Getting married in a park or on the beach: what you need to know

Some of the loveliest ceremony spots on the Gold Coast cost next to nothing: a patch of grass under a big old fig, a quiet stretch of sand at sunrise, a lookout with the whole hinterland rolled out behind the couple. Public spaces are beautiful, relaxed and kind on the budget.

But "public" doesn’t mean "no paperwork". Councils and national parks have their own rules, and it’s much better to know them now than to find out on the day when a ranger wanders over. Here’s what you need to know.

First, the legal bit doesn’t change

In Australia you can legally marry almost anywhere: a park, a beach, a backyard or a mountaintop. The legal requirements are the same wherever you are: a Notice of Intended Marriage lodged with your celebrant at least one month before, an authorised celebrant, the legal words and vows, and two witnesses aged 18 or over. If you’re new to all this, my post So, you want to get married walks through it step by step.

What a public space adds is permission to use the spot. That comes from whoever manages the land, and on the Gold Coast that’s usually the City of Gold Coast, Scenic Rim Regional Council or Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

Gold Coast beaches: you need a permit

Ceremonies on City of Gold Coast surf beaches need a beach wedding permit from council. The main conditions:

• Up to 50 people, and that includes your celebrant, wedding party and helpers.
• Up to 2 hours, including set-up and pack-down.
• A marquee is fine, up to 4m x 3m. Council doesn’t supply furniture, power or fencing.
• Non-alcoholic drinks only on the beach.
• No confetti, balloons or rice, to protect wildlife.
• No driving or parking on the sand. Follow the parking signs nearby.
• Keep amplified sound at a reasonable level.
• Your photographer and videographer don’t need their own permit.

A few spots are off limits for ceremonies: the Justins Park viewing platform at Burleigh, Echo Beach on the Burleigh Head National Park side of Tallebudgera Creek, and Surfers Paradise beach between Hanlan Street and Cavill Avenue.

You apply online through council, with a simple map of your preferred spot. It’s worth checking council’s events calendar first so you don’t end up sharing the beach with a surf carnival.

Gold Coast parks: book your spot

For a ceremony in a council park, book through the City of Gold Coast. A booking means council won’t schedule another wedding or large group in the same place at the same time. At the time of writing, a standard park ceremony costs $129.50 and the Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens $333.50, booked in two-hour blocks.

Good to know:

• You can bring your own set-up: an aisle runner, an arch, flags, a signing table and a 3m x 3m pop-up marquee (without pegs in the grass). Chairs are limited to 20.
• Biodegradable confetti, loose petals and bubbles are OK. Rice isn’t, because it attracts wildlife.
• No alcohol. Drinking in public parks isn’t allowed under Queensland law, so save the bubbly for the reception.
• No power, and no vehicle access. Music needs to stay under 72 decibels.
• It’s still a public park. You can’t fence off an area, so expect the odd jogger or curious dog.
• On a calm-water beach, like along the Broadwater, you usually book the park next to it rather than getting a beach permit.

The hinterland and Tamborine Mountain

Much of the hinterland, including Tamborine Mountain, falls under Scenic Rim Regional Council. To use a council park for an event, you lodge an Application for Park Use at least 10 working days beforehand. Very small gatherings, under 20 people with little or no set-up, may not need one, but call council on (07) 5540 5111 to check for your spot.

For national parks like Springbrook, Lamington or Tamborine National Park, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service may need to approve an organised event. A wedding group of more than 40 people in day-use areas or on walking tracks, or more than 15 in remote off-track areas, generally needs one. Submit the organised events notification form and allow up to 15 business days for a reply.

If you’d rather skip the permits altogether, a venue like Tamborine Mountain Glades gives you the rainforest feel with the logistics sorted.

Practical tips from the aisle

• Time it well. Mid-morning and late afternoon are kinder on guests than the midday sun, and parks and beaches are quieter then too.
• Think about sound. Wind, waves and traffic swallow voices fast. My PA system is included in my fee, so your guests hear every word.
• Look after older guests. A few chairs in the shade and a heads-up about the walk from the car park go a long way.
• Have a plan B. Some Gold Coast parks have small undercover areas, but they can’t be booked exclusively, so line up a nearby backup.

Rules change, so check before you book

Everything above was correct when I wrote it in October 2026, but fees and conditions do change. Check the latest with the City of Gold Coast beach wedding permit page, the park weddings page, Scenic Rim Regional Council, or Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.

And if you’re not sure where to start, just ask. I’ve married couples on the sand and up in the hinterland, and I’m always happy to suggest a spot or help you work out what you need. Travel across the Gold Coast and hinterland is included, and if all you need is the legal part, my $550 legals-only ceremony is perfect for a simple park or beach elopement.