Do I need a permit to get married in a park in Halifax?

How to book an outdoor wedding in Halifax Regional Municipality

If you’re looking for the perfect outdoor venue where you can get married, without spending thousands of dollars and still boast that your venue was absolutely perfect, there are several parks in the HRM area where you can tie the knot and have a perfect photoshoot right after. 

From May to October, 10 am to 7 Pm seven days a week, you can use parks and their facilities for the ceremony — meaning you can get married at the park, have your wedding photoshoot there, but the reception and the celebrations have to be held somewhere else.

Do I need a permit to get married in a park in Halifax? 

Yes! It will cost you $111.00 to get married in a public place in Halifax  - which includes $96 for a wedding ceremony permit and $15.00 for an application fee, which you can find right here. 

How far ahead can I reserve a public park for a wedding ceremony in HRM?

You can reserve your spot up to a year ahead of your wedding date, but it is still on a  first-come-first-serve basis. If you decide to book your spot within an HRM park, it will not be secluded or separated from the general public, however, reserving the spot and times will ensure no one else will be getting married during the time you picked. Yes! It will cost you $111.00 to get married in a public place in Halifax  - which includes $96 for a wedding ceremony permit and $15.00 for an application fee, which you can find right here.  

Things to consider when getting married in a park in Halifax

Be mindful of nature and skip the use of confetti - not only it keeps the environment safe, it will also save you a fine  — throwing confetti or similar materials is prohibited in HRM parks. Thinking of popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate as soon as you said I Do?  Opt for a sparkling apple juice or similar - HRM prohibits the use of alcohol in public places and that includes parks. 

Cancelling the wedding at the park

If you had a change of heart and no longer wish to get married in an HRM park, you can cancel your permit and get your $96 back as long as it’s at least one month ahead of the date. That $15.00 application fee is non-refundable and goes towards administrative and filing fees. If you cancel less than one month in advance, none of the fees are refundable. 

In the event of extreme weather and damage to the park, the city workers will assess any potential damage and if the ceremony can not go ahead due to the park’s conditions, you will be contacted by the city staff and a refund will be issued, if necessary. My suggestion would be to call the city if your wedding is taking place in a park and a big storm came through a few days before, and not wait for the city staff to contact you first. 

Can I get married at the Halifax Public Gardens?

Unfortunately no. The city says the park is too fragile to allow ceremonies to be performed there, and you can imagine that if they did allow it, it would probably see wedding ceremonies at all times. Having said that - wedding photos can be taken onsite and would make for a perfect photo shoot and you don’t need to schedule your session with the city, and only with your photographer! 

If you have anymore questions about getting married at the park, you can email Tracy Murphy murphyt@halifax.ca or call her at 902- 456-0965. 

What kind of permits are required to get married on a beach?

To get married on one of the beaches in Nova Scotia, you also need a permit. Nova Scotia Provincial Parks commission does not require a payment, but they do require that you reach out, fill out a form and specify all the details. When I was speaking to the parks’ representative over the phone, I was informed that sometimes they won’t even issue an official permit for small weddings and will just tell you to go ahead and get married without any papers. It would be wise though to get the person’s name and number to keep with you just in case an authority shows up just as you’re saying your vows.

Provincial parks definitely won’t let you have a giant gathering of 200 people with tents and chairs installed, to preserve the environment, but don’t take me for my word and apply anyways. Applying at least two weeks before the date is recommended, but applying as early as possible will save you the trouble of scrambling for a new venue at the last minute.

There is no fee for a permit to get married on a beach in a provincial park.

Do make sure that the beach you choose is a provincial beach and not an HRM beach. This link will take you there.

If you’re set on getting married on a provincial beach, here is the link to the list of all parks that have wonderful beaches. 

In conclusion, getting married on a beach is not as easy as just walking in and saying I Do - it’s as easy as filling out a form, waiting and then saying I Do!

All the best with your planning from Anka Goold Photography in Halifax and fingers crossed for the weather cooperating for your beach wedding!