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Coronado Limits Beach Weddings with New Policy

Coronado, CA (July 24, 2012) - After receiving complaints about too many weddings on the beach, Coronado agreed last week to require permits and charge fees for beach weddings of any size, and to assign a liaison to supervise each event.

At its July 17 meeting, the Coronado City Council approved a more restrictive beach wedding policy that is expected to recover the City's coordinating, scheduling and supervising costs, and improve access for all coastal visitors. Council members also established three time-restricted loading zones for beach-wedding and other special-event permit-holders who cart accessories, such as arbors, signs and chairs, on and off the beach.

"The new permit and fee requirements, along with the parking plan, will allow the City to monitor and limit the number of weddings on the beach and their associated event vendors," said Recreation Director Linda Rahn.

Under the new policy, any event that includes bringing any equipment or accessories on the beach will require a permit and have a Recreation Department liaison assigned to review, supervise and enforce restrictions for event setup, parking, deliveries, noise and clean up on the wedding day.

The new beach wedding permit fees range from $150 to $1,000 and are based on the size of the event or number of vendors that have parking and loading requirements. The new fees go into effect September 1, 2012, for all new permits. Existing permits will be honored.

Under the policy, beach weddings also have the following limitations and conditions of use:

No permits will be issued for Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day holidays or holiday weekends;
No permits will be issued for Central Beach, the busiest area for Coronado Lifeguards, on Saturday and Sunday between May 1 and September 30 or on Easter weekend;
Central Beach weddings will be limited to 50 or fewer people;
Alcohol, catering, electrical generators and portable restrooms are NOT allowed.

Previously, the City did not require permits for beach weddings with 25 or fewer people, which resulted in an unknown number of smaller ceremonies, in addition to larger weddings that received permits. City staff will begin implementing an aggressive campaign to inform commercial wedding and event planners of the new policies and encourage them to inform their suppliers.

In addition, permitted events must use one of three loading zones at North Beach, off Ocean Drive adjacent to the North Beach restrooms; at Central Beach within an existing, striped traffic island on Ocean Boulevard at RH Dana Place; and at South Beach on the Avenida del Sol cul-de-sac in an existing parking space.

Tags: city of coronado

3 members like this

Comment by TR on July 26, 2012 at 7:34pm: Well 1st the Sandman, now weddings...I suspect Dr Beach had more to do with the congestion...maybe you could send him a bill....

Comment by Michael Griffith on July 26, 2012 at 9:47pm: I love seeing weddings on the beach. I saw four weddings going on at the same time at various spots on the beach recently. What a wonderful sight it was!

Staff Comment by Anne Covington Morse on July 26, 2012 at 11:24pm: I agree with the previous two comments. I love seeing weddings on the beach! The more the merrier!! I can't imagine anyone complaining about too many weddings... they should be encouraged, not restricted.

Comment by TR on July 27, 2012 at 2:15am: The reality is that most cities would be happy to have the problem of congestion...bringing people in to spend money....yes parking, congestion are a byproduct...but when the summer winds down and that isn't the case and the beach empties out and the streets are empty will the merchants that generate the sales tax and pay the rents feel the same...

The people I see having these weddings appear to include a broad mix and for some, like armed forces personnel who are defending this country and may well be going off to some other part of the world ...this could be a memory that sustains their new bride or groom...or maybe they've just returned and are glad to have made it back at all....

Is this another elitist stance...who instigated it the Shores Condo Pres?...the Del?....

This is a memory during a precarious time in the nation when family formation is on the decline...and instead of pulling more dollars out of their pockets...why not leave a fond memory so that the bride and groom and friends and family are encouraged to return many times over their lifetime, to celebrate and spend money locally when they CAN MORE AFFORD IT.

Weddings are expensive and stressful enough...

Comment by John m on July 27, 2012 at 5:57am: My wife and I take walks along the ocean and love to watch the weddings. It reminds us of our own love for each other. Again Coronado trying to hold on to the old beach community. That horse has left the barn. I was born in Coronado 50years ago and have seen many changes. Weddings on the beach is one of the better changes.

Comment by chuck perkins on July 27, 2012 at 7:32am: On next month's agenda: Too many beach towels & chairs on the beach as well as a fee for sunscreen use. The city will assign a liaison to supervise & collect fees.

Comment by TR on July 27, 2012 at 7:51am: while they're adding those fee's..add that Bridge Toll to the agenda

Comment by Pamela McCollum on July 30, 2012 at 8:22am: Wow. I wonder whose bright idea this was? I I've never had an issue with beach weddings. What about party buses? I'd rather keep the weddings and LOSE the party buses!

Comment by roberto cornejo on July 30, 2012 at 8:27am: the land of the free? not Coronado

Comment by Michael Griffith on July 30, 2012 at 8:38am: Saw three weddings on the beach at sunset in front of the Shores on Saturday while I was on my sunset walk. What a great sight it was. The groups seem to always clean up the area after they are done. Still trying to figure out the adverse impacts of these activities--besides loosing a few parking spaces.

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