How to Plan a Wedding at Cathedral Ledge State Park

There are so many amazing public lands in New Hampshire that offer everything from amazing views to the beautiful scenery. If you are a fan of the outdoors and wish to be surrounded by nature during your wedding ceremony, one of the various New Hampshire State Parks may be an option to consider. Below I talk about Cathedral Ledge State Park specifically and offer tons of tips that will help you in your wedding planning.

Why I Love Cathedral Ledge

Besides the views and the amazing hiking trails, Cathedral Ledge is so easy to get to. If you are passing through North Conway on a visit, it's a short drive from the center of town. What is even better is that anyone can enjoy the view! With an auto road that goes to the summit, it is only a short woods walk to the first viewpoint.

If you have seen pictures of weddings at Cathedral Ledge but have not visited, I highly recommend visiting first before making a decision to host your wedding ceremony there. Though it is relatively easy to access, it is still a ledge with rough terrain. Always consider the safety of your guests, their children, and pets when inviting them to a place like this.

Often, your wedding will be your guests' first visit there and they will want to explore! Give them a trail map with your invitation and recommend they walk the trails the day before (if they can.) That way, they will all be familiar with the terrain and the area, allowing for less confusion on the day of.

One thing I absolutely love to help your guests find their way are hand-drawn, artist maps. These are custom made just for your wedding! Click here to see one of my favorites on Etsy.

How to Reserve a Date for Your Wedding Ceremony

If you have fallen in love with Cathedral Ledge and have added it to your top venue choices, give them a call! Be sure to have the dates you are considering ready and be on the same page with your future spouse about all the details that are important to you. Like, what's your vision? How do you want to decorate? How many guests do you expect?

Also, have all your questions about the park ready so you can get an answer the first time you call. This could be about parking, facilities, roping off the area to tourists, and what decorations are allowed.

If one of your dates is available, you will need to apply for a permit and pay a fee. Beyond that, the park staff will not do much more than allow your guests to enter the park. You will need to make arrangements for decorating, putting up signage, ushering guests, and keeping out any wandering tourists.

Other Tips

• The terrain is rough and the ledge is rounded and sloped. Tell your guests that high heels are a bad idea and, frankly, dangerous. Remember this too when shopping for your own wedding shoes!
  
  
• Pets will need to be on a leash. A ledge is a dangerous place for pets, so be sure they are restrained properly and well behaved around crowds and other dogs.
  
  
• There is not much shade at the end of the ledge. If you are planning your wedding in summer, the sun could be bright and hot during your ceremony. There is also a shaded area but the view is not as striking.
  
  
• Have a "Plan B" for the possibility of rain. If there is a downpour, there is nowhere to hide out on the ledge! Have an option at your hotel or some other indoor location just in case.
  
  
• If possible, consider having your ceremony later in the day about an hour before sunset. It will be cooler and the sun will be lower in the sky creating amazing lighting for your photos. Plus, you will have the sunset adding to your backdrop for wedding portraits after the ceremony!
  
  
• Make sure every one of your guests knows where to go after the ceremony. Especially if you would like to use the ledge for wedding photos! You may find your guests and family lingering to get there own pictures of the view. To save time, have someone in charge of ushering guests out of the space politely. That way, you can get your amazing pictures without being disturbed.