Weddingbee boards

If you did, you know there are a ton of rules packed into the permit. So my question is, exactly how serious are they about all that stuff?

Naturally, I’m not advocating any rule-breaking. And I’m certainly not thinking about riding in on the back of an elephant or anything. But maybe you happened to have 30 chairs at your site instead of the allowed 20. Or maybe you had a teeny-tiny set of speakers hooked up to a mic. Or maybe you had bottled water available because your elderly guests were not from Southern California and weren’t sufficiently hydrated for standing around outside in Santa Ana conditions.

 Did you or anyone you know do anything during the ceremony that was technically outside the rules? Did it comeback to bite you? Did you interact with any of the park staff at all, outside of the admin office folks*?

Any advice is welcome! Thank you!

* For anyone thinking about going through the whole lottery process—for us, at least, it wasn’t nearly as intimidating as it sounded on paper and the admin people who helped us were really nice.

@LeahP: It *is* lovely. I'm sure a lot of people have similar stories, but a zoo+park date was one of the formative ones early in our realtionship, so it's an extra special spot for us. :) I wish I lived as close as you!

@irish0680: I didn't go through the park system, but I did want to share my hidden treasure with you. I booked my ceremony at Marston House Gardens. Most people in SD don't even know it exists. The booking goes through SOHO instead of the park lottery. I also wanted to ask you about the zoo. I'm still hunting for a reception site and have considered the zoo. Do you have a set site you are looking at there?

@sandiegosarah: Hey there! The Marston house grounds are spectacular and I would have had the ceremony there in half a heartbeat -- but it was out of our budget.  Unfortunately I can't be much help on the Zoo front. If all goes according to plan, we're buying out a restarant in Hillcrest for the reception. (But I do think we might dash in to the zoo with our photographers for a shot with the flamingos or the Skyfari buckets or something.)

For anyone looking at late 2012 thru 2014: We just recieved an addenda to the agreement we already signed letting us know that there may be construction in the park as early as October 2012 and running until the centennial celebration. (Google "Plaza de Panama Project".)

Interestingly, the part they  want us to sign is written as if we're merely applying for a permit, not that this new disclaimer and release is being added retroactively to an existing-and-paid-for permit . Oh, well. I'm overly familiar with how long public works projects take, so I'm taking my chances that they won't actually get around to it the very first week of October.  

@tootsweet:

Hi Tootsweet--

***I just realized -- it's January of 2012. You won't need to participate in a lottery! They already held it. It's now first come, first served. If you don't have your permit yet you can just walk right in and get it (assuming the date/spot/time are still open). I'll keep going with the lottery info, though, in case others might find it helpful.

Here's the deal. Permits for park sites are issued up to a year in advance, and the issuing period kicks off with a "lottery" on the first day. I have an October 2012 date. So on the morning of the first working Monday of October 2011, I went to the administration building with this form in hand. And so did everyone else who wanted to have the best shot at getting their date in October 2012. In my case, just one other person was there and she wanted a different day and a different location in the park. So there was no picking names out of a hat -- but for Saturdays during big wedding months, you can bet there's more competition. If any two people want the same spot on the same day at the same time, they'll randomly draw to see who gets it.

After the lottery, which take place just on that one day, permits for "X" month are issued on a first come, first served basis.

Looking back, for us the lottery wasn't really necessary. We're getting married on a Sunday in October. And it looks like you're renewal will be on a Sunday during the holidays, which may be even more wide open. What are the chances, in such a big park, that you'll really be competing for space? Probably not high, so don't stress about the lottery. I'd go just be on the safe side, but not be worried.

A few other things --

the cost (right now) for San Diego City residents is $273. It's $500 for anyone who doesn't give an address within the city limits. No discount for be a county resident. So if you have a friend in San Diego proper, consider borrowing their mailbox.

there are no permits issued for times before 10 a.m. People have certainly just had morning ceremonies before then. For free.

a permit comes with tons of restrictions and basically no rights. If another group wants to come in with their own wedding or event, the permit holder can contact someone at the park (I have no idea who, or how) to get their permit enforced, but you legally can't keep any one out of the site you're reserved. For us, we paid the money anyway we love the park and see it as a way of supporting it.