Planning A Beach Wedding On
Lake Winnipesaukee

Now that you've decided to get married, there are many things to do.  First,  you pick a date and then where you want your wedding to take place.  There are some basics that everyone needs to do beforehand and other things that are necessary if you want a beach wedding or one in the park.

Marriage License

Each town in New Hampshire takes care of the marriage licenses.  You don't have to be a resident of the town or even the state for that matter.  If you plan on getting married in the Lake Winnipesaukee area, just stop by the town hall to fill out the paperwork.  Both of you need to be there and show identification.  If either of you have been married before, a copy of the dissolution of marriage needs to be presented.  There is a fee of $45.00 for the marriage license.

For up-to-date information or additional questions, the following town offices can help you with what you need to know for a beach or park wedding in the Lake Winnipesaukee area.

Beach or Park Weddings

If you want to have a beach wedding or one in the park around Lake Winnipesaukee it can be done.  The beaches are small, so it's best to  have the ceremony there and the reception elsewhere.  Because the beaches and parks are public, you will have other people around.

There are some rules and regulations to follow for a wedding on the beach.  You'll need to contact the Parks and Recreation department in each town to fill out an application.  Some towns require you to send a letter to the selectman before the town meeting.  Most towns require you to show proof of liability.  Just call your homeowners insurance company and request an umbrella policy to cover that day.  This is to insure that any damage from guests is covered.

If you have the wedding early in the morning or late afternoon/early evening, there are less people.  Because they are public be aware of the time the beach closes.

State Beach

Ellacoya Sate Park is a state run beach on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee and may follow different rules.  Usually you will pay a fee to enter the park.  Remember, there will be other people at the beach.

Make it all happen

Now that the necessary paperwork is done, it's time to focus on the planning of the wedding day.  This can be fun for do it yourselfers and other might prefer someone to help.

If you're planning your big day in a traditional setting, a wedding planner or event coordinator from a resort can help you every step of the way.  Plan early, though.  Many of these resorts need to be booked up to a year ahead of time.

If your wedding will be out of the ordinary, you might want to plan your wedding yourself.  Years ago I planned my own wedding and it can get aggravating, especially when the date is just around the corner.  There are a lot of details that can be overlooked and many ways to cut costs without losing quality.