Marin County Site 010903expanse
Marin County Site 010903expanse
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Located north of San Francisco in Marin County, the overlook gives a panoramic view of the California coastline from the top of the bluff above the beach. Ceremonies are allowed on the lawn only--although you can have photos taken anywhere on the path and out at the point.
A permit is required to have a wedding of any size at this site. And I'm going to be totally honest--it is VERY difficult to secure a permit here. This site is owned and managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and the staff there refuse to commit to a price, are slow to return emails and phone calls, and basically do everything they can to make the process of securing a permit as difficult as possible.
Having said that, if this is where you want to be married, we'll take on the task of trying to obtain a permit for you.
What we love about this site:
Incredible ocean backdrop.
Potential drawbacks of this site
There is a permit fee and the agency that runs this venue often won't commit to an exact amount until after you apply.
Permitters are slow to grant permits; need at least 6 months lead time.
Accessibility
Parking: 27 spaces. We strongly recommend carpooling.
Access from parking: may be difficult to access for those with mobility issues.
Additional Logistics
Dogs/Pets: yes, but must be leashed at all times.
Bathrooms: yes.
Suitable for children: yes.
Max vehicles accommodated: 27, but the parking lot gets full quickly, and tends to stay that way. We strongly recommend carpooling.
Max number of guests at this site: 30.
Dates and Times of Availability: year-round.
Type of site: public, reservable.
Permits, Fees and Other Information
Permits, Fees and Other Information
A permit is required to have a wedding of any size here. And I'm going to be totally honest--it is VERY difficult to secure a permit here. This site is owned and managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and the staff there refuse to commit to a price, are slow to return emails and phone calls, and basically do everything they can to make the process of securing a permit as difficult as possible. That said, if this is where you want to be married, we'll take on the task of trying to obtain a permit for you.
The permit can be anywhere from $300 to 1 gazillion dollars (I say this because they have never given us an "upper limit" price.) Generally speaking, if your wedding is small and informal, they will book you at the $300 - $450 rate, but no promises can be made.
In additional, they charge us a $75 non-refundable application fee to apply for the permit. (If you book the site, the $75 is applied to your permit, but if you decline to book (after seeing the price), that $75 is not refundable.
Your wedding must be--at minimum--six months in the future for us to attempt to book any GGNRA site. (Meaning, we won't apply for a permit if your wedding is less than six months away.) It simply takes too long for them to issue the permit so anything less than six months of lead time isn't workable.
Definitely a buyer beware type of site. In addition, the permit does not guarantee you exclusive use of the site as this is a public park.
This site does not allow chairs, arches, lecterns or music. You do not have exclusive use of the site when getting married here; most likely there will be tourists alongside your ceremony. This is not the site we recommend if you're looking for total privacy for your ceremony.
It can get very windy around the overlook. Make sure to bring extra layers and a jacket just to be safe.
Photos
Video
Location
Note: place marker is approximate; the actual location will be provided upon booking.
Mill Valley 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.
Mill Valley Average Temps and Precipitation
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