(Last Updated On: January 16, 2023)

bride and groom getting married at an american state parkNo location makes as spectacular of a backdrop for saying “I do” as a beautiful state park surrounded by nature.

Around the country, you can find incredible venues, from castles to canyons to beaches, all the epitome of romance.

We found the thirteen of the best spots, in no particular order, from coast to coast to help you find your dream destination wedding.

bride and groom near rock formation at a state park

Map of State Parks Wedding Venues

Here is a map of the American State Parks covered in this post:

1. Odiorne Point State Park, New Hampshire

ocean view at odiorne point state park in new hampshireLocation: 570 Ocean Blvd, Rye, NH 03870

New Hampshire offers hidden beauty on their little stretch of ocean with impressive options for vows. Odiorne Point State Park near Rye offers stunning beauty and facilities too. Say your “I do’s” in front of the rocky shoreline while the waves crash in the background. For the reception, set up a tent to enjoy the lighthouses, sailboats, and the Isles of Shoals for awe-inspiring beauty.

Allow the Seacoast Science Center to host your wedding in the state park with the perfect setup. They will transform their space to match your image of the perfect wedding day, whether you want a formal affair or a clam back on the beach. With room for up to 200 guests and quick access to the waterfront, your day will be even more special, a true event to remember.

2. Indian Springs State Park, Georgia

Location: 678 Lake Clark Rd, Flovilla, GA 30216

Indian Springs State Park, an hour southeast of Atlanta, Georgia, includes a wedding venue along with lovely southern beauty. Whether you are looking for an indoor or outdoor space, they offer it all. You can book the Idlewilde Event Center in the park to make memories at the enormous lakeside terrace with stunning water views and room for five hundred.

At Indian Springs State Park, you can enjoy a night of dancing in the ancient stone pavilion or at the park’s spacious event facility. The rocky river terrain and a low stone bridge may be the perfect backdrop for love. You can relax too as the facility offers catering facilities and AV equipment in each room and many other perks like a gigantic patio as big as a house!

3. Lake Havasu State Park, Arizona

sunset after a wedding at lake havasu state parkLocation: 699 London Bridge Rd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Lake Havasu City is one of the most magnificent outdoor wedding sites in the Southwest on the border of California. Thanks to its gorgeous sun-painted rock formations, white sand beaches, pure blue seas, year-round sunshine, and central location to three states, it’s a wonderful option. You have options too, as you can join your lives together in marriage in fantastically elegant chapels, a pristine beach, on the London Bridge, or on a cruise across the lake.

Nearby Lake Havasu City is home to a wide variety of restaurants and caterers, so no matter your guests’ food preferences or budget, you will be able to find the perfect place to celebrate your wedding, rehearsal dinner, or bridal shower.

Additionally, the Nautical Beachfront Resort in Lake Havasu City offers everything you need for your ceremony and reception, including room for guests.

4. Gillette Castle State Park, Connecticut

Gillette Castle State Park wedding venueLocation: 67 River Rd, East Haddam, CT 06423

Every bride deserves to feel like a princess on her wedding day, and very few people can say they were married in a castle. You can if you hold your wedding at Gillette Castle State Park, an hour east of New Haven, Connecticut. The terrace of Gillette Castle in Gillette Castle State Park is a beautiful location for a small, intimate wedding, but keep in mind you cannot get married at the castle. You and your guests can take a tour before taking a ferry back.

Gillette Castle is a 14,000-square-foot stone marvel that sits atop the 7th Sister hill, 200 feet above the Connecticut River. The Castle stands in stark contrast to the trees and the blooming native flora along with the river. One of the best aspects of this wedding location is the castle part of the park remains cool and peaceful even during the hot, humid summers. Do plan for a smaller wedding, though, as the venue works best for twenty with everyone else standing.

