You may be surprised to know that you can't necessarily book a celebrant, a ceremony arch, some chairs and rock up at a beach to get married in Melbourne, Australia.
You'll generally need a council permit if you're having a wedding ceremony and/or reception, with 50 people or more, erecting any structure such as a marquee, getting catering from a third party, or wanting to park your wedding cars on council land.
Bayside beach weddings
Except for the Sandringham Band Rotunda, getting a permit doesn't grant exclusive access to an area, and you can't lock or fence off public space for your wedding.
Bayside foreshore location hire fees are $490 for two-hour booking with additional time at $200 an hour.
Click here for Bayside Council wedding permit
Port Philip beach weddings
Some great waterview venues include Luna Parkand Harbour Room in St Kilda, and Little Blue St Kilda Pier nearby, Carousel at Albert Park and Port Melbourne Yacht Club.
Fees start from $166 for a General Garden wedding permit and $266 for getting married in Heritage Gardens which include Catani Gardens, St Vincent Gardens & The St Kilda Botanical Gardens.
Click here for Port Philip Council wedding permit
Shire of Mornington Peninsula beach weddings
The Mornington Peninsula is blessed with dozens of beautiful beaches, stretching from Frankston with its lovely waterfront Waves On The Beach venue through to the historic Portsea Hotel. Other iconic venues include The Sorrento Baths and the sweeping ocean vistas of RACV Cape Schanck Resort.
While you don't need a wedding permit, if you want to secure a particular wedding location for the date and time you require, you should pay $60 and submit an application to ensure that no other weddings are booked into the space you want.
Greater Geelong beach weddings
The best-known areas to marry in Greater Geelong include East Beach, West Beach, Customs Park, Steampacket Gardens and Transvaal Square. These are ideal if you're thinking of hosting your wedding reception at The Pier Geelong, historic Lorne Beach Pavilion or nearby at Peppers The Sands Torquay.
Surprisingly, there is no permit fee to be paid for getting married on council land, but you do need to fill in an application should a major event need to use your site on the day of your wedding.
Click here for Greater Geelong Council wedding application.
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