand is a bit more on the "pebbly" side, but there is an access road for special guests (including the bride) and a good-sized restroom. Some great couples portraits can be taken to the far ends of this beach. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Garrapata Beach. Also part of the California State Park System, this beach is just off Highway 1 in Big Sur but fronted by a lush area of plants and flowers. Follow the well-marked trail to a staircase that takes you down to the beach for the wedding. Typically, the wedding is set up near the stairs (for your procession), but it can be moved, if you prefer, to a location near intricate rock formations and cave entrances. The views are UNBELIEVABLE, but it can be windy on some days. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Roberts Beach. Located in Monterey just as you enter town and adjacent to one of our largest hotels. Access is from a parking lot that leads directly onto the sand, down a slope, and then flattens out onto the beach. Views of Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and extending out towards Pacific Grove. A great beach location if you really want to be in Monterey; however, we would avoid this location in the height of tourist season (end of May - beginning of September) as it is also one of the most popular beaches in the summer. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
San Carlos Beach. Located in downtown Monterey, just as Cannery Row begins, this is a fairly small, narrow beach best suited for a smaller wedding or renewal. There is no permit fee, but with that, you cannot have any chairs or an arch and must have 10 or fewer guests. A staircase and/or ramp bring you down to the beach, which has great views of Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row and across the Monterey Bay. In the same location, there is a nice grassy knoll where small weddings can also be held.
Asilomar State Beach. Located along the Pacific Grove Coastline as you head towards Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay, starting at the intersection of Sunset Drive and Crocker Avenue. A popular beach for locals and visitors alike. There are some great rocky outcroppings along the northern edge of the beach for photos. Beautiful views of the Pacific! Parking is limited. Permit fees required. Permit fees at this beach are higher (operated through the Asilomar Conference Center - about $1100). We typically use this beach location from October to March during the week when it's slower (otherwise, parking is nearly impossible, and there are too many people on this smaller section of the beach where weddings are allowed).
Del Monte Beach. Located to the right of Fisherman's Wharf No. 2 are a couple of nice areas for a small beach wedding. The City of Monterey says, "Chairs, arches, tents, musicians, floral arrangements, etc., are not permitted on the beach. Beaches are open to the public; therefore, the public may walk through or occupy any and all areas of the beach – you may not "cord off" the area you intend to use. The only privilege associated with a Beach Permit is the right for a "group" to assemble. Rates vary.
Middle Beach. If you ask 100 locals about this beach, 95 of them will have no idea of what you are talking about. Tucked away in a residential corner of Carmel, a series of 108 steps brings you to a very isolated, beautiful beach. Due to the stairs and the somewhat unpredictable tides, we only do smaller weddings here (10 or fewer, no chairs, no arch) with a micro permit fee (call us for more details). Beautiful photo opportunities and a private setting featuring rock formations.
Hidden Cove. Best to give us a call on this one! Don't want to give away this secret location : ) Also available for smaller weddings with a micro permit fee. A pretty trail through the trees and tall grass leads you down a short staircase to the beach (though a tree currently blocks the end of the path). We are entering via the beach, then up a short sand dune, and over to the Hidden Cove. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Pfeiffer Beach. A hard-to-find beach (not marked) down Highway 1 in Big Sur that has a windy, 2-mile road that leads down to it. Beautiful beach (it can be windy, but there are some trees up on a dune that can protect you from the wind) with waves that crash through a keyhole cut into the rocks. Only for smaller elopements, per the beach rules (not available year-round). Note: During the rainy season, if the road at the bottom floods, they close the beach without notice. Also, in high season, they limit cars, so if you have 3 cars going down for a wedding and 2 make it, the third may have to wait a while (basically until 1-2 cars come back up, so it's unpredictable).
Monterey County is known for having some of the most picturesque beaches in the country. Although no beaches that allow weddings in our area are private, they all have their own charm and a variety of settings.
Carmel Beach. Beautiful, deep white sand and views of the Pebble Beach Golf Course, a seemingly endless ocean, and hints of Pt. Lobos. This is a very long beach, so a wedding setup typically won't be crowded with other people. A permit is required for any wedding that has over 50 people OR one that has any professional assistance (other than a local photographer with a business license in town and officiant - which we have). If fewer than 50 people are present with no professional assistance (other than a local photographer and/or officiant), no permit is needed (but if someone else has a full permit, you can't have your wedding on the same day). Located in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. View Photos.
