Washington Oaks Gardens State Park Permit Rules

Permits,
2 min read Mar 27, 2024

Ceremony Rules & What to Know

Please follow these park rules during your ceremony. This is a protected garden environment, and violations may result in your permit being canceled.

Public Access & Permit Basics

  • Your permit is non-exclusive, meaning other members of the public may be present.

  • The park may hold your group responsible for any damage to park property.

Food, Drink & Alcohol

  • Food and drink are prohibited in the Formal Gardens.

  • Alcohol is prohibited in all areas of the park.

Trails, Photography & Where You Can Walk

  • Please stay on designated trails and pathways.

  • All photography must be taken on the pathways.

  • Do not enter any garden beds. This damages sensitive park resources.

  • Vehicles are not permitted to drive on any paths in the gardens.

Restoration Areas & Sensitive Zones

To protect restoration work, the following rules are strictly enforced:

  • Do not walk, stand, or sit in the mondo grass under the oak trees.

  • Do not enter or disturb:

    • Garden beds

    • Mondo grass restoration areas

    • Ponds

    • Beach dunes

    • Shoreline restoration areas

  • Entering these areas or damaging natural resources may result in cancellation of your permit and an immediate request to leave the park.

Decorations & Setup

  • Nails, push pins, staples, screws, or any adhesive device/material are prohibited for hanging décor.

  • Decorations may only be tied with string.

  • Décor and lights may not be hung from trees, branches, or vegetation.

  • Chairs or special décor must be discussed and approved by the park before setup.

Prohibited Items & Foreign Materials

To preserve the park’s natural environment, the following are prohibited:

  • Smoke bombs

  • Confetti, rice, glitter

  • Balloons

  • Dropping silk flower petals

  • Dropping fake or real petals

  • Introducing any foreign materials

  • Releasing live birds, butterflies, or any animal

Pets, Drones & Other Restrictions

  • Pets are not allowed.

  • Drones are not permitted.

Visitor Center & Gift Shop

  • All activities, changing clothing, and gatherings of bridal parties or large crowds are not permitted inside the Visitor Center Museum or Gift Shop.

Music & Power

  • Music is permitted.

  • Electricity is available at the Octagon.

Seasonal Note

  • Roses are typically cut back around February 1 and usually do not bloom again until around mid-April.

  • Cutting or pulling any flower (including roses) is prohibited.

 

Permits
Written by Janessa White

Janessa White is the co-founder of Simply Eloped and has helped thousands of couples plan elopements. As an expert in the field, she has been featured on Brides.com, Vox, and HuffPost. Janessa thinks elopements are the ultimate way to tie the knot.