5. The Atalaya Castle at Huntington Beach State Park, South Carolina

Atalaya Castle wedding venueLocation: Atalaya Rd, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

Located at Huntington Beach State Park, the National Historic Landmark Atalaya Castles makes a gorgeous location for a wedding with a nod to Spanish and Mediterranean style on the east coast. The home’s location on the beach makes it one of the most picturesque and romantic wedding venues in South Carolina. Choose the castle’s palmetto tree-lined gardens for a memorable ceremony and the other side of the gardens for the reception.

No other location close to Myrtle Beach offers as much beauty and romance.
The Moorish style adds a touch of elegance to the Inlet castle, which is close to the beautiful sandy beaches of the South Carolina coast, making it an ideal location for a garden wedding. The castle’s stone walls and the surrounding vegetation both make for stunning backdrops, and the wedding packages offer reasonable prices. With so much space, including a courtyard, you will find room for all your guests and vendors.

6. Degray Lake Resort State Park, Arkansas

Location: 2027 State Park Entrance Rd, Bismarck, AR 71929

Wedding ceremonies, receptions, and even rehearsal dinners can all be held at the beautiful DeGray Lake Resort State Park a little over the southwest of Little Rock. While not the largest venue, the resort offers 96 guest rooms, professional event planners, caterers, and more to help you plan your dream wedding. Family from out of town who come for the event will enjoy a full-service restaurant, swimming pool, hot tub, golf course, and fitness center. A

As one of the region’s five Diamond Lakes, you can surround yourself with crystal blue waters and forest on a tiny island close to land. Enjoy breathtaking views and amazing facilities ready to make your day extra special with an amphitheater, pavilions, and more perfect options for the vow ceremony. End the perfect day with a sunset cruise, or go on a snorkeling excursion the next day with your new spouse!

7. Lake Louisa State Park, Florida

beach at Lake Louisa State ParkLocation: 7305 US Hwy No. 27, Clermont, FL 34714

Lake Louisa provides a dazzling setting for your wedding and reception in the Sunshine State of Florida, only half an hour for Orlando. The park will help you with all the preparations for your wedding, from finding a gorgeous spot by the water to providing full catering and other services. Find out why many couples choose this picturesque place with natural features such as a private beach, peaceful meadows, towering oak trees, and docks facing a crystal clear lake.

Pick from several locations for your nuptials, from comfortable cabins to glamping tents. Friends and family from out of town can try the best of luxury camping in style. Just think about the magical experience of an intimate ceremony in the shade of moss-draped trees, with a view of the beautiful lakes. Lake Louisa is a beautiful setting for a joyful outdoor celebration.

8. Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Colorado

Golden Gate Canyon State Park in coloradoLocation: 92 Crawford Gulch Rd, Golden, CO 80403

Golden Gate Canyon State Park weddings are the most affordable east of Denver, Colorado, all without sacrificing beauty or splendor. Choose this park if you want mountains overlooking miles of greenery, highlighting the beauty of your dress and your special day. Aspen trees and other greenery dressing for the weather make it a favorite for fall weddings for the glorious photos it can produce.

Additionally, Golden Gate Canyon State Park makes a great rustic wedding destination to elope in Colorado or have a small wedding, as the spaces are too tight for hundreds of guests. For adventure seekers, you could take the opportunity to enjoy a popular camping wedding theme, especially at the low reservation cost of just ten bucks. All of the other destinations, Red Barn and Panorama Point, for the ceremony only cost a hundred or two, keeping them well within any wedding budget.

9. Fall Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee

Fall Creek Falls State Park wedding venueLocation: 2009 Village Camp Rd, Spencer, TN 38585

Couples crowd Fall Creek Falls State Park in Tennessee for the beauty of the craggy eastern peak of the Cumberland Plateau. The park welcomes those who seek out nature at its finest with its cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams, and lush stands of virgin hardwood timber. Anyone who ever dreamed of saying “I do” in front of a waterfall will find several ready to accommodate their every desire.

