This site is managed by the U.S Forest Service and no permit is required to do a small, informal wedding here. Chairs and arches, however, are not allowed.
Many of our couples think that beaches are abundant in Big Sur, but that's not the case. Most "beaches" are surrounded by cliffs and therefore not accessible. This site is the exception.
The experience here is magical, from the entrance walk through the woods, down to the beach with its magnificent rock formations.
It has limited parking and once the parking area is closed, there is absolutely no alternative parking. The parking lot gets full very early in tourist season. Therefore, weddings are not allowed here from March through October.
(There are many things to consider before deciding upon this site for your venue. If we haven't already discussed the ins and outs of getting married here, please touch base with us before selecting this venue.)
The drive is two miles down a windy, narrow road. There is no parking on this road. No RV's allowed. If the parking lot is full, you and your vendors will be turned away. There are no nearby alternative beach wedding venues to this site. This makes the site a dicey one to have as a wedding venue.
$12 parking fee--cash or check only. Dogs allowed on a leash.
What we love about this site:
The ocean views and rock formations are incredible.
Really pretty walk into the beach.
Free site, but no decorations, chairs, arches, etc. are allowed.
Dogs are allowed.
Potential drawbacks of this site
Once parking is full, there's no other parking or site around.
Very busy in tourist season (March thru October)
Accessibility
Parking: $12/vehicle fee. 50-60 spaces between two lots. We strongly recommend carpooling. Once the parking areas are full, rangers turn people back. There is no secondary parking area.
Access from parking: Accessible for most. Walk from parking is over concrete, then about 1000' through loose sand.
Additional Logistics
Dogs: yes.
Bathrooms: yes.
Suitable for children: yes, but make sure someone is holding their hand near the water.
Max vehicles accommodated: 50-60, but those spaces can fill up quickly and stay that way. Once the parking lot is deemed full by rangers, they have you turn around and head back.
Max number of guests at this site: 4.
Type of site: public/nonreservable.
Availability: November through February
Reservations and Fees
There is a $12 parking fee per vehicle (cash or check only)
This site is not reservable--it is open and free to the public. Please note these terms from our contract for nonreservable sites:
Blue Sky Elopements and Client's assigned wedding professionals are not responsible for issues related to unforeseen closures/restrictions/inaccessibility of unbooked (i.e. Clients do not pay to reserve their location) venues. If Client chooses to be married at a public venue that is not reserved in advance, then it is Client's responsibility to ensure the venue is accessible on the wedding day. Note: additional fees will be applied if Blue Sky Elopements needs to reschedule vendors due to a change in venue.
Photos
Video
Location
Note: place marker is approximate; the actual location will be provided upon booking.
Big Sur Calendar of Events
IMPORTANT: be sure to check the calendar of events for the dates you're considering before you submit your date to us. Local events can impact traffic and the accessibility of your site.
Big Sur Average Temperature and Precipitation