Weddingbee Blog

On my last post, a reader named Kelly made a comment that got me thinking: she said we’d chosen a less-than-ideal spot for our wedding, because it was a public park and strangers were talking. It’s true–it wasn’t ideal in a few ways. The park service was really difficult to coordinate with, and there weren’t any good bathrooms. However, Mr. Cream Puff and I haven’t regretted getting married at Crissy Field at all, not even for a moment. Yes, there were strangers talking, but quite frankly, we couldn’t care less. For those of you getting married at a public park (or those of you who are interested), here’s a list of the pros and cons of getting married at a public park. Some of the reasons are specific to our location and to us, so they might not apply to you.

The Cons:

- The logistics of it were a pain in the neck: we had a horrible time trying to get the permit for the spot because the park service is really slow. They also charge a premium for the permit, just because it’s a wedding (I believe they are now charging $600, vs. $59 for a picnic in the same place).
- We couldn’t have amplified sound because birds nest close to the amphitheater. This, combined with a few strangers talking around the ceremony site, made it kind of difficult for a few guests to hear. Oops.
- There will be strangers around, and they might not do what you want (this really wasn’t too much of an issue for us).

The Pros:

- We were married in one of the most beautiful places in San Francisco: right by the bay, with the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco city skyline as a backdrop. It. was. breathtaking.
- We were married in a place that meant a lot to us personally; it was a significant location in our relationship (actually, this part means so much to me that it still almost makes me cry!)
- Strangers always love to see a wedding, and they tell you you’re beautiful, which always feels nice! They also get really, really excited for you and wish you congratulations many times over, which was awesome for both Mr. Cream Puff and I.
- It was fun for our guests to attend such a “San Francisco” wedding. A few of our guests had never been to the bay area before, so it was fun to show them how beautiful it is here, and why we love it.

Overall, I would definitely say that it was totally worth any problems we encountered to get married at Crissy Field, at least for us. Just to refresh your memories (or maybe I haven’t told you guys this before), but Mr. Cream Puff and I decided to start dating exclusively at Crissy Field. To have our wedding there three years later was so meaningful to us.

And I still can’t believe how wonderful the weather was.