Carmel River State Beach (Stewarts Cove). This beach is a bit tucked away from the tourist traffic as it is accessible via a narrow, one-lane road. Because of the beach's angle, it tends to have the best weather of all the beaches (e.g., it's not windy). Operated by the California State Parks, the fees to use the beach vary based on the number of people and how many chairs you utilize. Permit fee required based on the number of people/props (we provide insurance). Located in Carmel, about a 3-minute drive from downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. One quick note about State Parks: Our company does have a permit that allows us to accommodate weddings with 10 or fewer people with no props (no chairs, arch, etc) with a highly reduced, minimal permit fee (call for information). With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Carmel River State Beach (River Mouth). Huge, wide beach that adjoins Stewarts Cove. Accessible via a small parking lot area (with restrooms adjacent). Very pretty with views of the river mouth/lagoon off to the left and the ocean straight ahead (with views of another section of the beach off in the distance). Getting to the edge of the water is a little bit of a hike -- about 100 steps -- but it's flat. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Carmel River State Beach (Monastery). With easy access directly off Highway 1, Monastery Beach is named after the Monastery that sits on the other side of the highway. This crescent-shaped beach has some pretty views and very dramatic surf (the loudest crashing waves in the area). The sand is a bit more on the "pebbly" side, but there is an access road for special guests (including the bride) and a good-sized restroom. Some great couples portraits can be taken to the far ends of this beach. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Garrapata Beach. Also part of the California State Park System, this beach is just off Highway 1 in Big Sur but fronted by a lush area of plants and flowers. Follow the well-marked trail to a staircase that takes you down to the beach for the wedding. Typically, the wedding is set up near the stairs (for your procession), but it can be moved, if you prefer, to a location near intricate rock formations and cave entrances. The views are UNBELIEVABLE, but it can be windy on some days. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Roberts Beach. Located in Monterey just as you enter town and adjacent to one of our largest hotels. Access is from a parking lot that leads directly onto the sand, down a slope, and then flattens out onto the beach. Views of Fisherman's Wharf, Cannery Row, and extending out towards Pacific Grove. A great beach location if you really want to be in Monterey; however, we would avoid this location in the height of tourist season (end of May - beginning of September) as it is also one of the most popular beaches in the summer. Permit fees required. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
San Carlos Beach. Located in downtown Monterey, just as Cannery Row begins, this is a fairly small, narrow beach best suited for a smaller wedding or renewal. There is no permit fee, but with that, you cannot have any chairs or an arch and must have 10 or fewer guests. A staircase and/or ramp bring you down to the beach, which has great views of Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row and across the Monterey Bay. In the same location, there is a nice grassy knoll where small weddings can also be held.
Asilomar State Beach. Located along the Pacific Grove Coastline as you head towards Pebble Beach and Spanish Bay, starting at the intersection of Sunset Drive and Crocker Avenue. A popular beach for locals and visitors alike. There are some great rocky outcroppings along the northern edge of the beach for photos. Beautiful views of the Pacific! Parking is limited. Permit fees required. Permit fees at this beach are higher (operated through the Asilomar Conference Center - about $1100). We typically use this beach location from October to March during the week when it's slower (otherwise, parking is nearly impossible, and there are too many people on this smaller section of the beach where weddings are allowed).
Del Monte Beach. Located to the right of Fisherman's Wharf No. 2 are a couple of nice areas for a small beach wedding. The City of Monterey says, "Chairs, arches, tents, musicians, floral arrangements, etc., are not permitted on the beach. Beaches are open to the public; therefore, the public may walk through or occupy any and all areas of the beach – you may not "cord off" the area you intend to use. The only privilege associated with a Beach Permit is the right for a "group" to assemble. Rates vary.
Middle Beach. If you ask 100 locals about this beach, 95 of them will have no idea of what you are talking about. Tucked away in a residential corner of Carmel, a series of 108 steps brings you to a very isolated, beautiful beach. Due to the stairs and the somewhat unpredictable tides, we only do smaller weddings here (10 or fewer, no chairs, no arch) with a micro permit fee (call us for more details). Beautiful photo opportunities and a private setting featuring rock formations.
Hidden Cove. Best to give us a call on this one! Don't want to give away this secret location : ) Also available for smaller weddings with a micro permit fee. A pretty trail through the trees and tall grass leads you down a short staircase to the beach (though a tree currently blocks the end of the path). We are entering via the beach, then up a short sand dune, and over to the Hidden Cove. With any permit, our insurance is included, which saves you about $125.
Pfeiffer Beach. A hard-to-find beach (not marked) down Highway 1 in Big Sur that has a windy, 2-mile road that leads down to it. Beautiful beach (it can be windy, but there are some trees up on a dune that can protect you from the wind) with waves that crash through a keyhole cut into the rocks. Only for smaller elopements, per the beach rules (not available year-round). Note: During the rainy season, if the road at the bottom floods, they close the beach without notice. Also, in high season, they limit cars, so if you have 3 cars going down for a wedding and 2 make it, the third may have to wait a while (basically until 1-2 cars come back up, so it's unpredictable).