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St. Marys Waterfront Park - Howard Gilman Memorial Park

4.8 ★★★★★ 1,561 Google reviews · Waterfront wedding venue in St Marys, Georgia · 3.0 mi to the beach

Public beach · permit required Ocean view Sunset ceremony

Open green space with a riverside walkway, boat launch, event gazebo, a playground & water views.

Plan your tour

  • Setting waterfront venue, 3.0 mi to the beach — verified by its distance to a real shoreline
  • Phone (912) 882-4000
  • Website stmarysga.gov — most venues book tours right on their site

At a glance

Waterfront Park, Howard Gilman Memorial Park, 201 St Marys St, St Marys, GA 31558

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On the property

What couples name in their reviews of St. Marys Waterfront Park - Howard Gilman Memorial Park and what the venue states on its own site — the fastest way to tell what's actually here before you drive out.

🌊 Ocean Views 2 mentions

“Beautiful views of the water.”

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🌅 Sunset Ceremony 2 mentions

“Could potentially view both the sunrise and the sunset over the water from this point.”

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⛩️ Gazebo or Arch 2 mentions

“Stunning views, gazebo, amphitheatre, Swings, pier, paved paths.”

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What couples highlight

The things reviewers bring up again and again across 1,561 Google reviews — in their own words, and only about the wedding and the setting.

🏝️ breathtaking beach setting 18 mentions

“The waterfront is a great place to go on a nice walk and even better to walk with friends or on a date it has beautiful scenery and all around pretty chill of a place.”

From the reviews

This park is beautiful. If you are in town, the downtown area and park are a must see. You can even rent a bicycle and tour downtown that way. There is a playground for kids, a little free library, waterfront views and swings to sit on and watch the boats sailing by.

★★★★★ — Wendy, May 2023

Such a lovely waterfront park in a beautiful, friendly town. We frequently stop in to visit for a while when we are traveling in this area. I took time to visit a few shops this time and recommend those for their wonderful variety of artistic gifts, many locally made, at great prices.

★★★★★ — Julie, Sep 2024

Nestled in between Brunswick Georgia and Jacksonville Florida is St. Mary's Georgia. It is a nice city to visit for its waterfront l park, good dining, and access to Cumberland Island. You can spend a whole day relaxing in town or even a weekend at one of the bed and breakfasts they have in the area.

★★★★★ — James, Apr 2024

Stunning views, gazebo, amphitheatre, Swings, pier, paved paths. Could potentially view both the sunrise and the sunset over the water from this point. Lovely Christmas decorations and views of small watercraft docked or sailing. Allows leashed dogs and provides clean up convenience stations.

★★★★★ — Jessica, Nov 2025

Excerpts from public Google reviews, filtered to comments about the wedding and the setting. Read all 1,561 reviews →

Getting married at St. Marys Waterfront Park - Howard Gilman Memorial Park

St. Marys Waterfront Park - Howard Gilman Memorial Park 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.

More beach venues near St Marys

St. Mary's Waterfront Pavilion

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Public beach breathtaking beach setting

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Santa Maria Venue

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On-site lodging All-inclusive Elopements

under a mile away

Oyster Bay Yacht Club

4.9 ★★★★★ 118 reviews

96732 Bay View Dr, Fernandina Beach, FL

Ocean view Elopements breathtaking beach settingstaff who go above & beyond

Private marina set along Oyster Bay, hosting weddings, corporate outings and other events.

4.6 miles away

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Listing verified July 2026 from public business records and couples' reviews. Something out of date? Report a correction. Own this venue? Claim your listing — it's free.