Getting Married in Forsyth Park: What Couples Should Know

You can get married in Forsyth Park, and many couples do. For anything beyond a small, simple gathering, you will need a permit from the City of Savannah, applied for at least 90 days ahead, plus an off-duty police officer for the duration of your event. Here is how it works, what it costs, and how to plan the rest of your day around the park.

Do you need a permit?

In most cases, yes. The City’s Special Events office handles weddings in Savannah’s parks and squares. A permit is typically required once you bring in chairs, tables, a tent, an aisle runner or other décor. A gathering of fewer than 50 people with no setup can go ahead without one, on a first-come, first-served basis, but you cannot reserve the space and you will share it with whoever else is there.

When to apply

Applications open on the first day of the month, one year before your date, and the City requires them at least 90 days before the event. Popular months fill early, so if you have your heart set on a spring or fall Saturday, apply as soon as your window opens.

What it costs

The City lists a $30 application fee and a permit fee with a four-hour minimum:

Each additional hour is $60. You will also need to hire an off-duty Savannah Police Officer for the length of a permitted event. Serving alcohol in a public park requires its own permit, so ask the City about that early.

Fees change, so confirm current amounts with the City’s Special Events office at (912) 351-3837 before you budget.

A few rules worth knowing

• Balloon releases and confetti are not allowed.
• Events in residential areas must end by 9 p.m., and breakdown must finish by 11 p.m.
• Around St. Patrick’s Day, expect blocked-out dates. The fountain is dyed green for the celebration and stays that way until it is over.

Photos at the Forsyth Fountain

The fountain, installed in 1858, is the most photographed spot in the park, and that is the main thing to plan around. It is a public landmark, so expect visitors, street photographers and the occasional passerby in your frame.

• Go early. Weekday mornings are usually the quietest. By late afternoon on weekends, you will be sharing the fountain with tourists.
• Plan for a short stop. Fifteen to twenty minutes with your photographer is usually enough for the fountain itself. The oak-lined paths and quieter corners of the park give you variety without the crowd.
• Ask your photographer to scout. Light under the live oaks changes quickly, and a photographer who knows the park will know where it falls at your hour.

If your photographer is planning a larger shoot with lighting, props or a big wedding party, ask the City’s Special Events office whether a permit applies.

Weather and timing

Savannah summers are hot and humid, and afternoon storms are common from June through September. Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for an outdoor ceremony, which is also why they are peak season for City permits. If you choose a summer date, a morning or early evening ceremony is kinder to your guests.

Whatever the season, have a rain plan. A public park has no indoor fallback, so you will want a tent (permitted in advance) or a nearby indoor space your guests can reach quickly.

The park ceremony or a venue on the park?

A ceremony in the park is beautiful, but it means you take on the logistics: the permit, the officer, rentals, a rain plan, and a separate place for the reception. Many couples choose a venue on the edge of the park instead, so they get the setting and the photos without the public crowd.

A new venue on Forsyth Park

The Heritage on Forsyth is a historic building on Drayton Street, at the edge of the park, being restored as a wedding venue. When it opens in January 2028, it will host weddings of up to 200 guests, with a ballroom, a garden and a ceremony space, a short walk from the fountain. Weddings are all-inclusive, with planning and bar, and one planner guides you from your first tour to your send-off.

If you are planning a 2028 wedding, join our list and we will write to you personally when the first dates are released and private tours begin.