Over 5,000 square feet of adaptable indoor event space is available at the Lodge at Fall Creek Falls. Among other locations in the park, the Lodge makes a convenient location with on-site catering, conference rooms, and recreational opportunities. Theater-style seating for 400 persons makes a great place for the ceremony too, and guests can all find rooms on-site with tons of activities for the rest of their time, such as rock climbing, aerial adventures, and much more.

10. Auburn Valley State Park, Delaware

Location: 3000 Creek Rd, Hockessin, DE 19707

Near the Delaware and Pennsylvania border, find a stunning classic Victorian Queen Anne mansion ready to sponsor your wedding. The former Thomas Marshall mansion, situated in the historic district of Yorklyn, Delaware, provides a unique and wonderful place for anything from wedding rehearsal dinners to the wedding day and even the honeymoon, all within the state park. Tents can be set up in the surrounding grass and under the stunning rose arbor for gatherings of up to 125 people. Smaller gatherings can also use the patio and sun porch.

Brides will love the separate dressing rooms for the bride and groom, and the venue itself would be perfect for photos commemorating your special day. Guests can also have a tour of the mansion or ride in a Stanley Steamer as part of the event, with prior arrangements, all with very reasonable prices compared to venues of state park grounds.

11. Maumee Bay State Park, Ohio

Maumee Bay State ParkLocation: 1400 State Park Rd, Oregon, OH 43616

Weddings are filled with planning stress unless you choose Maumee Bay State Park in western Ohio on the border of Michigan. The Maumee Bay Lodge venue furnishes not only a natural haven but all the arrangements, too, as their staff will help with every detail, from the menu to the flowers and even the cake made on-site with a professional pastry chef. You can have a one-of-a-kind event on a brick terrace with a stunning panoramic view of Lake Erie.

Choose the North Lawn if you want to overlook the lake on the beach but want to avoid the sand in your heels and dress clothes. You can reserve the North Lawn and White Tent for your reception capable of holding 130 guests. Beautiful views of Lake Erie and our fountain give the Tent a Water Front ambiance, or you can opt for a traditional ballroom reception with floor-to-ceiling windows replete with a balcony.

12. Monterey State Historic Park, California

Location: 20 Custom House Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940

In Monterey State Historic Park in northern California, you can get married in one of six private gardens for a lovely ceremony and reception. About a thousand people can fit in the plaza without it being too crowded, which means plenty of space for a grand wedding. Most couples choose the Memory Garden because it’s the secret gardens featuring year-round flowering plants; despite its urban location, it pairs well with the Pacific House Building.

The building sits near a wharf and combines Mexican and Monterey architecture. Inside the historic garden, the walls are filled with climbing roses, camellias, and a wisteria tree, perfect for filling special days with warmth and tranquility. A magnificent fountain, trellised walkways, and stucco Andalusian arches strike awe and create the romantic aesthetics perfect for a gorgeous and memorable wedding.

13. He’eia State Park, Hawaii

Location: 46-465 Kamehameha Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744

Get married in an American paradise located on the eastern coast of Oahu, on the shores of Kneohe Bay, is He’eia State Park, also known as Kealohi Point. The park spans 18 acres on a peninsula, providing a full surrounding view of palm trees, crystal Watters, and ocean skies. The windward side of Oahu draws in tourists and locals alike for weddings due to its abundance of flora, natural beauty, and cultural landmarks traditional to the Aloha State.

Many couples wish to exchange vows here because of the proximity to Oahu’s lone barrier reef reducing the waves and currents from the open ocean creating calm waters. The park’s rustic banquet hall, swathed in chandeliers, woods, and creamy white fabrics, makes the perfect place for dancing and a celebration feast. With exposed dark wood beams and brisk trade winds, we have got you covered. Enjoy the lovely view of Kne’ohe Bay from the main hall with up to 300 of your closest friends and family.

Final Thoughts

State parks offer more than just camping, swimming, and outdoor recreation for all seasons. You can have your dream wedding on a budget with incredible scenery enhancing the experience. While indoor weddings have a lot of pros, outdoor weddings in a state park’s natural backdrop will make your wedding incredibly beautiful and an event to remember for a lifetime.