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Natural Bridges State Beach
4.7 ★★★★★ 2,380 Google reviews · Beachfront wedding venue in Santa Cruz, California · 0.2 mi to the sand
Compact sandy patch with rock bridges & tidepools, popular for spotting seabirds, whales & seals.
Plan your tour
- Setting beachfront venue, 0.2 mi to the sand — verified by its distance to a real shoreline
- Lodging on-site rooms come up in reviews and the venue's own info — a built-in room block for a destination beach wedding; ask what's included
- Phone +1 831-423-4609
- Website parks.ca.gov — most venues book tours right on their site
On the property
“The natural bridge, tide pools, and ocean views make it a perfect place for a relaxing walk and family outing.”
“The beach part is not wheelchair accessible Accessible parking on street nearby is free.”
What couples highlight
“This is a beautiful state park near Santa Cruz that we visited one afternoon, and it’s absolutely stunning — especially if you love the ocean.”
“The beach itself is sandy but mixed with shells and small debris, so walking barefoot requires a bit of caution.”
From the reviews
I grew up going to Natural Bridges State Beach when i was a kid. Back when there was still a natural bridge over the gap between the cliffs. It fell for good in a storm in 1985. There are fun tide pools you can walk out to. Its a great beach for kids because they cant get out of your sight.
Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz is nothing short of breathtaking. Even without its most famous visitors, the dramatic sea arch and rugged coastline offer stunning views that make for a perfect afternoon of exploration and tide-pooling.
Gorgeous state beach to explore. The water is stunning as you watch is crash and dance on the rocks, the fresh air fills your lungs as you hear seagulls flying by, you can find small crabs and other sea life in the pools, and you can take a lovely stroll along the sand.
One of our favorite beaches in Santa Cruz. It’s an easy drive over the hill, and parking is usually not too hard to find. There aren’t any amenities here, but that’s part of its charm — just sand, sea, and sky.
Getting married at Natural Bridges State Beach
Natural Bridges State Beach is a public beach or park, so a ceremony here almost always needs a permit from the managing city, county, or state parks office — and the rules matter: many public beaches cap your guest count, set ceremony windows, and restrict what you can set up (some ban chairs, arches, and amplified sound entirely). There's no on-site coordinator, catering, or weather backup, so you'll bring your own vendors and a rain plan. The payoff is a stunning setting at a fraction of a private venue's cost. Start with our public-beach permit guide, then call the local office to confirm this season's rules.
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