Who To Call For Scheduling A Wedding Ceremony On Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and All Other Nearby Beaches

Simple Carlina Beach Wedding

Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach plus all other beaches in the Wilmington area have policies and procedures in place to schedule romantic wedding ceremonies.

What’s not romantic is showing up for your wedding on the beach and finding another wedding party taking place on your spot, at your time - and they have a permit to be there and you don’t.

Some beaches have fees and some don’t. Some allow you to put up tents and some don’t. If your expected group size exceeds a certain number of guests, you are expected to provide port-a-potties on Wrightsville Beach. At the very least, you must apply for a “Special Event Permit” at Wrightsville Beach whatever size wedding you are planning.

Carolina Beach is less restrictive but if you want to use the gazebo for your simple beach wedding, there’s a $25 fee to book and reserve it.

Kure Beach will not allow you to set up chairs, tents or arbors but you do not have to have a permit to get married on that beach.

Fort Fisher has an ocean front gazebo available for weddings but it requires an application and $300 to reserve.

North Carolina Beach is a 'drive-on' beach. Only four wheel drive vehicles are allowed and you must have a pass whether it's for a day, weekend or annual access.

There are restrictions on all of the beaches for setting up and taking down chairs and or arbors.

Cape Fear Wedding Minister on Topsail Island

All the beaches have rules and requirements for using their beach which you must know BEFORE you show up for your wedding.

So, how do you do it and who do you call to set up your ceremony on the beach-of-your-choice?

Cape Fear Wedding has a list of all the New Hanover County, Brunswick County and Topsail Island beach authority contacts. Click on the link below to be taken to an article which has the list. Select the beach-of-your-choice under the heading, “Beach town rules, guidelines, and contacts” at the bottom of the page.

Learn what you need to know to be in compliance with local beach policies so your wedding day ceremony goes smoothly - and legally!

Here’s the link:  The Beach Of Your Choice

Wrightsville Beach Weddings and Parking

Wrightsville Beach weddings and parking issues go hand-in-hand. The challenge of limited parking at beaches often sneaks up on couples as they plan their wedding day. Many couples don't even realize it is something to consider.

Frustration and embarrassment abound when guests can’t find a place to park or don’t have change in their pockets to feed the meters which causes many of them to be late to your wedding ceremony or miss it altogether.

The solution is to make sure you first include parking as an item on your planning checklist and second, find options to meet the challenge based on the size of your guests list. Once you overcome the challenge, make sure to give good and complete information to your guests ahead of time so they can be prepared.

Parking on Wrightsville Beach is a

first-come-first- serve system.

It’s metered, $2 an hour, and closely monitored by local authorities. You can’t save spaces or reserve blocks of spaces. But you do have several good options for the convenience of your guests.

The Cape Fear Wedding Guide provides some GREAT information and tips about parking at beaches as well as downtown Wilmington. 

Wrightsville Beach Weddings and Parking

The Town of Wrightsville Beach also posted details about parking places on the island.

Town of Wrightsville Beach Parking Information

NEVER PARK on private property or in a spot reserved for customers of a business or any other restricted site, you will be towed. Make sure you inform all your out of town guests so they do not return for their car and it's gone.

Whatever size guest list you have, parking must be discussed and decided upon long before your wedding day to ensure everyone arrives on time to witness your  beautiful beach ceremony.

Getting Married on Carolina Beach

Carolina Beach Weddings, CapeFearWeddingMinister.com

CB Fireworks; CapeFearWeddingMinister.com

Carolina Beach is one of the most sought out beaches for destination weddings in the Wilmington, North Carolina area.

During the busy season from May to September, the island rocks with activity! A carnival sets up at the Boardwalk, an outdoor movie screen at the Lake shows movies on Sunday nights, and live music along with a sunset fireworks display takes place every Thursday night. It’s all FREE (except the carnival rides).

So many couples getting married make their event a family affair so all these great activities keep everyone from the kids to the grandparents happily engaged in the rhythm of celebrating your wedding!

As of this writing, the township of Carolina Beach does not charge to have a ceremony on the sand like Wrightsville Beach does. On Carolina Beach you can even set up a tent, arbor, and chairs if you’d like. Sometimes flower pedals grace the center isle for the bride.

Beach rules apply at Carolina Beach when having a wedding on the sand, like:

*you can't officially reserve the spot for your ceremony,

*you can't block a public entrance/exit to the beach,

*no open flames like candle or tiki torches,

*no blasts like fireworks or poppers.

There is not a webpage or website at this time which has all this information but you would be conducting good due diligence by making a phone call.

For all the information you could need to know about having your beach wedding on Carolina Beach contact:

Carolina Beach Parks & Recreation
1121 N. Lake Park Blvd
Carolina Beach, NC 28428

(910) 458-7416