Let’s Talk About Permits! — A Fabulous Soiree

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One thing that couples are usually unaware of when it comes to their wedding day celebration is the importance of permits. Depending on your big day, you may or may not need to secure a permit. Read on to learn more about the most common types of permits you may need for your wedding day.

1. Event Permit

An event permit can also be considered a rental permit or rental fee associated with being able to hold your event in a certain location. You’ve likely seen wedding ceremonies on the beach here in Sunny Socal but probably didn’t think you’d need to obtain a permit in order to be able to hold a ceremony there. In many SoCal cities (and likely all across the country), you will need to secure a permit if you wish to hold your wedding in a public space. Otherwise, you’ll face hefty fines and even worse, canceling your entire celebration altogether.

2. Photography Permit

Some locations require you to obtain and pay for a permit to be able to take photos, whether they’re engagement photos or wedding day photos. Like our Joshua Tree wedding from 2020, our couple had to obtain an event permit to use the space for their ceremony as well as pay for a photography permit so that their photography team would be able to take photos.

We always suggest consulting with your photo/video team to help select the best locations and locations that may not need permits at all.

3. Drone / Aerial Photography Permit

As a part 2 to the Photography Permit, if you wish to capture drone footage of your wedding day, you may also need to obtain a permit for this, depending on your venue/location. National Parks do not allow drone photography or videography, so it’s always best practice to check with your planner and/or photographer or videographer to help make suggestions and confirm this information.

4. Fire Permit

Many of the venues we have worked at do not allow open flame. This means if you wish to incorporate lit candles as a part of your decor, you will either need to ensure that they are inside an enclosed space (like a glass vase) or use LED candles. Additionally, the venue may require you to obtain a fire permit to be able to use open flame at your wedding. You’ll need to call either the Fire Department or a separate entity to obtain this permit. Consult with your venue coordinator to learn the best way to get this done.

The best piece of advice we can give you with regards to permits is to make sure you give yourself enough time to get them! Talk to your planner, photographer, or videographer and simply ask them “Do I need a permit?” to get the conversation started. The more you know, the better (and easier) your wedding planning will be.