Simple Ceremonies
Simple Ceremonies
Simple Ceremonies
Simple Ceremonies
On Monday 29 June, North Sydney Council made its final decision on charging for weddings and other organised events in its parks, with fees starting 1 January 2027. If you were dreaming of saying "I do" at Blues Point Reserve or Bradfield Park, here's exactly what's changed, what it costs — and the simple ways to keep your park ceremony affordable.
On Monday 29 June 2026, North Sydney Council finalised its new Commercial and Group Use of Public Open Space policy. From 1 January 2027, fees apply to organised events — including wedding and commitment ceremonies — across 23 council-managed parks and reserves. The headline numbers:
That first tier is the one most couples miss — and it changes everything about how you plan a park ceremony.
Council says it spends roughly $7.3 million a year maintaining local parks, and that demand from organised and commercial activities — weddings, pop-up picnic businesses, fitness groups, commercial dog walkers — has grown to the point where it wants those users contributing to upkeep. Everyday casual use stays free: families picnicking, people walking dogs, kids playing. The fees target reserved and commercial use of public space.
We made a submission during the consultation on behalf of couples — particularly asking for protections for those who had already booked their ceremonies — and while fees have gone ahead, it's worth knowing the policy deliberately preserves free informal use.
The parks are tiered by demand, with harbour foreshore locations attracting the highest fees.
Remaining parks sit in a third, lower-fee tier. Exact fees vary by park, group size and event type — always check North Sydney Council's current fee schedule for your specific date and location before budgeting.
Here's the practical translation:
If you booked your North Sydney park ceremony before the new fees took effect, check your booking confirmation and contact Council about how the transition applies to your date. And if the new costs have thrown your plans, don't panic — relocating a ceremony is far simpler than couples expect. The legal side of your marriage doesn't change with the postcode. A registry-style ceremony with a celebrant works anywhere.
From 1 January 2027, a booking fee applies if your group is 15 people or more, or if you're bringing chairs, decorations or other setups. Ceremonies of up to 14 people (including the couple), without setups, generally remain free.
For 15–59 people, a booking costs $800 plus a $1,000 bond. For 60–100+ people, it's $1,000 plus a $1,000 bond. Groups of 14 or fewer without setups are free. Check Council's published schedule to confirm the exact fee for your park and group size.
All 23 council-managed parks and reserves in the North Sydney LGA, tiered into three categories. The harbour foreshore parks listed above attract the highest fees.
Keep the ceremony to 14 people or fewer without chairs, decorations or other setups, choose a park in a neighbouring council area, use a private venue, or marry at home — all legally identical.
Bookings sit with the couple, but we'll tell you whether your park and guest count actually needs one, suggest fee-free alternatives if it does, and handle all the marriage paperwork either way.
North Sydney's harbour parks are still some of the most beautiful places in the world to get married — and for intimate ceremonies, they're still free. What's changed is that bigger, reserved-space weddings now carry a price tag, which makes smart planning (and local knowledge) more valuable than ever. That's what we're here for: see how it works, and we'll find you a spot worth saying yes in.
Incredibly simple … simply incredible.
