Tauranga has many beautiful parks, reserves and beaches, that are ideal for wedding ceremonies. If you want to hold your ceremony at a location managed by Council, this is what you need to know.
It is recommended that you make a request to hold your ceremony on public land using the scheduling system. This allows you to check availability due to other bookings and enables us to get in touch with you if we become aware of anything in the vicinity that might impact your ceremony.
While it's helpful when people use the scheduling tool, it doesn't provide exclusive use of a public space. If we're made aware of an event that may have an impact on your ceremony, we'll attempt to contact you via the scheduling system and let you know.
Please note the below when submitting your ceremony location request:
- Requests can be for up to 2.5 hours (max) and for one location only.
- Multiple locations for the same date will not be held or processed.
Make a request
Please note: when you lodge your application, you are accepting the following terms:
- Council cannot make any specific arrangements to prepare the site for your ceremony e.g. mowing the reserve the day before your ceremony.
- All reserves are on a specific mowing and maintenance regime with our contractors.
Non-exclusive site use
Council isn't responsible if someone else wants to use (or is already using) the site at the same time as you. While we do encourage people to use the scheduling system, it is a public space and other people are entitled to use the reserve at the time.
The use of public spaces for wedding ceremonies are at no cost.
Popular ceremony locations
Some of our sites are more popular than others. Have a look at the site maps to see the different areas available.
Mount Main Beach (206kb pdf)McLaren Falls Park (2.4mb pdf)Memorial Park (453kb pdf)
Papamoa Beach Domain (413kb pdf)Yatton Park (710kb pdf)
Rubbish
You are responsible for the removal of rubbish relating to your ceremony.
Reinstatement of the site
You are responsible for reinstatement of any damage to the grounds.
Protection of trees and Council structures
Signs, banners, guy ropes etc. are not permitted to be attached to any tree or structure on the reserve.
Equipment permitted
The use of a small number of chairs and tables is permitted. The use of minor infrastructure such as tables and chairs and a 3meter by 3meter gazebo is permitted. The safety of these structures is your responsibility, and please ensure they are removed from the site immediately after the ceremony.
You are permitted to display small signs to direct guests to your ceremony but these must be self-standing and not fixed to any existing natural or manmade structure. Any signs, furniture or decorations must be removed from the ceremony location upon your departure.
Amplified sound and vehicles
If you are intending to use low level background music and a microphone for your wedding ceremony, please make sure the speakers are facing away from neighbouring properties and businesses. If you are on the beach the speakers should point towards the ocean.
Public parking areas must remain available to the public and cannot be reserved exclusively for your guests. Vehicle access is not permitted onto the reserves for weddings so all access must be on foot for the bridal party and guests.
Alcohol at your wedding ceremony
Various locations within Tauranga are designated as being alcohol-free. This means that alcohol can't be carried or consumed at these locations and heavy penalties are in place for those found not abiding by this. If you are planning on getting married at either of these locations and you still want to have a toast please fill out the application for dispensation from a liquor ban form below and send it to parkingadmin@tauranga.govt.nz.
Please note: Between 26 December and 5 January (inclusive) there are additional areas around the city that are included within the alcohol-free zones.
Alcohol-free zones within Tauranga
Reserves that need special care
Gate Pā Domain, Hopukiore (Mount Drury), Masonic Park, Mauao, Moturiki (Leisure Island), Ōtūmoetai Pā, and Robbins Park (Cliff Road rose gardens) are significant cultural and archaeological areas, and ground disturbance cannot occur due to archaeological features, e.g., this means that pegs can't be used for a gazebo. There may also be further conditions to be aware of with regards to use of these sites for a ceremony. Please contact the Event Bookings Coordinator for further information.
Please note that this information is only applicable to wedding ceremonies. If you are hoping to hold a wedding reception on Council’s public land these are considered on a case-by-case basis by the event facilitation team.