Beach Weddings
Beach Wedding Ceremony applications have a processing fee of $200 and applications are due 45 business days prior to the event date.
Beach Wedding Permits
A beach wedding permit is not required for a simple, small ceremony that:
- Will not section/cordon off an area of the public beach for exclusive use AND
- Will not have any equipment (tents, chairs, arches, etc.) AND
- Total number of attendees will not exceed 199
A beach wedding permit is required for a ceremony that:
- Will section/cordon off an area of the public beach for exclusive use OR
- Will have equipment (tents, chairs, arches, etc.) OR
- Will total number of attendees will be 200 or more
A beach wedding permit will allow exclusive use of the public beach for up to a three-hour time frame. The three-hour time frame includes setup, ceremony and breakdown. The permit will also allow for use of equipment such as tents, chairs, arches, etc.
Amplified sound is permitted, however, the City may impose reasonable restrictions on noise at wedding ceremonies authorized by special event permits.
The beach wedding permit is for the ceremony only. The City of Virginia Beach does not permit private receptions on public property. Food and alcohol are not permitted.
Locations where beach wedding permits are issued:
- 2nd Street to 88th Street Oceanfront
- Public beaches of Sandbridge (except Little Island Park, managed by Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation)
Dates for beach wedding permits:
- Permits can be issued year round for a beach wedding ceremony
- Beach wedding permits will not be issued for:
- Memorial Day Weekend
- The week of Fourth of July
- Labor Day Weekend
- Any location that will interfere with activities such as a special event, construction, maintenance projects, etc.
- No open flames (includes sky lanterns, tiki torches, etc.).
- No generators.
- No glass is permitted.
- No helium balloons, rice, birdseed, confetti/streamers and fake flower petals (silk, plastic, nylon, etc.) is permitted due to environmental concerns. Dropping fake flower petals is littering. Please use REAL, un-dyed flower petals.
- If you are using any equipment or structures during your ceremony please remove them from the beach. Do not leave arches, chairs, fence, ribbons, bubble bottles, beverage containers, decorations, etc. behind. Basically, if you bring it out to the beach, please take it with you after the event. Clean up after yourself and your guests and please leave only footprints.
Parking is limited at the Oceanfront and Sandbridge Beaches.
Park in legal, designated parking spaces only. No vehicles are allowed on the boardwalk or the beach. This includes loading and unloading ceremony materials and equipment. There are multiple public parking lots and garages for your convenience.
- The surface lots open at 8 a.m. and charge a fee from April 1 through Oct. 31.
- The parking garages open at 7 a.m. and charge a fee throughout the entire year.
- Parking lots are public and cannot be restricted.
- Adhere to all parking restrictions. No red zone parking or blocking of driveways. Double parking by limousines is not allowed. There are no additional parking privileges provided with the obtainment of a permit.
- The City will not block off a designated area for your ceremony. That is the responsibility of the permit applicant and/or wedding party.
- The City will not provide any services for your ceremony (electrical source, trash services, etc.)
- Ceremonies are prohibited on the boardwalk. The boardwalk or beach access cannot be impeded by the event.
- Obey the environmental rules and the beach signs when choosing a site. (Keep off the rock jetties, stay off the dunes, and do not block sidewalks or beach accesses).
Little Island Park (at Sandbridge Beach)
If you would like a beach location, but your wedding cannot be accommodated within the above guidelines, you may wish to consider Little Island Park. Located at the south end of Sandbridge and provides lifeguards, covered picnic areas with grills, bath houses/showers, lighted tennis courts, basketball court, children's playground and fishing pier. Picnic shelter reservations are available.
Park Weddings
Weddings are welcome in designated parks and park facilities throughout the City of Virginia Beach. Information can be found on the Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation's Weddings in the Parks webpage or contact (757) 385-0465.
First Landing State Park has a beach on the Chesapeake Bay, and other facilities including a courtyard, gazebo and amphitheater which can be rented for weddings, conferences, special events and seminars. Call the park at (757) 412-2320 for details. You may also find more information online from the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.