The Guide
a Jekyll Island Beach Wedding
Driftwood Beach, the rules, the license, the sunset and how I would photograph vows on the sand.
No Permit Needed
The Jekyll Island Authority says permits are not required to get married on the island's beaches. The beach stays public, so people may walk around your ceremony. No glass, no kegs, and pets stay on a leash. Chairs and arbors are fine as long as you take them with you. Signs need a temporary sign permit, and sparklers need a fire permit from the fire marshal at 912.635.2930. Open flames and tiki torches are out.
Driftwood Beach
This is the one everyone has saved, with whole trees bleached silver lying on the sand. Go at sunrise or sunset for the light through the wood. Most of it is sea turtle nesting beach, so any lighting has to be turtle friendly amber or red LED. Villas By The Sea also lists ceremonies at Driftwood Beach and on its live oak lawn, if you want a resort behind you.
The License
Jekyll Island is in Glynn County, Georgia. Georgia lets you get a license at any county probate court if one of you lives in the state. If neither of you does, you apply in the county where the ceremony happens, so that means the Glynn County Probate Court. A premarital education certificate can lower the fee, so ask the court what it charges for your date.
Sunset On Jekyll Island By Month
Sunset on the 15th of each month on Jekyll Island, rounded to five minutes and worked out from the sun's position. Daylight saving is included. The oaks take the direct light earlier than this, so I plan portraits to start about an hour ahead.
How I Would Shoot It
- Set the ceremony time from the sunset, not the other way around.
- The beach is public, so people will walk by. A weekday or an early morning ceremony feels a lot more private.
- Wind is part of a beach wedding. Pin the veil, skip tall arrangements and keep a jacket nearby for the portraits.
- If the sun gets hard, come back to the oaks in the historic district. The shade is never far on Jekyll.
| Month | Sunset |
|---|---|
| January | 5:45 PM |
| February | 6:10 PM |
| March | 7:35 PM |
| April | 7:55 PM |
| May | 8:15 PM |
| June | 8:30 PM |
| July | 8:30 PM |
| August | 8:10 PM |
| September | 7:35 PM |
| October | 6:55 PM |
| November | 5:30 PM |
| December | 5:25 PM |
Beach Questions
Do you need a permit for a Jekyll Island beach wedding?
No. The Jekyll Island Authority says permits are not required to get married on Jekyll Island's beaches. The beach is public, so it is first come, first served.
Can you get married on Driftwood Beach?
Yes, it is part of the public beach, but most of it is sea turtle nesting beach. The Authority does not allow lighting there unless it is turtle friendly amber or red LED.
Can we have sparklers on the beach?
Sparklers and fireworks need a fire permit from the fire marshal at 912.635.2930, and open flames and tiki torches are not allowed.
Where do we get the marriage license?
Jekyll Island is in Glynn County. If neither of you lives in Georgia, you apply at the probate court in the county where the ceremony happens, so start with the Glynn County Probate Court.
Your Date
Tell me where on Jekyll Island or in the Golden Isles you are getting married and I will tell you how I would photograph it.