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Fort Ross offers it’s beautifully restored historic chapel and surrounding park grounds for weddings. The Russian American Company built the original Russian chapel in the 1820’s by skilled craftsmen. The chapel has since been rebuilt to its original design and character in the 1970s. The chapel’s hand-hewn redwood construction gives it intimate warmth, and the natural setting on Sonoma’s North Coast is truly spectacular. To add not only beauty to your wedding event, Fort Ross staff, upon request, will salute your newly taken vows with a firing of the cannon.

We are proud to be able to make these areas available for your private function. However, our primary objective in this unit is the preservation of the parks’ cultural and natural resources. The following guidelines are created to ensure the integrity of these valuable resources so that all who visit will enjoy the beauty that it represents. Please sign the bottom when you have read, understand, and agree to the conditions of Fort Ross SHP. Please keep a copy for your records.

A commitment fee of $275.00 must be submitted with the Special Event application and is non-refundable.

Please make checks payable to “California State Parks Foundation.” The remainder fee due is dependant upon the size of your wedding and is due 30 days prior to your wedding date –we will refund your remainder fess if by chance the wedding is postponed for any reason. Rescheduling can usually be accommodated.

For a wedding up to 50 people the cost is $500. For a wedding of more than 51people up to 100 the cost is $1000.00. And for a wedding of more than 101 up to 150 people – the cost is $1500.00

Please make checks payable to “CSPF”. Mail all payments to Fort Ross State Historic Park, 19005 Coast Hwy 1, Jenner, CA. 95450 - attention Robin Joy – Park Interpretive Specialist.

Fort Ross State Historic Park is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily. Weddings may only be held after 4:30 when the Fort Ross Compound has closed to the general public, unless of course you do not mind park visitors on site and viewing your nuptials. Schedule the time of your ceremony to allow ample time for any unloading of furnishings and setup that must be done as well as enough time to take your wedding arrangements down one half hour before sunset.

The park has no chairs or other furnishings available for the ceremony. There are picnic tables for your use in the fort compound. You must provide any other items or furnishings that are needed such as chairs, runners, flowers, etc. Candles will be allowed in the chapel as long as the State Park monitor is present. Flash photography is acceptable. A list of all items you will be bringing in to the fort compound and park grounds must be provided for clearance.

We require that one person be designated as the Site Coordinator to work with park staff during the wedding. This person must be available to park staff to deal with any problems or questions that may come up during the wedding day. Because those in the wedding party are busy during the ceremony, this person should NOT be someone who is in the wedding party, but should be well known by the bride and groom. The bride, groom and Site Coordinator, must come to Fort Ross to meet with park staff at least a month prior to the wedding. A walk through of your event location prior to your event date will be necessary prior to the approval of the permit. At this meeting we will go over logistics and expectations with you and give the final authorization for your event.

Cars can drive to the Fort gate to unload equipment or guests but no cars may remain in front of the fort during the wedding. All guests must park in the parking lot, which is about 1/3 of a mile from the fort. While you may organize a guest shuttle you may want to advise guests choosing to walk to wear appropriate shoes for walking on uneven terrain.

Any party rental equipment to be used will be delivered on the day of the event. All equipment must be removed from the park immediately after the event. The Department of Parks and Recreation assumes neither liability nor responsibility for any rental equipment or supplies incidental to the event. It is the responsibility of the Site Coordinator to ensure that compliance is agreed to and met.

To prevent the spread of disease or undesired non-native vegetation, wedding parties shall not throw rice or birdseed or flowers with seedpods; party balloons shall not be released.

Every item brought in with the wedding party must be removed; no state trash receptacles may be used. Failure to comply with any of these provisions may result in the termination of your permit during the event. Please inform your guests involved of the rules, regulations and sensitivities of the park. Amplified music is generally not allowed but may possibly be arranged on a case-by-case basis. The Department will make every attempt to have the area clean for your event. However, grounds and structures may by subject to periodic maintenance, repair, or restoration. Permittee will accept the grounds in the condition provided.

Fort Ross is a unique historic site. Please help us to make sure that guests treat it as such.

Thank you for your interest in Fort Ross State Historic Park. The staff is dedicated to making your event a successful one. If you have questions, concerns, or special needs, please contact the Park Special Event Coordinator at 707-847-4777 before signing this agreement.

I have read and agree to the Wedding Event guidelines (Please write this on the line below).

Signature ____________________________________________ Date ______________________

Home Phone: ________________________________ Cell- ________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________ Date: _______________________

A filing fee of $25.00 must be submitted with the Special Event application and is non-refundable.

Please make checks payable to “California State Parks.” A confirmation fee of $250 is required when we confirm your wedding date and your tentative details of your wedding 60 days prior to your wedding date. This is non – refundable. Cost for a wedding at Fort Ross of up to 50 people is $500. For a wedding of more than 51people up to 100 the cost is $750. And for a wedding of more than 101 people up to 150 people is $1000.00 Please make checks payable to California State Parks Foundation (CSPF). Payment is due at least one month before the wedding date. There is no refund.

For further information, please contact Robin Joy - Park Interpretive Specialist, Fort Ross SHP.